Laptop Repair
This will be an explanation of how to diagnose, troubleshoot and repair your laptops. But also the various important hardware in your laptop. Hardware is an important part of the daily function of laptops even though you may think they’re simple. keeping your laptop up to date and following this guide will keep your computer and hardware healthy.
Step 1: General Information Laptops : Hardware Overview
General hardware components:
Cpu fan - to help with keeping the laptop cooler
heat sink/heat pipe - made for the laptop so it doesn’t overheat allowing air circulation in a compressed space
CPU socket- allowing you to insert the CPU ( core processor unit) in it
CPU- core processor unit - carries out the instruction of the programs. ( the core)
hard drive- Storing data persistently
CMOS battery- battery in motherboard used for things like the bios
Wireless card- adding wireless options to a laptop
Speakers - with it’s obvious purpose is to create sound and are attached to the motherboard
Ram- " computer memory that can be accessed randomly" is how you would describe it
Battery- the main power source for a laptop. ( make sure to have it in for the laptop to power up before all else)
I also have a descriptive picture of the other hardware components on a laptop motherboard found on http://readingrat.net/block-diagram-of-laptop-motherboard/.
Step 2: Proper Maintance and Care of a Laptop
Physical care for laptop
For repairing a laptop you should have various screw driver to take the covering off. Like a Phillips screwdriver or hex screwdriver. Even a digital multi-meter can test things on your motherboard or related to things electricity wise. When cable wise things like wire strippers or crimpers are of a lot of use when needed. Even keeping your laptop clean is of importance like as simple as using a can of compressed air to clean off your keyboard or dust anywhere. Also even making sure it doesn’t overheat will keep your laptop functioning. While repairing even keeping an anti-static wristband will keep you safe and protect you from electricity.
Software care for laptop
To take care of software on your laptops things like a disk management tool, CHKDSK and defrag are important things to take care of your software. It is also very important to keep your firewall running so it keeps the right packets in and out at all times and all actions safe (traffic flow). Also formatting which helps prepare the hard drive to store information is a way to keep your software up to form.
Step 3: How to Diagnose, Troubleshoot, and Repair a Laptop
How to diagnose, troubleshoot, and repair the component
Power related: making sure the battery on the laptop is functioning. If any of the LEDS are lighting up. Test the ac power adapter.
Motherboard related: It could even be just a broken dc jack. It could also be your motherboard completely not working but you can test it in several ways even by using the digital multi meter.
LCD/no image: failing ram can result this try replacing the ram with a new one. Or even trying taking out the ram and putting it back in.
Making noises: related to hard drive or a bad cooling fan. Test the fan to see if it spins correctly and is functioning correctly.
Fan related/overheating: making sure to clean air vents because they are more compacted in laptops making it overheat. Also updating your bios. Like previously if it is making noises make sure it’s functioning correctly.
Hard drive issues: If your having issues with a slow hard drive definitely use defrag which defragments things like folders and files on hard drive and creates more optical space and organization. If it starts making loud clicking noises when accessing information on the hard drive replace it for better function.
Video wise: making sure the LCD is fine and that it is not cracked or it has no issues.
Also making sure your video drivers are always updated keeps your computer in shape.
Next I will show you and explain with depth three of the issues that can happen with your laptop that were shown above and how to diagnose, troubleshoot and repair the hardware in the laptop.
Step 4: Diagnosing and Repairing Your Laptop : No Image Issue
There are various problems your laptop can have from your screen having no image to there being clicking noises coming from your laptop.
One example of an issue your laptop can have is your laptop showing no image. This is a very common problem with laptops and computers when powering it on the screen is completely black or shows no image. If this occurs always check if it is completely powered on. Meaning the fan is spinning also check the LEDS. As you can see above the LEDS are glowing and the fan is functioning so It would have to be another issue. To make sure check your other hardware. Usually if your screen has no image the reason is ram. Use your Philips screwdriver to remove the nails and take off the covering. Then you should see the ram built on the motherboard close to the wireless card. It depends on the computer you have and its specifications but usually people have two sticks of ram. To solve this issue of no image make sure to replace the ram or make sure nothing is in the way of it. Or even take it out and put it back in.
Step 5: Laptop Overheating Issue
Now this is also a very common problem with laptops. Laptops have a more compact air venting system. so air circulation is ■■■■■■. The purpose of a heat pipe is to fix this issue of overheating. But since there is such little space more dust is able to block the air venting circulation. This can then cause the fan to overheat if clogged with a lot of dust. To remove this use a q-tip and carefully remove it from the silver area or any other parts.
( These are pictures from two different laptops). It is a quick easy solution where you just need a screwdriver to take off the nails and clean it quickly!
Step 6: Having an Issue of a Slow Hard Drive
Having a slow hard drive can be very annoying it causes lagging and your computer to process information at a slower pace. But there is a solution to this its called defragmenting it is basically a form of organization on your computer or laptop ■■■■■■■ the pieces together. It places all the parts of a file together on the hard drive. It does this based on information of how the user uses their computer and where they go. Its also important to make sure your hard drive is in good condition at all times and before this process. First make sure to start this process by going to the control panel and choosing system and security with the pie and shield sign. Then you should see administrative tools which is at the very bottom next to the silver gear sign. Underneath in the small blue letters make sure to click on defragment your hard drive which will then lead you to what will give you a solution to your issue. when then be able to click analyze disk when the progress is complete. Then click defragment disk this will help not only assure you of better speed and will even help you having a faster startup time when it is defragmented completely.
