1.1 Laptop Hardware

Question 1

Near-field communication (NFC)

Answer 1

• Short-distance networking
  – 4 centimeters or less
  – Data transfers or authentication
• Common on mobile phones and smart watches
  – Payment method on your wrist
• Use it for authentication without typing a password
  – Hospital workstations, warehouses, manufacturing

Question 2

Biometrics

Answer 2

• Sign in or unlock your laptop with a fingerprint reader or face recognition
  – Something you are
• Requires additional configuration in the OS
  –Hardware required for most options
• Relatively secure
  – Faces and fingerprints are quite unique

Question 3

802.11 wireless and Bluetooth

Answer 3

• Wireless network connectivity
  – Connect without wires
• 802.11
  – Local area network (LAN)
  – High speed, Internet access
• Bluetooth
  – Personal area network (PAN)
• Short range
  – Connect peripherals and other nearby devices

Question 4

Migrating from HDD to SSD

Answer 4

• An impressive upgrade
  – Move from spinning mechanical drive to
  solid state memory
  – It’s almost like getting a new laptop
• Install an OS on the SSD
  – Move user documents between drives
  – Install any required applications
  – Can be time consuming
• Image/clone the HDD
  – No OS installation required
  – Move everything from one to the other
• Imaging software needed
  – Sometimes included with the SSD
  – Many commercial and open source options
• Create an image file - One drive at a time
• Drive-to-drive image
  – Image directly from one drive to the other

Question 5

Replacing laptop storage

Answer 5

• All internal
  – Open a cover on the back
  – Open the entire laptop
• Can be very modular
  – Two screws and the drive slides out
• M.2 drives are even easier
  – One screw - similar to RAM installation

Question 6

Laptop storage

Answer 6

• Magnetic disk
  – Traditional spinning drive platters
  – 2.5 form factors (3.5 inch for desktops)
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• SSD (Solid-state drive)
  – All memory, no moving parts
  – Silent, fast access time, less latency – 2.5 inch form factors
• M.2
  – Smaller form factor
  – No SATA data or power cables – Easy to install and replace

Question 7

Laptop memory

Answer 7

• Small Outline Dual In-line Memory Module (SO-DIMM)
• Memory used in laptops and mobile devices
  – Often easy to install and replace
• Some laptop memory is soldered to the system board
  – No upgrade available
  – Requires a full system board replacement

Question 8

Laptop keys

Answer 8

• Some repairs might require the removal or replacement of a key cap
  – This can be a delicate procedure
• Check with the manufacturer’s instructions
  – It’s very easy to accidentally break the key cap
  or the components underneath

Question 9

Laptop keyboard

Answer 9

• The most-used component of the laptop
  – Can be easy to replace
  – A few screws and a single ribbon cable
  – May not always be this simple
• Or connect an external USB keyboard
  – Not very portable, but works in a pinch

Question 10

Laptop batteries

Answer 10

• The power source when unplugged
  – May be easily replaced or require a tear down
  – Five minutes vs. one hour
• Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) and
  – Lithium-Ion polymer (LiPo) are common
  – No “memory effect”
  – Charging the battery diminishes capacity
• Different form factor for each laptop
  – Battery types and styles can vary
  – Battery technology is changing constantly

Question 11

Laptop hardware

Answer 11

• Engineered to precise specifications
  – A challenging repair
• Some laptops are easier to fix than others
  – An ongoing learning process
• Understand the process
  – The details will vary between laptop manufacturers