MY Hard Disk Is Dead. How Do I Replace It?

 Hello laptop users

One  fine day you turn  your laptop on  hoping to beat the deadline for a project that your  boss has been hounding you about. Then all of a sudden you see the dreaded message on your screen saying "Hard disk not available.." All of  a sudden this look of dread unfolds spectacularly on your face. You respond with"Gosh! My Hard Disk is Dead. My boss is going to kill me. How do I Replace It?"

Well  not to worry! I'm going to show you how to replace your hard disk so you can meet your deadline. But before we start this tutorial, you need to do the following:

• Get yourself a Phillips Head screwdriver(Get one at Amazon)
• Turn off your laptop completely and disconnect laptop power cable
• Relocate your laptop to a flat surface
• Get yourself an anti-static wrist wrap(Get one at Amazon) and a conductive foam pad

Now tthat we've gotten the tools out of the way Let's get started. We are going  to start with

Removing The Hard Disk

First remove the battery

Next remove the service door. This component gives you access to the memory module.

After removing the service door you then use your Phillips screw driver to remove the two screws that tighten the hard drive. When you dislodge the two screws put them aside as you will need them when you  insert the new hard disk

After unscrewing the hard disk you slide it back into its original slot,

You then disconnect the cable from its connector using the black tab on the hard disk drive cable.

Here you locate four head screws- to on each side of the hard drive.  Use the Phillip screw driver to remove the four head screws . You will need them when you insert the new hard disk.

You then gently remove the hard  disk from its compartment.

Now that you have removed the hard drive from its carrier  next you disconnect the hard drive cable from the drive

And finally you place  the hard drive anm an anti-static bag.

Now that we have managed  to dislodge the hard disk, how about we try to

Replace The Hard Disk

Put the hard drive connecter back in its slot

Next place the hard drive in its compartment

Reinsert the four screws with the Phillips screw driver to tighten the hard disk in its slot

Next you place the hard drive in the hard drive compartment

Slot the hard drive back

Next you reconnect the hard drive to its connector

You now slide the hard drive til all the screws align

Insert the two screws to secure the hard disk 

Close the service door

And finally reinsert the battery

That's a wrap for  How Do I Troubleshoot and Fix My Laptop Battery?"  I hope you get the hang of  replacing the hard disk. With a little practice you should  be able handle this with ease. If you missed our last lesson on how to add more memory to your laptop click here 

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My Laptop Is In Need of More Ram(Memory) How Do I Upgrade?

 Hello laptop users

Last time we touched on how  to troubleshoot and fix a laptop battery. Today we  have this question: My laptop is in need of more RAM. How do I upgrade? Basically we are going to learn how to add more memory to an already slow laptop.

Anytime a laptop is crawling like a turtle or you have tons of brows sessions open, it can only mean one thing:It's time to give your RAM an upgrade. Once your laptop starts running out ofn physical memory  it starts transferring data to your hard disk which is just as slow as the ram itself. And by the way not all laptops give you free access to the RAM. But I'll show you how to to  upgrade your memory. Here is how. First:

Check How Much Memory Your Laptop is  Utilizing 

Got to Windows Task Manager and check how much memory your laptop is utilizing. Next click  on hte "Performance" option and  see how much memory is beingconsumed out of the total memory available. The Task manager should also show you how many physical memory slots are  available ro be filled.

For information click on the Resource Monitor at the bottom of the Task Manager and look for the memory tab. If the data says you are close to over the limit, you need to add more memory.

Touch Metal Surface To Avoid Electro-static Discharge

Before you start working on your memory modules make sure you touch all metall surfaces  to avoid deadly electrostatic discharge. This discharge is generated from the body which can cause irreparable damage to your laptop.

After that:

Remove and Replace Memory

Since all the memory slots are already full pull out the current memory modules and replace them with new ones. To remove the module, push apart the pins holding the memory module. When you do that the memory module pops up at an angle.  You then hold the module by the edges with both fingers and lift the module out.

Last but not least

Install Laptop Memory Modules

Finally insert the  new memory modules into the open slots at a a 45 degree angle. Apply reasonable pressure to push the modules into their open slots. When you hear a click and  snap by the modules push the module back hard until they are installed flat and level and the clips are holding them tightly.

There you have it! Your memory modules are nicely installed. So turn your laptop on and head to your Task Manager. to verify that your mew memory is reflecting. has been added. 

Have fun with your upgraded memory.

If you are looking to upgrade your laptop memory you can purchase laptop memory modules at Amazon. Just make sure the parts are the exact parts recommended by your manufacturer.

For more information on upgrading laptop memory  look up Pump up Your Laptop Memory

That's a wrap for  How Do I Troubleshoot and Fix My Laptop Battery?" Next time we'll touch on how to  replace hard disks

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How Do I Troubleshoot and Fix My Laptop Battery?

 Hello  People

Today we are going to answer one gnawing question: How Do I Troubleshoot  and  Fix My Laptop Battery? One day you connect your laptop   adapter only realize nothing is coming out of the adapter.One day you  connect your AC adapter  only realizing your adapter is gone dead - The lights aren't glowing, your LCD is not nice and sharp as it usually does.

You say to yourself "Hmmm.....Something is wrong. What's going on  here?" Well  we need to do some troubleshooting to ascertain what the problem is. So first off:

Is Your Laptop Plugged In?

This may sound like a strange question but it's important . Saying Open Sesame will not turn your AC adapter  on.  You have to manually make sure that your AC adapter is properly fitted in your extension board.

Next make sure all removable cords are properly inserted. Of course check to see whether the battery is properly is situated in its location and that all its contact points are intact.

More importantly, find out whether the issue is with the laptop after all. How do you do that? You  plug the power chord to check whether there is a blown fuse somewhere.

If after all this it still doesn't work, it can only mean one thing: Your laptop has power issues. Now all that is left now is figure out where the problem is.  So how  are we going to  pinpoint the problem? By process of elimination.  The first thing we are going to do is:

Drain Leftover Power From The Battery

Take the battery out of the laptop  and hold the power button down for about 15 seconds. This should drain out any leftover power remaining in the battery.  After draining the battery, plug in the power cable and turn the laptop on. If the power turns on without the hitch, it mean the  battery could be dead. However, nothing stops you from reinstalling the original battery. It's possible that it shifted out of place. 

However, if your laptop is inbuilt(Like Mac), you have two choices. You either open up your laptop to test or take it to a specialist to have the laptop tested.

Is Your USB  Port Functioning?

Aside from from transferring data the USB port  comes in handy when you experience laptop charging issues. In case you run into  charging issues make sure your are connected to the correct port. You should be able to see an icon indicating the port meant for charging.

One question you need to ask yourself is:

Does My Charger Have Enough Power?

I can hear somebody going "What kind of question is that?" Well the fact that your laptop  charger fits in  your USB port does not  necessarily mean it carries enough power to charge your laptop. When buying a laptop make sure you check the wattage level of the laptop charger. 

If the watt level is 45W(45 watts) you're safe. If the wattage is lower than 45W you are in trouble. Although it may  be enough to drain  the battery it may not do much to charge your battery. If anything your battery  will crawl like a tortoise. So make sure you sure the watt level of your  charger is a 45W. Or else your laptop will be in a world of hurt.

Next  up is:

Look Out For Breaks Burnouts And Shorts 

Check for breaks burnouts  and shorts along the the length of the cord. Look for broken connections such loose plugs or chewed up spots.  Check your AC brick for change of color. If it smells likes burnt, that could be the source of  all your troubles. In that case contact your  your manufacturer so they send you  a replacement under the warranty terms .of your purchase

Is Your Laptop  Connector Properly Connected?

You need to check to see whether your power connecter is properly slotted in. If it;s not slotted in properly. In that case clean out  the jack wit a tooth pick and try connecting it again. If you  try connecting it and the jack feels wobbly and loose it means the jack is broken and stuck inside the chassis. 

And when it happens, it can only mean one thing. open the laptop and take it out. If you  are scared of doing it yourself, you can always visit the repair shop to have the broken jack taken out.

Cool The Heat Down

Just like a car engine, laptop batteries are vulnerable to heat. And when that happens they tend to give your laptop mixed messages. It either tells your operating system that the laptop is fully charged or the battery is missing.  This miscommunication is another cause of the battery charging issues.

Sometimes your laptop may shut down to prevent  the battery  starting a a fire.

If your laptop is old you will most certainly face overheating issues. And if you are the type who uses the laptop on the couch or in bed, turn the laptop off so you give ii time to coo down. Also make sure the vents are dust free and not blocked by your bedsheets.

Check Your Laptop Settings

If you are using  Windows 10 Open the Start Menu  and search for "Power and Sleep Options and click "Additional Power Options." {If any of you out there are using older Windows options open the Control panel and search for "Power Options.")  Click on "Change Settings" and check that all are properly set.

Then again you can activate the sleep action and shut down when the lid is closed.  You can also press the power button in the process This way you can pick  up possible power malfunctions  even of there are no issues with the charger cable nor the battery itself.

For  Mac Users Out There?

Go to "System Preferences. Select Energy Saver Pane  and go over your preferences. If the interval is  too short there may be issues with your battery.  You may have to give your settings another look. for both battery power and wall socket power.

Next  Up:

Update Your Drivers

For Windows users open your Start Menu and heard for the Device Manager Folder. Under batteries you should see a category for batteries and one for charger -specifically Microsoft ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery, You right click each item and choose "Update Driver."  

After updating all  the drivers restart the laptop and plug in the charger again.  If after rebooting your laptop the drivers keep acting up download the latest drivers  from your manufacturer's website. Also uninstall Microsoft ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery and restart the laptop again. This should prompt Windows to reinstall the drivers.

If You Are Mac User

Reset The System Management Controller. Shut down the laptop but leave the power Adapter still  on. You then press and hold simultaneously  the power button  and the Shift-Control keys on the left side of the keyboard. Take  your hands off the power button and the Shift-Control and then turn the laptop back on again.

What to Do If The  Battery  Is Still Not Working

I can hear somebody asking" I have done all this troubleshooting. And my battery  cord is still not working. What next?" Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news. But I think it may be time to get a new battery replacement  You can find a battery replacement at Amazon. Just make sure it's the original battery from your manufacturer. 

For more information on how to replace a laptop battery look up How To Replace Your Laptop Battery

That's a wrap for  How Do I Troubleshoot and Fix My Laptop Battery?" Next time we'll touch on how to  update  laptop memory

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What To Do When You Can't Fix Your Laptop CD/DVD Drive? Replace It

 

Helo techies

So far we've learnt how to fix a laptopCD/DVD drive. Then we  learnt how to test a laptopcd/dvd drive for errors So today we are going to learn how to replace the laptop CD?DVD drive. But before we do that  you need to do a few things.

• Get yourself a screw driver
• Turn off your laptop and disconnect your power cord and internet accessories
• Place your laptop on a flat surface
• Get yourself an anti-static wrist strap and a foam pad

Now how do we go about replacing the CD/DVD drive? First we have to remove the faulty DVD drive? How do we go about it?

•  First remove the battery.
• take out the service door
• Remove the screw that tightens the CD/DVD drive to the computer
• Take a small metallic object to press the bottom edge of the CD/DVD drive to separate the drive from its connector.
• Finally remove the CD/DVD drive

Now that we have finally removed the CD/DVD drive we go to the main task for today which is:

Removing The CD/DVD Drive

• First insert the CD/DVD drive into the drive bay until the connector is properly situated
• Next replace the CD/DVD drive screw.
• Replace the service door
• Finally replace the battery

That's a wrap for  "What To When You Can't Fix Your Laptop CD/DVD Drive? Replace It." Next   week, we'll learn how to troubleshoot a faulty laptop battery.

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How Do I Test My Laptop CD/DVD Drive For Errors

Hello techies

Today we are going to ask ourselves  a simple question: "How Do I Test My Laptop CD/DVD Drive For Errors?" A faulty laptop disc can cause serious headaches . It could be any of the following:

• Error when reading CD or DVD
• CD/DVD not playing audio properly
• CD/DVD flashing error messages on your screen.

These issues are enough to ruin  anybody's day.  Let me show you a few ways you can test your laptop CD/DVD drive for possible errors/

First off

Clean Your CD/DVD Hard Drive 

CD/DVD  drives sometimes  get very dirty affecting the drives ability to  to function. The best  solution to this proble is to buy a CD/DVD drive cleaning kit. You can buy this kit at any electronic store. I hear  someone asking "I don't know which kit to buy."

Well the following kits come highly recommended

• CDRoller
• CD/DVD Diagnostic
• CD Check

You can google these products for more information.

The next suggestion is:

Check Your Power Supply

If your CD.DVD drive is not receiving enough power  IT cannot open for you to put your CD or DVD in the drive. Even worse the CD/DVD drive will not be able to read your CD/DVD without power/ It's like taking a shower without water. So check  the power supply t see whether it's working  or not.

If after all trying  all these solutions you realize that your   CD/DVD drive is still not functioning it may be time to fix the CD/DVD drive.

 That's a wrap for  "How Do I Test My Laptop CD/DVD  Drive For Errors." Next   week, we'll learn how to  fix a CD/DVD drive.

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How Do I Fix My Missing Laptop DVD/CD Drive?

 Hello  everybody.

Sorry for breaking off so long . I promise never to do that again. Today we are going to tackle this question. "How Do I Fix My Missing Laptop/CD Drive? Well these days laptop manufacturers no longer include CD/DVD drives as part of laptop specifications. In fact laptops are considered as dinosaurs  which is odd because laptop users  depend on CD drives for especially for entertainment purposes. As a matter of fact you  need a CD/DVD drive to install your operating system(Windows 10 anybody?)

A lot of laptop users lament on loss of the DVD/CD drive  after upgrading their laptop. Loss of  your DVD/CD drive could be down to several factors such as corrupt drivers, firmware, or a factory defect. Before you decide to ditch your DVD/CD  drive try the following troubleshooting measures:

• Click Start > Settings > Update & security. Make sure your operating system is current  with no outstanding updates. Things get complicated with updates
• 
  
  
  
• Reinstall or Update Driver in Device Manager - You launch the Device Manager by simply pressing Windows key + X and clicking Device Manager. You then expand the option for DVD/CD drives, right click the listed optical drive and then click "Uninstall." You then exit your operating system and  restart your laptop. Your operating system should be able to detect the the drive and reinstall it. You can also click on "Update Driver" in the Device Manager as indicated below

• Remove Virtual Drive Software. This software can cause conflict with optical drives. Just Press Windows key+ x and select "Programs and  Features"' and then select "Uninstall."  

 

• Check your bios settings and update chip firmware. if your operating system does not detect your DVD/CD drive make sure your firmware recognizes your drive, If your firmware  recognizes  your drive you are out of the woods.

But if not, then  it could be a  few causes. First the chipset drivers for your motherboard might be out of date. So what do you do?  you go online and check the model for your laptop visa vis  your manufacturer's website. You then install the latest chipset driver for your motherboard. That should solve the detection issue.

Also check for the latest BIOS updates for your operating system for your operating system for better compatibility with older hardware.

That's a wrap for "How Do I Fix My Missing Laptop DVD/CD Drive?" Hopefully there will be no need to shop for a new DVD/CD for your laptop  so long as these troubleshooting measures work. Next time we'll learn how to replace a laptop DVD/CD drive.

Till next time take care.

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Tell Tale Signs That A Video Card Is Dying

Diagnosing tell tale signs of a dying video card can be difficult because the sympoms are not exclusive to video cards.  They can also suggest other hidden problems, so dont read your video card its last rights yet. You'd do well  to eliminate other potential hazards that could be lurking in the back ground.

Overheating
One sure tell tale sign of a dying video card is overheating.  Hardare efficiciency slows down with time. To avoid overheating, clean out air dust and other build up from the laptop's interior. If the car is still hot, it may be reaching its sell by date.

On and off Freezing
If your operating system freezes on and off or crashes during vidoe-intensive tasks, you video card could be the culprit. Or if you get the dreaded blue of screen, it could be one of the drivers. Fortunately it is usually listed when the screen flashes blue. But if the driver in question is a video driver, it may indicate the card is dying.

Degraded performance..A video driver may also be dying if  previously robust games or movies are either running sluggishly or not at all. Your drivers could also be out of date so you'd do well to update them.  You also need to eliminate  problems such as hardware changes or programs running in the background.

Video not working at all
The most predictable sign that your video card is dead or dying is if your video card is not worrking at all.  This happens when you cant see anything on your screen or if your operating system isunable to detect your video card.

Now that you've learnt hwo to troubleshoot a dying video card, how about learning how to salvage a dying video card?

That's  a wrap for "Tell Tale Signs That A  Video Card Is Dying." If you have any questions or comments, drop them in the comments box.

Till then take care

If you are here and you want to learn how to fix laptops as a career or past time, Download Laptop Repair Made Easy