Upgrading and Repairing Laptops, Second Edition

Upgrading and Repairing Laptops, Second Edition

by Scott Mueller
Released December 2005
Publisher(s): Que
ISBN: 9780789733764

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Book description

Scott Mueller has gone where no computer book author has gone before — right past all the warranty stickers, the hidden screws, and the fear factor to produce a real owner's manual that every laptop owner should have on his desk. Upgrading and Repairing Laptops, Second Edition shows the upgrades users can perform, the ones that are better left to the manufacturer, and how to use add-on peripherals to make the most of a laptop. This second edition has been updated to include:

  • The latest processors and motherboards

  • Complete assembly and disassembly information

  • Updated memory standards

  • Upgrading your hard drive to increase performance

  • Changes in networking and firewalls

    • The included DVD contains one-of-a-kind video showing just what's inside a portable PC. If you have ever wondered what goes on inside your portable PC, how to upgrade/repair it, or how to live on the road with it, this is the one must-have book of the year!

    Table of contents

    1. Copyright
      1. Dedication
    2. About the Author
    3. Acknowledgments
    4. We Want to Hear from You!
    5. Introduction
      1. Laptops or Notebooks?
      2. Book Objectives
        1. Chapter-by-Chapter Breakdown
        2. The Upgrading and Repairing Laptops DVD
        3. Scott’s Website
      3. A Personal Note
    6. 1. Portable Systems Background
      1. Defining the Portable Computer
        1. Portable System Design Elements
          1. Flat-Panel Displays
          2. Low Power Consumption
          3. Thermal Management
        2. The Popularity of Portables
        3. Who’s Selling Laptops?
      2. Evolution of the Portable Computer
        1. Pre-PC Portables
          1. Luggables
            1. IBM 5100
            2. The Osborne 1
            3. The KayPro II
          2. Laptops
            1. GRiD Compass 1100
            2. Gavilan SC
          3. Notebooks
            1. Epson HX-20
            2. The Radio Shack Model 100
        2. Early PC Portables
          1. PC Luggables
            1. The Compaq Portable
            2. The IBM Portable PC
          2. PC Lunchbox/Briefcase Models
            1. IBM P70/P75
            2. Dolch FlexPAC
          3. PC Laptops
            1. The IBM PC Convertible
            2. The Toshiba T1000
            3. The Compaq SLT/286
          4. PC Notebooks
            1. The NEC UltraLite
            2. GRiDCASE 1550sx
            3. The Apple PowerBook 100
            4. The ThinkPad 700
          5. Subnotebooks
            1. ThinkPad 701
            2. ThinkPad Firsts
          6. Ultralights/Ultraportables
            1. The HP 95LX
            2. The Toshiba Libretto
        3. Personal Recollections of the Portable Revolution
      3. Advantages of Laptops
        1. Multiple Uses
        2. Ideal for People with Multiple Workplaces
        3. Flat-Panel Displays
        4. Low-Energy Consumption
        5. Built-in UPS
        6. Integrated Design
        7. More Space Efficient
      4. The Problems of Using Portables
        1. More Expensive
        2. Increased Risk of Loss
        3. Smaller Screens and Keyboards
        4. Slower System Speed
        5. Upgrades Are More Difficult
      5. General Solutions to Laptop Problems
        1. Possibly Cheaper Than Desktops
        2. Laptop Insurance
        3. Protection from System Loss
        4. Upgrades Are Indeed Possible
    7. 2. Portable PC Overview: Types and Features
      1. Types and Classes of Portable Computers
        1. Laptops Versus Notebooks
        2. Subnotebooks: The End of a Trend?
        3. The Many Types of Laptops/Notebooks
          1. Desktop Replacements
          2. Mainstream Laptops
          3. Value Laptops
          4. Thin & Light Laptops
          5. Ultralights
          6. Ruggedized Laptops
        4. Tablets
        5. Handhelds/Palmtops
        6. PDAs
      2. Major Features
        1. Processors
        2. Video Display Size and Resolution
          1. Screen Size
          2. Screen Resolution
          3. Screen Aspect Ratio
        3. Video Accelerators
        4. Spindles (Storage)
        5. Expansion Options
        6. External Interfaces
        7. Pointing Devices
          1. Trackballs
          2. TrackPoint (Pointing Sticks)
          3. Touchpads
          4. Combination Pointing Devices
        8. Docking Options
          1. Docking Stations
          2. Port Replicators
        9. Networking
          1. Wired Networking
          2. Wireless Networking
            1. 802.11a
            2. 802.11b
            3. 802.11g
            4. 802.11n
            5. Combinations
          3. Wide Area Networking
    8. 3. System Maintenance and Assembly
      1. Preventive Maintenance
        1. Passive Preventive Maintenance Procedures
          1. General System Care and Handling
          2. The Operating Environment
          3. Temperature, Humidity, and Altitude
          4. Temperature Acclimation
          5. Static Electricity
          6. Radio-Frequency Interference
          7. Dust and Pollutants
          8. Tips for Transporting Your System
        2. Active Preventive Maintenance Procedures
          1. System Backups
          2. Cleaning a System
          3. Cleaning Tools
          4. Chemicals
            1. Standard Cleaners
            2. Contact Cleaner/Lubricants
          5. Compressed-Air Dusters
          6. Vacuum Cleaners
          7. Brushes and Swabs
          8. Lightweight Lubricants
          9. Obtaining Tools and Accessories
          10. Cleaning Procedures
            1. Cleaning Connectors and Contacts
            2. Cleaning the LCD and Case
            3. Cleaning the Keyboard
            4. Cleaning the TrackPoint or Touchpad
          11. Hard Disk Maintenance
            1. Defragmenting Files
            2. Virus and Spyware Checking
      2. Maintenance Tools
        1. Hand Tools
          1. Safety
          2. ESD Protection Tools
        2. A Word About Hardware
          1. Types of Hardware
          2. English Versus Metric
        3. Test Equipment
          1. Electrical Testing Equipment
          2. Loopback Connectors (Wrap Plugs)
          3. Meters
          4. Logic Probes and Logic Pulsers
          5. Outlet (Receptacle) Testers
        4. Special Tools for the Enthusiast
          1. Electric Screwdriver
          2. Tamperproof Torx Bits
          3. Temperature Probe
          4. Infrared Thermometer
      3. Upgrading and Repairing Laptops
        1. System Disassembly
          1. System Components
          2. Recording Physical Configuration
          3. System Disassembly
          4. Main Battery
          5. UltraBay Plus Devices
          6. Hard Disk
          7. Memory Modules (SODIMMs)
          8. Mini PCI Card
          9. Keyboard
          10. CMOS Battery
          11. PC Card/CardBus Slot Assembly
          12. Communications Daughter Card (CDC)
          13. CPU Heatsink/Fan
          14. CPU (Pentium M Processor)
          15. LCD Panel
          16. Keyboard Bezel
          17. Motherboard
      4. BIOS Setup
        1. Accessing BIOS Setup for Specific Makes and Models
          1. ThinkPad
          2. Toshiba
          3. Compaq
          4. Dell, Gateway, and Others
        2. Running the BIOS Setup Program (CMOS Setup)
      5. Dealing with Passwords
        1. Password Types
          1. Power-on Password (POP)
          2. Hard Disk Password (HDP)
          3. Supervisor Password (SVP)
        2. POP, HDP, and SVP Password Cracking?
        3. Windows Passwords
    9. 4. Processors
      1. Mobile Processor Features
        1. SL Technology
        2. Processor Performance Technology (SpeedStep/PowerNow!/LongRun)
      2. Mobile Processor Packaging
        1. Tape Carrier Packaging
        2. Mobile Module
          1. MMC-1
          2. MMC-2
        3. Minicartridge
        4. BGA and PGA
          1. Micro-BGA2
          2. Micro-PGA2
          3. Micro-FCBGA
          4. Micro-FCPGA and FCPGA2
      3. Processor Features
        1. SMM (Power Management)
        2. Superscalar Execution
        3. MMX Technology
        4. SSE, SSE2, and SSE3
        5. 3DNow!, Enhanced 3DNow!, and 3DNow! Professional
        6. Dynamic Execution
          1. Branch Prediction
          2. Data Flow Analysis
          3. Speculative Execution
        7. Dual Independent Bus Architecture
        8. Hyperthreading Technology
          1. How Hyperthreading Works
          2. Hyperthreading Requirements
      4. Intel Mobile Processors
        1. SL-Enhanced 486 Processors
        2. Mobile Pentium
        3. Mobile Pentium II and III
          1. Mobile Pentium Processor Steppings
          2. Mobile Pentium III Processors and Steppings
        4. Mobile Pentium 4 and Pentium 4-M Processors
        5. Pentium M
        6. Mobile Celeron Processors
      5. AMD Mobile Processors
        1. AMD K6-Series Mobile Processors
        2. AMD’s Mobile Athlon and Athlon XP
        3. AMD Mobile Duron
        4. AMD Mobile Athlon XP-M
        5. AMD Mobile Athlon 64 and Mobile Sempron
        6. AMD Turion 64
    10. 5. Motherboards
      1. Form Factors
      2. System Bus Types, Functions, and Features
        1. The Processor Bus (Front-Side Bus)
        2. The Memory Bus
      3. Types of I/O Buses
        1. The PCI Bus
        2. Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP)
        3. PCI Express
      4. Motherboard Components
        1. Processor Sockets/Slots
        2. Chipsets
          1. Chipset Evolution
          2. Intel Chipsets
          3. AMD Athlon/Duron Chipsets
          4. North/South Bridge Architecture
          5. Intel Hub Architecture
          6. Intel DMI Architecture
          7. Other High-Speed North-South Bridge Connections
        3. Chipset Profiles
          1. Mobile Pentium Chipset
            1. Intel 430MX
          2. Pentium II/III Chipsets
            1. Intel 440BX
            2. Intel 440MX
            3. Intel 440ZX
            4. VIA PN133
            5. Intel 815EM
            6. Intel 830M/MG/MP
          3. Pentium 4 Chipsets
            1. Intel 845MP/MZ
            2. Intel 852PM/GM/GME
          4. Pentium M Chipsets
            1. Intel 855PM/GM
            2. Intel 915 Express Chipset Family
          5. AMD Processor Chipsets
            1. AMD-760
            2. VIA Apollo KN133
            3. VIA KN266
      5. System Resources
        1. Interrupts
          1. 16-Bit ISA, EISA, and MCA Bus Interrupts
          2. PCI Interrupts
          3. PCI Bus Masters
        2. DMA Channels
        3. I/O Port Addresses
      6. Plug and Play
        1. The Hardware Component
        2. The BIOS Component
        3. The Operating System Component
    11. 6. Memory
      1. Memory Standards
      2. How Much Memory?
      3. Memory Speed
      4. Memory Types
        1. Fast Page Mode DRAM
        2. Extended Data Out RAM
        3. SDRAM
        4. DDR SDRAM
        5. DDR2 SDRAM
        6. RDRAM
      5. Memory Modules
        1. SODIMMs
          1. 72-pin SODIMM
          2. 144-pin SODIMM
          3. 200-pin SODIMM
        2. MicroDIMMs
          1. 144-pin SDRAM MicroDIMM
          2. 172-pin DDR SDRAM MicroDIMM
      6. Memory Upgrades
    12. 7. Power
      1. AC/DC Power Supplies
      2. Batteries
        1. CMOS/Clock Battery
        2. Main Battery
        3. Battery Types
          1. Nickel Cadmium (NiCd)
          2. Nickel Metal-Hydride (NiMH)
          3. Lithium-Ion (Li-ion)
          4. Lithium-Ion Polymer (LIP or Li-Poly)
        4. Battery Maintenance
        5. Using Multiple Batteries
      3. Fuel Cells
      4. Power Management
        1. Advanced Power Management
        2. Advanced Configuration and Power Interface
        3. APM BIOS Power Management Menu
    13. 8. Expansion Card Buses
      1. PC Cards (PCMCIA)
        1. PC Card Bus Types
        2. PC Card Physical Types
        3. PC Card Software Support
          1. Socket Services
          2. Card Services
          3. Enablers
      2. ExpressCards
      3. High-Speed External Connections
        1. Serial Versus Parallel
        2. Universal Serial Bus (USB)
          1. USB Technical Details
          2. USB Connectors
          3. USB 2.0
          4. USB On-The-Go
          5. Wireless USB
          6. USB Adapters
          7. Legacy-Free PCs
        3. IEEE 1394 (FireWire or i.LINK)
          1. 1394 Standards
          2. 1394a Technical Details
          3. IEEE 1394b Technical Details
        4. Comparing IEEE 1394a and USB 1.1/2.0
      4. Low-Speed External Connections
        1. Serial Ports
          1. Typical Locations for Serial Ports
          2. UARTs
          3. Onboard Serial Ports
          4. Serial Port Configuration
          5. Testing Serial Ports
            1. Microsoft Diagnostics
            2. Troubleshooting Ports in Windows
            3. Advanced Diagnostics Using Loopback Testing
        2. Parallel Ports
          1. IEEE 1284 Parallel Port Standard
            1. Standard Parallel Ports
            2. Bidirectional (8-Bit) Parallel Ports
            3. Enhanced Parallel Port
            4. Enhanced Capabilities Port
          2. Parallel Port Configuration
          3. Linking Systems with Serial or Parallel Ports
            1. Serial Port Transfers
            2. Parallel Port Transfers
          4. Testing Parallel Ports
    14. 9. Hard Disk Storage
      1. Hard Drive History and Advancements
      2. Areal Density
        1. Form Factors
          1. 5.25-Inch Drive
          2. 3.5-Inch Drive
          3. 2.5-Inch Drive
          4. 1.8-Inch Drive
          5. 1-Inch Drives
        2. Other Form Factor Issues
      3. Hard Disk Drive Operation
        1. Tracks and Sectors
        2. Disk Formatting
          1. Low-level Formatting
          2. Partitioning
          3. High-Level Formatting
      4. Basic Hard Disk Drive Components
        1. Hard Disk Platters (Disks)
        2. Recording Media
          1. Oxide Media
          2. Thin-Film Media
          3. AFC Media
        3. Read/Write Heads
          1. Head Actuator Mechanisms
          2. Automatic Head Parking
        4. Air Filters
        5. Hard Disk Temperature Acclimation
        6. Spindle Motors
        7. Fluid Dynamic Bearings
        8. Logic Boards
        9. Cables and Connectors
        10. Configuration Items
      5. Hard Disk Features
        1. Capacity
          1. Capacity Limitations
          2. BIOS Limitations
          3. Operating System Limitations
        2. Performance
          1. Transfer Rates
          2. Average Seek Time
          3. Latency
          4. Average Access Time
          5. Cache Programs and Caching Controllers
          6. Smart
        3. Cost
      6. The ATA (IDE) Interface
      7. ATA Standards
        1. ATA-1
        2. ATA-2
        3. ATA-3
        4. ATA/ATAPI-4
        5. ATA/ATAPI-5
        6. ATA/ATAPI-6
        7. ATA/ATAPI-7
      8. ATA Features
        1. ATA I/O Connector
        2. ATA I/O Cable
        3. Dual-Drive Configurations
        4. ATA Commands
        5. Drive Capacity Limitations
          1. Prefixes for Decimal and Binary Multiples
          2. CHS Versus LBA
          3. CHS/LBA and LBA/CHS conversions
          4. BIOS Commands Versus ATA Commands
          5. CHS Limitations (The 528MB Barrier)
          6. CHS Translation: Breaking the 528MB Barrier
          7. The 8.4GB Barrier
          8. The 137GB Barrier and Beyond
          9. Operating System and Other Software Limitations
        6. ATA Transfer Modes
          1. PIO Mode
          2. DMA Transfer Modes
        7. ATAPI (ATA Packet Interface)
      9. Serial ATA
    15. 10. Removable Storage
      1. Removable Media
        1. Interfaces for Removable-Media Drives
        2. Removable Magnetic Disk and Optical Disc Storage
        3. Backing Up Your Data
      2. Optical Disc and Drive Technology
      3. CD-Based Optical Technology
        1. CDs: A Brief History
        2. CD-ROM Construction and Technology
          1. Mass-producing CD-ROMs
          2. Pits and Lands
          3. Drive Mechanical Operation
          4. Track and Sectors
          5. Sampling
          6. Subcodes
          7. Handling Read Errors
          8. CD Capacity
          9. Data Encoding on the Disc
      4. DVD Technology
        1. DVD History
        2. DVD Construction and Technology
          1. DVD Tracks and Sectors
          2. Handling Errors
          3. DVD Capacity (Sides and Layers)
          4. Data Encoding on the Disc
      5. Optical Disc Formats
        1. Compact Disc and Drive Formats
        2. Multisession Recording
          1. Disc At Once
          2. Track At Once
          3. Packet Writing
        3. CD-ROM File Systems
          1. High Sierra
          2. ISO 9660
          3. Joliet
          4. Universal Disk Format
          5. Macintosh HFS
          6. Rock Ridge
          7. Mount Rainier
        4. DVD Formats and Standards
        5. DVD Drive Compatibility
        6. Playing DVD Movies on a Laptop
        7. DVD Copy Protection
          1. Regional Playback Control
          2. Content Scrambling System
          3. Analog Protection System
        8. Caring for Optical Media
      6. CD/DVD Read-Only Drives and Specifications
        1. Performance Specifications
          1. Data-Transfer Rate
          2. CD Drive Speed
          3. DVD Drive Speed
          4. Access Time
          5. Buffer/Cache
          6. CPU Utilization
          7. Direct Memory Access and Ultra-DMA
        2. Interfaces
        3. Writable CDs
          1. CD-R
          2. CD-R Capacity
          3. CD-R Media Color
          4. Choosing the Best Media
          5. CD-R Media Recording Speed Rating
          6. CD-RW
            1. CD-RW Speeds
          7. MultiRead Specifications
          8. How to Reliably Record CDs
            1. Buffer Underruns
            2. Buffer Underrun Protection
            3. Producing Error-Free Recordings
          9. Recording Software
        4. Recordable DVD Standards
          1. DVD-RAM
          2. DVD-R
          3. DVD-RW
          4. DVD+RW
          5. DVD+RW Compatibility Mode
        5. Multiformat DVD Rewritable Drives
        6. CD/DVD Software and Drivers
          1. Booting from a Floppy Disk with CD/DVD Drive Support
        7. Bootable CDs and DVDs—El Torito
        8. Removable Drive Letter Assignments
          1. MS-DOS and Windows 9x/Me Disk Management
          2. Windows NT/2000/XP Disk Management
          3. Creating a Rescue CD
          4. Making a Bootable CD for Emergencies
        9. Troubleshooting Optical Drives
          1. Failure Reading a CD/DVD Disc
          2. Failure Reading CD-R/CD-RW Discs in a CD-ROM or DVD Drive
          3. Failure to Read a Rewritable DVD in a DVD-ROM Drive or Player
          4. Failure to Create a Writable DVD
          5. Failure Writing to CD-RW or DVD-RW 1× Media
          6. Your ATAPI CD-ROM or DVD Drive Runs Slowly
          7. Poor Results or Slow Performance When Writing to CD-R Media
          8. Trouble Reading CD-RW Discs on a CD-ROM Drive
          9. Trouble Reading CD-R Discs on a DVD Drive
          10. Trouble Making Bootable CDs
        10. Updating the Firmware in a CD-RW or Rewritable DVD Drive
          1. Determining Whether You Might Need a Firmware Update
          2. Determining Which Drive Model and Firmware Are Installed
          3. Installing New Drive Firmware
          4. Troubleshooting Firmware Updates
      7. Removable Magnetic Storage Devices
        1. Iomega Zip
        2. SuperDisk LS-120 and LS-240
        3. Hard Disk–Based Removable-Media Drives
      8. Floppy Drives
        1. Drive Components
        2. Floppy Drive Interfaces
        3. Disk Physical Specifications and Operation
          1. How the Operating System Uses a Disk
          2. Cylinders
          3. Clusters or Allocation Units
        4. Types of Floppy Disk Drives
          1. 1.44MB 3 1/2-Inch Drive
          2. Other Floppy Drive Types
        5. Analyzing 3 1/2″ Floppy Disk Construction
        6. Floppy Disk Types and Specifications
          1. Density
          2. Media Coercivity and Thickness
        7. Handling/Caring for Floppy Disks and Drives
        8. Airport X-Ray Machines and Metal Detectors
      9. Flash Cards and Digital “Film” Memory Devices
        1. How Flash Memory Works
        2. Types of Flash Memory Devices
          1. CompactFlash
          2. SmartMedia
          3. MultiMediaCard
          4. SecureDigital
          5. Sony Memory Stick and Memory Stick Pro
          6. ATA Flash PC Card
          7. xD-Picture Card
          8. USB Keychain Drives (Thumbdrives)
          9. Comparing Flash Memory Devices
        3. Moving Data in Flash Memory Devices to Your Computer
          1. Card Readers
          2. Type II PC Card Adapters
          3. Microdrive Technology
    16. 11. Graphics and Sound
      1. Video Display System
        1. Major Laptop Display Features to Consider
        2. Early Portable Displays: CRT and Plasma
        3. Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs)
        4. How LCDs Work
          1. LCD Types
            1. Dual-Scan (Passive-Matrix) Displays
            2. Active-Matrix Displays
          2. Resolution
          3. LCD Size Versus Resolution: Pixels Per Inch
          4. Virtual Displays
          5. Image Brightness and Contrast
          6. Response Time
          7. Power Management
          8. Frequencies
        5. Testing a Display
        6. Maintaining Your LCD
          1. Dead Pixels
          2. Protecting the Expensive and Fragile LCD Display
      2. Video Display Interfaces
        1. Video Graphics Array (VGA)
        2. Industry Standard SVGA
        3. XGA and Beyond
          1. VESA BIOS Extension (VBE)
          2. Analog VGA Connections
          3. S-Video/TV-Out Connections
        4. Digital Video Connections
          1. Digital Visual Interface (DVI)
        5. Video Adapter Components
          1. The Video BIOS
          2. The Graphics Processor
          3. Discrete Graphics Processors
            1. Typical Features of Recent Mobile Graphics Processors
            2. Memory Overview
            3. SDRAM
            4. SGRAM
            5. DDR SDRAM
            6. DDR-II SDRAM
            7. DDR-III SDRAM
            8. Video Memory Locations
            9. How Memory Size Affects Display Quality
          4. Motherboard Chipset-Integrated Graphics
            1. Major Mobile Chipsets with Integrated Graphics
            2. Adjusting the Amount of Memory Available for Graphics
          5. The Video Driver
        6. Laptop External Video Activation
        7. Multiple Monitor Support
        8. 3D Graphics and Laptops
          1. The Basics of 3D Graphics
          2. 3D Graphics Processors for Laptops
          3. User-Upgradeable Laptop Graphics Modules
          4. 3D Graphics Application Programming Interfaces
          5. DirectX Support and 3D Graphics
          6. Major Features of 3D Graphics
          7. Common 3D Techniques
          8. Advanced 3D Techniques
            1. Stencil Buffering
            2. Z-Buffering
            3. Environment-Based Bump Mapping and Displacement Mapping
            4. Texture Mapping Filtering Enhancements
        9. TV/Video Output and Capture
          1. Adding TV-Out Support
          2. Adding TV Tuner and Video Capture Support
        10. Troubleshooting Laptop Video Problems
          1. Troubleshooting Graphics Acceleration
          2. Troubleshooting Display Colors
          3. Troubleshooting 3D Acceleration Quality Issues
          4. Troubleshooting Internal Displays
          5. Troubleshooting External Displays
          6. Troubleshooting Drivers and Video Processors
      3. Laptop Audio Hardware
        1. Audio Connectors
        2. Volume Control
        3. Laptop Audio Quality Factors
          1. Audio Data Compression
          2. 3D Audio and Laptops
            1. Positional Audio
            2. 3D Audio Processing
          3. DirectX and Audio Adapters
            1. DirectX Support Issues
        4. Sound Drivers
        5. DVD Movies on the Road
        6. Playing and Creating Digitized Sound Files
        7. Audio Adapter Concepts and Terms
          1. The Nature of Sound
          2. Evaluating the Quality of Your Audio Adapter
          3. Sampling
        8. Who’s Who in Laptop Audio
          1. Analog Devices
          2. Cirrus Logic
          3. C-Media
          4. ESS Technology, Inc
          5. RealTek
          6. Creative
          7. VIA Technology
          8. AC ‘97 Integrated Audio
          9. Intel HD Audio
        9. Speakers
          1. Upgrading Audio Output
            1. Sound Blaster Extigy
            2. Speaker and System Configuration
            3. Typical Speaker Setups
        10. Microphones
        11. Troubleshooting Laptop Audio Problems
          1. No Sound from Internal Speakers
          2. Sound Problems with External Speakers
          3. Scratchy Sound
          4. Advanced Features
          5. Other Problems
    17. 12. Communications
      1. Modems
        1. V.92 Modems
        2. PC Card Modems
        3. Winmodems
        4. Wireless Modems
          1. Circuit-Switched Versus Packet-Switched Connections
          2. PC Card Wireless Modems
          3. Connecting a Modem to a Cell Phone
          4. Using a Cell Phone as a Wireless Modem
          5. Using a Satellite Phone as a Wireless Modem
      2. Types of Cellular Systems
      3. Network Connections
        1. Wired LANs
          1. 10BASE-T
          2. 10/100BASE-T
          3. 10/100/1000BASE-T
        2. Wireless LANs
          1. 802.11 Standards
            1. 802.11 b
            2. 802.11a
            3. 802.11g
          2. Wi-Fi Alliance
          3. Wi-Fi5 Alliance
          4. Bluetooth
      4. Connecting on the Road
        1. Hotel High-Speed Connections
          1. DHCP—Any Address Will Do
          2. How to Accept an IP Address Automatically
          3. STSN
        2. Using Wireless Hotspots
          1. Finding Hotspots
          2. Finding Free Hotspots
          3. How to Connect to a Hotspot
        3. Cellular Modems
        4. Wired Modem Connections
          1. What to Bring
          2. How to Connect with a Modem
          3. Modem Instructions—The AT Command Set
          4. How to Use the AT Command Set
          5. Acoustic Couplers
          6. Wire-It-Yourself
      5. Moving Data Between Two Systems
        1. Direct Connection Software
          1. Windows Direct Cable Connection (DCC)
          2. Using Networking Protocols
        2. Hardware-Based Data Transfers
          1. USB Data Fobs
          2. Memory Card Plus USB Adapter
          3. CD-R Discs
        3. Managing Data Sharing/Synching with Desktop PCs
      6. Communications Security
        1. Antitheft Measures
        2. Hardware-Level Passwords
        3. Operating System Passwords
        4. Antivirus Software
        5. Firewalls
        6. Virtual Private Networking
        7. Encryption
          1. File Encryption
          2. Wireless LAN Encryption
            1. WEP—Wireless Equivalent Privacy
            2. WPA/WPA2—Wi-Fi Protected Access
    18. 13. Keyboards and Pointing Devices
      1. Laptop Keyboards
      2. Windows Keys
      3. Running Windows Without a Mouse
      4. Keyboard Technology
        1. Keyswitch Design
          1. Pure Mechanical Switches
          2. Foam Element Switches
          3. Rubber Dome Switches
          4. Membrane/Rubber Dome Switches
          5. Capacitive Switches
        2. The Keyboard Interface
        3. Typematic Functions
        4. Keyboard Key Numbers and Scan Codes
        5. External Keyboard/Mouse Interface Connectors
      5. Keyboard Troubleshooting and Repair
        1. Defective Cables or Bad Connections
        2. Stuck Keys
        3. Cleaning a Keyboard
      6. External Keyboard Recommendations
      7. Pointing Devices
        1. TrackPoint II/III/IV
          1. TrackPoint Caps
          2. Other TrackPoint Improvements
        2. Touch Pads
      8. External Pointing Devices
        1. Mice
          1. Mechanical Mice
          2. Optical Mice
          3. Mouse Drivers
        2. Trackballs
        3. External Pointing Device Interfaces
          1. Serial
          2. PS/2 Mouse Port
          3. USB
          4. Hybrid Mice
      9. Wireless Input Devices
        1. Radio Versus Infrared
        2. Major Vendors and Products
          1. Logitech
          2. Microsoft and Other Vendors
        3. Wireless Pointing Device Issues
    19. 14. Portable System Accessories
      1. Carrying Cases
        1. Nylon Cases
        2. Leather Cases
        3. Backpack Cases
        4. Wheeled Cases
        5. Ruggedized Cases
      2. Docking Stations
        1. Proprietary Docking Stations
        2. Third-party Docking Solutions
        3. The Decline of the Dock
      3. Port Replicators
        1. Proprietary Port Replicators
        2. Third-party Port Replicators
      4. Slabs or Slices
      5. Internal Device Bays
        1. All-in-One Systems
        2. Proprietary Bays
          1. Dell Device Bays
          2. IBM Device Bays
          3. Toshiba Device Bays
          4. Types of Modular Bay Devices
          5. The Device Bay Specification
      6. Accessory Power Sources
        1. Batteries
          1. Modular Device Bay Batteries
          2. Extended-Life Batteries
          3. Slab Batteries
          4. Third-party Batteries
        2. Fuel Cells
        3. Adapters
          1. Automobile Adapters
          2. Airline Adapters
          3. International
      7. Communications
        1. Digital Phone System Adapters
        2. International Phone Adapters
      8. Data Storage
      9. Security Devices
        1. Theft Deterrents
          1. Cable Locks
          2. Lock Plates
          3. Motion Detectors
        2. Laptop Recovery Systems
        3. User Authentication Devices
          1. SmartCard Keys
          2. USB Keys
          3. Fingerprint Sensors
      10. Input Devices
        1. Portable Pointing Devices
        2. Portable Keyboards
      11. Output Devices
        1. Portable Printers
        2. Portable Scanners
      12. Presentation Equipment
        1. Analog TV Projectors
        2. Overhead LCD Display Panels
        3. Digital Projectors
          1. LCD Projectors
          2. DLP Projectors
        4. Flat-Panel Plasma Displays
        5. TV Connections
          1. S-Video
          2. Digital Visual Interface (DVI)
          3. TV-In
      13. Special Interfaces
        1. USB
          1. USB 2.0 Cards
          2. Portable USB Hubs
        2. FireWire Cards
        3. Serial Ports
        4. Parallel Ports
        5. SCSI Adapters
        6. Signal and Control I/O
        7. Miscellaneous Devices
      14. Navigation
        1. GPS Receivers
        2. Handheld GPS Receivers
      15. Laptop Screen Accessories
        1. Screen Shades
        2. Privacy Shields
      16. Notebook Stands
        1. Desktop
        2. Automobile
      17. Where to Buy
    20. 15. Software and Operating Systems
      1. The Boot Process
        1. The Boot Process: Operating System Independent
        2. The Windows 9x/Me Boot Process
          1. Phase 1: Loading and Running the IO.SYS File
          2. Phase 2: Real-Mode Configuration
          3. Phase 3: Loading and Running the WIN.COM File
        3. Windows NT/2000/XP Startup
      2. Installing the Operating System
        1. Installing Windows 98/Me
          1. Partitioning and Formatting the Drive with Windows 98/Me
          2. Installing the Operating System
        2. Installing Windows XP
          1. Installing Important Drivers
          2. Windows XP Updates and Service Packs
        3. Linux on the Laptop
      3. Laptop Data Recovery
        1. The Windows Recycle Bin and File “Deletion”
        2. Recovering Files That Are Not in the Recycle Bin
        3. Retrieving Data from Partitioned and Formatted Drives
          1. Retrieving Lost Data to Another Drive
        4. Using the Norton Disk Editor
          1. Using Disk Editor to Examine a Drive
          2. Determining the Number of Clusters Used by a File
          3. How the Operating System Marks a File When It Is Deleted
          4. Undeleting an Erased File
          5. Retrieving a File from a Hard Disk or Flash Memory Card
        5. Data Recovery from Flash Memory Devices
        6. Retrieving Data from a Damaged Laptop
    21. 16. Problem Solving and Troubleshooting
      1. Basic Troubleshooting Guidelines
        1. Modern Laptop Computers—More Complicated and More Reliable
        2. Desktop and Laptop Components Compared
          1. Reinstall or Replace?
          2. Sources for Laptop Computer Parts
        3. Troubleshooting by Replacing Parts
        4. Troubleshooting by the Bootstrap Approach
        5. Problems During the POST
        6. Hardware Problems After Booting
        7. Problems Running Software
        8. Problems with Adapter Cards
        9. Diagnostics
          1. Diagnostics Software
          2. The Power On Self Test
            1. What Is Tested?
            2. How Are Errors Reported?
            3. AMI BIOS POST Error Codes
            4. Award BIOS and Phoenix FirstBIOS POST Error Codes
            5. Phoenix BIOS POST Error Codes
            6. IBM ThinkPad BIOS Error Codes
            7. POST Memory Count
          3. General-Purpose Diagnostics Programs
          4. Operating System Diagnostics
      2. Top Troubleshooting Problems
        1. Power and Startup Problems
          1. When I power the system on, I see the power LED light and determine that the fan spins, but nothing else ever happens
          2. The system beeps when I turn it on, but there is nothing on the screen
          3. The system won’t boot up. It says “Missing operating system” on the screen
          4. The power button won’t turn off the system
        2. Windows Problems
          1. I see a “STOP” or “STOP ERROR” in Windows 2000/XP
          2. I have an old software program that crashes when I try to run it in Windows XP
          3. I installed a new device driver for a hardware item, and now Windows XP is crashing or locking up
          4. I see “Fatal Exception” errors in Windows 9x/Me
          5. The system won’t shut down in Windows
          6. I can’t find drivers for my hardware
        3. Hardware Problems
          1. The dial-up modem doesn’t work
          2. The keyboard doesn’t work
          3. The mouse pointer is moving when I didn’t move it
          4. I can’t hear any sound from the speakers
          5. The monitor appears completely garbled or unreadable
          6. The system runs fine for a few minutes but then freezes or locks up
          7. I am experiencing intermittent problems with the hard drive(s)
          8. The system is experiencing intermittent memory errors
          9. I installed a 60GB drive in my system, but it is recognizing only 8.4GB
          10. My CD-ROM/DVD drive doesn’t work
          11. My USB port or device doesn’t work
          12. I installed an additional memory module, but the system doesn’t recognize it
          13. While I was updating my BIOS, the system froze and now the system is dead!
    22. 17. Portable Resource Guide
      1. Documentation
        1. FCC ID Database
        2. User Forums and Support
      2. Repair Parts
      3. Manufacturer Tech Support
        1. Lenovo (Formerly IBM)
        2. Toshiba
        3. Dell
        4. HP
        5. Compaq
        6. Gateway
        7. Other Systems
          1. Acer
          2. Alienware
          3. MPC
          4. FOSA
          5. Sager
          6. Prostar
          7. Chem USA
          8. Sony
          9. Additional Important Numbers
    23. A. List of Acronyms and Abbreviations
      1. A
      2. B
      3. C
      4. D
      5. E
      6. F
      7. G
      8. H
      9. I
      10. J–K
      11. L
      12. M
      13. N
      14. O
      15. P
      16. Q
      17. R
      18. S
      19. T
      20. U
      21. V
      22. W–X
      23. Y–Z
    24. B. Glossary
    25. C. Key Vendor Contact Information

    Product information

    • Title: Upgrading and Repairing Laptops, Second Edition
    • Author(s): Scott Mueller
    • Release date: December 2005
    • Publisher(s): Que
    • ISBN: 9780789733764