Showing posts with label Laptop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Laptop. Show all posts

Thursday, August 25, 2011

How to Keep Laptop Battery Life Last Much Longer Than Others?

Laptops offer convenience because users can bring it along during meetings, conferences and even on transatlantic flights. But what make this convenience possible? It's the rechargeable lithium-ion battery that accompanies each purchase of a laptop. Lithium-ion batteries offer longer laptop battery life so that users will no longer need laptop replacement battery during periods away from a regular power source.

A typical lithium-ion battery pack consists of 3, 6, and 9 cells while others use 2, 4 and 8 cells. The number of cells in a battery determines the number of hours it can last after charging. So when the laptop is hooked to a 3 cell battery never expect power to last longer than the laptop running on a 6 or 9 cell battery. To say that laptop battery life can last longer than the other is hard to quantify unless the comparison is made between similar battery specifications. Users can switch to a laptop replacement battery suited to the need - depending on the number of hours the laptop will be in use.

Assuming everything to be equal in terms of number of cells, laptop battery life will now be subject to power consuming devices attached to it. For laptops, battery power is expected to last based on the following observations which includes the web surfing, and gaming practices of the user.

The computer screen, hard drives and the wireless card types etc. are all power consuming devices that contribute to the battery hour-efficiency rating. So expect high-end designed laptops to consume more battery power compared to low-end laptops that operate with a small screen display and less powerful processors.
Laptops are designed to drain energy from batteries so that usage of the laptop has a direct bearing on battery hour-life. If the user only needs to send e-mails, power consumption is less compared to watching movies that may need a laptop replacement battery so as to operate throughout the film's entire run without losing power.
The laptop environment has a direct effect on the life expectancy of a laptop battery. When using the computer amidst a humid environment, the laptop will easily overheat. Overheating affects the battery, and when constantly subjected to this condition cuts short the expected lifetime.
The use of lithium-ion batteries is not dependent on the number of cycles or recharging times but on the manufacturing date of the battery. This entails buyers to always be attentive to the manufacturing date and never buy old stock. Laptop battery life degrades whether it is used frequently or stays on the shelf.

Remember to carry along a laptop replacement battery when out on long weekends, because a single battery pack will not be enough to power the laptop for extended hours. How to keep your laptop batteries last longer than the others? It will depend on the frequency of use.

Computer programmer by profession, Josh Kemmer likes to write about content relevant to computer software, hardware and related peripherals. With over 5 years experience in providing IT support services, Josh also recommends the use of compatible toner products to serve laser printing requirements.


Troubleshooting a Computer or Laptop Problem

Unlike today's cars, our computers don't have an entire on board system that identifies problems within our machine. This means we need to manually troubleshoot every issue that pops up. Because of the numerous differences between hardware, software and operating systems, the process of identifying a computer issue can be challenging. To simplify this task, computer repair experts have developed flowcharts that attempt to identify problems with the computer or laptop by process of elimination. These methods can quickly and accurately pinpoint a problem with your computer.

Clients are taken aback when we ask them seemingly ridiculous questions like "does the computer turn on?" because they don't always appreciate the process by which we need to figure out what is wrong especially if we are diagnosing a computer problem over the phone. But these questions are necessary so that we can rule out possible causes. There's no point worrying about whether a computer has a virus problem if we can't even get it to power on.

The first step in troubleshooting a computer is to figure out if it is turning on or not. This means verifying that the power source is functional and that the cables are properly plugged in. From there, we need to monitor sounds and LEDs. Are the lights coming on like they should? Do you hear beeps? Is the fan spinning up? If all of these basic functions are starting up properly, then we can move on to verifying that the display elements are working properly. Otherwise, we're stuck doing board level diagnostics. If the lights are not coming on then there is a power issue. Even if a motherboard is faulty, the system lights should still turn on when the power button is pressed. Verify the integrity of the power environment before testing the power supply with a power supply tester.

If the computer is turning on but the system fan is not spinning, you will need to visit your computer's bios settings to make sure that the fan is set to spin. Failing that, you may have a faulty fan. The final sign of trouble is beeps or beep codes. These will alert you to various board level failures including memory and video failures. You will need to consult your computer's service manual to match the beep codes with the error message.

Once past this point, we can see if anything comes up on the screen. If there is no display and none of the previous trouble signs were active then there is a video failure to troubleshoot. For laptops, connect the unit to a desktop LCD screen to see if there is a display there. If yes, then you have a LCD issue. If not, then you have a video chip problem. However, if you have gotten this far without any of the aforementioned problems then you have pretty much narrowed down the problem to your hard drive.

As referenced in our other articles, hard drives are very prone to failure. There are both hardware and software issues that affect only your hard drive. Once your computer has booted up and you are passed the bios splash screen and component tests, your computer is looking for a boot device. This is usually your hard drive where your operating system is installed. If there is a hardware failure, you will probably get a error message similar to "No boot device found" or "missing Drive on..." At this point, you want to verify that the hard drive is properly connected to both the data cable (IDE or SATA) and the power rail from the power supply. If it is spinning but not detected, try replacing the data cable or reseating it. If it is not spinning, try to power it up via a different rail or with a different power source. If it fails to power on, then your hard drive has failed.

Finally, if you bypass all the aforementioned problems then your computer is probably fine on a hardware level. Now, it is time to see if there is a problem with Microsoft Windows. If the Windows loading screen with logo comes up then you know that your hardware and hard drive are all functioning well so far. If you fail to get passed the logo screen, you cannot login to windows once the user list is active or you receive a blue screen of death (BSOD) then there is operating system corruption. The resolution for these are numerous and complex. The most basic step to attempt is to pop in a recovery CD and try to either repair the Windows installation or restore the computer to an early save point when the problem was not occurring.

Operating system issues are caused for a number of reasons from the unavoidable update failures to malware and virus infections. At this point, you have properly identified at what level the computer is failing and you can begin looking for a resolution or contacting a computer repair shop!

Karim Salmi is a Computer Repair Specialist with VitalTech Computer Repair in Rockville, Maryland.

http://www.vitalpcrepair.com/


What All Should You Consider When Buying Lenovo Laptop Batteries Online?

Quality, performance, and longevity are the key factors that must be considered when buying replacement Lenovo laptop batteries, especially if portability is your concern. When buying a battery for your Lenovo laptop, you must first of all know about the type/types of batteries compatible with your laptop. Depending upon your laptop model, you may require a battery for an E series laptop, or an IdeaPad laptop, ThinkPad x60 laptop, ThinkPad x61 laptop and many other Lenovo models.

Buying these batteries online is a time saving proposition. Furthermore, there are reliable distributors of laptop batteries, that extend a vast assortment of genuine, best quality, and high performance batteries for all laptops. These are manufactured to meet the exact specifications from their original manufacturers and come with the assurance of extended life and great performance.

Lenovo ThinkPad X61 and Lenovo ThinkPad X60 - a quick overview

Lenovo ThinkPad X60 battery - The ThinkPad X60 Is part of the popular, ultraportable, ThinkPad X-series from Lenovo. It replaces the former X41 laptop. The X60 is much lighter and much thinner than its predecessor. It is also the first ultraportable model to utilize Core 2 duo processor. The X60's battery is perceived to have an incredible standby time. Combining the Core 2 duo processor with the battery's performance enable us to enjoy blazing fast performance and high portability, making this laptop a great choice for common travelers.

Lenovo ThinkPad X61 - This laptop is an ultraportable business laptop designed for individuals who demand high mobility and lightweight. Despite its small dimensions, it shares all of its big brothers' rugged features - Core 2 duo processor, 7200 rpm hard drive, 2 gigs of RAM and a full size keyboard. All of these, make the X61every bit as fast as normal laptops. The X61 looks as if Lenovo took a ThinkPad T60 and shrunk it down. Light business travelers can rest easy knowing they didn't sacrifice anything but weight when they bring the X61 on the road.

About Buying Laptop Batteries Online

Online distributors of laptop batteries are fast emerging as a one-stop shop for laptop users, both commercial and personal, seeking high performance, better quality yet cost-effective and genuine batteries without having to toil for it.

These websites make it easier for the laptop users to choose and order their preferred battery right from the comforts of their home/ office. They can even compare the prices by visiting various websites and then make an informed and wise decision regarding their purchase. However, it is strongly recommended that you save yourself from falling in the trap of cheaper batteries just to save a few bucks. A penny saved today may turn out to be many dollars if you end up buying an inferior quality, poor performance battery that may betray when you really needed it. On the other hand, buying a high performance battery, even if you had to shell out a few extra bucks, is a deal worth it.

This is the reason why many good websites score higher than any other so called cheap and inexpensive batteries' suppliers. Buying online from these reliable distributors has multiple advantages. It's time saving, money saving, hassle free, reliable, and faster way to obtain the best quality battery for your laptop.

Taking Care of Your Battery to Ensure its Longevity

Once you have purchased the battery, the next important step would be ensure it performs better and lasts longer. To be able to squeeze maximum performance from your battery, you need to take very good care of it. Here are a few very simple tips to help you enhance your laptop battery's longevity and performance:

Make sure your new Lenovo laptop battery isn't left in the laptop for prolonged periods as the laptop may discharge it. The battery should be at least 50% charged and stored in a warm and dry place. It should also be wrapped smartly and protectively so that nothing is dropped on it accidentally
Ensure to re-install the battery every 3-4 weeks and let it discharge fully. Batteries left unused for a period longer than this would cause it to discharge completely as the battery's circuitry consumes power
Do not leave your Lenovo battery in while using wall socket for prolonged periods of time, as the battery would remain in a constant state of charging up thereby reducing its life cycle

To sum up, upon decision to buy a Lenovo laptop battery, one should consider the company's warranty policy, shipping policy and battery price. If you need to replace your Lenovo X61 battery with a high performance, 4 cells, 4400 mAh, or If you need a replacement for any other Lenovo battery check out the the previous links.