Chapter 6: Laptops

and Portable
Devices

IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software v4.1

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 Chapter 6 Objectives
 6.1 Describe laptops and other portable devices
 6.2 Identify and describe the components of a laptop
 6.3 Compare and contrast desktop and laptop
components
 6.4 Explain how to configure laptops
 6.5 Compare the different mobile phone standards
 6.6 Identify common preventive maintenance
techniques used for laptops and portable devices
 6.7 Describe how to troubleshoot laptops and portable
devices
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 Chapter 6 Worksheets
 6.1.2 Worksheet: Research Laptops, Smart Phones,
and PDAs
 6.2.3 Worksheet: Laptop Docking Stations
 6.3.4 Worksheet: Laptop Expansion
 6.4.1 Worksheet: ACPI Standards
 6.7.2 Worksheet: Research Laptop Problems

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 Optional Virtual Laptop Activities
 6.2.1 Explore the different views of the virtual laptop
 6.2.2 Explore the virtual laptop keyboard
 6.2.3 Explore the different views of the docking station
 6.4.2 Replace components and devices in the virtual
laptop

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 Introduction
 Do you know when the first laptops were developed?
 Who do you think used the early laptops?
 One of the original laptops was the GRiD Compass
1101. It was used by astronauts on space missions in the
early 1980s.
 It weighed 11 lb (5 kg) and cost US $8,000 - $10,000!
 This chapter focuses on the differences between laptops
and desktops and describes the features of PDAs and
Smartphones.

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 Laptops and Portable Devices
 Notebooks, laptops, and tablets are types of portable
computers.
 For clarity and consistency in this course, all portable
computers will be called "laptops".
 Today, laptops are very popular because advances in
technology have resulted in laptops that cost less, weigh
less, and have improved capabilities.
 PDAs offer features such as games, web surfing, e-mail,
instant messaging, and many other features offered by
PCs.
 Smartphones are cell phones with many built-in PDA
capabilities.
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 Common Uses of Laptops
 Taking notes in school or researching
papers
 Presenting information in business
meetings
 Accessing data away from home or the
office
 Playing games while traveling
 Watching movies while traveling
 Accessing the Internet in a public place
 Sending and receiving email in a public
place
 Can you think of other uses for laptops?
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 Common Uses of PDAs and Smartphones
 The PDA is an electronic personal
organizer with tools to help organize
information
 The Smartphone is a mobile phone with
PDA capabilities.
 Other uses of PDAs and Smartphones are
to take phone calls, voice memos, taking
notes, text messaging, browsing the
internet, reading eBooks, playing games,
internet chat, music, contacts, calendar
and GPS.

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 The Components of a Laptop
Common laptop features:
 Small and portable
 Integrated display screen in lid
 Integrated keyboard
 AC power source or rechargeable battery
 Hot-swappable drives and peripherals
 Some type of docking station or port replicator to
connect to peripherals

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 Components Outside of a Laptop
 Top view of virtual laptop

Bluetooth
status LED

Standby
Battery LED
status LED

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 Components Outside of a Laptop
 Rear view of virtual laptop

Parallel port
AC power
Battery bay connector

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 Components Outside of a Laptop
 Left side view of virtual laptop
Ventilation grill
RJ-11 modem Network LEDs

USB Ethernet Microphone PC card

port port jack slot

Security S-video Headphone

keyhole port jack

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 Components Outside of a Laptop
 Front view of virtual laptop

Latch
Infrared Speakers
port
Ventilation grill

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 Components Outside of a Laptop
 Right side view of virtual laptop

Optical drive VGA

port
Optical drive
indicator Drive bay
indicator

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 Components Outside of a Laptop
 Underside view of virtual laptop

Battery Docking
latches connector

RAM
access
panel

Hard drive
access panel
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 Components Inside of a Laptop
 Open laptop
Volume controls Power button

Pointer controller

Keyboard Fingerprint
reader

Touchpad
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 Components Inside of a Laptop
 LEDs inside laptop

Hard
Num lock drive Battery

Wireless Bluetooth Caps lock

Power Standby
on

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 Components on a Docking Station
 Top view of docking station
Power
button

Eject
button
Docking
connector

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 Components on a Docking Station
 Rear view of docking station Headphone
connector
USB
PC card VGA DVI
Line In port
AC power connector
connector slot port port

Exhaust Ethernet RJ-11 Serial Parallel Keyboard

port
fan port port port port
Mouse
External-diskette-drive port
connector

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 Components on a Docking Station
 Right side view of docking station

Key lock

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 Compare Laptop Components and
Desktop Components
 Desktop components tend to be standardized. They
usually meet universal form factors.
 Laptop manufacturers focus on refining laptop
components to make them more efficient and compact
as a result, laptop components are proprietary.
 You may not be able to use components made by one
laptop manufacturer to repair a laptop made by another
manufacturer.

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 Compare Motherboards

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 Compare CPUs

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 Compare Power Options

Laptop Power Options Desktop Power Options

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 Compare Expansion Capabilities

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 Compare Expansion Capabilities

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 Configure Laptops
 To allow applications and processes to run smoothly:
Configure and allocate system resources
Install additional components and plug-ins
Change environmental settings to match software requirements.

 A laptop can be customized for specific purposes by

adding external components.
 Adding external components is usually accomplished
through the use of Plug and Play, but occasionally
driver installation and additional configuration may be
required.
 Follow safe removal procedures when disconnecting
hot-swappable and non-hot-swappable devices.
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 Configure Laptop Power Settings
ACPI Standards
S0 The computer is on and the CPU is running.
The CPU is not running. However, the CPU and RAM
S1 are still receiving power.
The CPU is off, but the RAM is refreshed. The system
S2 is in a lower power mode than S1.
The CPU is off, and the RAM is set to a slow refresh
rate. This mode is often called “Save to RAM”. In
S3 Windows XP, this state is known as the Standby
mode.
The CPU and RAM are off. The contents of RAM
have been saved to a temporary file on the hard disk.
S4 This mode is also called “Saved to Disk”. In Windows
XP, this state is known as the Hibernate mode.
S5 The computer is off and nothing has been saved.

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 Checking the ACPI Settings in the BIOS
Here are the steps to check the ACPI settings in the
BIOS:
1. Enter BIOS setup by pressing the appropriate key or
key combination while the computer is booting.
Typically this is the Delete key or the F2 key, but there
are several other options.
2. Locate and enter the “Power Management settings”
menu item.
3. Use the appropriate keys to enable ACPI mode.
4. Save and Exit BIOS setup.

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 Power Settings in Windows XP
To configure your power settings, click:
Start > Control Panel > Power Options

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 Replacing Laptop Components

 CAUTION: Always disconnect power and remove the battery

before installing or removing laptop components that are not hot-
swappable.
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 Mobile Phone Standards

Internet
Purpose
Standard

• Short Message • Used for text

Service (SMS) messaging
• Multimedia • Used for sending and
Message Service receiving photos and
(MMS) videos
• Packet Switching • Used for accessing
the Internet

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 Proper Cleaning Procedures
 Follow proper cleaning procedures to clean a laptop.
 Keyboard  Floppy drive
 Ventilation  Optical disk drive
 LCD display  CD or DVD disc
 Touch pad

 CAUTION:
Do not spray cleaning solution directly onto the LCD display.
Use products specifically designed for cleaning LCD displays.
Use a soft, lint-free cloth with an approved cleaning solution to
avoid damaging laptop surfaces.
Apply the cleaning solution to the lint-free cloth, not directly to
the laptop.
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 Optimal Operating Environments
 Pack for transport
 Clean properly
 Ventilate
 Air temperature
 Humidity

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 Troubleshooting

 Determine if a repair is
cost-effective.
 The cost of the repair
should be compared to
the replacement cost
minus the salvage value.

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 Troubleshooting Process
Step 1 Gather data from the customer
Step 2 Verify the obvious issues
Step 3 Try quick solutions first
Step 4 Gather data from the computer
Step 5 Evaluate the problem and implement the solution
Step 6 Close with the customer

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 1. Gather Data from the Customer
 Customer information
Company name, contact name, address, phone number

 Laptop information
Manufacturer, model, OS, network environment, connection
type

 Description of problem
Open-ended questions
What was happening when you first experienced the
problem?
Closed-ended questions
Is the laptop currently using the battery as the power
source?
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 2. Verify the Obvious Issues
Examine the most obvious causes of a problem.
 Loose or improper connections
Check the Device Manager; remove and reinsert components

 Power issues
Check power LEDs and power source

 Wireless network issues

Check network LEDs, Network Connections and wireless signal
strength

 Sound and audio issues

 Stylus issues
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 3. Try Quick Solutions First

A quick solution can save time and money.

 Reboot the computer.
 Verify BIOS settings.
 Remove or unplug unnecessary peripherals.
 Use the Last Known Good Configuration option.

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 4. Gather Data from the Computer
Data gathered from the laptop can be used to confirm
the problem description given by the customer.

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 5. Evaluate Problem & Implement Solution
1. Evaluate the information gathered from the customer
and from the laptop
2. Determine possible solutions
 Previous experience of  Manufacturer FAQs
solving problems with
computers  Computer manuals

 Other technicians  Device manuals

 Internet search engines  Online forums and chat

 News groups  Technical websites

3. Implement the best solution

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 6. Close with the Customer
 Discuss with customer the solution implemented.
 Have customer verify problem is solved.
 Provide all paperwork to customer.
 Document steps of solution.
 Document components used in repair.
 Document time spent to resolve the problem.

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 Common Problems and Solutions
Problem Symptom Possible Solution
Disconnect any external
LCD laptop screen is not
monitors and use Fn key
displaying anything
sequence to activate the LCD
Swap laptop to AC power and
Image on the LCD screen is
adjust brightness controls for
too dim
the LCD

Image on the LCD screen Adjust display resolution

contains a black border setting

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 Chapter 6 Summary
Laptops and Portable Devices
 Description of portable devices
 Laptop components
 Configuration procedures
 Preventive maintenance techniques

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 Additional Resources
 Whatis?com: IT Encyclopedia and Learning Center
http://whatis.com
 TechTarget: The Most Targeted IT Media http://techtarget.com
 ZDNet: Tech News, Blogs and White Papers for IT Professionals
http://www.zdnet.com
 HowStuffWorks: It's Good to Know
http://computer.howstuffworks.com
 CNET.com http://www.cnet.com
 PC World http://www.pcworld.com
 ComputerWorld http://www.computerworld.com
 WIRED NEWS http://www.wired.com
 eWEEK.com http://www.eweek.com
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 Q and A

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