CompTIA A+ 220-1201 Exam (1.1 - Laptop Hardware)

Laptop hardware

• Engineered to precise specifications

- A challenging repair

• Some laptops are easier to fix than others

- An ongoing learning process

• Understand the process

- The details will vary between laptop manufacturers

Laptop Batteries

• The power source when unplugged

- May be easily replaced or require a tear down

- Five minutes vs. one hour

• Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) and Lithium-Ion polymer (LiPo) are common

- No "memory effect"

- Charging the battery does not diminish capacity

• Different form factor for each laptop

- Battery types and styles can vary

- Battery technology is changing constantly

Laptop keyboard

• The most-used component of the laptop

- Can be easy to replace

- A few screws and a single ribbon cable

- May not always be this simple

• Or connect an external USB keyboard

- Not very portable, but works in a pinch

Laptop keys

• Some repairs might require the removal or

replacement of a key cap

- This can be a delicate procedure

• Check with the manufacturer's instructions

- It's very easy to accidentally break the key cap or the components underneath

Laptop memory

• Small Outline Dual In-line Memory Module (SO-DIMM)

• Memory used in laptops and mobile devices

- Often easy to install and replace

• Some laptop memory is soldered to the system board

- No upgrade available

- Requires a full system board replacement

Laptop storage

• Magnetic disk

- Traditional spinning drive platters

- 2.5 form factors (3.5 inch for desktops)

• SSD (Solid-state drive)

- All memory, no moving parts

- Silent, fast access time, less latency

- 2.5 inch form factors

• M.2

- Smaller form factor

- No SATA data or power cables

- Easy to install and replace

Replacing laptop storage

• All internal

- Open a cover on the back

- Open the entire laptop

• Can be very modular

- Two screws and the drive slides out

• M.2 drives are even easier

- One screw - similar to RAM installation

Migrating from HDD to SSD

• An impressive upgrade

- Move from spinning mechanical drive to

solid state memory

- It's almost like getting a new laptop

• Install an OS on the SSD

- Move user documents between drives

- Install any required applications

- Can be time consuming

• Image/clone the HDD

- No OS installation required

- Move everything from one to the other

• Imaging software needed

- Sometimes included with the SSD

- Many commercial and open source options

• Create an image file

- One drive at a time

• Drive-to-drive image

- Image directly from one drive to the other

802.11 wireless and Bluetooth

• Wireless network connectivity

- Connect without wires

• 802.11

- Local area network (LAN)

- High speed, Internet access

• Bluetooth

- Personal area network (PAN) - Short range

- Connect peripherals and other nearby devices

Biometrics

• Sign in or unlock your laptop with a

fingerprint reader or face recognition

- Something you are

• Requires additional configuration in the OS

- Hardware required for most options

• Relatively secure

- Faces and fingerprints are quite unique

Near-field communication (NFC)

• Short-distance networking

- 4 centimeters or less

- Data transfers or authentication

• Common on mobile phones and smart watches

- Payment method on your wrist

• Use it for authentication without typing a password

- Hospital workstations, warehouses, manufacturing

Wi-Fi antennas

• Multiple antennas

- WiFi main and aux

- Bluetooth

• Antenna wires wrap around the laptop screen

- It's up high!

Microphone

• Built-in to the laptop display

- Useful for video calls

• Not good for non-casual use

- Analog or USB microphones can help