Chapter 7

Chapter 7

1. Laptop and desktop computers use the same types of ports so that peripherals can be interchangeable. These ports are specifically designed for connecting peripherals.

   • Ports, connections, and drives are located on the exterior of the laptop, in the front, back, and side panels.

2. A laptop operates using either a battery or an AC power adapter. Laptop batteries are manufactured in various shapes and sizes.

   • Laptops require a port for external power. Laptops can operate using either a battery or an AC power adapter.

3. Desktop motherboards have standard form factors. The standard size and shape allow motherboards from different manufacturers to be interchangeable.

   • Laptop system boards and desktop motherboards are designed differently. Components designed for a laptop generally cannot be used in a desktop.
     • Therefore, they use Small Outline Dual In-line Memory Modules (SODIMMs).
       • CPUs Laptop processors are designed to use less power and create less heat than desktop processors. Laptop processors also use CPU throttling to modify the clock speed as needed to reduce power consumption and heat.

4. The purpose of the Function (Fn) key is to activate a second function on a dual-purpose key.

   • A laptop monitor is a built-in LCD.
     • You can connect a desktop monitor to a laptop. Pressing the Fn key with the appropriate Function key on the laptop keyboard toggles between the laptop display and the desktop monitor.

5. A base station attaches to AC power and to desktop peripherals.

   • There are two types of base stations that are used for the same purpose: docking stations and port replicators.

6. Laptop monitors are built-in displays

   • LED monitors use less power and have a longer lifespan than LCD monitors.

7. Advances in power management and battery technology are increasing the time that a laptop can be disconnected from AC power.

   • Power management controls the flow of electricity to the components of a computer.
     • APM is an earlier version of power management. With APM, the BIOS controls the settings for power management.

8. Technicians frequently are required to configure power settings by changing the settings in the BIOS setup.

   • . Configuring the power settings in BIOS setup affects the following: System states Battery and AC modes Thermal management CPU PCI bus power management Wake on LAN (WOL)
     • In Windows, the ACPI power management mode must be enabled in the BIOS setup to allow the OS to configure the power management states.

9. The form factor of an internal hard drive storage device is smaller for a laptop than for a desktop computer.

   • An external USB hard drive connects to a laptop using the USB port. Another type of external drive is the IEEE 1394 external hard drive that connects to the FireWire port.
     • Before purchasing a new internal or external storage device, check the laptop documentation or the website of the manufacturer for compatibility requirements. Documentation often contains FAQs that may be helpful. It is also important to research known laptop component issues on the Internet.
       • On some laptops, the keyboard must be removed to access these drives. Blu-ray, DVD, and CD drives might not be interchangeable in the laptop. Some laptops may not include optical drives.
         • To view the currently installed storage device, check the POST screen or BIOS. If installing a second hard drive or an optical drive, confirm that there are no error icons next to the device in the Device Manager.