1. Chapter 9 Laptops and Mobile Devices
PC Support & Repair
Chapter 9
Laptops and Mobile Devices

2. Objectives
After completing this chapter, you will meet these objectives:
Explain how to configure, repair, upgrade, maintain and troubleshoot laptops and mobile devices.
Explain the purpose and characteristics of laptops.
Explain how to configure laptop power settings and wireless settings.
Explain how to remove and install laptop components.
Explain the purpose and characteristics of mobile devices.
Explain how to perform common preventive maintenance techniques for laptops and mobile devices.
Explain how to troubleshoot laptops and mobile devices.

3. Laptop components
9.1

4. Ports & Things
Identify as many ports and other things on the sides of a laptop as possible:

5. Laptop Ports SD Card Slot Memory Stick Reader HDMI Port USB 3.0 Port
USB 2.0 Ports
VGA Port
Ethernet Port
DC Port
USB 3.0 port is blue, but can also have the Super Speed logo.
The SS logo with a lightning bolt is high-powered, enough to charge smartphones & mobile devices.

6. Laptop Ports
Cable Lock
Microphone
& Headphone
Optical Drive

7. Other Laptop Ports
Thunderbolt (20 Gbps; video capture cards, displays, RAID), mini Display port, eSATA (combo USB & eSATA; 6Gbps), Parallel, Modem, S-Video

8. Special Keys & Buttons
Volume, Brightness, Dual Displays, Bluetooth/WiFi On & Off, Touchpad, Pointing Stick, Bluetooth logo

9. Review- 4Q USB 3.0 ports are commonly what color?
Blue
What else can you plug into an eSATA port?
USB device
What does the SS mean when attached to the USB logo?
Super Speed…it’s USB 3.0
If there’s a lightning bolt attached to that logo, then what does that mean?
High-powered charging is available through that port

10. Internal Laptop Components
Motherboard
Laptop smaller than desktop
Proprietary
RAM
SODIMM
Smaller than desktop RAM

11. Internal Laptop Components
CPU
Designed to use less power & generate less heat
Do not require cooling
Storage
1.8” or 2.5” HD
Intel Core i5-3230M 3.2GHz Mobile OEM CPU

12. Docking Station Laptop attaches to dock with connector on laptop
Dock has expansion slots & other ports
Keep peripherals hooked up all the time

13. Port Replicator Similar to docking station; connects via USB*
No expansion slots, just more ports
Keep peripherals connected all the time
*Universal ones made by others that attach with USB.
The names are used interchangeably today. The Docking Station will have expansion types lots.

14. Displays LCD LED OLED LED/OLED is the thinnest Fluorescent backlight
Array of LED lighting
Even brightness & half the power
OLED
Organic compounds between electrodes produce light
LED/OLED is the thinnest

15. Wi-Fi Antennas
Wi-Fi antennas typically located above the screen

16. Webcam and Microphone

17. Review- 4Q Which type of common display is bright & energy efficient?
LED
What kind of memory goes in laptops?
SODIMM
Which kind of laptop expansion station includes expansion slots?
Docking station
Which power saving mode saves files/programs to the hard drive and powers down?
Hibernate

18. Laptop configuration
9.2

19. Power Management
Managing power usage correctly on a laptop will make it last longer on battery
ACPI (Advanced Configuration & Power Interface)
Allows you to create power management schemes in Windows
Supported by BIOS/UEFI & the OS
It can turn off power to peripherals when not in use
To configure the power schemes in Windows, the ACPI must be enabled in BIOS.

20. Power Option Settings ACPI can be enabled/disabled in BIOS/UEFI.
Remember the difference between sleep and hibernate.

21. Bluetooth IEEE 802.15.1 2.4GHz Low power & cost
Class 2 most common (33ft.)
PAN (Personal Area Network)
Up to version 4.1 (more features)
Pair with PIN
128-bit encryption
Supports voice, music, videos and data transfer
Class 1 is most powerful (more power & up to 330ft).
When trying to configure Bluetooth on a laptop or mobile device, make sure it is switched on and on in BIOS.

22. Cellular WAN Some laptops have it built in
Could connect your phone (tethering/hot spot)
Tethering, can be made using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or by using an USB cable.

23. Wi-Fi Built-in or USB/expansion card
Mini-PCIe & PCI Express Micro are current

24. Review- 3Q
Which power mode puts the laptop in low-power mode and saves the current state/open files in memory?
Sleep
What is the current power management mode which allows Windows & BIOS to work together for power schemes?
ACPI
Your Mini-PCIe wireless card has failed. What do you think is the easiest & most cost effective solution to connect to the network?
Wireless USB or Ethernet

25. Review- 4Q What is the IEEE standard for Bluetooth?
What frequency does Bluetooth operate on?
2.4GHz
What is the most common class for Bluetooth that operates at a 33ft distance?
Class 2
Where are a laptop’s Wi-Fi antenna located?
Around the display

26. Laptop hardware & installation
9.3

27. Laptop Expansion Slots
Some laptops have expansion slots
Express Card/34 (34mm wide)
Express Card/54 (54mm wide)
Both 5mm thick
Hot-swappable
Push in slot
Press button to eject
Replaced by USB 2.0/3.0 ports
Additional memory card reader
External hard drive access
TV turner cards
USB and FireWire ports
Wi-Fi connectivity
Safely eject a hot-swappable card

28. What Kinds of Express Cards?
USB 3.0 ports 34; USB 3.0 ports 54; USB 2.0 & IEEEa Firewire ports; Serial port

29. Flash Memory External SSD or flash drive Flash cards & readers
Fast access
Low-power
USB or eSATA
Flash cards & readers
SD or SDHC most common

30. Smart Card Reader Chip Credit Card & SIM cards
The chip contains a microprocessor
It stores & transacts data
More secure
Contact & Contactless types

31. Laptop RAM 204-pin DDR3 SODIMM Check max RAM supported first
Remove power & battery first
Accessible from bottom
Insert on an angle & push down
Check after done
SODIMM also has been 200, 144, 100, and 72-pin
Replace RAM

32. Activity Research & Find RAM You’ll be given a laptop model
Find the type of RAM it takes
Find how many slots available
Find the max RAM supported
Find RAM that fits laptop

33. Review- 4Q How many pins is today’s DDR3 SODIMM?
ExpressCards come in two widths. Name them.
34 & 54mm
Why is flash memory better than magnetic?
Faster access & lower power usage
What is in the chip of a smart card?
Microprocessor & data

34. Laptop Hardware Replacement
Customer replaceable units (CRUs)
By customer
RAM, battery
Field-replaceable units (FRUs)
By technician
Motherboard, display, keyboard
Return to manufacturer or service center for repair
CAUTION: Before attempting to repair a laptop or portable device, check the warranty to see if repairs during the warranty period must be done at an authorized service center to avoid invalidating the warranty. If you repair a laptop yourself, always back up the data and disconnect the device from the power source. Always consult the service manual before beginning a laptop repair.

35. Rules for Disassembly Follow documentation Use appropriate tools
Document & label cable and screw locations
Most parts are proprietary- DON’T BREAK THEM!
Take your time!

36. Laptop Battery Signs to change the battery
The battery does not hold a charge
The battery overheats
The battery is leaking
Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) used today
Some do not have removable battery
More cells=longer lasting battery (3-cell, 6-cell, 9-cell)
More cells also= thicker battery
Charge before use.
A replacement battery must meet or exceed the specifications of the laptop manufacturer. New batteries must use the same form factor as the original battery. Voltages, power ratings, and AC adapters must also meet manufacturer specifications.

37. Activity Lab 9.3.2.3- Research Laptop Batteries
Find a battery for a specific laptop
Compare it to a generic version
Which would you buy?

38. Keyboard & Touchpad Replacement
FRU
Some keyboards are easily replaced without removing case
Some you must remove case
Replace Keyboard

39. Replacing the Display Screen black= replace screen
Screen dim= replace inverter
Converts DC to AC power
LED backlight has no inverter (DC power from mobo)
Replace inverter

40. Backlight & Inverter

41. Hard Drive Replacement
2.5” or 1.8” hard drive, SATA or SSD
Mots likely accessible from bottom
Could be under keyboard or side mount
More Difficult HD Replacement

42. Optical Drive Replacement

43. Activity Lab 9.3.2.7- Find a replacement hard drive
On laptop, remove/replace RAM, Hard Drive, Keyboard

44. Wireless Card Replacement
Mini-PCI or mini-PCIe (current)
Mini-PCIe has 2 antennas
Maybe be accessible from back or under keyboard
Antenna wires along display
Mini-PCIe Wireless Card Replacement

45. Wireless Card Replacement

46. Review- 4Q What kind of memory goes in laptops?
SODIMM
What should you do before disassembling a laptop?
Unplug, remove battery, remove accessories
If your LCD display is dim, what is the problem?
Bad inverter
What is the current type of wireless card in laptops?
Mini-PCIe

47. Mobile device hardware overview
9.4

48. Mobile Device Parts
You can get instructions to replace screen, battery
Could void warranty

49. Field Replaceable Parts
You can fix touchscreens, glass, replace batteries
Get parts from manufacturer
Parts from other sources void warranty
Field-replaceable parts:
Battery
Memory card
SIM card
SIM cards can also hold user data such as contacts and text messages.

50. Non-Upgradeable Hardware
Most components connect direct to circuit board
No way to upgrade
Everything is soldered to a circuit board, sometimes even the battery. This would be non-upgradeable hardware.
When a mobile device no longer possesses the capabilities or operates at the speeds required by the user, it must be replaced. Often, old mobile devices can be traded in for credit when purchasing a new one. The items are refurbished and resold or donated. Basic mobile devices can be donated to be reused when they cannot be traded in. Check for local donation programs in your area to find where these devices can be taken.

51. Touchscreens Multi-touch gestures Proximity Sensor Slide/Swipe
Double touch
Touch screen twice quickly to zoom in
Touch the screen twice quickly again to zoom out
Long touch
Touch & hold until options available (copy/cut/paste)
Scroll
Pinch to Zoom Out/Spread to Zoom In
Proximity Sensor
Turns on screen when away from ear; off when near

52. Storage
Flash memory
Low-power, reliability, lightweight, small, fast, no noise

53. Connections Wired Wireless MicroUSB Lightning USB-C NFC IR Bluetooth
Near field communication (NFC) – NFC enables mobile devices to establish radio communications with other devices by placing the devices close together or by touching them together
Infrared (IR) – If a mobile device is IR enabled, it can be used to control other IR controlled devices remotely, such as a TV, set top box, or audio equipment.
Bluetooth – This wireless technology allows data exchange over a short distance between two Bluetooth-enabled devices or connect to other Bluetooth-enabled peripheral devices, such as speakers or headphones.

54. Activity

55. Activity- ANSWERS

56. Mobile Device Accessories
Protective Cases
External batteries
Portable chargers
Dock charger/speaker
Headset
Credit card readers
Game controller
Memory cards

57. Wearables
Wearable devices are clothing or accessories that have miniature computing devices
Smart watches
Fitness monitors
Smart headsets (glasses or VR)

58. Specialty Devices Smart Camera E-Readers Phablets
Send pics to PC to Cloud wirelessly
Connect to other devices for added features
E-Readers
Looks like ink on paper
Download content to it
Lightweight, long battery, great readability in sunlight
Phablets
5-7” screen
Smartphone to tablet

59. Preventive maintenance and troubleshooting for laptops & mobile devices
9.5 & 9.6

60. Preventive Maintenance- Laptop
Set a schedule/plan for laptops
What 3 things should be included?
Cleaning, Hard Drive maintenance, software updates
Be Proactive
What should you use to clean laptops?
Compressed air, mild solution for outside, lint-free cloth
Caution: Before you clean a laptop, disconnect it from all power sources and remove the battery.
Keep vents clear, display clean, keyboard clean, optical drive clean with cleaning disc.

61. Common Probable Causes

62. Common Steps to Take

63. Troubleshooting & Common Problems
No display
CAUSES: failed inverter or backlight, laptop on external display setting
Can’t display on projector
CAUSES: not connected, display settings/Fn key
Dim display
CAUSE: inverter failure
Flickering display
CAUSE: backlight, replace screen or laptop ($$)

64. Troubleshooting & Common Problems
No Power
CAUSES: plugged in, test outlet, check AC cord in brick, check adapter with multimeter
Battery not charging/not holding a charge
CAUSES: battery contacts dirty, defective if very hot or warped, battery life old
Keyboard problems
CAUSES: sticky keys (dirty; replace keys or whole keyboard),

65. Troubleshooting & Common Problems
No WiFi connectivity
CAUSES: WiFi switch off, lost connection (sign on again), WiFi card bad, check device manager

66. Common Problems & Solutions

67. Common Problems & Solutions

68. Common Problems & Solutions

69. Common Problems & Solutions

70. Chapter 9 Laptops and Mobile Devices
PC Support & Repair
Chapter 9
Laptops and Mobile Devices