Questions tagged [laptop]

Laptops (also called notebooks) are portable personal computers with an integrated screen and keyboard. They come in a variety of sizes.

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125 votes
9 answers
111k views

Can I use my laptop as a second monitor?

Is it possible to make my laptop's screen act as a second monitor for my desktop computer?
Edward Tanguay's user avatar
22 votes
4 answers
32k views

Can I safely charge my laptop with a non-standard, third-party charger? [duplicate]

I have a Toshiba Satellite laptop. My charger has stopped working. I have access to a Lenovo charger. Can I use this charger on my laptop?
user8418's user avatar
  • 301
162 votes
7 answers
88k views

Is it better to use a laptop on battery or on AC power?

When I'm at home, is it better to use the laptop plugged into AC power, or with just the battery, for the overall battery life?
Moayad Mardini's user avatar
61 votes
11 answers
213k views

Laptop power supplies, does current matter?

I have two laptops (same manufacture), with the same type of power connector. However, the power supplies/transformers are slightly different. The output on the first laptop's power supply is 15.6&...
BIBD's user avatar
  • 1,574
17 votes
2 answers
66k views

My keyboard is typing by itself, could there be a ghost in it?

The keyboard on my laptop seems to be typing by itself: It sometimes types characters like 134, whether by itself or when I hit certain keys. Repeating characters may appear unexpectedly. The system ...
bwDraco's user avatar
  • 46.1k
238 votes
6 answers
204k views

Should laptops remain plugged in when their battery is 100% charged?

When your laptop's battery is 100% charged, should you leave it plugged in so any battery power doesn't get used, or will that cause overcharging, overheating, etc.? Should the laptop be unplugged ...
Click Upvote's user avatar
  • 4,200
8 votes
6 answers
22k views

Reset or remove the BIOS password on my laptop

I have a laptop but forgot the BIOS password. I cannot go beyond the BIOS password screen and need to continue. Is there any way I can reset or even remove the BIOS password on my laptop?
0xFaCeB00c's user avatar
62 votes
11 answers
301k views

Connecting 2 External Monitors to a Laptop?

Equaling 3 Displays Total (or 2, if the laptop display cannot be used). I work at home on two large monitors, but at the office on a laptop with a single large monitor. Is it possible to attach two (...
Sampson's user avatar
  • 7,368
36 votes
9 answers
382k views

How can I disable my laptop's built-in keyboard in Windows 7?

I have a HP Compaq Presario C700 laptop with Windows 7 installed on it. My laptop's keyboard is not working properly; some keys never work and some keys will keep on pressing. I've formatted the OS ...
sam's user avatar
  • 699
22 votes
8 answers
1k views

What are some good practices for making sure my laptop battery serves its full life?

Basically, I'm looking for some do's and don'ts. Is it bad to keep my laptop plugged in when I'm not using it (majority of the time)? Is it bad to plug it in once I've finished using it (with it ...
Dan's user avatar
  • 229
20 votes
3 answers
97k views

Can I use a power adapter with more current but lower voltage on another laptop? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Laptop power supplies, does current matter? I have the opposite problem outlined in Laptop power supplies, does current matter? My AC adapter (19 V, 3.95 A, 75 W,...
user avatar
58 votes
6 answers
46k views

What is it that kills laptop batteries?

There are many superstitions on what you must never do lest your battery become worthless - and by worthless I mean hold about 16 - 24 seconds of charge. This has happened to every laptop I have ever ...
Mala's user avatar
  • 7,358
6 votes
3 answers
4k views

Can a 20V 4.51A power supply be used with a computer that requires a 19V 3.42A power supply? [duplicate]

I have a laptop that says it needs a 19V 3.42A power supply. I have a Dell 20V 4.51A power supply. Can I use this power supply with my laptop, or will it destroy the machine?
Dandy52002's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
51k views

How to disable Forced Enrollment on a Chromebook

Does anyone know any other way to disable forced enterprise enrollment on a acer c720(School gave to us)? I've tried doing: esc+refresh+power and then getting into dev mode but it says disabled tried ...
free123's user avatar
  • 33
27 votes
3 answers
18k views

Laptop randomly waking up = Hibernate / Low Battery?

A (Windows 7) laptop has been annoying me since the day we got it. When it is put to sleep (the lid closed), it seems to intermittently wake up randomly during the night (i.e., 10pm, 1:30am, 7am, etc.)...
Synetech's user avatar
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11 votes
8 answers
20k views

I just spilt coffee on my laptop, what should I do?

I have just dropped a half full latté on my company laptop and am not sure what to do. Is there a way I can make sure that my laptop is usable again? What steps must I go through to improve it's ...
Jon's user avatar
  • 784
6 votes
3 answers
15k views

Is it safe to use a power supply with a different laptop? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: charging laptop with a diffrent manufacture charger I have a Dell Vostro 1500 laptop, but unfortunately I lost the power supply in Indianapolis last month. I have a power ...
Colen's user avatar
  • 982
2 votes
1 answer
103k views

Remove BIOS password for HP ProBook 4530s ( Reset BIOS )

I’m locked up beyond BIOS of my HP ProBook 4530s. Long time ago I put a password on it, But now I don’t remember it. I have to reset the BIOS password, But I found that it doesn't relate to the CMOS ...
Omid PD's user avatar
  • 143
23 votes
7 answers
123k views

Are there specific technical considerations that would make it detrimental to put your computer in sleep mode every time?

Often I have a lot of stuff open and don't feel like shutting down my laptop, so I just use sleep mode when I'm transferring it. But I have no idea if this might have any disadvantages. So my ...
Ivo Flipse's user avatar
  • 24.8k
16 votes
3 answers
41k views

Using a higher current charger on a laptop which requires a lower current [duplicate]

Possible Duplicates: Laptop power supplies, does current matter? Can I use a power adapter with more current but lower voltage on another laptop? I have an ASUS K50IN laptop which requires an ...
Gelo's user avatar
  • 161
7 votes
2 answers
106k views

Can I charge my laptop with a charger that has different specifications? [duplicate]

I'm using a common charger for both of my laptops. The charger is specified at 20 Volts and 3.25 Amperes. My other laptop has a specification of 19 V and 3.42 A. Is it safe to charge my laptop with ...
HIRA THAKUR's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
1k views

Is it possible to upgrade the graphics card in modern laptops?

As there's no definitive answer to this, and I would prefer not to be too specific about particular models, what are the things that determine whether this is possible or not? What expansion slots ...
Tom Robinson's user avatar
  • 2,460
-1 votes
2 answers
6k views

Battery not charging, laptop only works when plugged

Yesterday my battery was working fine (for an old computer). It could sustain a normal usage for three hours at least. Today I have the following symptomas: I noticed that it didn't charge, even ...
Legisey's user avatar
  • 121
16 votes
8 answers
44k views

Infamous 0.39 GHz in Windows 10 issue has no fixes?

There is this quite annoying bug, which is probably related to Windows 10, which makes mobile CPUs clock down to 0.39 GHz/399 MHz. Just searching on Google for "0.39 GHz". There are so many ...
MortenMoulder's user avatar
11 votes
3 answers
13k views

Is there any way to execute something when closing the laptop's lid?

I'm wondering if there is any way to execute a program, run some command or anything else when closing the laptop's lid. My question aims to be generic, both for Windows and Linux. Something useful ...
mati's user avatar
  • 301
10 votes
1 answer
12k views

Laptop shuts down suddenly when running on battery

My Acer Aspire S7-392 runs well on mains, but on battery shuts down suddenly and without warning. And I mean no warning, it is like someone yanked the power from a desktop PC. Windows does not ...
AlainD's user avatar
  • 4,657
9 votes
4 answers
81k views

Maximum temperature laptop internals can handle? Cooling options?

So I have a Compaq CQ50-215CA and my sister was using her laptop on her bed and I was just using it quickly to check my email. The surface of the laptop was really hot and I opened Speccy to see that ...
Wesley's user avatar
  • 1,268
4 votes
2 answers
12k views

Laptop water damage repair procedure

I'd love some advice in repairing a water-damaged laptop. My girlfriend spilled a glass of water on her Sony Vaio and now it doesn't turn on...at all...dead! What steps should I go through to work ...
KemanoThief's user avatar
63 votes
9 answers
105k views

Brightness changes while "Adaptive Brightness" is disabled in Windows 8.1/10 with Intel HD Graphics

The brightness changes with the colors displayed on the screen on my Lenovo Thinkpads with Intel HD Graphics. Light colors make the screen brighter, dark make it darker. Same behavior in Windows 8.1 ...
psv's user avatar
  • 1,373
22 votes
8 answers
178k views

Cannot enter BIOS due to broken screen

Lately my laptop (HP g42 247sb) screen is damaged, so I hook it up with an external monitor (LG something) and it works fine now. The only annoying thing is I cannot navigate the BIOS menu for some ...
gamer's user avatar
  • 221
6 votes
2 answers
5k views

Installed 32GB RAM and laptop won't boot

What happens: Works fine with 16GB. With 32GB, powers-on but screen is blank. Tried second laptop (also ivybridge) and found same. Laptop: W110ER with i7 3820QM Ivybridge cpu and Win7 server 2008 R2 ...
forest.peterson's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
4k views

Laptop power adapter output compatibility

I've lost my original power adapter, and I can't find the proper one in any of the stores currently available. I've HP Compaq 6730b, and as per cutratebatteries.com it outputs 18.5V 3.5A. However, I'...
errorous's user avatar
  • 167
4 votes
4 answers
41k views

Everything running super slow in Windows 7 on my Dell Laptop

Recently my laptop has become really sluggish. I have Windows 7 and Windows Explorer often freezes or the hour glass comes up and never goes away. I often can't close windows, and when I do, again the ...
Doug Andreocci's user avatar
45 votes
8 answers
119k views

How to disable NVIDIA Optimus on a Dell XPS 15?

I've got a new Dell XPS 15 (L502x) with an NVIDIA GeForce 540M, Intel Core i7Q 2.2 Ghz, and Crucial RealSSD hard drive. As with most laptops with NVIDIA cards these days, it's got the "Optimus" ...
Fopedush's user avatar
  • 1,892
26 votes
5 answers
129k views

Will cold weather break my laptop?

Situation: It's -5 °C outside and I'm bringing my laptop to school in my bag. I spend a lot of time walking outside in the cold. Then I go into the school where it's 25 °C and fire up the laptop ...
Stefan Monov's user avatar
  • 1,641
17 votes
5 answers
7k views

Are notebook batteries generally hot-swappable?

I have a new HP Compaq 610. Most of the time I use it plugged and with the battery removed, to avoid wearing it. Sometimes I need to move it to somewhere else - currently I hibernate the machine, move ...
ggambetta's user avatar
  • 367
13 votes
8 answers
16k views

Do newer laptop batteries still need to be drained before recharging?

10 years ago when I was doing hardware support it was best practice to fully drain a laptop battery prior to recharging in order to maximize its life. Is this still the case or can a battery now be ...
squillman's user avatar
  • 7,746
10 votes
5 answers
111k views

Will hot weather break my laptop?

It's now summer around here, with temperatures ranging from 20C to 30C in the summer. Occasionally, I have a situation where I can carry my laptop indoors, or just leave it in the car for a few hours. ...
ashes999's user avatar
  • 655
5 votes
4 answers
57k views

Will the Samsung Series 9 models boot from USB?

I'm thinking about getting either one of these Series 9 Models: NP900X3C-A01US - Win 7 NP900X3C-A05US - Win 8 I'd want to do a complete wipe on either one, but what to make certain that the unit is ...
Chace Fields's user avatar
  • 1,159
4 votes
5 answers
15k views

Dell Inspiron 6400 indicates the wrong power adapter is plugged in and will not charge the battery

I am using the original power adapter with the Dell Inspiron 6400 laptop and now when it boots up I get the following error message. The AC power adapter type cannot be determined. You system will ...
Move More Comments Link To Top's user avatar
2 votes
5 answers
18k views

How to stop flash from raising my CPU temperature?

I've found that, although my laptop CPU temperature is usually 50-65C, whenever I keep running flash applications on any of my two browsers (chrome, firefox) it gradually keeps rising, to the point of ...
surfmadpig's user avatar
87 votes
14 answers
444k views

How to invert the Fn key

I have this problem on my laptop: If my Fn key is pressed, the normal (PC-like) F1 - F12 keys will be triggered; when it isn't, then the special keys will be triggered (e.g. brightness control, sound ...
ioanD's user avatar
  • 975
39 votes
2 answers
118k views

1.35 V RAM in a 1.5 V system - Will it fry or overclock?

The general question is: When installing low voltage RAM in a board that outputs a higher voltage to the memory module, will this fry the RAM or will it be like overclocking it? My specific case is: ...
joelostblom's user avatar
  • 2,549
30 votes
18 answers
4k views

How to prepare your PC or laptop for theft [closed]

Of course preventing them from getting stolen is the top priority, but invariably, someone is going to get jacked. What are some good practices to minimize the damage incurred when your PC is stolen? ...
24 votes
8 answers
32k views

What makes a laptop overheat?

Is there a correlation between CPU usage and heat? RAM usage? Other things? How can software affect overheating in a laptop?
nute's user avatar
  • 1,649
20 votes
10 answers
31k views

Disable CD eject button on Windows laptop

Most laptops have a CD eject that is very sensitive, and placed such that it regularly gets triggered when handling the laptop. This is in particular a problem (for clumsy-handed me) when picking up ...
Marc Gravell's user avatar
  • 1,479
14 votes
9 answers
40k views

how to disable "intel display power saving technology"

I'm using a Dell Vostro 5490 running Windows 10. Under "display adapters," for me it says Intel(R) UHD Graphics NVIDIA GeForce MX250 I tried disabling the Intel Display Power Saving Technology, ...
Rockstar5645's user avatar
10 votes
10 answers
82k views

Is it safe to operate a laptop without battery?

I know it's 'unsafe' in terms of data loss but I noticed motherboards still have some of their circuits on power when they are plugged in [e.g. a circuit that must wait for power-on signals is ...
j riv's user avatar
  • 2,566
10 votes
10 answers
17k views

What is the easiest way to disable the touch pad on a laptop?

What is the easiest way to disable the touch pad on a laptop? I have a laptop which lacks a means to turn off the touchpad with a simple Function key sequence. I would like to disable the touchpad ...
Axxmasterr's user avatar
  • 7,908
4 votes
2 answers
5k views

Replacing notebook SATA hard disk with SSD without reinstalling

So there's a notebook (Lenovo Thinkpad Z61m) with a SATA hard disk, the SATA controller is configured for native AHCI operation & the OS is Windows XP. The hard disk is going to be replaced with ...
ThatGraemeGuy's user avatar

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