Posted on Fri, May 13, 2011
I'm writing a quick blog entry on laptop batteries this week and a few tips on how to get the most out of them. Some basic ways to get the most from a laptop battery include:
1. Dimming the screen a few notches
2. Closing programs/processes not being used
3. Turning off the WiFi card when it is not being used
Some other tips are to:
4. Keep the laptop cool.
A hot laptop can kill a battery - not just the battery's charge, but the battery itself. Use a cooling pad on your lap and don't prop it up on soft surfaces like pillows.
5. Keep the contacts clean.
This helps efficiency and speed.
6. Use the power saving options that are built in!
There are power saving profiles in Windows itself.
7. If you plan to use your laptop plugged in at home or the office for a long period of time, drop the battery out completely.
Charge the battery to about 40% of its capacity and then remove it. If you often use the laptop plugged in for long periods of time, keep the battery fresh by using it until it is empty and then recharging it before returning it to storage.
Have a great weekend!
Kristen Hewes - Hardware Technician
Give Us a Call 617-731-6319 and Ask a Professional IT Support Technician Any Questions You May Have!
Sincerely, Terminal We Serve All of Greater Boston and Cambridge, MA
Posted on Fri, Apr 08, 2011
This week, I came across an issue with a trackpoint for a laptop. The laptop itself had some problems and the system board and the keyboard had to be replaced.
Once that was done, the new problem appeared. The trackpoint and its buttons did not work! Well, first off, I tried the connections, but there was no problem there. I then went to the software side and checked the BIOS, but strike number two! I moved on to the laptop's drivers. When I looked at the control program, the area to enable the trackpoint was darkened and there was no way to activate it from there.
So, I took the computer apart again and tried a different keyboard, a different system board, and still nothing. Time to hit up the experts, so I gave the laptop's manufacturer's technical support a call. After the obligatory computer generated menu system got me through to a real person, I explained the situation. I answered all of their questions on hardware and software and went through all the things I had done to solve the problem.
On their suggestion, I tried running a Linux live disk to see if that recognized it - still to no avail. At this point I had been on the phone with them for quite a while, and was told "We have no idea what could be causing this. Can you send the laptop to us?" I can and may have to, but first I plan to execute a fresh reinstall of Windows on the laptop. I am waiting for the recovery disks to come in and I will see what that does.
I checked out the laptop manufacturer's online forums and see that others have had this issue with no answers from the manufacturer. I don't expect their technical support representatives to know everything, but I must admit it was nice knowing that I had not missed anything and they were as stumped as I was.
I will update this next week if I get an answer.
Have a great weekend!
Kristen Hewes - Hardware Technician
Give Us a Call 617-731-6319 and Ask a Professional IT Support Technician Any Questions You May Have!
Sincerely, Terminal We Serve All of Greater Boston and Cambridge, MA