Laptop Repair 101 – How to Troubleshoot Common Laptop Problems
Laptop users spend most of their time looking at the screen and keyboard. However, they don’t always realize the internal components of the laptop. Most laptops are secured with a series plastic flaps that are held in position by one or two screws. These flaps allow you to access the most important components of your laptop without opening it up. In addition, some laptops have snap-off plastic covers for things like the power switch and screen surround.
A hard drive or solid-state drive is the part of your laptop that stores all your documents and programs. Hard drives are made up of platters that spin at high speeds inside the laptop. When you drop the device, the platters may break. An SSD, on the other hand, does not have these problems, and is significantly faster than a hard drive. Sometimes, it can be possible to swap the hard drive with a SSD to make the machine function more quickly. However, since some SSDs are soldered to the motherboard, you may need to seek help from an expert in laptop repair.
In some cases, the issue may be something as simple as a damaged memory chip. In such a case, you can try to fix it yourself before calling in a technician. Laptop Repair 101 will help you if you are unsure how to proceed. This article will show you how to troubleshoot different issues and find a solution for your device.
First, you should determine whether your laptop has power issues or motherboard problems. A good way to test for both of these problems is to use a digital multi-meter. If you can’t see an image on your LCD screen, then it’s likely that your ram is not working properly. A bad cooling fan, or a failing hard disk are other common problems.
If your laptop is having problems with its screen, you might have accidentally hit “num lock”. If this is the case, you can use Windows troubleshooting software to fix the problem. It will allow you to restore your system to a previous state and help you diagnose the problem.
If you can’t fix your laptop by yourself, you can try taking apart your laptop’s battery. Some parts of your laptop are incredibly fragile and require professional help to repair them. It’s relatively simple if you know how to do it. In many cases, the parts that are most likely to fail are hidden under the flaps on the bottom of your machine. You can also buy second-hand parts on eBay.
Dirt and dust can cause damage to the keyboard. You can check for this by lifting the key cover. Some keyboards don’t have removable keys covers so this can be difficult. To clean the keys, use a dry cotton swab or compressed air to remove any debris from them.
About Joshua Shuemake
Joshua Shuemake is an IT (information technology) professional, based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas. Joshua is CEO of Joshua Shuemake Consulting, providing services such as IT consulting, laptop and computer repair, iPhone repair, and computer networking services for small businesses. You can follow him on Twitter at @joshuashuemake.