All you Need to Know About QC4.0+

Last year, Qualcomm Technologies released QC4.0, the most advanced charging technology that is likely to change the charging ability of future Smartphones. At the same time, the company also released the Snapdragon 835 processor which they say will be the next generation Smartphone processor. At the moment, there is no device that supports Quick Charge 4. The company revealed that their advanced charging technology will be available with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor.

QC4.0+ benefits

What are the benefits of Qualcomm Quick Charge 4? Basically, QC4.0+ charges up to 15 % faster compared to previous releases. This latest technology will be also 30 % more efficient and will run up to 5-degree Celsius cooler compared to previous releases.

For instance, five minutes of charging will guarantee you more than 5 hours of battery life. Your Smartphone’s battery will attain 50 % of charge in less than 15 minutes of charging. This means that future Smartphones with Qualcomm Quick Charge 4 will charge like they are connected to two high-powered chargers. Their batteries will have increased efficiency and the Smartphone themselves will stay cooler.

Key features of QC4.0+ and how they work

Quick Charge 4 has a wide range of advanced features compared to prior releases. Here are the key features and how they work.

Battery Saver

This feature was included in this latest generation not only to provide comprehensive safety while charging but also to extend the battery’s charging cycle life. A protection feature is implemented at various stages of charging in order to keep accurate records of temperature, current, and voltage while protecting various components of the Smartphone such as connectors, cables, systems and the battery itself.

USB Power Delivery and USB Type-C

The two technologies were incorporated in QC4 adapters to ensure that there is consistent charging performance. These technologies will also ensure that one accessory supports a variety of mobile devices and charging implementations.

Intelligent Negotiation for Optimum Voltage (INOV)

Quick Charge 4 is incorporated with this latest algorithm to help your Smartphone determine the amount of power to request at a particular point. This not only maximizes charging efficiency but also enhances optimum power transfer.

Dual Charge

A second power management IC is also incorporated in Quick Charge 4. Charging your Smartphone using two power management ICs has many benefits. For instance, the charge current is divided into two which reduces charging time and promotes more efficient thermal dissipation.

3 easy ways to transfer everything to a new phone

Having a new phone is delightful but transferring data can be an initial hurdle. Here are 3 ways to transfer the data from your old phone to your new phone.

By Google Account

Backing-up and restoring data by Google account might be the method most people know. Supported by the backing-up and restoring of an Android system, users can transfer their data including Google Calendar, WiFi account and password, desktop setting, Gmail, screen settings, language setting and some of the apps. It is by far the easiest way to replicate your basic system data.

The exact path is entered into the “setting>back up and restore”, unlock the backup set and choose a Google account.

As to the new phone, when you log in the account you have chosen in the former step, you will find everything will be restored as you choose. As this method uses the internet, the time to setup your new phone will depend on the internet connection speed.

In-house solutions

If you buy the same brand as your old phone, there is an effective way most people ignore, many brands themselves have a backup/restore tool for transferring data to new phones. Check your phone settings or jump onto Google to see if an app is available. :

Here are some data apps:

• Asus
• Huawei
• HTC

This method can save time if you have a large amount of data as you do not require the internet to copy the data across to other devices.

Tap & Go: A New function of Android

Android’s Tap & Go service arrived with the Android 5.0 Lolipop system launched a few years ago.

You can transmit data (including apps and apps data) through the NFC and Bluetooth. This method will work if both devices have NFC and Bluetooth.

Transferring apps to your new phone with tap and go
When you turn on your new phone, please unlock your old phone and open NFC. Put these 2 phones back to back.
You will receive the notice of adding a new account on your old phone.
When the screen on your old device says,”Copy accounts and data from this device?” tap “ok”.
Enter your Google account and password, then set your new phone as a new device and the transfer will start.

The key advantage to this method is you can choose what apps you want to copy so it is ideal if you are wanting to leave some older or unused apps behind.

How to protect your phone from low battery?

A survey shows that people feel anxious and nervous when their phones have low battery.This week uk-online.co.uk offers 4 ways to get rid of Low-battery anxiety.

1.Use the Good-quality charger & charger cable

A good-quality charger & cables not only enable to fast charging but also protect your phone.

2.Solar charging can help you in outdoor

The Solar chargers don’t have built-in batteries, but they are more effective at converting solar energy to power. If you are going to clamp or other outdoor activity, the solar charger might be more suitable for you than the normal power bank for these reasons:1.It’s more portable 2.It can work sustainably as long as there is the sunshine.

3.Car Charger

A car charger is used to keep your phone juiced up when you are on the road.One function Car Charger shares the advantage of safety performance and top-level charging effect, compared to the multi function ones.

Tips for Car Charging：It’s better to start your car before your phone charging.Becuase the huge current at the car starting moment might have an impact on your phone.

4.Power bank

It’s hard to deny that a power bank is an incredible thing that saves us from the nervous and panic of low battery.There’s a massive selection on offer, catering for every need.

There are 2 tips for choosing a nice power bank from our product manager:

1.Check the brand and source of the cell.

2.Be careful to a small-size power bank with a large capacity.

Why Does AC Adapter Polarity Matter?

The AC adapter is an important component of any laptop. Without it, it would not be possible to recharge the laptop’s battery, which is essential for portability. The AC adapter also makes it possible to use the laptop without draining battery life, helping extend battery life on long days. Laptop AC adapters are not all created the same, however, and one of the distinguishing characteristics of different AC adapter designs is their polarity.

The polarity of an AC adapter refers to the way that power flows through the cable and into the laptop itself. The power coming from a wall outlet is what is known as alternating current (or AC power), but the power needed by the laptop is known as direct current (or DC power). The AC adapter converts the AC power into DC power at the correct voltage for the laptop.

The polarity of the adapter happens in the connector that is inserted into the laptop directly. The connector is comprised of a tip and a barrel. The tip is essentially the hole in the middle of the connector and the barrel is the larger area surrounding this hole. Power can only flow in one direction, either from the tip to the barrel or from the barrel to the tip. This is what is meant by polarity.

An adapter with a positive polarity means that its tip is positive and its barrel is negative. An adapter with a negative polarity means that its tip is negative and its barrel is positive. There is no standard design, so adapters and devices are often marked with a symbol to show their polarity. The side connected to the center dot is the tip, and the side connected to the symbol shaped like a C is the barrel.

It is important not to plug an adapter with the wrong polarity into a device. It will not supply power, and in some cases can cause damage to the device or the adapter. Visit Spareparts Warehouse to find a compatible adapter for your laptop, or view specific sections, such as Sony Laptop AC Adapters and Toshiba Laptop AC Adapters to find adapters specific to your laptop’s manufacturer.

AMD Ryzen Threadripper: Everything we know so far about this monster CPU

AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper chips could very well be the most powerful consumer CPU ever introduced when it releases in August. With up to 16 cores and 32 threads, Threadripper gives the high-performance Intel products currently dominating high-end desktops something to worry.
The specs we know

• The Ryzen Threadripper 1950X ($999 on Amazon) features 16 cores with simultaneous multi-threading (SMT) for 32 threads of compute power. The base clock speed of the chip is 3.4GHz, with a 4GHz boost speed.
• The Ryzen Threadripper 1920X ($799 on Amazon) will feature 12 cores with SMT for 24 threads of compute power. The base clock speed of the chip is 3.5GHz with a 4GHz boost speed.
• The Ryzen Threadripper 1900X will feature 8 cores with SMT for 16 threads of compute power, similar to the Ryzen 7 1800X but slotting into more capable X399 motherboards. The 1900X’s base clock speed is 3.8GHz with a 4GHz boost speed.
• All Threadripper chips pack a whopping 64 PCI-E lanes
• Memory: Quad-channel DDR4
• Platform: X399 with a new TR4 socket that is incompatible with existing Ryzen chips.
• All chips are unlocked for overclocking adventures.
• Can’t be “delided” easily as it uses a solder thermal interface material.
• Release date: Threadripper PCs will be available for sale on July 27. The Threadripper 1950X and 1920X CPUs will launch on August 10, with the 1900X releasing on August 31.
• Alienware has the worldwide exclusive on Threadripper systems among large PC manufacturers, but many U.S. boutique builders will offer it as well.
• Both parts will be 180 watt TDP chips.
• Ryzen Threadripper CPUs will support up to 1TB of RAM when 128GB LR-DIMMs are used.
• Threadripper will not ship with an included liquid-cooled cooler as has been rumored. It will include a bracket adapter that works with most liquid coolers.

It will support up to 1TB of RAM
No, we’re not kidding. Threadripper shows its server roots and will be able to support up to 1TB of RAM if you populate all 8-DIMM slots with 128GB LR-DIMMs or Load Reduced DIMMs. Unlike today’s Registered DIMMs that use a chip to redrive some of the signals to the memory directly from the CPU an LR-DIMM uses a memory buffer to re-drive all of the data and instruction sets.
None of this comes cheap though. A single 32GB LR-DIMM  DDR4/2133 module costs $1,100, so you can imagine how much a 128GB LR-DIMM will cost when available.
And yup, if you guessed, the typical person doesn’t need 1TB of RAM, but in the “look what I could if I wanted to category,” it’s a major bragging point.
This factoid was actually noticed by Anandtech in a video Alienware published last month.

Best ultrabook laptop of 2017

Dell might be sticking to the adage of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” when it comes to the XPS 13, but that strategy keeps producing the best ultrabook of the bunch. The Kaby Lake XPS 13 shares the same design as its predecessors: a quality aluminium exterior and carbon-fiber top, and that wonderfully compact, bezel-free 13-inch screen.

Dell actually released two updates to the XPS 13 in 2016: The one at the start of the year swapped in a Skylake CPU, added a USB Type-C port that served as an alternative charging port, and offered upgraded storage options. The most recent refresh—and our new pick for Best Ultrabook—keeps the same chassis changes as the Skylake XPS 13, features a jump to Intel’s new Kaby Lake processor, and sports a slightly larger battery. You get improved performance across the board, with a nice bump of an extra half-hour of battery life during video playback.

The Kaby Lake version of the Dell XPS 13 maintains that balance between portability, compact size, and performance that we like so much.

Our only lingering complaint is the small keyboard, but overall, you can’t lose with the newest XPS 13. It’s a truly compact ultrabook that punches out of its class.

Runner-up

If looks are more your thing, the HP Spectre 13.3 certainly has a distinct profile: It’s one of the thinnest ultrabooks around. For anyone coveting the streamlined experience of Apple’s 12-inch MacBook, this 13-inch notebook will bring you close while providing superior performance.

You might expect such a skinny laptop to sport a lower-wattage Core i3 or i5 processor, but HP fits a 15 watt Core i5 or i7 processor into this Spectre. That puts it on par with other, chunkier top-tier ultrabooks, like the XPS 13. Combined with its 256GB M.2 SSD, it runs smoothly and swiftly during typical office drone work (word processing, spreadsheet editing, web browsing, etc), without any heavy throttling of performance during CPU-intensive tasks. HP also made the ports count: While there are just a few, you get not one but two Thunderbolt 3 ports, as well as a USB-C port.

The HP Spectre 13.3 is one of the sleekest ultrabooks around.

The drawbacks of this modern and sleek notebook are its battery life, which is modest due to its smaller battery, and its wider frame. (The Spectre 13.3’s hardware and cooling configuration requires a certain amount of space—HP’s engineering is impressive but can’t defy the laws of physics.) It’s for those reasons that we prefer the Dell XPS 13, but this laptop is still a very fine companion.

What to do when your laptop's touchpad stops working

When your laptop’s touchpad stops responding to your fingers, you’ve got a problem. Have you ever tried to use a Windows PC without a mouse, touchpad, or other pointing device? It’s all but impossible.

If the problem just started, reboot your computer and see if that fixes it. (Yes, I know that’s painfully obvious, but we all sometimes overlook the obvious.) If that doesn’t work, try these solutions.

First, make sure you haven’t accidentally disabled the touchpad. In all likelihood, there’s a key combination that will toggle the touchpad on and off. It usually involves holding down the Fn key (which is probably near the lower-left corner of the keyboard) while pressing another key.

But what other key should you press? It’s probably one of the function keys (F1 through F12), although it might be something else. Examine the keyboard, paying particular attention to the little icons (usually blue) on some of the keys. Look for an icon that might suggest the touchpad.

Unfortunately, not all touchpad icons are easy to figure out. I never would have guessed the one on my old Lenovo X220. I found it by searching on the model name and number plus “disable touchpad.” The answer, by the way, was F8. I had to search the answer again for my newer Lenovo Yoga 900, where it was F6. If you can’t guess the icon, I suggest you do the same.

If that doesn’t fix the problem, check the touchpad settings. In Windows 7 or 8, go to the Start menu or the search charm and type mouse settings. Select Change mouse settings (there are other options that are very similar, so pick the one with that exact wording). In Windows 10, click the Windows key and go to Settings > Devices > Touchpad. This brings you to the Touchpad settings page, where you can confirm the touchpad is enabled and check other options.

If that doesn’t help, you may need a new driver. Go to your laptop manufacturer’s website and search for your model number and the words touchpad driver. See if there’s a driver you can download and install.

If none of these suggestions work, you’ve got a hardware problem. Assuming you’re not ready to try this sort of repair yourself, you have two options: You can send the laptop to a shop for repairs, or you can buy a small, wireless mouse and use that in its place.

Intel's 8th-gen Core CPUs could boost laptop performance by 40 percent

Updated to add details of the rumored black Surface Book based on the 8th-generation Core chips, as well as Intel’s desktop processors.

For the first time, Intel’s upcoming 8th-generation Core CPUs will feature quad-core processors aimed at ultrabooks, offering performance as much as 40 percent faster than in the previous generation, the company said.

Intel hasn’t disclosed the prices of its four new 15-watt 8th-gen Core U-series chips, though the company revealed Monday how fast they’ll run: The slowest Core i5-8250U will run at 1.6GHz, with a boost clock of 3.4GHz; the fastest Core i7-8650U will run at 1.9GHz, boosting up to 4.2GHz.

All four U-series chips include four cores and eight threads. PCs using the new 8th-gen Core chips should begin shipping soon, Intel said, with about 80 new system designs ready to go by the 2017 holiday season.

The far more interesting story, at least for enthusiasts, is how Intel has loosened the definition of “generation,” as a slowing Moore’s Law has thrown off the company’s legendary tick-tock manufacturing process. These 8th-generation CPUs are not the upcoming Coffee Lake, as previously expected. Intel characterizes its new chips as a “Kaby Lake refresh,” referring to the current Kaby Lake chips as “prior generation” parts. Here’s another surprise: Both Coffee Lake and the upcoming 10nm Cannon Lake chips will also be part of Intel’s 8th-generation Core branding.

Confused? Let’s sum up: Intel’s 8th-generation Core chips will include three separate chip architectures and two process technologies, all under a single brand name. Whew!

A new crop of HP laptops flip or spin, and run Windows, Chrome or Android

HP announced a versatile lineup of PCs and PC-shaped things on Monday (Taipei time) at Computex, embracing the new normal in the world of PCs—which is, nothing’s normal.

A year ago, the PC diversification drive was just getting started, but now it’s in full swing. You want a laptop that can flip over with a 360-degree display hinge? HP’s got one. What about a laptop that can split in half? HP’s got one. Or maybe it looks like a laptop, but it runs Chrome or Android—HP’s got some of those as well. It’s also got plain ol’ Windows laptops and PCs, but that’s not where the excitement is anymore.

Let’s start with the hottest trend, which is notebooks that can flip all the way over to turn into a tablet, following the lead of Lenovo’s Yoga series. HP debuted the Pavilion x360 with a full-rotation hinge at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Now it’s got more fleshed-out specs, plus a fancier version that will carry HP’s Envy moniker.

The Pavilion x360 will have a 13.3-inch touch display and your choice of graphics-oriented AMD A6, A8, or A10 CPUs, or more battery-efficient Intel Core i3 or Core i5 CPUs. Speaking of battery life, HP specs it at up to 8.25 hours with the Intel chips, but up to only 6.25 hours with the AMD chips.

The Pavilion x360’s memory will run up to 8GB, and hard-drive storage will range from 500GB to 1TB. The Pavilion x360 will weigh about 4.3 pounds and come in red or silver case colors. The AMD versions will cost $630 and be available on July 9, while the Intel-based models will cost $600 and be available July 20.

The Envy x360 will be physically bigger than its Pavilion cousin, sporting a 15.6-inch display, a heavier 5.8-pound weight, and Intel Core i3-i7 processors. It’ll be configured with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage, including a hybrid option. Silver will be its sole case coloring. HP says the battery will last up to 7 hours. HP did not specify a ship date, but the price will be $680.

HP built several improvements into the new Split x2 hybrid, including a fanless design. Thanks to the advent of thinner hard drives, HP was also able to shift the main storage from the keyboard side to the tablet side, so users won’t be separated from their data regardless of the mode.

The Split x2 configurations will offer Intel Bay Trail and Haswell CPUs, 4GB to 8GB of RAM, and up to 500GB of hybrid storage. The 13.3-inch tablet side weighs 2.45 pounds, but the full unit with keyboard attached weighs 4.3 pounds. The tablet alone lasts 5.25 hours per HP’s spec or 7.75 hours with the keyboard (which has its own battery) attached. Colors will include white, silver, and red. The Split x2 will be available July 16th for a starting price of $600.

Less than a year after HP debuted the Chromebook 11 (with 11.6-inch display) it’s giving the line a look more similar to that of its Chromebook 14 cousins (with 14-inch display). Gone are the shiny white and classic black of the original version, designed in collaboration with Google. The new Chromebook 11 will come in Ocean Turquoise or Snow White.

The specs remain simple: a Samsung Exynos 5250 CPU, up to 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of local storage. It will weigh a pleasant 2.69 pounds, and HP says the battery will last up to 6.25 hours. HP set the price at $249, but a ship date has yet to be announced.

PC-shaped Android devices popped up at Computex in 2013, and a light trickle of models has come out since then. A recent roundup of Android AiOs shows how vendors are still experimenting with this fairly new concept.

HP introduced its Slate line of Android products last year, starting with a tablet and an All-in-One. This year, a new SlateBook delivers the Android experience in a clamshell design whose black and “sweet yellow” accents make me think it should be called SlateBee. The 14-inch Full HD touchscreen device will be driven by an Nvidia Tegra 4 chip and contain up to 2GB of RAM, and up to 64GB of storage. It will weigh a toteable 3.71 pounds. HP says the battery will last up to 9.25 hours. The new SlateBook will ship on August 6 for a starting price of $429.

I’ll give HP credit this year. It’s been playing catch-up in developing products for a new generation of users. The products it’s unveiled at Computex show that it’s assertively developing even fairly new product lines like the Slate Android devices. It hasn’t given up on its Windows business, but it’s responding to users’ restless search for more versatile form factors and tablet-like talents.

What do you think—is HP innovating, or is it straying too far from its PC roots? Let us know in the comments.

Correction: Due to erroneous press information, the price of the HP SlateBook was corrected from $399 to $429. PCWorld regrets the error.

How to find the proper replacement LCD for your HP Laptop

Laptop computers are subject to a lot of wear and tear, especially on their moveable parts. The monitor is one of the most used and abused parts of your computer as a result of this, and also its sheer size. Fortunately, it isn’t that hard to find and replace an HP LCD monitor for your laptop.

The first thing you’ll want to do is identify your machine, with a model number if possible. Typically, this will be displayed on the underside of the laptop on a white sticker called the service tag. If you’re not sure what is what on this sticker, write it all down. The model number identifies your machine, and the product number narrows it down even more.

If you are unable to find your specific model number, you may need to remove the LCD itself and find a part number on it. To do so, look at the front of your monitor. It will either have screws or caps along the edge facing you as if you were using the machine. If it has caps these can be removed simply by popping them off with a tool. Remove the screws beneath around the perimeter of the screen. Then, take a corner of the bezel (the part of your computer case surrounding the monitor itself) and carefully remove the entire face and set aside. Now at the bottom of your laptop, you should see screws on the hinges which will also need to be removed, carefully. Once this is done you should be able to lower the monitor itself face down to the keyboard, revealing its backside, which will list its specific part number.

If you do attempt to do this at home, be sure to remove the AC adapter and the battery. Remember always, safety first. If you are not comfortable with doing this, take your machine to a local repair shop, or contact your manufacturer for further assistance.

When shopping for replacement LCDs, there are a number of specifications of which to be cognizant. First and foremost will be size. Especially when purchasing a new laptop monitor, you will be locked into a specific size, so make sure your new monitor will fit your machine properly. Aspect ratio refers to the height and width of display, for example a 16:9 would be considered a widescreen display format. Resolution is typically the gold standard of performance rating. The higher the resolution, the more pixels the monitor will display. More pixels allow for a sharper, crisper image. Most common displays run at WXGA or XGA, depending on the aspect ratio. There are many other specifications that come in to play that you may wish to discuss with a computer repair shop or retailer, but those listed above will be the most influential to the quality and function of your display.

Common solutions to internet connectivity issues

One of the most frustrating problems many users face is that random seeming event when your computer simply will not connect to the internet. You can’t tell why, there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong, but no matter what you do, your computer just cannot seem to get online. There are however, a few common culprits that can get between you and the great wide world of web, and luckily they’re pretty easy to remedy as well.

First, do a quick cable check. If you are using a desktop computer, check the cable connections from the back of your tower, to your router (if you have one), to your modem, and finally to your wall. All connections should be tight and secure. If you’re using a laptop on a wireless connection, you should still check the cables from your router, to the modem, and finally to the wall. Also, while you’re checking your modem, check its status lights. Is it sending and receiving information? If it isn’t, you may need to contact your internet service provider.

Another simple cause of connectivity issues that happens more frequently than you’d think is actually having the wireless card enabled. Most laptops will have either a button or switch right near the keyboard to toggle the wireless card on and off. Check that this is in the “on” position. If this doesn’t fix the problem, go into your computer’s device manager and check the status of the wireless card. It may not be functioning properly, or may have been disabled manually while your wireless switch remained in the “on” position.

When in doubt, restart your modem and your router. Sometimes, they just get stuck. Routers are notoriously sensitive machines, and the tiniest thing can throw them off. Usually, unplugging either of these devices for about 10 seconds and then plugging them back in gets them to refresh themselves, which in itself can sometimes fix whatever problem you may be having.

If none of these things work, contact your internet service provider. Many times their technicians will be glad to assist you in checking everything over, and they can double check and confirm the status of your internet service as well.

Should you get an extended/accidental damage warranty for your computer?

Extended warranties extend the coverage against defects and problems that a computer may experience for a longer period of time. An accidental damage warranty can cover a computer repair in situations that the standard warranty may not, such as water damage or dropping a laptop on a floor. On the surface, these warranties could save you a lot of money if you need a repair, but are they worth it? Let us look at a few of the factors to consider.

Reliability

Computers tend to be more reliable today than they were even a few years ago. As manufacturing processes improve, the chance of a major failure is less likely.

Cost

When considering whether to purchase an extended warranty or accidental coverage, weigh the cost of the warranty with the likely cost of a major repair and/or the parts needed for that repair. Then consider the likelihood of the repair being necessary. Also consider the replacement cost for a new laptop. Laptops have become increasingly less expensive, often making it cheaper to purchase a new laptop with a new warranty than to pay for a costly repair.

Insurance Coverage

In some cases, home insurance may cover the cost of some computer problems, particularly those caused by lightning damage or other factors associated with your home. Check your policy to see what may already be covered.

Saving Alternatives

You may want to consider skipping an extended warranty, but to put the same amount of money in a savings account. If a repair becomes necessary, the money in the account may be enough to cover it. If a repair is never required, you can use the money to purchase your next computer, or keep it in the savings account for future repairs.

There is no quick and easy answer as to whether or not an extended warranty will be worth the money in every situation. There are many users who have saved a lot of money by utilizing an extended warranty, but also many who paid for one and never used it. Considering the factors listed above can help you to make an informed decision based on your own personal needs.

Adding A Large Hard Drive To Your Laptop

Sooner or later many users find that their laptop’s hard drive is full, and they begin to wonder if it is possible to upgrade it to a larger drive for more storage space. Not only is replacing your laptop hard drive possible, it is usually quite easy to do. Here are the steps required to replace your laptop’s hard drive with a larger one.

1. Find a replacement drive using an online parts locator

Before you start, you will need to find a compatible drive for your laptop with more storage space. Use an online parts locator tool to see which drives are compatible with your laptop model, as different models require different drive form factors. You will probably also want an external drive enclosure for the cloning process.

2. Clone your drive or Reinstall?

The easiest way to upgrade a laptop hard drive is to clone it with cloning software. This copies all files and partitions from the original drive to the new drive and you can simply boot up the laptop and pick up where you left off. Programs such as Acronis True Image or Norton Ghost can handle the cloning process, and will also expand the partition for the larger drive, allowing you to utilize all of the extra space.

If you choose not to clone the drive, you can simply backup all your important data, install the new drive, install the operating system, then move your files onto the new drive.

3. Find Instructions

The process of replacing the drive is somewhat different for each model, so it is a good idea to find specific instructions for your laptop’s model. Try searching for the term “service manual” along with your laptop’s model for instructions. You may also try a search such as “How to replace hard drive” and you laptop’s make and model.

4. Reuse your old drive

If you have purchased an external enclosure for the cloning process, you can place your old hard drive in this enclosure to use it for extra storage. Once you are sure your old files are backed up, you can delete the files on this drive or reformat to regain space.

The Benefits of SSD Hard Drives

There is a lot of talk about solid-state drives or SSD’s in the technology world, but the advantages and disadvantages of this technology are not always clear. Here we will look at how SSD’s are different from traditional hard disk drives, and the advantages and disadvantages that they provide.

A solid-state drive is one that uses solid-state memory instead of a hard disk platters to store and retrieve data. These drives are sometimes referred to as RAM drives, but more often they are simply referred to as SSD’s. SSD’s have no moving parts, unlike hard disk drives, which can encounter a number of problems related to their moving parts, especially when jolted or dropped.

Advantages:

The main advantage of SSD’s are the lack of moving parts, which reduces the chance of failures, as most problems with hard disk drives relate to mechanical failure of one or more moving parts. SSD’s do not need to “seek” data, but instead, can read multiple areas of the drive at once, virtually eliminating seek time. The lack of moving parts also makes the drives much quieter, and start-up time is much faster, as there is no need to wait for platters to spin up to speed.

Disadvantages:

The main disadvantage of SSD’s is that the flash memory used in the drives have a shorter lifetime than hard disk platters. This means that the drive’s memory will fail earlier in its lifetime. This problem has been reduced by the fact that modern drives spread out the read and write tasks across the entire memory of the drive, reducing wear on any one section. With this technology, the drives are capable of the same lifetime as a hard disk drive.

The other main disadvantage of solid-state drives is their high price. Since the drives use a much newer technology and flash memory is expensive, SSD’s are currently much more expensive than equivalent HDD’s. This is already beginning to change, however, and prices are continuing to come down as the process is refined.

While SSD’s are a niche market for those seeking better performance, they are expected to become the norm within a few years. Soon, the majority of computer users will be able to benefit from solid-state drives, without the high prices currently associated with them.

Toshiba Laptop Memory Replacement

When looking at upgrade options for a Toshiba laptop, you will find that upgrading the laptop memory is likely to have the greatest impact on the overall performance. Programs store their data in RAM when they are running. If multiple programs are open at once and the laptop runs out of free memory, it must begin using the hard drive to store and retrieve the extra data. Since hard drives are much slower than RAM, this results in slower performance. Upgrading memory allows users to run more programs with fewer slowdowns and speed up operating system load time.

Replacing your Toshiba laptop memory is one of the simplest upgrades to make. The basic steps are as follows:

1. Disconnect the AC adapter and remove the battery to ensure no power is going to the laptop. This reduces any risk of electric shock when disassembling the machine. The battery is most often removed by sliding the battery slider and removing the battery.

2. Locate the memory access panel on the bottom of the machine. It is usually marked with an icon that resembles a memory stick. In some cases it may be located behind the battery. If you have trouble locating this panel, consult your manual or a service manual for the exact location.

3. Remove any screws securing the memory access panel in place and remove it.

4. Gently release the two fingers holding the memory stick on each side and it should swing upwards. Carefully pull it out of the slot. Repeat for the second stick if there is one.

5. Place the new memory stick in the lower slot and snap it down into place. Repeat for the upper memory stick if there is one.

6. Replace the memory access panel and screws.

7. Replace the battery and reconnect the AC adapter. Boot up the computer and test that the full amount of memory is recognized by the computer.

At this point, if the memory is recognized and the laptop is working properly, you are finished. If you are having trouble you may want to check that you selected the proper memory module for your machine, or the possibility that the memory is not seated completely in the slot.

Selecting the Correct Laptop Memory Upgrade

Perhaps the most difficult part of performing a laptop memory upgrade is finding the proper type of memory for your specific laptop. Since this can be a complicated subject and often requires some research up front, let us look at a few of the most important aspects of laptop memory modules so you can better understand the key points of selecting your laptop memory.

Form Factor

Laptop memory comes in different form factors. The most common are SO-DIMM (small outline DIMM), others like SIMM (single inline memory module), DIMM (double inline memory module) were used in first generation laptops, but have not been used in years. SO-DIMMs are most often used in laptops as they are smaller than standard DIMM modules used in desktop computers. SO-DIMMs are usually 2.6 inches long and 1.25 inches in height. The smallest module available is the Micro-DIMM; these are very small modules only measuring about an inch wide and are used in high end ultra portable laptops.

Memory Type

In addition to the different form factors, memory is categorized into standards. The most common are DDR, DDR2, and DDR3. All DDR Memory operates in a similar manner as it transfers data on the rise and fall of each clock cycle; effectively doubling the transfer speed of older SDRAM technologies. Each increment represents an improvement in transfer speeds and latency. In some cases these standards are backwards-compatible, but not always. DDR is the first generation of Double Data Rate memory, and is the slowest of the DDR Standards; it is usually packaged in a 200 pin SO-DIMM form factor and runs at speeds of 266 MHz - 400 MHz. DDR2 memory is the second generation of DDR memory, it increases speeds to between 400 MHz and 800 MHz and are packaged in a 200 pin SO-DIMM form factor. The latest and greatest in laptop memory is DDR3; it is available in speeds of 800 MHz - 1600 MHz and comes in a 204 pin SO-DIMM package. DDR3 memory further reduces the operating voltage of DDR2 to a lower 1.5 Volts, offering a slight improvement in battery life.

Transfer Speeds

The speed rating for memory refers to the "clock speed" which is the rate at which the memory can send and receive data. As mentioned previously, DDR modules have clock speeds from 266 MHz to 400 MHz, DDR2 ranges between 400 MHz and 800 MHz, and DDR3 runs between 800 MHz and 1600 MHz. While a higher clock speed is usually better, one important rule to remember is that if you are adding memory alongside existing memory, no matter how fast the transfer speed is on the new memory, it will only run as fast as the old memory since all the RAM in the system has to operate at the same speed.

Pin Configuration

The number of pins and their configuration vary between types. It is important to match the memory type specifically to your laptop. The pin configuration is typically a product of the type of memory being utilized. DDR and DDR2 memory both use a 200 pin configuration for the modules, where DDR2 has a slightly different keying on the module, this helps avoid users trying to install memory into the wrong type of memory slot. Still care must be taken because the difference is very minor and to the naked eye may look the same. DDR3 use a 204 pin module which is the same physical size as DDR and DDR2, but has the key notch further towards the middle of the module.

Latency

Latency is the delay in time from when a memory controller tells the RAM module to access an explicit memory column. This delay is measured in clock cycles for most types of modules. The lower the number the better, but as with memory speed, all modules installed will run at the same latency no matter what their specific rating, so buying ultra low latency RAM and installing it with higher latency RAM will not take full advantage of the low latency RAM.

Voltages

Different standards also run on different voltages. First generation DDR memory runs at 2.5 Volts however DDR2 memory operates at a lower voltage of 1.8 Volts and thus improves on laptop battery life in most instances. The latest DDR3 memory runs at 1.5 Volts offering improved battery life over DDR and DDR2 memory. In general if you get the right memory type, be it DDR, DDR2 or DDR3, it will be the right voltage as the voltage is part of the standard for the module. As the memory types evolved, they began to use lower and lower voltages to operate the RAM memory which has helped curb the energy appetite of laptop computers.

As you can see, there is a lot to consider when selecting the correct memory for your laptop. If you are adding memory to your machine, you will need to know the specifications of the memory that is already installed in your machine, in order to get the correct memory. If you are replacing the memory, you only need to be concerned about what memory is compatible with the machine. Luckily, Spare Parts Warehouse has a wide selection of memory and easy to use tools to help you find the right memory upgrade for your laptop.

How to Install an Internal Laptop Wireless LAN Card

Most laptops with built-in Wi-Fi utilize a mini-PCI slot to support this type of card, making it fairly easy to install. In some cases, you can install an external wireless card into a PCMCIA or ExpressCard slot, but this requires an extra component sticking out of the laptop and is not ideal for most users. If you have a laptop with a failing Wi-Fi card it may be time to purchase a new network card. Although these are general steps for installing an internal laptop wireless LAN card, they should apply to most notebooks.

1. Remove the battery and disconnect AC Adapter

Before doing any repair work on a laptop, be sure to shut down the computer, unplug it from the wall, and remove the battery. This will help prevent static discharge while working on the machine.

2. Find the access panel and remove

Most laptops with a wireless card slot have an access panel that provides easy access. In most cases it will be a square panel on the bottom of the laptop. Remove screws and remove the panel. In some laptops the Wireless LAN card is located underneath the keyboard. There will be two metal clips on either side of the card edges holding the card down in place, release these and the card will pop up and can be removed.

3. Remove old Card / Insert the new card

Remove the old card from the Mini-PCI slot on the mainboard and compare it to the replacement, be sure they look very similar in shape and that the connections are the same. Line up the pins and insert it at a slight angle, press it into the slot and then slowly lower it until it locks into place.

4. Connect the antenna(s)

If your laptop has one or more antenna cables inside the access panel, you can connect these to the wireless card for better reception. Most cards have an antenna connector labeled "Main" and another labeled "Aux". Again, the connections should match your original card or you may have compatibility issues later.

5. Reassemble

Replace the access panel and screws and replace the keyboard if it was removed and secure all screws removed during disassembly. Replace the battery and reconnect the power cable.

6. Configure Wi-Fi Settings

If you replaced the defective card with the exact model that was originally in the machine, there will likely be no configuration needed. If it was a different model, you may need to reconfigure your Wi-Fi settings in Windows to allow you to connect to your wireless network.

Test to ensure the card is working properly and that you are able to connect to a wireless network. If you are sending and receiving correctly then you are finished with the installation, otherwise you may have to revisit the settings in Windows to confirm they are correct for your wireless network. If the card is not recognized by Windows, that may point towards the card not being installed correctly or a defective card. Retrace the installation steps to confirm the card is seated properly and all antenna wires are connected firmly.

Common Causes of Motherboard Failure

A laptop motherboard is the life line of a laptop. It controls virtually every component and handles the input and output of data to and from each part. When a motherboard begins to fail it can be a serious problem that can be expensive to fix and severely affect the usability of the machine. Here, we will look at some common causes of laptop motherboard failure.

The number one culprit for almost any failing component in a laptop is heat. Excessive heat is usually caused by poor ventilation, which could be blocked vents on the laptop or even a fan which is failing to cool the laptop correctly. Excessive heat can cause the motherboard to warp, which can make components on the board fail. It can also loosen solder points on the board, causing components to lose contact or short, causing mainboard failure. In nearly all of these cases, a replacement of the mainboard is the required fix.

Another common cause of laptop motherboard failure is an electrical problem such as a short or a static discharge. Computer components are very sensitive to over-voltage or under-voltage problems. They are also very sensitive to static electricity. Either of these issues can cause an electrical problem with the motherboard that may lead to failure.

In many cases, a mainboard failure is actually the result of some type of physical damage. For example, the laptop DC-in jack being damaged from stress being put on the connection, this is sometimes repairable by simply replacing the jack, but can also damage a board beyond repair. Other components or connections on the motherboard can be damaged from improper disassembly/reassembly during repairs. Some integrated components are not supplied as spare parts from the manufacturer and may leave motherboard replacement as the only option.

When a laptop mainboard failure occurs, it is a very labor-intensive task to replace or repair it. One should also weigh the cost of replacement/repair against the cost of a new laptop, as replacing a motherboard is often one of the most costly repairs you can make.