
To get more out of your portable computers (notebook/laptop) you must learn how to maintain and take proper care of these very high tech machines. It may sound like a daunting task, but it may be easier than you think it is. Most information on proper care can be found in your laptop manual. But in most cases, users are discouraged by the technical jargon and the thickness of the manuals. Here are some tips on how to read the user’s manual and how keep our laptops and notebooks in good working condition.
Laptop service manuals vary in format and content depending on the laptop manufacturer. But for the most part, the topics in these manuals are the same and have similar titles. And all have the important topics which we believe should be read.
Now that you have narrowed down the reading material to the language you prefer, go to the priority topics you need to read. The most important is the laptop guide. In most laptop manuals, the first part of the laptop guide shows you the different parts and peripherals of your laptop. It is important to read this so that you are sure that you have all the items you bought and that you are aware of what they are for.
Next part is the getting started part which shows you what to do so that you can start using your laptop. This normally gives instructions on how to connect the various peripherals, how to initialize certain parts and so on. In most cases some instruction need only be done once, such as instructions on charging your laptop battery for the first time.
Basically these are the main topics you need to know in order for you to be able to use your laptop. All you need now is to know more on how to properly maintain your laptop. This is usually found in the section “care and maintenance” and similar topics. It will show you topics such as “prolonging laptop battery life”, “energy saving tips”, and Do’s and Don’ts. Following these helpful tips usually make for a more efficiently working laptop as well as prolonging its life.
Lastly, although not necessary for reading, you should be aware of certain topics in your manual for later reading as the need arises. These are the “laptop repair” or “laptop trouble shooting” sections. It cannot be avoided that at some point something will go wrong with your laptop and in most cases, it may seem that the problem will require major repair. But in most cases, these problems can be solved by just checking the problem and finding it in the above mentioned section. To do this, look at the symptoms or the behavior of the problem of your laptop. Then, try to find if these symptoms or behaviors can be found in the trouble shooting section. If its there, chances are, the manual will offer a simple solution to fix the problem. If not, the manual also gives you information on whom and where to get help for a more professional technical assistance.
Guide To Laptop Battery Repair
For most people, laptops and personal computers have become integral pieces of office equipment that they cannot do without. Breakdowns could mean a major loss in their daily work output. The most common problem related to these portable gadgets is related to the unit’s battery. Because of this it is essential that every laptop user like you should take note of some kind of guide to laptop battery repair. Here are some tips on how to handle laptop battery problems.
If there is a problem with your laptop (or notebook) computer switching on, the first thing to do is to make certain that the problem is the battery. To do this, try running your laptop using the battery power by turning on the laptop and removing the AC power from your electrical outlet. This should show you if the problem is really with the battery. Most common problems are, battery life has become shorter than normal, or the notebook no longer turns on when using battery alone. There might also be a problem with charging.
When attempting to resolve the problem, make sure you do the following: 1. If still possible, back up any important data you have in the laptop before checking. 2. Remove any peripheral devices not originally part of the laptop before checking. 3. Check all connections and make sure they are properly connected.
Do not do the following: 1. Remove or detach the battery from the laptop while the laptop is still on or still plugged to an electrical outlet. 2. Open or dismantle the battery.
When you are certain that the problem is with your laptop’s battery, and if the user’s manual cannot offer you any quick fix solution, it is best to call your laptop manufacturer’s customer or technical assistance for more instructions.
In most cases, when the problem is with the laptop battery, replacing the battery is the only option. And if this is the only option, make sure that you get all the details of the battery so that you can be sure of getting exactly the right replacement for your laptop.
Information regarding your battery can be found on the battery itself. Sometimes this information is written on the inner portion of the battery so it might be necessary to detach or remove the battery from the laptop to see this. Get the serial number, the part or product number and other important information and write it down together with the brand and model of your laptop for later reference.
When buying the replacement, make sure you write down the information and give the written specifications to the supplier so that they will not make any mistakes. It is highly recommended that you get a replacement battery only from the manufacturer of your laptop or from their authorized dealer. Since they know and specialize on the products you need, it gives you an added assurance that you will get exactly what you require.
Laptop Guide For Newbies
You are thinking of getting your own laptop. You have been using a PC for so long and feel that a laptop can make you more productive since you can bring it anywhere and so work anywhere. But you are a bit afraid of the technology. Even though you have been using a PC for a long time, and you are very much excited about using a laptop, you still have some apprehensions. To remove this from your mind, what you need is a laptop guide for newbies.
First of all, a laptop is very much the same as a PC in terms of function. What you can do with a PC you can definitely do with the laptop and sometimes even more. The main difference is in its portability. And because of this portability, a laptop is built much sturdier than a PC. It can withstand more wear and tear. So don’t be afraid to carry it around and use it in the car, train, on your lap. It should be able to handle it.
If you just bought your laptop and you are just about to start using it, make sure you read and follow the instruction on your laptop manual. This is usually found in the “getting started” section. This will give you instructions on connecting the parts/peripherals, how best to start-p the laptop and initial instructions on charging the laptop battery among other things.
The next important thing is to take proper care of your laptop, which is not really that difficult. Every laptop brand has its own instructions regarding proper care and maintenance. You will also find this information in your laptop service manual. But there are common tips that you can follow to properly maintain your laptop. Here are some of these tips:
- Always store laptop in a cool dry place, if you have to leave it in a car, put it under the car seat or where direct sunlight will not hit its surface.
- When opening the top portion (the monitor) of your lap top, either put one hand in the middle-front or two hands on the front-edges then lift. Lifting on one side only tends to out more strain on the hinges.
- Always turn off the laptop first before cleaning the screen and use clean damp cloth. Wait for it to dry before turning it on again.
- Do not remove or replace the battery while the laptop is still on or plugged to an electrical outlet.
- Regularly clean the keyboard by turning it upside down and brushing it with a soft brush while the laptop is turned off.
- In case liquid spills on the laptop, turn it off immediately. You may try turning it on again after it dries, but it is recommended that it be brought to a skilled technician for checking before you turn it on again.
These are just some tips for those starting their computer affair with a laptop. You can probably find more tips from you’re the user’s manual of your laptop and instructional websites in the internet.
5 Criteria When Choosing Laptop Service Providers
There are many types of laptop service providers. But for the most part, these are companies that provide technical, office function and telecommunications service to laptop users. Their products range from wireless internet access to printing and faxing services. If you feel that you require the services of such companies, it is important to know which can offer you the best service for your money. To help you in making the choice, we have come up with five criteria when choosing laptop service providers.
1. Credibility Like any company you wish to do business with, it is important to know their credibility. Find out how long they have been in the business. Who are their clients and how do their clients rate their service. Note that credibility doesn’t necessarily mean a big company but more of a stable company. When looking for these service providers, it may help to ask your laptop manufacturer for assistance as they may have a tie up with an existing service provider.
3. Quality of Service As stated above, get feedback from their previous and existing clients, if possible, to find out more about the quality of their service. Call their customer support hotline and get as much information as you need such as what laptop services they offer, what they do when a client asks about laptop repair and maintenance and the like. You’ll no more about the quality of their service from talking with their customer support.
4. Accessibility In some cases, these service providers can give you a money guarantee. If they don’t have this type of promotion, ask for a trial period, even for a short period of time. Impress upon them that you wish to test their system to see if it meets your requirement. As soon as you have the service, immediately test all the functionalities that you will need to see if they work properly and quickly.
Actually, your calling their customer support is one initial test to see their accessibility. If it takes a long time for them to take your call, then chances are their service will be at the same slow pace.
5. Price Last but definitely not the least is the cost of the service. Check out as many service providers to see what the minimum average and maximum price ranges are. The cheapest is not necessarily the best. In most cases it is the balance of the other four criteria plus the cost which makes for a better choice.
Look at each service you will need and try to find out how much it will cost you to do in on your own. Compare this with the service provider’s prices to make your choice. You may realize that although you will need a service provider for some services, it might be more cost effective to other services yourself. Although there are services that you cannot do on your own and will require the services of a third party service provider, such as internet access.
Now try to put them all together and prioritize your requirements based on the above criteria. It should help you in making a more intelligent way of choosing the right service provider.
Top 5 Solutions To Laptop Battery Problems
In most cases, when your laptop battery conks out, the problem is not really that complicated. If you know a few techy tricks, there won’t be any need for you to open that long and tedious Laptop manual or call your customer laptop service. Before going for technical support for battery laptop repair, learn how to check and test your laptop first.
1. Check your power cord and adapter If you look at your power adapter, you’ll see that it is usually separated from the power cord end is connected just like the socket should be connected to the power outlet. Sometimes the power cord is loosely connected to the adapter and so no electricity flows through. If that is the case, then the battery is not charging plus there’s no AC power. Just check that the connection from the electrical outlet to the power cord to the adapter and to the laptop is tight and secure, and then try again.
2. Check the temperature of your laptop If it is abnormally hot, chances are it has overheated and is causing the battery to malfunction. The higher the temperature the more chances of your battery becoming effective. So check your laptop from time to time by just putting your hand on the surface. But don’t get this wrong, lower temperature may mean more efficient battery. But don’t put it in the refrigerator or freezer. That will definitely kill it.
3. Check that the battery is securely connected to the laptop If you detach the battery from the laptop, you will notice 2 or more metal strips that connect the battery to the laptop. It is possible that they are not connecting properly. To fix this, try to slowly pull the metal strips outward so that when you connect the battery to the laptop, the metal of both will meet. Be careful not to break the metal strips. If this happens, you will definitely have to bring the unit to a service tech for repair.
4. Check your peripherals It may be that you have installed more peripherals than the laptop can accommodate, or that you are running to many things at the same time that are not necessary. More functions running means more power used and hence the battery might not last as long as it should or as long as it used to be. When using the battery power, set your system to use some power saving settings such as dimming the monitor and the like. Avoid playing games or watching DVDs when using battery only because these processes use up a lot more energy than say typing a document.
5. Lastly, buy a replacement If all else fails, it is highly probable that you actually need new batteries. Remember that laptop batteries, although rechargeable do not last forever. Most have a 300 to 600 recharging or a 1 to 3 years life span. And this depends on how often you use the laptop and how much resources you use at any given point. So if it is fairly old and breaks down, you probably need a new one.
read more>>>>