19: Portable Computing in Software

Making QR in Software 19: Portable Computing

ATA drives in the 25-inch drive format now rule in all laptops Although much smaller than regular ATA drives, they still use all the same features and configurations These smaller hard drives have suffered, however, from diminished storage capacity compared to their 35-inch brothers Currently, large 25-inch hard drives hold up to 120 GB, while the 35-inch hard drives can hold more than 750 GB of data! Some manufacturers may require you to set the drive to use a cable select setting as opposed to master or slave, so check with the laptop maker for any special issues Otherwise, no difference exists between 25-inch drives and their larger 35-inch brethren (Figure 1922)

To reach most modular components on a laptop, you need to do more than remove an exterior panel You need to go inside to get access to devices directly connected to the motherboard Many laptops have an easily removable keyboard that, once removed, gives you access to a metal heat spreader (just a plate that sits over the motherboard) and a half-dozen or more tiny screws You ll need a special screwdriver to avoid stripping the screws check a watch or eyeglass shop if your local hardware store doesn t carry anything appropriate You need to take major precautions when you remove the keyboard and heat spreader The keyboard will be attached to a small cable that can easily disconnect if you pull hard Don t forget to check this connection before you reinsert the keyboard at the end of the procedure! Avoid ESD like you would with any other PC, and definitely unplug the laptop from the wall and remove the battery before you do any work inside!

You know from 3, Microprocessors, that both AMD and Intel make specialized CPUs for laptops that produce less heat and consume less power, yet only now are folks realizing that they can easily upgrade many systems by removing the old CPU and replacing it with a new one Be very careful to follow manufacturer s specifications! You should keep in mind, however, that replacing the CPU in a laptop often requires that you disassemble the entire machine This can be a daunting task, even for professionals If you want to upgrade the CPU in your laptop, it s often best to let the professionals take care of it

Some video card makers make modular video cards for laptops Although no single standard works in all systems, a quick phone call to the tech support department of the laptop maker often reveals upgrade options (if any) Modular video cards are the least standardized of all modular components, but as manufacturers adopt more industry-wide standards, we ll be able to replace video cards in laptops more readily

In order to add functionality to laptops, manufacturers include modular drives with their machines CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, CD-R/RW, and CD-RW/DVD-ROM drives are the most common modular drives that are included with portables The beauty of modular drives is that you can swap easily back and forth between different types of drives Need more storage space Pull out the CD-ROM drive and put in another hard drive Many laptops enable you to replace a drive with a second battery, which obviously can extend the time you can go before you have to plug the laptop into an AC outlet I have a laptop that allows me to swap out my CD-ROM drive for a second battery If I don t need to access any CDs and don t need superextended battery life, I just take out the component that s currently installed

and put a blank faceplate into the empty slot Traveling with an empty bay makes my hefty laptop weigh a little bit less, and every little bit helps! Most modular drives are truly hot-swappable, enabling you to remove and insert devices without any special software Many still require you to use the Hardware Removal Tool (also known as Safely Remove Hardware) located in the system tray or notification area (Figure 1923) When in doubt, Figure 1923 always remove modular devices using this tool Figure 1924 shows the Safely Remove Hardware dialog box To remove a device, highlight it and click the Stop button Windows will shut down the device and tell you when it s safe to remove the device