Laptop Screen Inverter
The small piece of circuit board, which is usually located underneath the plastic shell of your laptops screen casing, is probably the cause of one of the most common problems related to screen failure and, more specifically, dimness, or darkness to the screen itself.
The main purpose of the inverter is basically to give power to the backlight. The way it works is simple, it takes power from the laptop itself by a small inverter lead that runs from the motherboard of the laptop, sometimes it is a direct lead on its own, other times this lead can be connected into the inverter through the LCD cable (the lead that runs from the motherboard to the back of the screen itself), giving the screen its visual display.
At one end of the inverter, usually the left end, the lead that gives it power is plugged into a small white socket and from the other end, usually the right side, the backlight lead from the screen is plugged into another white socket. The backlight is a very small, thin, long, very delicate light bulb that runs along the very bottom or sometimes the side of the screen.
The problems related to the inverter is dimness or darkness to the screen in most cases or flickering of the backlight. Sometimes it can stop the screen form working at all but not usually. A common fault with laptop screens is a dark or dim screen, generally it is assumed that it is the backlight that is at fault, sometimes this may be correct, however more often or not it is simply the inverter not working, or not giving the backlight the power it needs. The inverter is usually cheaper to replace than the backlight, as the backlight is very fragile and can be easily broken. On some occasions a repair of the inverter is possible, although usually labour charges on fixing the inverter can sometimes lead up to being more expensive than simply replacing it.
When it comes to purchasing an inverter most companies will require the part number which is usually printed on a bar code on the outside of the inverter but sometimes you may need to look carefully to find it. If your lucky then you may get away with just stating what your laptop make and model is, for example I have an IBM Thinkpad T22 and I need an inverter, we try our hardest to locate the inverter with just these details, however sometimes you will need to provide the part number; here is an example of a part number from the inverter for an IBM Thinkpad T22, (10L1402). This inverter is also compatible with the IBM T21, and T20 all three laptops as a whole are basically the same apart from the processor.
Laptop Essentials! Five Basic Accessories to Think About
Everybody, it looks like, has a laptop today, and if you don't have one, you most likely are thinking of buying one. As if it's not difficult enough to choose from the many types and brands of laptops out there, you are also confronted with the many accessories that are available for one to. Of the overwhelmingly large amount of accessories out there, it can be certainly overwhelming to figure out what you really need for your laptop. Clearly, it is completely dependant upon your needs and plans with your computer, but there are five essentials you may want to consider to start with first.
Laptop Essential 1: If you are planning to use your laptop at home with any kind of regularity, you will want to consider getting an external keyboard and pointing device (mouse). Why? Well, believe me, if you have ever tried typing on a laptop for any more than an hour, then without a doubt you know that your neck, shoulders, and wrists can start to feel wiped out, to say the least. Well, the solution is to buy an external keyboard, which you can plug into the back of your laptop, as well as a mouse. And if you use your laptop in the office you can raise the screen up with books or risers of some sort to make looking at the screen a little more ergonomic. Of course you can also purchase accessory swivel stands for your laptop as well if you want them.
Laptop Essential 2: When your home you will most likely want to connect other peripheral devices to your laptop, like a printer, maybe a DVD player, or even a CD burner. This can create a lot of clutter with all the wires you need to plug in and unplug if you want to take your laptop out of the house or move room to room or even take it to the office. So to resolve this problem, you will absolutely love a docking station.
Now a docking station basically turns your laptop into a desktop computer when you're home and when you're ready to take it away, you simply slip it out of the station and off you go.
Another alternative along the same lines is a port replicator, which has computer ports. You connect your external devices to the replicator and then to your laptop. When you want to move your laptop, you simply detach the one port replicator, rather than each external device.
Laptop Essential 3: Now this isn't as exciting as some of the other accessories, but I assure you, you will be thankful you have it, and that is an external hard drive. It's certainly not going to make your day, and it certainly won't throw any excitement in your life, but the morning you wake up and your laptop won't start will be the day you are overjoyed that you decided to get that external hard drive.
Here's a little tip to go along with your new external hard drive: never pack your backup drive and your laptop in the same case when going on a trip, keep them separated. If you happen to lose your bag with both the backup drive and the laptop in it, you're going to have a really bad day!
Laptop Essential 4: This little device will allow you to hook up everything you need. So make sure you go out and get yourself an external USB hub. Desktop computers sometimes come with several USB ports, some with as many as 8 or 9. But, laptops since they are smaller, often only have a couple of USB ports. USB hubs will usually have four or more ports that will connect through one of your laptop's USB port making them very easy to use to hook up multiple USB devices.
Laptop Essential 5: You need to think about the worst thing that can happen with your laptop. Now you probably bought your laptop so you can work out of the office, or your home, or wherever you need to, right? Well, since you will be out and about, you will definitely want to think about insurance for your laptop. The manufacturer's warranty usually doesn't cover anything beyond parts, and an extended warranty will certainly not cover theft, though it may cover you for breakage or fire.
Finally, there are literally thousands of different accessories available for your computer. Of course some you might need and others you won't. It really depends on what your plans are for your laptop as well as where you plan on using it. Nevertheless, these five things are indispensable to making your laptop as functional to you as possible. While there may be some variation to what you need, most of these items will be valuable to anyone who owns a laptop, no matter how you expect to use your portable computer.
Laptop Batteries are More Than a Black Box
More than meets the eye.
Laptop batteries are the most important battery in the field of rechargeable batteries, but they are also the most complicated and regulated of all rechargeable batteries. The process alone to manufacture a laptop battery is long. How laptop batteries interact with the computer to function properly is another lengthy process. Manufacturers are also working constantly to improve laptop battery technology.
The process used to created laptop batteries involves a system of tests and re-tests to insure safety and reliability. Inside that plastic case that is the finished product, there are a number of components besides the battery that make it work. Inside the casing, there are safety fuses, breakers, thermistors, and charge electronics which all aid in the functionality of laptop batteries. The battery pack casing is welded together in a specific process and is then sent on for final inspection. During final inspection, tests are documented for form, fit and function and once the battery passes the test, it is labeled with a lot and date code.
All those extra components added to the battery pack are essential for laptop battery functionality. The thermistor controls the resistance of the battery and tells the computer to stop charging when the battery heats up as it completes charging. The circuit breaker helps protect against over charging and short circuits.
Laptop batteries are built with the best quality battery components that can be found. Battery cells are ensured to yield the highest capacity and safety qualifications, whether the battery cell is NiCD, NiHM, or Li-Ion. Some batteries are even equipped with their own microprocessor that communicates important charge information to the computer.
Information about laptop batteries proves that they are some of the most advanced rechargeable batteries available. Now when choosing a laptop battery, you wont just see a black box, but rather a mini-computer that helps your laptop to run reliably and effectively.
Laptop Batteries and Laptop Battery Care
Laptop Batteries are essential for keeping a laptop running properly. In many cases, businesses, whether personal or corporate, depend on laptops for business dealings day to day. There are a number of ways to properly care and maintain a laptops main power source, the battery. Battery construction of laptop batteries is very different from other traditional electronic device batteries. A brief overview of the construction of laptop batteries will help provide insight into factors that affect the life and care of laptop batteries.
Laptop batteries are constructed with a number of crucial components to regulate charge and power supply to the laptop. A thermistor measures the charge of the battery and regulates how much charge the laptop sends to the battery. When the battery is fully charged, the thermistor tells the laptop to stop charging. Safety fuses and breakers in the laptop battery also help prevent overcharging and aid in overall functionality of the laptop battery. So there is an essential communication that must occur between the components of the laptop battery and the laptop itself to ensure proper function of both the computer and the power supply.
Laptop batteries are becoming more advanced that other types of batteries. In the past they were constructed of NiCd or NiMH which provided less power and did not recharge well. Lithium polymer batteries are the newest revelation in battery technology and they are leaps and bounds beyond old metal batteries. They provide the right amount of power and charge in a fraction of the time of metal batteries. The advantages of lithium batteries make new laptop batteries more practical. Lithium batteries therefore help improve the life of laptop batteries and also make them a more valuable battery for the money.
There are a number of precautions to take to ensure safe and practical function of the laptop battery. Some laptop batteries can become overheated from charging which can create a fire hazard. It is important to place the laptop battery in a location that is free of flammable objects such as paper or furnishings. In general, it is good to avoid extreme temperatures for proper optimal function of a laptop battery. Battery life of a laptop battery depends greatly on how the laptop is used. A laptop battery will not last very long without being charged. A useful method to extend battery life is to close as many unnecessary programs as possible. By closing programs that will not be needed will save useful battery life.
These are just a few pieces of information about laptop batteries that will help the user understand how to care for laptop batteries and how to manage laptop battery life. There is much more information about laptop batteries, including battery construction, battery charging and much more.
I Bought My Laptop, Now What?
You just purchased that new, used, or refurbished laptop and are ready to get into the thick of things. Just where do you start?
Get used to the features of your notebook
Each laptop has specific features based on manufacurer, model, and year. Make sure you know the basics such as how to "suspend" your laptop,(or get it out of suspension) - how to adjust brightness and volume etc. This will be time well spent as you continue to use your laptop.
In the case of a refurbished laptop computer, many experts recommend charging and then totally discharging the battery. This will help "condition" the battery for use and gives you an idea of what kind of battery life your machine will get. The jury is still out on this, but it may be worthwile.
Register any necessary warranties
Make doubly sure that you place all warranty information, receipts, and manuals in a safe place just in case you'll need them. Make sure you understand the warranty terms and how to return the notebook if found defective. Many warranties, especially third party warranties need to be registered within 30 days for you to be able to file a claim.
Download all the latest "freebees"
Download.Com is a godsend for those of us who don't like to pay for things that make computing easier. There are many free and inexpensive programs here that will help keep your laptop free of viruses, spyware, and other malicious problems. In addition, There are some excellent productivity programs that are 100% free. Here are some must have programs for your laptop.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
There is a possibility that this came with a program on your laptop computer, but it never hurts to check their website at www.adobe.com to ensure that you have the latest version.
AVG Antivirus
This is a totally free antivirus program that continually updates itself. It scans drives and emails and the personal edition is free.
Filezilla
This is a very full-featured FTP program that assists those performing website development and services. It also helps for uploading or downloading large files.
How To Upgrade Your Own Laptop For Under 175
Do you have an old laptop lying around just collecting dust that for whatever reason, you no longer use? It just seems so antiquated, and slow. All you want to do is get rid of it. The hard drive is too small, and the memory sucks, plus you're already planning on getting a sweet newer laptop.
I was in the same predicament. I have a 2 and half year old Compaq Presario 2500 that's seen better days. I was thinking of giving it away, or putting it to sleep in favor of a newer laptop. It was my workhorse for the longest time, and had seen some serious abuse and usage. I was ready to put it to sleep and move on when I decided to refurbish, and upgrade it.
Just like I did, you may not have to get rid of that old laptop just yet. I'm going to show you how I breathed some some new life into my old laptop, and I did it for under 175. Consider this a perfect time to polish off your tech skills. I will show you how I upgraded my laptop, and how you can too.
Unlike a PC, there are only a few components that can be easily upgraded in a laptop. The main 2 are the hard drive, and the memory. If you were skillful enough, you could replace the motherboard, and if you knew how to solder, then you could possibly fiddle with the processor as well, but we'll work under the assumption that this is beyond your knowledge.
You won't need any fancy tools to upgrade your laptop. All you'll really need is a jeweler's screwdriver set which you can get for under 10 from any hobby store.
Before you begin handling any of the internal components, make sure your laptop is turned off, and that you remove the battery. There's no sense in getting shocked. Also, make sure to get rid of any residual static electricity by touching the chassis before you dive in.
I went to my favorite online hardware store, http:newegg.com, for my upgrade purchasing. I go to that website because it's loaded with every type of computer hardware under the sun, and they have the best deals I've found. I had to really focus on the task at hand because once there, I'm like a kid in a candy store.
The hard drive is relatively easy to get to and replace on most laptops. However, I still had to check my laptop's user manual for hard drive removal instructions. Originally, my laptop had come with a 40GB hard drive, but I wanted to double that. I found an 80GB Western Digital Scorpio hard drive at http:newegg.com , and for only 80. 99, this is the one I went with.
Next came the memory. Originally, my laptop came with a paltry 256MB of RAM. I wanted at least 1GB because my laptop had been moving glacially slow. I'm not sure how I dealt with it for all those years. Please note, that not all laptops can support a memory upgrade so you should make sure yours can before you buy anything.
To see if mine could, I went to http:ramfinder.com. You can go there too and see how much RAM your laptop can support. Fortunately, the Compaq Presario 2500 can support 1 GB so I went with two 512MB Corsair memory sticks, which I got from NewEgg for only 45.99 each.
Once I had the hard drive and the memory installed, I re-loaded the operating system, and all the drivers. The whole process from start to finish (after I had the components shipped to me) took about 45 minutes, and now I have a laptop that behaves like new but cost me only 172. 97. Considering a new laptop with equal components would have cost me between 700-900, I think I did pretty good, and you will too. Just follow this simple guide and you can save yourself hundreds of pounds while extending the life of that old laptop of yours.
How to Prepare a Bug Out Laptop Kit
Can you imagine being away from your computer for an extended period of time? No internet, no email, no funny jokes, no games to play? Many people have found themselves in this position when the unexpected happens. In the event of a natural disaster, terrorist event or a bird flu pandemic, having access to your computer could be a lifesaver. Are you one of the many people who have all their personal and financial records stored on their computer with no back up and no way to access them in the event of an emergency?
Because we are so wired these days, a backup laptop computer should be considered part of your essential survival gear just as much as a 3 day supply of food and extra water. You can either choose to use your existing laptop or buy a used one specifically for use in the event of an emergency.
Now you could buy one of the laptops that are made to withstand extreme conditions but that will set you back several thousand and probably isnt necessary. You can find a number of good used laptops online for a few hundred pounds. It doesnt have to be the latest and greatest, it just needs to get the job done when you need it to. A good basic laptop with a cd rom and a good battery will do the trick.
Items you will want to add will include a wireless card for accessing the internet. While your internet access may be down you may be able to find a hot spot for access. Most laptops will have a built-in modem, if not you will want to add a modem card also. Cell phone connectors so you can access the internet via your cell phone. You may need to add internet access to your cell phone plan. Modem and network cables, you need to be able to plug and play. Power cable and ac adapters. A 12-volt adapter and converter. You could run your laptop directly off 12 volt or run it through a converter to charge the battery. A spare battery. Any other laptop accessories you feel necessary such as external mouse or even a solar battery charger. With this setup you should be able to access the internet either through dialup or wireless. You may also want a small external hard drive or flash drive. A portable printer is nice but not absolutely necessary. All needed software should be loaded along with a backup or emergency startup disk. Dont forget to load in your favorite bookmarks.
You will need to decide what files you want to take with you. You should have a backup from your main computer of your personal and financial records. Burn these to a cd. You could have another cd with your household inventory complete with digital pictures. If your house is destroyed you have a record of the contents. Consider scanning in family photos so you have a backup of those. Dont forget to have a copy of all your passwords for accessing online sites and accounts. Address book and email contacts will also be important. Any other or vital documents that would be hard to replace and are essential to recovery after any type of emergency should be backed up. Consider scanning in copies of your will, birth certificate, marriage certificate, titles and deeds. Because this information is private consider security software to encrypt it in the event it fell into prying eyes.
You may want to build a cd reference library of information that could help you survive a disaster and recover. Backwoods Home Magazine offers back issues on cd including one specific to survival. The Mother Earth News also has back issues on cd. Both would give you a wealth of survival and how to information. You might also include foreign language cds, learning cds appropriate for your childrens ages, games, if you cant live without them and to pass the time. Reference books could include encyclopedias, yellow pages for your area, maps, cookbooks and anything else that will help you out.
If you have high-speed internet access at home, get a list of dialup numbers from them for around the country or consider an AOL account or other national provider. If you cant access the internet one way you should be able to access it another way.
Now, the whole idea of this setup is to bug out with it. Grab and go in the event of an emergency. You will want to store it all in a good laptop case with easy access. For extra protection you may want to consider a waterproof case (good in the event of a flood) or a hard side case such as an aluminum one that photographers use to protect their equipment. Other family members should know where you keep it so if you are not at home and they need to leave they can grab it for you.
Before you pack it all away, test it out. Make sure your connections are working and it starts up without problems. Test it once a month and make sure the batteries are still charged. Try accessing the internet through dialup and a wireless hot spot. Work out the bugs before you need to use it in an emergency.
Having a backup bug out computer will help you when the unexpected happens and get you back on the road to recovery.