Que upgrading and repairing laptops 2nd edition dec 2005 ISBN 0789733765

UpgradingandRepairingLaptops,SecondEdition
ByScottMueller
...............................................
Publisher:Que
PubDate:December16,2005
PrintISBN-10:0-7897-3376-5
PrintISBN-13:978-0-7897-3376-4
Pages:912

TableofContents|Index

ScottMuellerhasgonewherenocomputerbookauthorhasgonebeforerightpastallthe
warrantystickers,thehiddenscrews,andthefearfactortoproducearealowner'smanual
thateverylaptopownershouldhaveonhisdesk.UpgradingandRepairingLaptops,
SecondEditionshowstheupgradesuserscanperform,theonesthatarebetterlefttothe
manufacturer,andhowtouseadd-onperipheralstomakethemostofalaptop.This
secondeditionhasbeenupdatedtoinclude:
Thelatestprocessorsandmotherboards
Completeassemblyanddisassemblyinformation
Updatedmemorystandards
Upgradingyourharddrivetoincreaseperformance
Changesinnetworkingandfirewalls
TheincludedDVDcontainsone-of-a-kindvideoshowingjustwhat'sinsideaportablePC.If
youhaveeverwonderedwhatgoesoninsideyourportablePC,howtoupgrade/repairit,
orhowtoliveontheroadwithit,thisistheonemust-havebookoftheyear!


UpgradingandRepairingLaptops,SecondEdition
ByScottMueller
...............................................
Publisher:Que

PubDate:December16,2005
PrintISBN-10:0-7897-3376-5
PrintISBN-13:978-0-7897-3376-4
Pages:912

TableofContents|Index

Copyright
AbouttheAuthor
Acknowledgments
WeWanttoHearfromYou!
Introduction
LaptopsorNotebooks?
BookObjectives
APersonalNote
Chapter1.PortableSystemsBackground
DefiningthePortableComputer
EvolutionofthePortableComputer
AdvantagesofLaptops

TheProblemsofUsingPortables
GeneralSolutionstoLaptopProblems
Chapter2.PortablePCOverview:TypesandFeatures
TypesandClassesofPortableComputers
MajorFeatures
Chapter3.SystemMaintenanceandAssembly
PreventiveMaintenance
MaintenanceTools
UpgradingandRepairingLaptops
BIOSSetup
DealingwithPasswords
Chapter4.Processors

MobileProcessorFeatures

MobileProcessorPackaging
ProcessorFeatures
IntelMobileProcessors
AMDMobileProcessors
Chapter5.Motherboards
FormFactors
SystemBusTypes,Functions,andFeatures
TypesofI/OBuses
MotherboardComponents
SystemResources
PlugandPlay
Chapter6.Memory
MemoryStandards
HowMuchMemory?
MemorySpeed
MemoryTypes
MemoryModules
MemoryUpgrades
Chapter7.Power
AC/DCPowerSupplies
Batteries
FuelCells
PowerManagement
Chapter8.ExpansionCardBuses
PCCards(PCMCIA)
ExpressCards
High-SpeedExternalConnections
Low-SpeedExternalConnections
Chapter9.HardDiskStorage
HardDriveHistoryandAdvancements

ArealDensity
HardDiskDriveOperation
BasicHardDiskDriveComponents
HardDiskFeatures
TheATA(IDE)Interface
ATAStandards
ATAFeatures
SerialATA

Chapter10.RemovableStorage
RemovableMedia
OpticalDiscandDriveTechnology
CD-BasedOpticalTechnology
DVDTechnology

OpticalDiscFormats
CD/DVDRead-OnlyDrivesandSpecifications
RemovableMagneticStorageDevices
FloppyDrives
FlashCardsandDigital"Film"MemoryDevices
Chapter11.GraphicsandSound
VideoDisplaySystem
VideoDisplayInterfaces
LaptopAudioHardware
Chapter12.Communications
Modems
TypesofCellularSystems
NetworkConnections
ConnectingontheRoad
MovingDataBetweenTwoSystems
CommunicationsSecurity
Chapter13.KeyboardsandPointingDevices
LaptopKeyboards
WindowsKeys
RunningWindowsWithoutaMouse
KeyboardTechnology
KeyboardTroubleshootingandRepair
ExternalKeyboardRecommendations
PointingDevices
ExternalPointingDevices
WirelessInputDevices
Chapter14.PortableSystemAccessories
CarryingCases
DockingStations
PortReplicators

SlabsorSlices
InternalDeviceBays
AccessoryPowerSources
Communications

DataStorage
SecurityDevices
InputDevices
OutputDevices
PresentationEquipment
SpecialInterfaces
Navigation
LaptopScreenAccessories

NotebookStands
WheretoBuy
Chapter15.SoftwareandOperatingSystems
TheBootProcess
InstallingtheOperatingSystem
LaptopDataRecovery
Chapter16.ProblemSolvingandTroubleshooting
BasicTroubleshootingGuidelines
TopTroubleshootingProblems
Chapter17.PortableResourceGuide
Documentation
RepairParts
ManufacturerTechSupport
AppendixA.ListofAcronymsandAbbreviations
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
JK
L
M
N
O
P
Q

R



















S
T
U
V
WX
YZ
AppendixB.Glossary
AppendixC.KeyVendorContactInformation
Index

Copyright
UpgradingandRepairingLaptops,2ndEdition
Copyright©2006byQueCorporation
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookshallbereproduced,
storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmittedbyanymeans,
electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recording,orotherwise,
withoutwrittenpermissionfromthepublisher.Nopatent
liabilityisassumedwithrespecttotheuseoftheinformation
containedherein.Althougheveryprecautionhasbeentakenin
thepreparationofthisbook,thepublisherandauthorassume
noresponsibilityforerrorsoromissions.Norisanyliability
assumedfordamagesresultingfromtheuseoftheinformation
containedherein.
InternationalStandardBookNumber:0-7897-3376-5
LibraryofCongressCatalogCardNumber:2005925004
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
FirstPrinting:December2005
080706054321

Trademarks
Alltermsmentionedinthisbookthatareknowntobe
trademarksorservicemarkshavebeenappropriately
capitalized.QuePublishingcannotattesttotheaccuracyofthis
information.Useofaterminthisbookshouldnotberegarded
asaffectingthevalidityofanytrademarkorservicemark.


WarningandDisclaimer
Everyefforthasbeenmadetomakethisbookascompleteand

asaccurateaspossible,butnowarrantyorfitnessisimplied.
Theinformationprovidedisonan"asis"basis.Theauthorand
thepublishershallhaveneitherliabilitynorresponsibilitytoany
personorentitywithrespecttoanylossordamagesarising
fromtheinformationcontainedinthisbookorfromtheuseof
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AssociatePublisherGregWiegand
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ManagingEditorCharlotteClapp
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MultimediaDeveloperDanScherf
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Dedication
ToLynn:
Yourartistry,skill,tenacity,andintelligencestillblowmeaway,
evenafteralltheseyears!


AbouttheAuthor
ScottMuellerispresidentofMuellerTechnicalResearch(MTR),
aninternationalresearchandcorporatetrainingfirm.Since
1982,MTRhasproducedtheindustry'smostin-depth,accurate,
andeffectiveseminars,books,articles,videos,andFAQs
coveringPChardwareanddatarecovery.MTRmaintainsaclient
listthatincludesFortune500companies,theU.S.government
andforeigngovernments,majorsoftwareandhardware
corporations,aswellasPCenthusiastsandentrepreneurs.
Scott'sseminarshavebeenpresentedtoseveralthousandsof
PCsupportprofessionalsthroughouttheworld.
Scottpersonallyteachesseminarsnationwidecoveringall
aspectsofPChardware(includingtroubleshooting,
maintenance,repair,andupgrade),A+Certification,andData
Recovery/Forensics.Hehasaknackformakingtechnicaltopics
notonlyunderstandable,butentertainingaswell;hisclasses
areneverboring!Ifyouhave10ormorepeopletotrain,Scott
candesignandpresentacustomseminarforyourorganization.
Althoughhehastaughtclassesvirtuallynonstopsince1982,
Scottisbestknownastheauthorofthelongestrunning,most

popular,andmostcomprehensivePChardwarebookinthe
world,UpgradingandRepairingPCs,whichhasnotonlybeen
producedinmorethan15editions,buthasalsobecomethe
coreofanentireseriesofbooks.
Scotthasauthoredmanybooksoverthepast20+years,
includingUpgradingandRepairingPCs,1stthrough16th
editions;UpgradingandRepairingMicrosoftWindows;
UpgradingandRepairingPCs:A+CertificationStudyGuide,1st
and2ndeditions;UpgradingandRepairingPCsFieldGuide;
KillerPCUtilities;TheIBMPS/2Handbook;andQue'sGuideto
DataRecovery.


Scotthasalsoproducedvideosovertheyears,includingat
least2hoursoffreevideotrainingincludedineachofthe
recenteditionsofUpgradingandRepairingPCs,andUpgrading
andRepairingLaptops.Scotthasalwaysincludeduniquevideo
segmentswithhisbooks,ratherthanusingthesameclips
everyyear.Manypeoplehavecollectedeachoftheolder
editionsjusttogettheuniquevideotrainingsegmentsincluded
withthem.
ContactMTRdirectlyifyouhaveauniquebook,article,orvideo
projectinmind,orifyouwantScotttoconductacustomPC
troubleshooting,repair,maintenance,upgrade,ordata-recovery
seminartailoredforyourorganization:
MuellerTechnicalResearch
3700GrayhawkDrive
Algonquin,IL60102
847-854-6794
847-854-6795Fax

Internet:
Web:www.upgradingandrepairingpcs.com
Scott'spremierework,UpgradingandRepairingPCs,hassold
wellover2millioncopies,makingitbyfarthemostpopular
andlongest-runningPChardwarebookonthemarkettoday.
ScotthasbeenfeaturedinForbesmagazineandhaswritten
severalarticlesforMaximumPCmagazine,severalnewsletters,
andtheUpgradingandRepairingPCswebsite.
Ifyouhavesuggestionsforthenextversionofthisbook,any


commentsaboutthebookingeneral,ornewbookorarticle
topicsyouwouldliketoseecovered,sendthemtoScottvia
emailatorvisit
www.upgradingandrepairingpcs.comandclicktheAskScott
button.
WhenheisnotworkingonPC-relatedbooksorontheroad
teachingseminars,Scottcanusuallybefoundinthegarage
workingonseveralprojects.Heiscurrentlyworkingona
custom1999Harley-DavidsonFLHRCIRoadKingClassicanda
modified19985.9L(360ci)GrandCherokeeahotrod4x4.




Acknowledgments
Severalpeoplehavehelpedmewithboththeresearchand
productionofthisbook.Iwouldliketothankthefollowing
people:First,averyspecialthankstomywifeandpartner,
Lynn.Overthepastfewyearsshereturnedtoschoolfulltime,

inadditiontohelpingtorunourbusiness.Sherecently
graduatedwithfullhonors(congratulations!),receivinga
degreeinMultimediaandWebDesign.I'mextremelyproudof
her,aswellasallI'veseenheraccomplishinthepastfew
years.Thededicationshehasshowntoherschoolworkhas
beeninspiring.
ThankstoLisaCarlsonofMuellerTechnicalResearchforhelping
withproductresearchandofficemanagement.Shehas
fantasticorganizationalskillsthathavebeenatremendoushelp
inmanagingalltheinformationthatcomesintoandgoesoutof
thisoffice.
I'dliketothankToddBrakkefordoingtheeditingforthis
project.Hisexcellenttipsandsuggestionsreallyhelptokeep
thematerialconciseanduptodate.I'dalsoliketothank
CharlotteClapp,TonyaSimpson,andChuckHutchinson,who
alsoworkedontheeditingforthisbook,aswellasallthe
illustrators,designers,andtechniciansatQuewhoworkedso
hardtocompletethefinishedproductandgetthisbookoutthe
door!ThepeopleatQueareawonderfulteamthatproduces
clearlythebestcomputerbooksonthemarket.Iamhappyand
proudtobecloselyassociatedwithQue.
IwouldliketosaythanksalsotomypublisherGregWiegand,
whohasstoodbehindalltheUpgradingandRepairingbookand
videoprojectsandiswillingtotaketherisksindevelopingnew
versions,suchasthisLaptopandupcomingWindowsand
Servereditions,aswellasthe(readexpensive)videoclipswe
areincluding.


Greg,Todd,andtherestallmakemefeelasifweareonthe

sameteam,andtheyarejustasdedicatedasIamtoproducing
thebestbookspossible.
Thankstoallthereaderswhohaveemailedmewith
suggestions;Iwelcomeallyourcommentsandevenyour
criticisms.Itakethemseriouslyandapplythemtothe
continuousimprovementofmybooks.Iespeciallyenjoy
answeringthemanyquestionsyousendme;yourquestions
helpmetounderstandareasthatmightneedtobeclarified,as
wellastopointoutadditionalcoveragethatshouldbeadded.
Finally,Iwouldliketothankthethousandsofpeoplewhohave
attendedmyseminars;youmightnotrealizehowmuchIlearn
fromeachofyouandallyourquestions!
Manyofmyall-nightwritingravesarefueledbyavarietyof
possiblyless-than-nutritious(butverytastyandloadedwith
energy)foodandbeverages.Inparticular,thiseditionwas
fueledbybagsandbagsofStarbuckscoffeeprocessedviaa
killerCapressoautomaticcoffee/espressomachine(utter
nirvanaforanaddictedcoffeedrinkerlikeme),manycasesof
CokeClassic(noPepsiallowedgottahavetheburn!),RedBull
andAMPenergydrinks,andcasesofTrolliBriteCrawlerEggs
andPearson'sSaltedNutRolls.ForspecialoccasionswhenI
reallyneededaboost,IenjoyedacouplebottlesofSkeleteen's
BrainWash,theultimateenergydrink.Why,thatcoversthe
threemajorworkaholicnerd/geekfoodgroupsrightthere:
caffeine,sugar,andsalt!


WeWanttoHearfromYou!
Asthereaderofthisbook,youareourmostimportantcritic
andcommentator.Wevalueyouropinionandwanttoknow

whatwe'redoingright,whatwecoulddobetter,whatareas
you'dliketoseeuspublishin,andanyotherwordsofwisdom
you'rewillingtopassourway.
AsanassociatepublisherforQuePublishing,Iwelcomeyour
comments.Youcanemailorwritemedirectlytoletmeknow
whatyoudidordidn'tlikeaboutthisbookaswellaswhatwe
candotomakeourbooksbetter.
PleasenotethatIcannothelpyouwithtechnicalproblems
relatedtothetopicofthisbook.WedohaveaUserServices
group,however,whereIwillforwardspecifictechnical
questionsrelatedtothebook.
Whenyouwrite,pleasebesuretoincludethisbook'stitleand
authoraswellasyourname,emailaddress,andphonenumber.
Iwillcarefullyreviewyourcommentsandsharethemwiththe
authorandeditorswhoworkedonthebook.

Email:
Mail:



GregWiegand
AssociatePublisher
QuePublishing




800East96thStreet
Indianapolis,IN46240USA

FormoreinformationaboutthisbookoranotherQuetitle,visit
ourwebsiteatwww.quepublishing.com.TypetheISBN
(excludinghyphens)orthetitleofabookintheSearchfieldto
findthepageyou'relookingfor.


Introduction
WelcometoUpgradingandRepairingLaptops,theonlybookof
itskindonthemarket!
Laptopcomputersarethelargestgrowingpartofthecomputer
industry,withsalesthatcontinuetooutpacedesktopsystems.
Forthoseintheindustry,therehasneverbeenabetterreason
togetintoupgradingandrepairinglaptops,becausenotonly
aretheysellingbetterthanever,buttheirhigherpricesallow
youtochargemoreforservicesrendered.
Butaren'tlaptopsproprietary,whichmeanstheycannoteasily
beupgradedorrepaired?Manypeoplearefamiliarwiththefact
thatdesktopPCsnormallyuseindustry-standardcomponents,
whichallowcost-effectiveupgradesandrepairstobe
performed.Infact,thisphilosophyisthebasisformybestsellingbookUpgradingandRepairingPCs,currentlyavailablein
a16thedition,withthe17theditioncurrentlyintheworks.
However,whatmanypeopledon'tknowisthatlaptopand
notebookcomputershaveevolvedfrombeingmostly
proprietarytousinglargerandlargernumbersofindustrystandardcomponents.Thismeans,inplainEnglish,thatlaptop
andnotebookcomputersaremoreupgradeableandrepairable
thaneverbefore.Beingalong-timeuserofportablecomputers
myself,Ithoughtthetimewasfinallyrighttoexplorethis
subjectinmoredepth,resultinginthisbook.

Inthisbook,youwilllearnaboutallthecomponentsthatmake
upamodernlaptopornotebookcomputer,whichcomponents
arebasedonindustrystandardsandwhichareproprietary,and
whichcomponentscaneasilybeupgradedorreplaced.Asmost
ofyouknow,laptopsaremoreexpensivethandesktops,so
whereasdesktopcomputersarebecomingmoreandmoreofa
commodity,laptopsarestillsomewhatexclusive.Theyaremore


difficulttoworkon,andthecomponentsaresmallerandmore
expensive.Allofthiscontributestoupgradesandrepairsthat
aremoreexpensiveoverall.
Youcanlookatthisbooktwoways:Fromtheperspectiveofa
laptopuser,knowinghowtoupgradeandrepairyourown
systemcansaveyouabundleofmoney!Usingtheinformation
inthisbook,youcaneffectivelytroubleshootaproblem;isolate
thedefectivecomponent;obtainareplacement;andfinally
performthephysicalinterchangeofparts,theactualupgrade,
orrepair.Thiscapabilityisusefulnotonlyforoldersystems,
wherethecostofservicemightexceedthevalueofthesystem,
butalsowithnewerlaptops,whichcanbeeasilyupgradedwith
newertechnologysuchaswirelessnetworking,fasterUSBor
FireWireports,morememory,largerharddisks,andeven
fasterprocessors.
Fromtheperspectiveofacomputertechnicianorsupport
personworkingintheindustry,knowinghowtoupgradeand
repairlaptopcomputersgivesyouasignificantedgeoverothers
intheindustrywhoareafraidtoopenlaptopsystems.Theycan
bedaunting.Manyofthelaptopsonthemarkettodayareheld
togetherbyupwardsof100screws,oftenconsistingofseveral

differenttypes!Theyalsooftenincludemanyintricately
assembledplasticpartsthatcaneasilybreakorbedamagedif
youdon'ttakethemapartproperly.Thebenefitisthatasa
repairtechnician,youcanchargemoreforlaptopserviceand
repair,whichgivesyouanotheredgeoverothertechnicianswho
canworkonlyoncommodity-leveldesktopsystems.




LaptopsorNotebooks?
Iinitiallystruggledwiththetermslaptopandnotebookbefore
evenbeginningworkonthisbook,notonlywithhowtouse
theminthecontentbutespeciallywiththetitle.Althoughitwas
notnecessarilytrueinthebeginning,inthecurrentcontextof
theindustry,thesetermsareusedinterchangeablytodescribe
systems.Thetruthis,thereisnoconsistentindustry-wide
definitionofwhatisalaptopcomputerandwhatisanotebook
computer.
Originally,therewassomeunofficialsizedifferentiationbetween
whatwasconsideredalaptopversuswhatwasconsidereda
notebook(thetermnotebookwasusedtodescribean
arbitrarilysmallerversionofalaptop).However,morerecently
thatdistinctionhascompletelydisappeared.Standardizationon
screentechnology,screensizes,aswellaskeyboard/pointing
devicelayoutandsizehaveallservedtomuddyandeventually
dissolveanydifferencesbetweenwhatwasonceconsidereda
laptopandwhatwasconsideredanotebook.Thefactthat
virtuallyallmodernportablesinclude13-inch(diagonal)or
largerscreens(whichiswhyinnovationssuchastheThinkPad

701"butterfly"collapsiblekeyboardaren'tusedanymore)as
wellasindustry-standardkeyboardlayouts,integratinga
pointingdeviceandpalmrest,hasservedtogreatlyequalize
thesizesofsuchsystems.Therearestilldifferencesinweight
andthicknessbetweenvariousmakesandmodels,butin
general,modernlaptop/notebooksystems,fromtheleasttothe
mostpowerfulandexpensive,comeinverysimilarsizes.
Sowhatdowecallthesesystemsnow?Aretheylaptopsor
notebooks?Virtuallyallmanufacturersnowusetheterm
notebooktodescribealltheirportablesystems,fromhuge
desktopreplacementsdowntoultra-slimorultra-lightmodels.
Unfortunately,outsidetheadvertisingandmarketingworld,few
peopleseemtousethetermnotebook.Perhapsthatisbecause


ifyoujustsay"notebook,"itseemstoogenericandcouldrefer
tosomethingotherthanacomputer,andthusbeeasily
misunderstood.Youalmosthavetosay"notebookcomputer"
forittobecomeclearwhatyoumean.Ontheotherhand,ifyou
say"laptop,"mostpeopleimmediatelyknowthatyoumean
"laptopcomputer,"becausethetermismuchmorewidely
recognized.
Iconductedsomeinformalpollsofmyown.Inthemosttelling
ofthese,Ishowedpeopleapictureofamodernportable
computersystemandaskedthem,"Whatdoyoucallthistype
ofcomputer?"Virtuallyeverybodyreplied,"Alaptop!"Inother
cases,Iaskedpeoplewhatthewordnotebookmeans,andI
receivedavarietyofanswers,notallhavingtodowith
computers.ThenIaskedthemwhatthewordlaptopmeans,
andalmosteverybodyunderstooditasatypeofportable

computer.MaybeI'vejustbeenaroundtoolong,butIthink
you'llfindasIdidthatlaptopissimplyamuchmore
recognizableandfamiliartermthannotebook,whetheryou
actuallyeveruseoneonyourlapornot.
So,inspiteoftheindustrymarketingpreferencesfortheword
notebook,andeventhoughlaptopcomputersandnotebook
computersarethesamething,Idecidednottocallthisbook
UpgradingandRepairingNotebooks(itevensoundsweird),but
insteaddecidedtousethemoreunderstandableand
recognizableUpgradingandRepairingLaptopstitleinstead.
Throughoutthisbook,you'llfindthatjustasisdoneinthe
industry,Iusethetermsinterchangeably(thatis,Isay"laptop"
or"notebook,"orboth),andinalmostallcasestheymean
exactlythesamething.




BookObjectives
Iwrotethisbookforpeoplewhowanttoupgrade,repair,
maintain,andtroubleshootlaptopcomputers,aswellasfor
thoseenthusiastswhowanttoknowmoreaboutlaptopsor
portablePChardwareingeneral.Thisbookcoversthefull
gamutoflaptopandportablePCs,fromtheoldesttothelatest
inhigh-endmulti-gigahertzmobileworkstations.Ifyouneedto
knowabouteverythingfromtheoriginalCompaqPortablePCto
thelatestinPCtechnologyonthemarkettoday,thisbookand
theaccompanyinginformation-packedDVD-ROMaredefinitely
foryou.
Thisbookcoversstate-of-the-artmobilehardwareand

accessoriesthatmakemodernmobilecomputerseasier,faster,
andmoreproductivetouse.Insidethesepagesyouwillfindindepthcoverageofeverymobileprocessor,fromtheoriginal
386SLtothelatestMobilePentium4,PentiumM,andMobile
AthlonXP-M.
UpgradingandRepairingLaptopsalsodoesn'tignoretheless
glamorousPCcomponents.Everypartofyourmobilesystem
playsacriticalroleinitsstabilityandperformance.Overthe
courseofthesepages,you'llfindoutexactlywhyyour
motherboard'schipsetmightjustbethemostimportantpartof
yourlaptopaswellaswhatcangowrongwhenyourprocessor
runstoohot.You'llalsofindin-depthcoverageoftechnologies
suchasDDRSDRAM,graphics,audio,AGP,MiniPCI,LCD
displays,recordableCDandDVDdrives,USB2.0,FireWire,and
high-capacityexternalorremovablestorageit'sallinhere!

Chapter-by-ChapterBreakdown
Thisbookisorganizedintochaptersthatcoverthecomponents


ofaportableormobilePC,emphasizingmodern
laptop/notebooksystems.Afewchaptersservetointroduceor
expandinanareanotspecificallycomponentrelated,butmost
partsinalaptophaveadedicatedchapterorsection,whichwill
aidyouinfindingtheinformationyouwant.
Thefirsttwochaptersofthisbookserveprimarilyasan
introduction.Chapter1,"PortableSystemsBackground,"begins
withanintroductiontothedevelopmentofportablecomputers.
Thischapterincorporatessomeofthehistoricaleventsthatled
tothedevelopmentofmodernportablePCs.Chapter2,
"PortablePCOverview:TypesandFeatures,"provides

informationaboutthevarioustypesofmobileorportable
systemsyouwillencounterandwhatseparatesonetypeof
systemfromanother.
Chapter3,"SystemMaintenanceandAssembly,"iswhereI
showyouhowtomaintainandcareforlaptopsystems.I
provideastep-by-stepprocessshowinghowtocompletely
disassembleandreassembleatypicallaptop.Thedrawings
includedinthischapter,aswellasthevideoincludedonthe
DVD-ROM,willgreatlyaidyouinunderstandingthese
procedures.
Chapter4,"Processors,"includesdetailedcoverageofIntel's
mobilePentiumM(partofCentrinomobiletechnology),mobile
Pentium4andPentium4-M,mobilePentiumIII,mobile
PentiumII,mobileCeleron,andearliercentralprocessingunit
(CPU)chips.There'salsodetailedcoverageofAMD'slineof
high-performancemobileAthlonXP-MandSempronprocessors
aswellasoldermobileAthlonandmobileDuronprocessors.
Becausetheprocessorisoneofthemostimportantpartsofa
laptopPC,thisbookfeaturesextensivemobileprocessor
coverage,morethanyou'llfindinanyotherbook.Allthe
uniqueformfactorsusedinmobileprocessorsarediscussed,
withdiagrams,drawings,andexamples.Thisinformationis
invaluableinunderstandinghowprocessorsareimplementedin
portablesystemsandwhatupgradeoptionsyoumayhaveat


yourdisposal.
Chapter5,"Motherboards,"coversthemotherboard,mobile
chipsets,motherboardcomponents,andprimarysystembuses
indetail.Achipsetcaneithermakeagoodprocessorbetteror

chokethelifeoutofanotherwisehigh-speedCPU.Icoverthe
latestchipsetsforcurrentmobileprocessorfamilies,including
mobilechipsetsfromIntel,AMD,VIA,andmore.Thischapter
alsocoversspecialbusarchitecturesanddevices,suchashighspeedPeripheralComponentInterconnect(PCI),includingMini
PCIandPCIExpress.PlugandPlay(includingUniversalPnP)
configurationofresourcesandwaystohandleresourceconflicts
arealsodiscussed.
Chapter6,"Memory,"providesadetaileddiscussionoflaptop
memory,includingthelatestmemoryspecifications.Afterthe
processorandchipset,thesystemmemoryisoneofthemost
importantpartsofalaptopormobilecomputer.It'salsooneof
themostdifficultthingstounderstanditissomewhatintangible,
andhowitworksisnotalwaysobvious.Ifyou'reconfused
aboutthedifferencebetweensystemmemoryandcache
memory;SODIMMsandMicro-DIMMs;SDRAMversusDDR
SDRAM;EDOversusPC133versusPC3200,thisisthechapter
thatcanansweryourquestions.
Chapter7,"Power,"isadetailedinvestigationoflaptopbattery
technology,aswellasACadaptersandpower-management
schemes.
Chapter8,"ExpansionCardBuses,"coverstheExpressCard,PC
Card,andCardBusinterfaces,otherwisesometimescalled
PCMCIAslots.AlsocoveredarenewertechnologiessuchasUSB
2.0andFireWire(IEEE1394/i.LINK),aswellasolderlegacy
serialandparallelports.Duetothelimitedspaceinlaptop
computers,externalUSB2.0andFireWiredevicesofferawide
rangeofexpansioncapability.
Chapter9,"HardDiskStorage,"coversthesmaller2.5-inch

formfactordrivesusedinlaptopcomputers,anditevenbreaks
downhowdataisstoredtoyourdrivesandhowitisretrieved
whenyoudouble-clickafileinWindows.Alsocoveredisthe
ATA/IDEinterface,includingtypesandspecifications,plusthe
SerialATAinterface.
Chapter10,"RemovableStorage,"coversopticalstorageusing
CDandDVDtechnology,includingCDrecorders,rewritable
CDs,andotheropticaltechnologies.There'sevenextensive
coverageofDVD,witheverythingyouneedtoknowto
understandthedifferencebetweentherecordableDVDdrives
nowavailableinlaptops.Alsocoveredareallthedigital
memory-storagedevices,suchasCompactFlash,SmartMedia,
MultiMediaCard,SecureDigital,MemoryStick,xD-PictureCard,
andUSB"keychain"drives.Finally,thischaptercoversmagnetic
removablestorage,suchasstandardfloppyandmagnetictape
drives.
Chapter11,"GraphicsandSound,"coverseverythingthereisto
knowaboutvideochipsetsanddisplaytechnology,aswellas
thevariousinterfacestandardsforexternaldisplays.This
chapteralsocoverssoundandsound-relateddevices,including
internalandexternalsound"boards"andspeakersystems.
Chapter12,"Communications,"coversallaspectsof
connectivity,includingeverythingfromdial-upusingmodems,
tobothwiredandwirelessnetworking.Anemphasisonwireless
standardsisdesignedtofeatureoneofthebestnew
technologiescomingtomobilesystems:802.11a/b/g
networking(otherwiseknownasWi-Fi).
Chapter13,"KeyboardsandPointingDevices,"covers
keyboards,pointingdevices,andotherinputdevicesusedto
communicatewithalaptop,includingexternalwirelessmice

andkeyboards.
Chapter14,"PortableSystemAccessories,"coversallthe
variousaccessories,gadgets,andgizmosthatmakeusing


mobilecomputerseasierandmoreproductive.
Chapter15,"SoftwareandOperatingSystems,"coversthe
Windowsversionsusedonlaptops,includingdetailontheboot
sequence,configurationoptions,aswellasinstallationand
configurationprocedures.
Chapter16,"ProblemSolvingandTroubleshooting,"covers
diagnosticandtestingtoolsandprocedures.Thischapter
includesinformationongeneraltroubleshootingandproblem
determination.Here,Ishowyouwhatpreparedlaptop
technicianshaveintheirtoolkits,includingafewtoolsyou
mighthaveneverseenorusedbefore.
Finally,Chapter17,"PortableResourceGuide,"covers
manufacturer,vendor,andalternativeresourcesthatareuseful
forupgrading,repairing,maintaining,andtroubleshooting
laptops.Thisinformationcanbeespeciallyusefulifyouhavea
problemwhileontheroad.

TheUpgradingandRepairingLaptopsDVD
I'veincludedaDVD-ROMwiththebookthatcontainsall-new,
studio-quality,full-screenvideo,showinglaptopconstruction,
components,anddisassembly!Also,onthediscyou'llfinda
detailedvendordatabase.Thiscustomdatabasecontains
hundredsofentriesofcontactinformationfortheindustry's
leadingmanufacturersandvendors.It'slikehavingmyRolodex
onyourcomputer.Thisdatabaseisfullysearchableand

printable.

Scott'sWebsite
Don'tmissmybookwebsiteat