10 Common Laptop Faults & Solutions

Broken Laptop

  1. Overheating

Symptom: Computer crashes, freezes

Solution: Clean out air vents, put filtered textile over the inhalation vent, or update BIOS

Overheating tin can rob your laptop of performance and often cause a host of hiccups, such every bit arrangement crashes and freezing. Every computer generates lots of heat, but laptops are especially susceptible to overheating due to their small size and lack of ventilation. Excessive dust can clog air vents and deprive your organization of cold air to cool off the CPU.

Yous can often solve overheating bug but by cleaning out these air vents with a fabric or keyboard cleaner.

To foreclose further dust buildup, place a piece of filtered cloth, say from a Swiffer, over the inhalation vent. Don't place one over the exhaust vent, as that's where hot air is supposed to flow out of the system quickly. If the cloth doesn't work, you may desire to update your organisation's BIOS, which controls the laptop's hardware. Most manufacturers offer an installation file that updates BIOS files automatically, which often address heat direction. Just make sure that your notebook is connected to the power supply when updating the BIOS.

  1. Wearisome Hard Bulldoze

Symptom: Excessive plan load times, ho-hum file transfers

Solution: Deejay defragmentation

Disorganized information on your hard drive can sap performance because the computer requires more time to sift through data fragments and bad sectors on the drive. This trouble can exist cleared up easily (only not especially quickly; defragging tin sometimes take hours) using the congenital-in Windows tool called Disk Defragmenter. You lot can access this plan through the Programs menu in the Accessories or System Tools folder. Simply click the Analyze push button to meet if your deejay drive requires defragmenting, and then click Defragment to begin.

  1. Battery Won't Hold a Charge

Symptom: Your notebook runs only a few minutes when unplugged

Solution: Battery replacement

Over their lifespans, lithium-ion batteries can lose the ability to hold a charge. Afterwards a few years, some batteries will last only a fraction of the rated runtime. Replacing a battery is relatively simple; most popular out from the bottom or dorsum of the laptop.

Elevation tip – Never run the laptop plugged in on a fully charged battery, information technology will do more than impairment to your battery in the long run.

  1. Bad Keyboard

Symptom: Missing or Loose Keys

Solution: Supercede keyboard

Keyboards get the brunt of corruption on any laptop, either from typing or spilled java. As a issue, keys can often become dislodged or worn out. Thankfully, laptop makers provide quick online guides for replacing keyboards on their support pages; merely type "keyboard replacement" into the search bar or check the manufacturer's knowledge base.

  1. Can't Connect to Wireless Network

Symptom: No Internet connection, frequent fourth dimension-outs while Web browsing

Solution: Brand sure wireless is turned on, smarter software tools, make sure router is broadcasting network name (SSID)

Part of taking your laptop everywhere on the go is expecting to be able to connect to any wireless network, whether in an airport, java shop, or hotel. Only wireless networks, by their very nature, are finicky beasts. Some laptops come with an external push or switch, separate from the software settings, to enable wireless connectivity. E'er make certain this wireless toggle is switched on. Also make sure that the network you're connecting to is broadcasting its network name or SSID.

  1. Stuck Pixels

Symptom: Green or crimson dots on your notebook's screen

Solution: Massage away dead pixels

Nonconforming or stuck pixels can exist a nuisance on an otherwise functional laptop LCD. The pixels ordinarily remain green or blood-red without lighting up properly with the other pixels on the brandish. Unfortunately, manufacturers will not replace an LCD for just one or two stuck pixels; in fact, some crave every bit many as 10 to xviii dead pixels before they'll take action.

There is a solution, though. Take a soft material, like a felt textile, and gently rub in a circular move around the stuck pixel. Performing this pull a fast one on volition usually get the pixel to low-cal upwards properly.

Once you lot discover the correct location and pressure to illuminate the pixel, hold your finger there for up to two minutes, and voila, no more than stuck pixel.

  1. System Crash

Symptom: Notebook won't boot up

Solution: Remove the hard drive and identify it into an external enclosure. Run Checkdisk.

Most people go into panic style when their computers refuse to boot upwards. More oftentimes than not, nevertheless, the problem is as unproblematic every bit a missing system file or a bad sector on the difficult drive. To determine if that'south the case, you can remove your hard bulldoze using the instructions from the manufacturer and identify the drive into a USB enclosure–these are external housings for internal hardware.

Next, connect the enclosure's USB cablevision to an open USB port on a working PC. If the file system is still intact, the hard drive should prove up every bit an external drive and allow you to transfer data to and from the bulldoze. Next, endeavor running Checkdisk on the bulldoze past opening a DOS prompt (Start/Programs/Accessories/Command Prompt) and typing in Ten: where Ten is the letter of the alphabet of your external bulldoze. Then hitting Enter. Now blazon "chkdsk /f." Your system may ask y'all to dismount the drive; this is okay, and so type Y and then hit Enter.

Your notebook will now display some information about your drive (file organization type and serial number) and and so scan the drive, fixing any errors information technology encounters. An error report will impress out, so yous can see what changes were fabricated to the drive. If all went well, you'll exist practiced to go once you plug the hard drive dorsum into the crashed notebook and ability it on.

  1. Virus or Spyware Infestation

Symptom: Excessive pop ups, slow downloads

Solution: Install antispyware programs, employ free virus scans

Nothing can cripple your organisation like malware. The beginning line of defence force is always prevention. It's best to take a subscription to a service like Norton 360. Norton impresses with it's unobtrusive security suite that offers stellar antivirus and spyware protection, file backups, and performance tuning without a circuitous user interface. The Norton suite also offers a firewall option that will silently block most threats while alerting the user to friendly programs requesting Web admission.

If yous don't want to spend whatever money, you can bolster your defenses with costless tools like Ad-Awareand Spybot: Search and Destroy. While both are excellent tools, each has its own strengths and weaknesses–Spybot is meliorate at tracking down malicious lawmaking like pop-ups, while Advertising-Aware does a better task removing cookies (text files that advertisers copy to a user's reckoner to track surfing habits). We recommend scheduling periodic scans with both of these tools, just to be prophylactic.

If these tools fail to locate a virus, you may want to try Tendency Micro'south complimentary Firm Call at housecall.trendmicro.com, which is sometimes more adept at identifying viruses than other programs. Trend Micro also offers a complimentary database of viruses and manual removal tips, if automated solutions fail.

  1. Outdated Video Drivers

Symptom: Garbled or distorted video

Solution: Download the latest drivers

Video bug are a common complaint among notebook users. The problem often stems from newer games and software that require the latest video card drivers to piece of work. Fifty-fifty though almost laptops ship with the latest commuter files, some systems will be outdated past the time the auto is sold. That's why information technology's disquisitional to update your video bill of fare's drivers ofttimes–sometimes the audio and network drivers may need to be updated likewise.

Many notebook manufacturers offer installation packs that will give you the latest drivers and offer automated tools to update the residual of your notebook. Lenovo, for case, hosts its driver files at lenovo.com/back up. Alienware tests new drivers for all its machines and hosts them in the back up area of its Web site. However, if y'all fail to discover drivers at your notebook manufacturer's site, you tin can attempt the video card'southward manufacturer, commonly ATI or Nvidia. If your system comes with an integrated graphics fleck from Intel, your best bet is the laptop manufacturer's website, although you lot tin also attempt Intel's support and downloads folio.

    1. Overheating

    Symptom: Computer crashes, freezes

    Solution: Make clean out air vents, put filtered textile over the inhalation vent, or update BIOS

    Overheating can rob your laptop of performance and often cause a host of hiccups, such every bit system crashes and freezing. Every calculator generates lots of rut, merely laptops are peculiarly susceptible to overheating due to their small-scale size and lack of ventilation. Excessive dust can clog air vents and deprive your system of cold air to cool off the CPU.

    You can ofttimes solve overheating issues simply by cleaning out these air vents with a cloth or keyboard cleaner.

    To prevent further dust buildup, identify a piece of filtered cloth, say from a Swiffer, over the inhalation vent. Don't place one over the exhaust vent, as that'due south where hot air is supposed to flow out of the organisation apace. If the cloth doesn't work, you may desire to update your arrangement'south BIOS, which controls the laptop'southward hardware. Almost manufacturers offering an installation file that updates BIOS files automatically, which oftentimes accost oestrus management. But make sure that your notebook is connected to the power supply when updating the BIOS.

    1. Slow Hard Bulldoze

    Symptom: Excessive program load times, irksome file transfers

    Solution: Disk defragmentation

    Disorganized information on your hard drive can sap operation because the figurer requires more time to sift through data fragments and bad sectors on the drive. This problem can exist cleared upwards easily (only not especially quickly; defragging tin sometimes take hours) using the built-in Windows tool called Disk Defragmenter. Yous can access this plan through the Programs menu in the Accessories or System Tools binder. Simply click the Analyze push button to see if your deejay drive requires defragmenting, and then click Defragment to begin.

    1. Battery Won't Agree a Accuse

    Symptom: Your notebook runs only a few minutes when unplugged

    Solution: Bombardment replacement

    Over their lifespans, lithium-ion batteries can lose the ability to agree a charge. Later on a few years, some batteries volition last only a fraction of the rated runtime. Replacing a battery is relatively elementary; most pop out from the bottom or back of the laptop.

    Pinnacle tip – Never run the laptop plugged in on a fully charged battery, it will practice more harm to your battery in the long run.

    1. Bad Keyboard

    Symptom: Missing or Loose Keys

    Solution: Replace keyboard

    Keyboards get the brunt of abuse on any laptop, either from typing or spilled coffee. Every bit a result, keys can often become dislodged or worn out. Thankfully, laptop makers provide quick online guides for replacing keyboards on their support pages; only blazon "keyboard replacement" into the search bar or cheque the manufacturer's knowledge base of operations.

    1. Tin can't Connect to Wireless Network

    Symptom: No Internet connectedness, frequent time-outs while Spider web browsing

    Solution: Brand sure wireless is turned on, smarter software tools, make sure router is broadcasting network proper name (SSID)

    Role of taking your laptop everywhere on the go is expecting to exist able to connect to whatsoever wireless network, whether in an airdrome, java shop, or hotel. But wireless networks, by their very nature, are finicky beasts. Some laptops come up with an external push or switch, carve up from the software settings, to enable wireless connectivity. Always make sure this wireless toggle is switched on. As well make sure that the network yous're connecting to is broadcasting its network proper noun or SSID.

    1. Stuck Pixels

    Symptom: Green or ruby dots on your notebook'south screen

    Solution: Massage away dead pixels

    Nonconforming or stuck pixels tin can be a nuisance on an otherwise functional laptop LCD. The pixels usually remain light-green or red without lighting up properly with the other pixels on the display. Unfortunately, manufacturers volition not supervene upon an LCD for just one or two stuck pixels; in fact, some crave as many every bit 10 to 18 dead pixels before they'll have action.

    There is a solution, though. Accept a soft textile, like a felt material, and gently rub in a circular motion around the stuck pixel. Performing this trick will ordinarily get the pixel to light up properly.

    Once yous notice the right location and pressure to illuminate the pixel, hold your finger there for up to two minutes, and voila, no more stuck pixel.

    1. Arrangement Crash

    Symptom: Notebook won't boot upwardly

    Solution: Remove the hard drive and place it into an external enclosure. Run Checkdisk.

    Most people go into panic style when their computers pass up to boot up. Generally, however, the problem is every bit simple as a missing system file or a bad sector on the hard bulldoze. To make up one's mind if that'southward the case, you tin can remove your difficult drive using the instructions from the manufacturer and place the drive into a USB enclosure–these are external housings for internal hardware.

    Side by side, connect the enclosure's USB cablevision to an open USB port on a working PC. If the file organization is still intact, the difficult drive should show up as an external drive and let you lot to transfer information to and from the drive. Next, try running Checkdisk on the drive by opening a DOS prompt (Start/Programs/Accessories/Control Prompt) and typing in X: where X is the alphabetic character of your external drive. And then striking Enter. Now type "chkdsk /f." Your organization may enquire you lot to dismount the drive; this is okay, and so type Y and then hit Enter.

    Your notebook will now display some information about your drive (file system type and serial number) and then scan the drive, fixing whatever errors it encounters. An error written report will print out, so you tin can meet what changes were made to the drive. If all went well, you'll be proficient to get once you plug the difficult drive back into the crashed notebook and power it on.

    1. Virus or Spyware Infestation

    Symptom: Excessive pop ups, deadening downloads

    Solution: Install antispyware programs, use gratuitous virus scans

    Nothing tin can cripple your system similar malware. The kickoff line of defense is e'er prevention. It'southward best to have a subscription to a service like Norton 360. Norton impresses with it'due south unobtrusive security suite that offers stellar antivirus and spyware protection, file backups, and performance tuning without a circuitous user interface. The Norton suite also offers a firewall option that will silently block about threats while alerting the user to friendly programs requesting Web access.

    If you don't desire to spend whatever money, you can bolster your defenses with gratis tools like Advertising-Awareand Spybot: Search and Destroy. While both are first-class tools, each has its own strengths and weaknesses–Spybot is improve at tracking downward malicious code like popular-ups, while Ad-Aware does a ameliorate job removing cookies (text files that advertisers copy to a user's computer to track surfing habits). We recommend scheduling periodic scans with both of these tools, just to be prophylactic.

    If these tools fail to locate a virus, you lot may desire to try Trend Micro's complimentary Firm Phone call at housecall.trendmicro.com, which is sometimes more adept at identifying viruses than other programs. Tendency Micro as well offers a gratis database of viruses and manual removal tips, if automated solutions neglect.

    1. Outdated Video Drivers

    Symptom: Garbled or distorted video

    Solution: Download the latest drivers

    Video issues are a common complaint among notebook users. The trouble ofttimes stems from newer games and software that require the latest video bill of fare drivers to work. Even though nearly laptops transport with the latest commuter files, some systems will exist outdated past the time the machine is sold. That's why it'southward disquisitional to update your video card'southward drivers frequently–sometimes the audio and network drivers may need to be updated equally well.

    Many notebook manufacturers offer installation packs that will give you the latest drivers and offering automated tools to update the rest of your notebook. Lenovo, for example, hosts its commuter files at lenovo.com/support. Alienware tests new drivers for all its machines and hosts them in the support surface area of its Web site. However, if you fail to discover drivers at your notebook manufacturer's site, you lot tin can try the video card's manufacturer, usually ATI or Nvidia. If your system comes with an integrated graphics fleck from Intel, your best bet is the laptop manufacturer'due south website, although you tin also try Intel's support and downloads page.

    1. Downloads Are Taking Too Long

    If you have net connectivity issue, install Speedtest.net and perform the speed test and check your download and upload speed.  Internet speed should be minimum 50 pct of your service provider'due south broadcasted speed, with a ping under 100 milliseconds.

    If the speed is good, ensure that yous're non downloading or uploading annihilation inadvertently. Reset your router and modem to boost up your internet connectivity problem. Near routers and modems posses reset buttons, but you tin too pull the power cable for few seconds. Practice not cut the power for a long fourth dimension , or the hardware may get reset itself to manufacturing plant defaults.

    If all these fails, then recycle information technology with Recycle You Tec,why don't you ask your colleagues and  IT manager to donate there tec too, the item volition exist given a new home in less fortunate countries, all-time of all we pay for you each detail.

    Blog completed by Recycle Your Tec.

    Visit our website here

If you have internet connectivity issue, install Speedtest.cyberspace and perform the speed test and check your download and upload speed.  Internet speed should be minimum 50 percent of your service provider's broadcasted speed, with a ping under 100 milliseconds.

If the speed is adept, ensure that yous're not downloading or uploading annihilation inadvertently. Reset your router and modem to boost up your net connectivity problem. Virtually routers and modems posses reset buttons, but you can also pull the ability cablevision for few seconds. Do not cut the ability for a long fourth dimension , or the hardware may get reset itself to factory defaults.

If all these fails, and then recycle information technology with Recycle You Tec,why don't yous ask your colleagues and  IT manager to donate in that location tec besides, the detail will be given a new home in less fortunate countries, best of all nosotros pay for you lot each item.

Blog completed past Recycle Your Tec.

Visit our website here