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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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
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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
161 votes
17 answers
84k views

Will it damage my MacBook if I put it in the fridge to cool it down?

I've a got longstanding problem with laptops overheating (MacBook Air/Pro) and it's not only related to one machine. The laptops are overheating especially during hot days (summer). I've found that ...
kenorb's user avatar
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154 votes
3 answers
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Why are laptop screens sized the way they are?

We've been discussing this in the Comms Room on Serverfault, and thought it might make a good question on SuperUser...especially if there's a clear answer. The hope is that it is a Good Subjective ...
TheCleaner's user avatar
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127 votes
6 answers
16k views

Tiny copper waffle squares inside computer

I've been hearing a sound from inside my MSI GE60 laptop for a while now, so I opened it up to find that these two tiny copper waffle squares came loose. They were originally stuck to the board with ...
eyqs's user avatar
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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
119 votes
4 answers
54k views

What is the purpose of the tiny ruler that I've just pulled out of the side of my Dell Latitude E6430?

On the side of my Dell Latitude laptop, above the DVD drive, is a slot marked 'EC'. Pulling on it revealed a strangely shaped ruler with a temperature converter tool on the back. What is this? Why is ...
EleventhDoctor's user avatar
100 votes
5 answers
100k views

Why are my games slower on battery power, even with the power plan set to High Performance?

My laptop is capable of running most games on high settings at decent frame rates. However, if the power cable gets unplugged while I'm playing, the game immediately starts slowing down, even if I'm ...
Egghead99's user avatar
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94 votes
9 answers
30k views

Can a 7 days full 100% CPU load "burn-in" / "stress test" damage a modern notebook? [duplicate]

When I buy new computers, I usually do a "burn-in" with 100% CPU load for, say, seven days, in a well ventilated place. This is to find out if the computer has problems before I invest time into ...
Tom Stevens'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
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85 votes
7 answers
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Is CRT degaussing really dangerous for nearby laptops?

I have an old CRT connected to laptop as a secondary display. As you know, when CRT turns on it degausses itself; remember that sound when you turn it on, or force degaussing through menu. CRTs ...
Nursultan Talapbekov's user avatar
78 votes
9 answers
19k views

Does leaving your laptop powered on unsuspended and moving it around risk damaging the hardware?

This is a very unscientific, and most-likely poorly phrased question (due to my complete lack of expertise) to be sure, but any responses will be greatly appreciated. My dad told me that walking ...
Jack Pan's user avatar
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77 votes
7 answers
80k views

What is the correct term for the mouse pointer/nipple/joystick thingy in the middle of a laptop's keyboard?

I want to call it a "mouse nipple" or maybe a "joystick", although I know these are not correct. It's different from the touchpad, which is below the keyboard and has dedicated click buttons. Instead,...
Doug T.'s user avatar
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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
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62 votes
9 answers
404k views

HP laptop F1-12 keys inverted with Fn

I recently bought an HP laptop. I'm pleased with it, save for one thing. All the F1-12 keys are inverted. I mean the following: All the F-keys have a symbol on it. Normally you would press Fn + your ...
KdgDev's user avatar
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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
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61 votes
4 answers
10k views

Unplug laptop while it is running

Am I "hurting" my HP laptop by leaving it running, unplugging from outlet - walking a few feet and plugging it back in? My brother-in-law says I am.
Donna's user avatar
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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
60 votes
12 answers
11k views

How do I Connect a 30yr-old Tandy 1400LT laptop to the internet?

Just for the fun of it, I want to get an old Tandy 1400LT laptop: NEC V20 (Intel 8088 equivalent) 640 KB RAM 9'' CGA backlit monochrome display two 3,5'' 720KB DD floppy drives RS-232C serial port (...
Clemens Bergmann's 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
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57 votes
11 answers
63k views

Is it wrong to use a laptop with the lid closed?

Recently I decided to use my laptop with an external monitor and I always use it closed-lid and enjoy. :) The question is: Is it wrong to use a laptop closed-lid? I mean problems like overheating ...
Howsen's user avatar
  • 715
55 votes
7 answers
7k views

Commuting with a laptop that is powered on

How safe is it to leave my laptop running a build or other time-consuming task when I am traveling? I mostly travel on a two-wheeler, with my laptop in a backpack, strapped vertically to my back (left ...
Agnel Kurian's user avatar
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53 votes
3 answers
117k views

How to get rid of the Bang & Olufsen panel on HP laptop?

On my HP Windows 10 laptop the following Bang & Olufsen panel appears at the top of certain audio apps, e.g. Skype: How can I get rid of that?
Unbreakable'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
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42 votes
11 answers
570k views

How can I set the fan speed to 100% on a laptop?

I recently purchased a HP Pavilion dv7-4031. When it's cool, it works smoothly and efficiently. However when CPU and GPU temperatures reach 60c and above, the PC starts freezing up and stuttering. I ...
Hubro's user avatar
  • 5,776
41 votes
4 answers
297k views

Turn on Windows 10 laptop without opening it if external monitor is attached?

I work most of the time with my Windows 10 laptop (Lenovo X1 Carbon, 2012 1. gen model) closed and an external monitor attached. To achieve this I have to start the computer by opening the lid, ...
janpio's user avatar
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40 votes
9 answers
178k views

Function keys on Dell laptop requires Fn+F1-F12 (default is multimedia/oem key)

In most dell laptop (e.g. Studio 1555, Inspiron 1545, Inspiron 3000, Inspiron N5010 etc) the F1-F12 keys at the top of the keyboard are dual function with Multimedia/OEM keys such as volume and screen ...
Factor Mystic's user avatar
40 votes
4 answers
7k views

Can software differentiate between a laptop and a desktop?

A license for CPU-intensive software like Pix4D says it can be installed on two devices - but with a condition. Reading the finer print, it seems that one device can be a full-processing workstation/...
Islay's user avatar
  • 501
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
38 votes
7 answers
43k views

Why do laptops need fans but tablets don't?

I'm curious why a tablet doesn't need fans but all laptops do, even the cheap and less powerful netbooks. I thought at first it would be that the screen on a tablet is smaller than a laptop, so the ...
Jonathan.'s user avatar
  • 2,614
36 votes
13 answers
128k views

What lubricants can be safely added to a laptop fan?

I've got a fan in a laptop that occasionally makes some loud airplane-like noises. It mostly happens about 10 seconds after booting up and lasts for 10-20 seconds. It also occasionally happens when ...
End Anti-Semitic Hate's user avatar
36 votes
3 answers
14k views

What exactly is a laptop "display audio" driver?

I've downloaded an Intel HD Graphics driver for my Dell laptop and the installer's welcome screen says it will install the following components: Intel Graphics Driver Intel Display Audio Driver What ...
Dan Dascalescu's user avatar
36 votes
5 answers
177k views

Disable laptop screen when lid is closed

I'm on a Lenovo Y50, running Windows 10. I have an external monitor attached (HDMI) and I use the laptop screen as well as the external. Sometimes I want to close the laptop lid and just use the one ...
AAA's user avatar
  • 461
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
36 votes
4 answers
40k views

Windows 10: How to Lock (not sleep) laptop on lid close?

If my laptop is plugged in I want closing the lid to automatically lock the computer, without putting it to sleep. I don't see an option to do this in Power Options: Is there a hack to achieve this?
feetwet's user avatar
  • 1,675
34 votes
11 answers
129k views

Dual monitors won't "wake up" after sleep

My laptop is set to go to sleep when not in use, but when I have it set to use Dual screens, after I "wake it up", all I can see is the mouse on the second screen, flickering. If I unplug the VGA ...
Ben's user avatar
  • 1,226
33 votes
1 answer
272k views

Can you have PC3L and PC3 RAM together?

I have a pair of DDR3 SODIMM RAM modules in my laptop, and I want to replace the 2GB for a 4GB that is compatible. So far I haven't been able to find an exact match but I found a very similar with a ...
Gabriel's user avatar
  • 2,920
33 votes
3 answers
33k views

reduce laptop touch pad sensitivity in ubuntu

I have Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat installed. The problem is that the tap to click feature on my touchpad is too sensitive in ubuntu. It works fine with windows. I randomly end up clicking things ...
tapan's user avatar
  • 1,046
33 votes
6 answers
247k views

How to output microphone directly to speakers?

I want my microphone to directly output to my laptop's speakers. I'm able to do something along these lines by recording then playing, but I want to do it live. Any suggestions how to do this?
Wasim Shaikh's user avatar
33 votes
1 answer
10k views

Dell XPS 13 9370: screen brightness changes based on window contents

On my new Dell XPS 13 9370, it seems that the display backlight brightness is adjusted based on the brightness of whatever's on the screen. For example, say I have Sublime Text open with a dark theme,...
Mala's user avatar
  • 7,358
30 votes
5 answers
13k views

The Flight I am taking has USB ports for power... how can I use it to charge my laptop? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Charge a laptop via USB power (500mA)? I will fly to China in the next month which will take a mammoth 18 hour flight. The plane has USB power source on it. I know USB only ...
Jefro's user avatar
  • 301
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? ...
30 votes
3 answers
17k views

Is BitLocker useful in the case of stolen laptop?

Imagine the case when a BitLocker enabled Windows 10 Laptop is stolen and the thief wants to read the data on the hard drive. He knows taking out and reading the hard drive on another computer is not ...
bobo's user avatar
  • 1,839
30 votes
3 answers
113k views

Will a 7mm SSD fit in a 9.5mm laptop HDD slot?

I'm planning to purchase a Crucial M4 256G SSD. There are 2 versions though, 7mm and 9.5mm, at the same price on Newegg.com My current laptop is 9.5mm SATA II. However, I plan to purchase a new ...
Haozhun's user avatar
  • 435
30 votes
6 answers
58k views

Can a new battery go bad if unused

My old 2008 macbook's power adapter died recently and since I was not sure if the problem was it or the battery, I ordered a new generic battery as well just to speed things up. After I received my ...
Dude named Ben's user avatar
30 votes
3 answers
78k views

Can I make Windows 7 change my proxy settings based on my network connection?

Moving my LapTop between work and home I need to change my internet proxy settings. Is there any build in way for windows 7 to change these settings based on my currently active network?
Hakan Forss's user avatar
29 votes
3 answers
129k views

What does the "rectangle with waves" logo to the right of the trackpad mean on my Dell Precision M4700?

I have a Dell Precision M4700 laptop. But I can't figure out what this thing in the picture is. Can somebody help?
Mayank's user avatar
  • 2,218
28 votes
7 answers
31k views

Does more RAM usage cause more battery usage?

I'm using a 2 year old 15" AMD laptop running Windows 8, and its battery life is not as long as the brand new ultrabooks for sure. In the place I'm currently working I don't have access to a power ...
user42175's user avatar
  • 389
28 votes
14 answers
73k views

Processor speed limited at 0.4 GHz

I have an 8th generation Core i5 processor, and it always worked great until these last two days where it doesn't go over 0.4 GHz. I've updated the chipset drivers, removed Intel thermal ...
Hey'Youssef's user avatar
27 votes
16 answers
125k views

Laptop's internal keyboard as an external one?

Firstly, let me say that I've never seen how a laptop's internal keyboard interface with the motherboard. Hence the question. The thing is I use an external keyboard and monitor, but I like how ...
GetFree's user avatar
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