Chapter 1 Mobile Devices Flashcards
Replacement components available only from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) are components such as:
display
keyboard
wireless network card
system board
Replacement components that can be purchased from third-party sources are components such as:
Optical drives
Hard drives
Memory
CPU
A laptop is powered by:
an internal battery and an AC adapter that also charges the battery
Laptops include several components typically not included on desktop computers. Some of these components are:
an antenna in the display that is connected to a mini-PCIe card to provide wireless networking
a key-board with an integrated touchpad or pointing stick
a touchscreen or non-touchscreen display
integrated speakers
What are some of the best practices you should use to make the laptop reassembly process as easy as possible:
Refer to manufacturer documentation
Use appropriate hand tools for case disassembly and component removal
Document and label cable and screw locations
Organize parts
What components can be accessed from the bottom of the laptop?
The battery
Mass storage (hard disk, SSD, SSHD, or optical drive)
SODIMM RAM
Wireless adapter
To replace a keyboard (with or without a pointing stick), follow this basic procedure:
- Disconnect the laptop from AC power and remove the battery
- Remove the screws that hold the keyboard in place
- Turn the laptop upright
- Open the screen so that the keyboard is visible
- If necessary, remove the bezel that holds the keyboard in place
- Lift up the keyboard to expose the keyboard cable
- Remove any hold-down devices used to hold the keyboard cable in place
- Disconnect the keyboard cable from the system board
- Remove the keyboard
To install a replacement, reverse these steps
Most laptop computers use one 2.5 in. storage drive that comes in one of three common choices:
HDD
SSD
SSHD
What is a Hard disk drive (HDD):
These magnetic disks have been a standard option for years and combine low cost with large capacity
They are slower and less reliable than the other options
What is a Solid-state drive (SSD)?
a flash memory drive with no moving parts
It is much faster than an HDD when booting and storing or retrieving data
Many newer laptops have M.2 expansion ports and can support:
an M.2 SSD card that is directly mounted to the circuit board for even faster reading
What is a Solid-state hybrid drive (SSHD)?
a combination of a solid-state cache with magnetic capacity
it uses a memory manager to choose the most common files for the fast cache
Comparison of HDD, SSD, and SSHD
Cost; Capacity; Speed; Reliability
HDD
Least expensive and readily available; Highest capacity; Slowest due to moving parts and magnetic disks; Has moving parts that can wear over time
Comparison of HDD, SSD, and SSHD
Cost; Capacity; Speed; Reliability
SSD
Most expensive but price is dropping; Lowest capacity but improving; Fastest; Has no moving parts
Comparison of HDD, SSD, and SSHD
Cost; Capacity; Speed; Reliability
SSHD
Midrange cost; Blends high HDD capacity with fast solid-state cache for most used files; Blends fast solid-state cache with slower magnetic storage; Has moving parts that can wear out but spins less than HDD
Follow this procedure to remove and replace a storage device (HDD, SSD, SSHD) accessible from the bottom:
- Disconnect the laptop from AC power and remove the battery
- Loosen or remove the screw or screws used to hold the drive cover in place
- Slide the cover away from the retaining lug or clips and remove it
- Remove the screws holding the drive to the chassis
- Slide the drive away from the retaining screw holes and lift out of the chassis
- If the computer uses an interposer- that is, a proprietary connector linking the drive’s SATA connector and the drive bay- remove it and save it for reuse
- Remove the screws fastening the drive to the drive frame
- Remove the drive from the drive frame
- Insert the new hard drive into the drive frame
Reverse these steps to install a new hard drive
When you install a new hard drive what must you do once the system is restarted?
Start the computer
Enter the BIOS or UEFI setup program to verify that the new hard drive has been properly recognized by the system
Type of RAM Description:
RAM (random access memory)
Volatile memory not for storage
Type of RAM Description:
SDRAM (synchronous dynamic RAM)
Combines static RAM and dynamic RAM
Type of RAM Description:
SDR SDRAM (single data rate SDRAM)
Single data rate means internal clock rate and input/output are the same
Type of RAM Description:
DDR SDRAM (double data rate SDRAM), DDR2, DDR3, DDR4
Xxx, DDR4 is the latest generation
Type of RAM Description:
DIMM (dual in-line memory module)
Form factor used in desktops
Type of RAM Description:
SODIMM (small outline DIMM)
Form factor used in laptops
You need to note the following before you can select the right memory upgrade for a laptop:
Form factor
Memory speed
Memory timing
To determine the correct memory to use for a memory upgrade, use one of the following methods:
Use the interactive memory upgrade tools available from major third-party memory vendors’ websites
(ActiveX web control, Crucial System Scanner)
Check the vendor’s memory specifications
Generally, laptops have two connectors for memory, typically using:
small outline DiMMs (SODIMMs)
Number of Pins; Notch Location; Notes
DDR
200; After pin 20; 67.6mm long and 30mm high; Notch closer to short end* than with DDR2
Number of Pins; Notch Location; Notes
DDR2
200; After pin 20; Notch closer to long end* than with DDR
Number of Pins; Notch Location; Notes
DDR3
204; After pin 36; Same dimensions as DDR
Number of Pins; Notch Location; Notes
DDR4
260; After pin 144; 69.7mm long and 30mm high
Follow these steps to perform a typical memory upgrade:
- Disconnect the laptop from AC power and remove the battery
- Remove any screws or hold-down devices
- Remove the old memory module(s), if necessary. To remove a memory module, pull back the clips on both sides and swing the memory up and out
- Insert the new memory upgrade, making sure the contacts on the edge of the module make a firm connection with the connector
- Push the top of the module down until the latches lock into place
- If the memory socket requires screws to secure the memory in place, install them
- Close the cover and secure it to complete the upgrade
- Test the upgrade by starting the system and running a memory diagnostic tool
A smart card reader is typically used on:
corporate laptops for access control
Smart cards are:
usually plastic with an embedded chip to authenticate a user for access
To remove a smart card reader follow this procedure:
- Disconnect the laptop from AC power and remove the battery
- Remove the bottom cover
- Locate the ribbon cable connecting the reader to the motherboard
- Disconnect the ribbon cable
- Remove the screws holding the reader in place
- Remove the reader from the system
To replace the smart card reader, reverse these steps
Although built-in optical drives are moving toward legacy status, some laptops feature:
Modular USB optical drives designed for being swapped
An optical drive that is not designed for being swapped, follow this procedure to remove it:
- Disconnect the laptop from AC power and remove the battery
- Locate the latch or mounting screw that holds the drive in place. It might be located inside the access panel for another component. Slide open the latch or remove the mounting screw
- Slide the drive out of the system
A Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) slot in a computer is:
A slot for plugging in add-on peripherals
The Peripheral Component Interconnect provides:
Access to the motherboard for a device such as a WiFi modem, a video graphics processing unit (GPU), or added storage with an M.2 card
miniPCI Express (mPCIe) cards perform:
functions similar to those of the PCIe card, but they are designed for the compact space of a laptop
The mPCIe slots in a laptop are:
Used for plugging in wireless cards and also for M.2 memory modules
Other than wireless cards and M.2 memory modules other examples of modules that can plug into mPCIe slots are:
GPS units, cellular cards, and analog-to-digital converter (ADC) cards
A laptop with WiFi or Bluetooth support typically uses either an:
mPCIe expansion card or an M.2 card to provide wireless network support
An M.2 card form factor is also used for:
SSD and other I/O devices
An M.2 card form factor is also called:
NGFF, for next-generation form factor
Note that an M.2 card slot made for SSD cannot be used for:
WiFi or Bluetooth cards
To remove a wireless card, follow this basic procedure:
- Verify the location of the card. Some laptops have the card under the keyboard, whereas others have the card under a removable cover on the bottom of the computer
- Disconnect the laptop from AC power and remove the battery
a. If the card is located under the keyboard, remove the keyboard
b. If the card is located under an access panel, remove the screws holding the access panel in place - Disconnect any wires connected to the adapter. They might be screwed into place or snapped into place. Note their positions
- Unscrew any bolts holding the card in place. A miniPCIe card uses two mounting bolts, while an M.2 card uses a single mounting bolt
- Rotate the card upward at a slight angle and remove it from the slot
- If the card is attached to a bracket, remove the card from the bracket
To reinstall the card or replace it with a different card, reverse these steps
Because cellular access is sometimes needed because WiFi is not available, some business-class laptops come with:
Slots for cellular LTE wireless connectivity
To enable cellular on a laptop, it is best to start by consulting the manufacturer’s documentation for the location of the slot for the SIM card. Then follow these steps:
- Activate the SIM card
- Insert the SIM card into the laptop, making sure the gold contacts connect
- If the SIM card does not auto-configure, access the settings by selecting the Cellular option from the Network Connections area in the system tray
- Select the Cellular tab and choose Add an APN (access point name)
- Enable a PIN if you want to specify what users have access to the cellular connection
To install a GPU, follow these steps:
- Disconnect cables and remove the old graphics card. Remove the card drivers, if necessary:
- Align the new GPU to the slots in the PCIe card and insert carefully
- Connect cables and place them away from the fan
- Reconnect any other cables and close the case
- Boot the computer. When online, check for driver updates and install them
A computer display screen typically consists of:
either a Liquid crystal display (LCD) or Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display
Any communication peripherals are added separately
Laptop screens are specially designed to accommodate:
a web-cam
microphone
WiFi antennas
and often touchscreen
digitizers and inverters
An LCD screen uses:
A backlight to illuminate light-modulating liquid crystals
How does the LCD screen work?
An electric current passes through the crystals and arrange into patterns that become the image on the screen
Compare and OLED screen to LED:
They are brighter
Use less energy
Flexible
Foldable
More subject to cracking or breaking when dropped or mishandled
The DC jack (also referred to as the power adapter port) receives:
DC power from AC/DC power adapter and passes it to the battery
If the DC jack fails:
The laptop’s battery cannot be charged, and the laptop cannot run on external power either
To replace the DC jack on a typical laptop, follow this procedure:
- Remove power from the laptop and then remove any components that block access to the DC jack and cable
- Unplug the DC jack power cord from the system board
- Remove the DC jack power cord from the guides holding it in place on the system board
- Remove the screw or clip that holds the DC jack in place
- Lift out the DC jack
To replace the DC jack, reverse these steps
Most manufacturers have diagnostic software that reports on what?
the health of the battery and estimates how many cycles are left
Before performing any replacement of internal components, the system must be removed from all power sources. Follow this procedure;
- Turn off the computer
- Disconnect the AC adapter from the computer
- Open the battery compartment in the unit; it might be secured by a sliding lock or by screws
- If the battery is under a removable cover, remove the battery compartment cover
- Open the lock that holds the battery in place
- Slide out or lift out the battery. If the battery is a flat assembly, it might be held in place by a clip; if so, push the clip to one side to release the battery
- Examine the battery contacts inside the computer for dirt or corrosion and clean dirty contacts with a soft cloth
To replace a laptop’s battery, follow these steps:
- Line up the replacement battery with the contacts inside the battery compartment. Make sure you insert the battery so that the positive and negative terminals are in the right directions
- Slide in clip the battery into place
- Replace any cover over the battery compartment
- If the battery must be charged before use, plug in the AC adapter to both the computer and wall outlet. Check the computer’s manual for the proper charge time for a new battery
To remove the touchpad, follow these steps:
- Check service documents to determine whether the touchpad is a separate component or is built into the top cover
- Remove all power from the laptop
- Remove all power from the laptop
- Place the system so it is bottom side up
- Disconnect the cable from the pointing devices to the motherboard
6 Remove the clips or screws holding the touchpad in
- Remove the touchpad assembly
To replace the touchpad, reverse these steps
Most laptops use plastic bezels, case covers, and frames that can be:
cracked during normal use or during replacement or upgrades to internal components