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The Toshiba Satellite A105 series laptops are designed for business users who want power and productivity in a compact and affordable machine. It has the essential business features you need with some fun extras for after hours use.

The series includes two models. There are two flavors of the Satellite A105 with different configurations to suit different needs. In addition to the availability of multiple models, Toshiba adds even more flexibility by offering a large amount of customization when purchasing directly from their website. Users can choose memory upgrades, hard drive upgrades, and more to get the features that are most important to them, without overpaying for unnecessary features.

The machines use Intel Core 2 Duo T5200 processors at a speed of 1.60 GHz for fast performance. They start with a minimum of 1.5 GB of RAM, which can be upgraded to a maximum of 4 GB either at purchase or later.

The laptops feature a 15.4 inch widescreen LCD display at a resolution of 1280 x 800, known as WXGA resolution. Graphics performance is boosted by the inclusion of an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950, though this won’t be particularly suitable for gaming or other high-end graphics use due to the shared memory architecture.

The machine is very compact, measuring 14.2 inches by 10.5 inches by 1.17 inches, and the weight starts at around 6 pounds, though upgrades like a high capacity battery may add extra weight. The default hard drive has a capacity of 160 GB at 4200 RPM, but this can be upgraded if desired.

As a nice bonus, the machine features a DVD Super Multi-drive that supports virtually all DVD and CD formats on the market. While this is essential for business users, it will also be a welcome addition for watching movies when traveling.

Overall, the Toshiba Satellite A105 is a solid business laptop with great features at a very affordable price. Its compact size and lightweight design make it a good choice for casual home users up to business level customers.
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Perhaps the most difficult part of performing a laptop memory upgrade is finding the proper type of memory for your specific laptop. Since this can be a complicated subject and often requires some research up front, let us look at a few of the most important aspects of laptop memory modules so you can better understand the key points of selecting your laptop memory.

Form Factor

Laptop memory comes in different form factors. The most common are SO-DIMM (small outline DIMM), others like SIMM (single inline memory module), DIMM (double inline memory module) were used in first generation laptops, but have not been used in years. SO-DIMMs are most often used in laptops as they are smaller than standard DIMM modules used in desktop computers. SO-DIMMs are usually 2.6 inches long and 1.25 inches in height. The smallest module available is the Micro-DIMM; these are very small modules only measuring about an inch wide and are used in high end ultra portable laptops.

Memory Type

In addition to the different form factors, memory is categorized into standards. The most common are DDR, DDR2, and DDR3. All DDR Memory operates in a similar manner as it transfers data on the rise and fall of each clock cycle; effectively doubling the transfer speed of older SDRAM technologies. Each increment represents an improvement in transfer speeds and latency. In some cases these standards are backwards-compatible, but not always. DDR is the first generation of Double Data Rate memory, and is the slowest of the DDR Standards; it is usually packaged in a 200 pin SO-DIMM form factor and runs at speeds of 266 MHz – 400 MHz. DDR2 memory is the second generation of DDR memory, it increases speeds to between 400 MHz and 800 MHz and are packaged in a 200 pin SO-DIMM form factor. The latest and greatest in laptop memory is DDR3; it is available in speeds of 800 MHz – 1600 MHz and comes in a 204 pin SO-DIMM package. DDR3 memory further reduces the operating voltage of DDR2 to a lower 1.5 Volts, offering a slight improvement in battery life.

Transfer Speeds

The speed rating for memory refers to the “clock speed” which is the rate at which the memory can send and receive data. As mentioned previously, DDR modules have clock speeds from 266 MHz to 400 MHz, DDR2 ranges between 400 MHz and 800 MHz, and DDR3 runs between 800 MHz and 1600 MHz. While a higher clock speed is usually better, one important rule to remember is that if you are adding memory alongside existing memory, no matter how fast the transfer speed is on the new memory, it will only run as fast as the old memory since all the RAM in the system has to operate at the same speed.

Pin Configuration

The number of pins and their configuration vary between types. It is important to match the memory type specifically to your laptop. The pin configuration is typically a product of the type of memory being utilized. DDR and DDR2 memory both use a 200 pin configuration for the modules, where DDR2 has a slightly different keying on the module, this helps avoid users trying to install memory into the wrong type of memory slot. Still care must be taken because the difference is very minor and to the naked eye may look the same. DDR3 use a 204 pin module which is the same physical size as DDR and DDR2, but has the key notch further towards the middle of the module.

Latency

Latency is the delay in time from when a memory controller tells the RAM module to access an explicit memory column. This delay is measured in clock cycles for most types of modules. The lower the number the better, but as with memory speed, all modules installed will run at the same latency no matter what their specific rating, so buying ultra low latency RAM and installing it with higher latency RAM will not take full advantage of the low latency RAM.

Voltages

Different standards also run on different voltages. First generation DDR memory runs at 2.5 Volts however DDR2 memory operates at a lower voltage of 1.8 Volts and thus improves on laptop battery life in most instances. The latest DDR3 memory runs at 1.5 Volts offering improved battery life over DDR and DDR2 memory. In general if you get the right memory type, be it DDR, DDR2 or DDR3, it will be the right voltage as the voltage is part of the standard for the module. As the memory types evolved, they began to use lower and lower voltages to operate the RAM memory which has helped curb the energy appetite of laptop computers.

As you can see, there is a lot to consider when selecting the correct memory for your laptop. If you are adding memory to your machine, you will need to know the specifications of the memory that is already installed in your machine, in order to get the correct memory. If you are replacing the memory, you only need to be concerned about what memory is compatible with the machine. Luckily, Spare Parts Warehouse has a wide selection of memory and easy to use tools to help you find the right memory upgrade for your laptop.
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Viruses and malware are the most troublesome part of owning a computer. Not only are they sometimes difficult to remove, but they are potentially damaging to your privacy, your computer, and your data. If you think you may have a computer virus, follow the simple steps below to attempt to remove it and get your computer back up and running smoothly.

1. Try an online virus scan

Many companies make available an online virus scanner for identifying any viruses or malware on your computer. They often couple this with offering software to remove the virus or malware. In some cases these scanners will not be able to remove the virus, but can recommend the next steps to take.

2. Install Anti-virus software

If you don’t already have anti-virus software installed, you will want to purchase software or try one of many free options. Two popular free options are Avast and AVG, which are available for download on the internet. There are also many Antivirus suites out there from trusted names like Symantec and McAfee available for purchase online or thru a retailer. Some PC manufacturers such as Sony often include an Antivirus software package pre-installed onto the hard drive with the operating system.

3. Update the software

If you already have anti-virus software installed, make sure it is up-to-date. Run the update routine to ensure it has the most recent virus database information. If you are installing software for the first time, it will usually include a scan for updates in the install routine. Having up to date Virus software is really the #1 key to keeping your computer running smoothly.

4. Do a full scan of the computer

Some anti-virus software only scans certain areas of the computer on a regular basis. To ensure you get the most thorough scan, manually choose to do a full scan of the hard drive. This should detect any viruses or malware on your system, no matter where it is located. This type of scan can take a while but is very through.

5. Remove the virus

If the software detects a problem, it will give you instructions and options for removing. Depending on the software, it may give you a choice to delete the files or add them to a “vault”. If possible, the best option is to delete the files, but follow the recommendations of the program. Simply storing the item away in a quarantine folder could possibly leave your vulnerable to the virus later, so it is better to completely remove and delete the data.

At this point, if your anti-virus software has confirmed removal of any viruses and malware, then your computer should be clean. If you are still experiencing problems, you may want to seek help from a professional computer repair company. Some viruses can be very tricky to remove, and may require the help of a certified repair technician.
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Laptops are made for portability and ease of use, so the battery is one of the most essential components, providing power when away from a wall outlet. Here we will look at how a laptop battery works.

The most laptop batteries use Lithium-Ion technology, or Li-ion. They are so-named because the movement of lithium-ions from a negative to a positive electrode as they travel through a non-aqueous electrolyte. This discharges the battery and releases the energy to power the laptop components.

The inside of a Lithium-Ion laptop battery consists of an anode made from carbon, a cathode made of metal oxide, and an electrolyte, which is a lithium salt in an organic solvent. The reaction is contained within multiple “cells” inside the battery. Batteries with larger capacities (and longer battery life) usually contain more cells. Some very large Toshiba laptop batteries can contain up to 12 cells. Some Sony laptop batteries contain as few as 3 Cells due to the ultra portable design of some of their machines. These will provide less battery life, but will keep the machine small and lightweight.

There are a number of chips in most batteries to control the charge and discharge, as well as a number of safety features. Many batteries have a chip which shuts down the battery in the event of extreme overheating to avoid a potentially dangerous situation.

Charging the battery essentially works in the reverse of discharge. The power coming in through the AC adapter and the charging circuit actually provides a higher voltage than the battery’s normal operating voltage. This causes the lithium ions to move from the positive to the negative electrode and they are deposited in a porous material and stored for later use.

The outside of the battery is usually constructed of rigid plastic or metal, depending on the laptop model. The outer case usually incorporates vents to allow heat to escape, as heat can be very damaging to a battery. Most laptop batteries are color matched to the plastics of the notebook for aesthetic reasons.

The one disadvantage of Lithium-Ion batteries is that they tend to lose capacity over time. This is caused by deposits that form in the electrolyte of the battery. This begins to inhibit the battery’s operation and results in less charging capacity. Once the capacity gets low enough, the battery should be replaced.

While Lithium-Ion laptop batteries are currently the most popular, newer technologies such as lithium-polymer are stretching the boundaries of current laptop battery design. As laptop batteries continue to evolve, engineers will undoubtedly be able to provide more power, longer battery life, and reduced charge times to improve the portability of the laptop computer.
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The latest Hybrid hard drives allow users to retain the greater storage capacity of the classic platter based drives, while taking advantage of the speed and efficiency of newer solid state memory. In these new drives, some information is stored in a cache of solid state flash memory that allows the system to access information while the drive spins up, saving on time returning from idle states or booting up, while consuming just one tenth of the power of standard drives alone.

Hybrid hard drive technology is relatively new to the scene and has not been adopted by major manufacturers like Compaq or HP yet. Since the introduction of the technology in 2007 the costs have began to normalize, performance has improved, and varying designs and customizations have made these drives more and more appealing to consumers. Currently, these drives are available in three different formats.

Hybrid drives using adaptive or flash memory are considered non-volatile, so when your computer loses power or shuts down, the data in that cache is maintained. A RAM cache is volatile memory, and will lose its data if power is lost, however it is battery-backed to prevent this from happening. Adaptive memory is new as of 2010, and removes these drives’ dependencies on specific operating systems, drivers, and software to function.

While hybrid drives do offer more than standard platter based drives in terms of speed and efficiency, they are also slightly more expensive due to the inclusion of flash memory. Also, hybrid drives will start and stop spinning more often than standard drives, which creates more wear on the drive resulting in shorter lifespan of the device. It is important to know that both flash and battery-backed RAM caches are only useful in machines running Windows Vista or Windows 7, as these are the only operating systems built to support this type of hybrid drive technology out of the box. Adaptive memory drives however are formatted in such a way that they can be used by any operating system without dependence on any special drivers or software.

Hybrid drives are great for consumers looking to decrease power consumption, live green, or get the most performance they can from their device. These drives may not work in all machines, so before replacing the existing hard drive, you should contact the manufacture or a hard drive retailer to ensure compatibility. If cost or longevity is a concern for you however, know that as these technologies develop and take hold, prices are constantly dropping and products are only getting better.
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Most laptops with built-in Wi-Fi utilize a mini-PCI slot to support this type of card, making it fairly easy to install. In some cases, you can install an external wireless card into a PCMCIA or ExpressCard slot, but this requires an extra component sticking out of the laptop and is not ideal for most users. If you have a laptop with a failing Wi-Fi card it may be time to purchase a new network card. Although these are general steps for installing an internal laptop wireless LAN card, they should apply to most notebooks.

1. Remove the battery and disconnect AC Adapter

Before doing any repair work on a laptop, be sure to shut down the computer, unplug it from the wall, and remove the battery. This will help prevent static discharge while working on the machine.

2. Find the access panel and remove

Most laptops with a wireless card slot have an access panel that provides easy access. In most cases it will be a square panel on the bottom of the laptop. Remove screws and remove the panel. In some laptops the Wireless LAN card is located underneath the keyboard. There will be two metal clips on either side of the card edges holding the card down in place, release these and the card will pop up and can be removed.

3. Remove old Card / Insert the new card

Remove the old card from the Mini-PCI slot on the mainboard and compare it to the replacement, be sure they look very similar in shape and that the connections are the same. Line up the pins and insert it at a slight angle, press it into the slot and then slowly lower it until it locks into place.

4. Connect the antenna(s)

If your laptop has one or more antenna cables inside the access panel, you can connect these to the wireless card for better reception. Most cards have an antenna connector labeled “Main” and another labeled “Aux”. Again, the connections should match your original card or you may have compatibility issues later.

5. Reassemble

Replace the access panel and screws and replace the keyboard if it was removed and secure all screws removed during disassembly. Replace the battery and reconnect the power cable.

6. Configure Wi-Fi Settings

If you replaced the defective card with the exact model that was originally in the machine, there will likely be no configuration needed. If it was a different model, you may need to reconfigure your Wi-Fi settings in Windows to allow you to connect to your wireless network.

Test to ensure the card is working properly and that you are able to connect to a wireless network. If you are sending and receiving correctly then you are finished with the installation, otherwise you may have to revisit the settings in Windows to confirm they are correct for your wireless network. If the card is not recognized by Windows, that may point towards the card not being installed correctly or a defective card. Retrace the installation steps to confirm the card is seated properly and all antenna wires are connected firmly.

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The screen resolution of a laptop LCD refers to the number of pixels horizontally and vertically that make up the image on a screen. Generally, the higher the resolution, the smoother and more realistic the images on the screen will appear. The easiest way to understand screen resolution is to think of drawing a grid on a piece of paper. If you were to draw a grid that is 320 squares wide and 240 squares tall, it would be similar to the number of pixels in a laptop with a screen resolution of 320 x 240.

In years past, laptop screen resolutions were limited to one of only a small number, such as 640×480, 800×600, and 1024×768. These were all variations of what is known as 4:3 aspect ratio, which contains 4 horizontal pixels for every 3 vertical pixels. This results in a screen that is a little wider than it is tall.

In recent years, widescreen displays have become much more common. Most new notebooks from the major laptop makers like HP and Compaq use a 16:9 aspect ratio which is prevalent in High Definition televisions. Widescreen resolutions are particularly well-suited to multimedia and video, as movies are usually shown in widescreen ratios.

There are currently a wide variety of resolutions being used for laptops, each with a corresponding code. For example, WXGA is a resolution of 1280 x 800, and is the most common widescreen resolution. There is also WSXGA+ which refers to the resolution 1680 x1050, and WUXGA that displays at a resolution of 1920×1200. There are other specialized resolutions that are ideal for smaller laptop LCD panels used in popular netbooks by HP and ultraportable laptops. Most replacement laptop screen retailers carry screens of varying aspects and resolutions, so it is easy to find the correct replacement for your laptop.

Screen resolution can often be confused with the size of the screen, which is a diagonal measurement of the screen in inches. The screen resolution is independent of the screen size. As an example, a 15.4 inch laptop screen could be offered in a WXGA, WSXGA or WUXGA, but it is still the same physical size of panel, it just has the capability to display more pixels as the resolution increases.

One common complaint of by computer users is that with higher resolutions, objects on the screen tend to appear smaller on a monitor of the same size. For example, 10pt text will appear smaller on a 15 inch monitor with a resolution of 1600×1200 than it will on the same size monitor with a lower resolution of 1024×768. This will likely become less of an issue in the future, however, as operating systems make a push toward “resolution independence” which allows the user interface to be resized independently of the display’s resolution.
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Laptops are useless without AC adapters. They are what run your laptop when your battery dies. They are what charge that battery when you want to use it on the go. With that in mind, it’s important to have a basic understanding of how they do what they do, especially if it comes time to replace them.

A laptop AC adapter will consist of essentially three main parts: the cord that carries unusable AC to the box, the box that converts the AC to DC, and the cord that carries the usable DC to the laptop. Your house is powered with AC, or alternating current, because it travels well without losing energy, but alternating current is not usable by laptops. They require direct current, or DC, power.

The box of your adapter technically does more than simply converting current, or rather there is more to the process. As alternating current enters the box from the cord connected to your wall, it is run through a transformer. This drops the current from about 110 volts to around 19 volts, which is what most Sony laptops can work with. Other brands of laptop often use 15 Volts, but most other variations are plus or minus a volt in either direction. The current then runs through a rectifier which essentially forces the current out in one direction only, thus making direct current. Finally, the current runs through a regulator, ensuring a steady stream of voltage despite any changes in power consumption. After running through all these components, the current continues through the second cord, and into your laptop.

Knowing the basics of AC adapters will allow you to make some more educated decisions on replacement or upgrade adapters. First, check your cords. Match your main power, or AC, cord to whatever plug you’ll be using. For example, plugs in Europe are different than in the US, and plugs in your car or on a plane are different than the ones in your home. Also, invest in a surge protector to help ensure the longevity of your AC adapter, essentially protecting it from being overloaded.

Your laptop will also require specific voltage from your adapter, and a minimum wattage as well, typically listed on the underside of your machine, or available from the manufacturer. When it comes to wattage, you can get higher than what is listed on your machine’s specifications, but going lower can cause the box to overheat, and shortening the life of the laptop AC adapter.

As for the DC cord, the main thing to look for is the connector. If it doesn’t fit the DC jack on your machine, it won’t do you any good at all. If you’re not sure, check with your spare parts retailer, chances are they will be able to assist you in finding an adapter that will fit your machine. Also, when looking at replacing an adapter, be sure to confirm that the problem isn’t with the physical DC jack on your machine, as it can become loose or unsoldered. A loose DC jack can cause problems that may simulate issues with your AC adapter and may require the DC jack to be repaired.
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While shopping for a hard drive, you may have seen the term “cache memory” or “disk cache”. This is a small amount of embedded memory that acts as a buffer between the hard drive and the computer. The typical amount of cache memory is somewhere between 8 to 64 MB. In reality, the term “cache” is somewhat of a misnomer, as it operates much differently than the page cache in an operating system, which stores data to be retrieved more quickly later. The accurate term is “disk buffer” as it acts as a buffer between the drive and the computer.

One of the uses for the disk buffer or cache memory is for what is known as read-ahead and read-behind. When a hard drive is reading from its platters, it moves the disk arm near the correct track, but the bits that are read first or last are not always the ones that are needed. The disk saves these bits in the cache memory in case they are needed later. Some higher performance laptops made by major manufacturers such as HP offer hard drives with large amounts of cache memory coupled with a higher RPM drive mechanism to further increase the speed that the data is accessed and written.

Another use of the buffer is what is called speed matching. In many cases, data coming from the hard drive’s platters is not coming at the same speed of the I/O interface that connects the drive to the computer. The cache memory stores some of the data from the platter, regulating the flow so the both can operate at the fastest speeds possible.

Yet another use of the disk buffer is write acceleration. When writing data to the disk, it can be stored in the cache memory on its way to the platter. This allows the operating system to move onto another task while the disk is still transferring all the data to the platters. In the early days of hard disks, this write acceleration could cause problems, as there was a potential for data loss if there was an interruption while the drive was transferring from cache memory to the platter. Newer drives are much faster at this process, making it less of an issue.

If the cache memory can improve performance of a drive, some might wonder why hard drives don’t include larger disk buffers, especially with memory prices being very inexpensive. Unfortunately, a disk buffer that is too large will actually slow down a drive, as it takes time to flush the buffer periodically. Major manufacturers such as Toshiba will often offer varying amounts of cache memory in their laptop hard drives. Toshiba hard drives also have different combinations of spindle speed and cache memory to offer users more performance options for every budget.

Now that you have a better understanding of the cache memory of a hard drive and what it does, you can make a more informed decision when buying a hard drive. You can better understand the performance impact of lesser known drive specs that can actually have a big affect on performance and price.

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From time to time, most laptops need some type of repair or replacement. While some components are easy to replace, others are more difficult, such as a mainboard.

If the HP laptop fan on your HP EliteBook 8540w is making strange noises, or the fan is failing to cool your laptop and it is overheating, it may be time to replace it. Before beginning any laptop repair, make sure you have a replacement part by visiting our on-line store and searching for your specific model, and then follow the instructions below to replace the fan.

1. Shut down the computer and unplug all cables, including the power cable. Remove the battery.

2. Close the lid and flip the laptop over, then remove the three phillips screws marked with a keyboard icon. Also remove the three screws inside the battery compartment.

3. Turn the laptop over again and open the lid as wide as possible. Slide the retention tabs toward you to release the keyboard. The tabs are located near the F1, F4, F8, and F12 keys. While holding the tabs, lift the top of the keyboard up toward you.

3. Disconnect the ribbon cable that connects the keyboard and set it aside.

4. Disconnect the ribbon cable that connects the switch cover located above the keyboard to the motherboard. Lift the cover on both sides to remove it, and then set it aside.

5. Disconnect the fan cable, and then loosen the three screws that secure the fan. Lift the display cables to make room to remove the fan, then remove the mylar securing the fan in place and lift the fan from the enclosure.

6. Place the new laptop fan in place and secure it with the screws and mylar. Reverse the instructions to re-assemble the laptop.

Once the laptop is reassembled, turn it on and test to be sure that everything is working correctly.
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