Chapter 13: Advanced Laptops and Portable Devices

1. Chapter 13: Advanced Laptops and Portable Devices IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software v4.0

2. Purpose of this Presentation To provide to instructors an overview of Chapter 13: • List of chapter objectives • Overview of the chapter contents, including • student worksheets • student activities • some potential student misconceptions • Reflection/Activities for instructors to complete to prepare to teach • Additional resources

3. Chapter 13 Objectives • 13.1 Describe wireless communication methods for laptops and portable devices • 13.2 Describe repairs for laptops and portable devices • 13.3 Select laptop components • 13.4 Describe preventive maintenance procedures for laptops • 13.5 Describe how to troubleshoot a laptop

4. Chapter 13 Worksheets and Activity • 13.1.5 Activity: Wireless Technologies • 13.2 Worksheet: Investigating Repair Centers • 13.3.1 Worksheet: Laptop Batteries • 13.3.2 Worksheet: Docking Station • 13.3.3 Worksheet: DVD Drive Research • 13.3.4 Worksheet: Laptop RAM • 13.5.3 Worksheet: Verify Work Order Information

5. Introduction • With the increase in demand for mobility, the popularity of laptops and portable devices will continue to grow. • A technician should be able to configure, optimize, and troubleshoot laptops, portable devices, docking stations and accessories. • Some laptop manufacturers require technicians complete specialized certification training to perform laptop repairs.

6. Wireless Communication Methods 13.1 Describe wireless communication methods for laptops and portable devices • Bluetooth • Infrared • Cellular WANs • Wi-Fi • Satellite

7. Bluetooth Technology • A short-range wireless technology designed to eliminate the need for cables between portable or fixed-configuration devices. • Operates at 2.4 to 2.485 GHz in the unlicensed Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band. • Low power, low cost, and small size. • Uses adaptive frequency hopping.

8. Infrared (IR) Technology • A short-range, low-throughput wireless technology used as a data transmission medium. • Infrared light signals operate in the lowest light frequency, typically between 100GHz to 1000THz. • Distances are limited to a few feet or meters. • IR cannot penetrate any object that blocks the light signal.

9. Cellular WAN Technology • Cellular WAN connections are powerful, 2-way wireless networks that have been around since the late 1970s. • Cellular networks operate in one of two ranges: • Approximately 800 MHz • Approximately 1900 MHz • Three generations of cellular WAN include voice-only analog, digital, and high-speed data and voice.

10. Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Technology • Wi-Fi is a wireless technology that provides a simple connection from anywhere within the range of a base station. • Connection distances of 300 feet (91 meters) or more, depending on the environment. • Ease of access makes Wi-Fi a simple solution for network connectivity.

11. Satellite Technology • Satellite networks are faster than dial-up connections but slower than Cable and DSL connections. • Satellite service is ideal for the rural or remote Internet users. • Downloading files is faster than uploading files. • Adverse weather conditions can interfere with satellite reception.

12. Wireless Technologies

13. Repairing Laptops and Portable Devices

14. Selecting Replacement Components

15. Selecting Batteries How do you know when you need a new laptop battery? • The signs may not always be apparent, but some are obvious: • Laptop shuts off immediately when AC power is removed • Battery is leaking • Battery overheats • Battery does not hold a charge

16. Select a Docking Station/Port Replicator • Increase the number of ports available to a laptop. • Convenient to connect the laptop to office network and peripherals.

17. Select Storage Devices Storage devices are CRUs, unless a warranty requires technical assistance. • External USB hard drive • Firewire hard drive • DVD/CD burner

18. Select Additional RAM Additional RAM speeds up the process by decreasing the number of times the OS reads and writes data to the hard drive swap file.

19. Laptop Preventive Maintenance Preventive maintenance should be scheduled at regular intervals to keep laptops running properly. Because laptops are portable, they are more likely to be exposed to harmful materials and situations than desktop computers. • Clean the laptop • Perform hard drive maintenance • Disk Cleanup • Disk Defragmenter • Update software

20. Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter The computer can slow down if the operating system is searching through fragmented files. • Windows XP has two programs that help clean up the hard drive: • Disk Cleanup • Disk Defragmenter

21. File Management and Version Control When moving files from a laptop to a desktop computer, be careful that data copied from one computer does not inadvertently overwrite data on the other computer.

22. Troubleshooting Process Step 1 Gather data from the customer Step 2 Verify the obvious issues Step 3 Try quick solutions first Step 4 Gather data from the computer Step 5 Evaluate the problem and implement the solution Step 6 Close with the customer

23. 1. Gather Data from the Customer • Customer information • Company name, contact name, address, phone number • Laptop information • Manufacturer, model, OS, network environment, connection type • Description of problem • In the scenario outlined in the student course content, the laptop will not boot.

24. 2. Verify the Obvious Issues Examine the most obvious causes of a problem. • Is the laptop plugged in with the AC adapter? • Is the battery secure? • Is the power switch turned on? • Have there been any power outages? • Have any cables been unplugged? • Are the cables or connectors damaged?

25. 3. Try Quick Solutions First A quick solution can save time and money. • Replace the AC power adapter with a known good AC power adapter. • Remove and reinsert the battery, making sure that it is secure and locked in place. • Replace battery with a known good battery.

26. 4. Gather Data from the Computer After connecting the AC adapter to a power outlet and the laptop still does not boot, • Remove the battery and start the laptop with just the AC adapter connected to a power outlet. • Check the connections inside the laptop case: • Reseat the memory module. • Remove the hard drive and then reinstall it. • Remove any optical drives, such as the CD or DVD drive.

27. 5. Evaluate Problem & Implement Solution • Evaluate the information gathered from the customer and from the laptop • Determine possible solutions • Implement the best solution Note: Try each solution one at a time. If a solution is tried and the problem is not fixed, then the technician should totally reverse the attempted solution before proceeding to the next step.

28. 6. Close with the Customer • Discuss with customer the solution implemented. • Have customer verify problem is solved. • Provide all paperwork to customer. • Document steps of solution. • Document components used in repair. • Document time spent to resolve the problem.

29. Common Problems and Solutions

30. Apply Troubleshooting Skills • Now that you understand the troubleshooting process, it is time to apply your listening and diagnostic skills. • The worksheet is designed to reinforce your communication skills to verify information from the customer.

31. Chapter 13 Summary Advanced Laptops and Portable Devices • Describe wireless communication methods • Describe CRU and FRU repairs • Select laptop CRU components • Schedule and perform preventive maintenance • Troubleshoot laptop issue as a level-two technician

32. Instructor Training Activities

33. Activities for Instructor Training • Take the Quiz provided in Chapter 13 course content. • Generate list of various laptops by manufacturer and by model number. Use these details to assign to students for the basis of their research in the Chapter 13 student worksheets. • Conduct Internet research to pre-screen online resources for students to use in completing the student worksheets. • Generate list of various laptop issues with solutions. When teaching students, use these issues to allow students to practice working through the troubleshooting process as both a level-one technician and as a level-two technician.

34. Instructor Training Discussion • Share the following with the other instructors: • List of laptops by manufacturer and by model number • List of online resources • List of laptop issues with solution identified • Discuss ways to incorporate additional troubleshooting practice in student classes.

35. Additional Resources • Bluetooth Basics http://www.bluetooth.com/Bluetooth/Learn/Basics/ • Wireless Networking Overview http://www.escotal.com/wifi.html • Wireless Network Technology http://www.northoak-training.com/Wireless.htm • “Infrared” from About.com http://compnetworking.about.com/od/homenetworking/g/bldef_infrared.htm • Wide-Area Wireless Computing from Network Computing http://www.networkcomputing.com/netdesign/wireless1.html • 802.11 Wireless Standards from About.com http://compnetworking.about.com/od/wireless80211/80211_Wireless_Standards.htm • Wi-Fi Alliance http://www.wi-fi.org • Satellite Internet Service Information http://www.high-speed-internet-access-guide.com/satellite/ • Howstuffworks: “How does satellite Internet operate?” http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question606.htm • Cleaning laptop keyboards from Computing.Net http://www.computing.net/howto/simple/keyboard/ • Cleaning a Laptop Computer from About.com http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/usingyourlaptop/a/cleanlaptop.htm • Book: Wireless Home Networking Simplified (Cisco Press book) ISBN #1587201615

36. Q and A