This guide will explain how to repair a failed or loose DC power jack on a laptop computer yourself
Disclaimer: I’ve made these instructions only for people experienced with soldering and repairing computers. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this job, please do not open the laptop or you can permanently damage your computer. Take your laptop to a professional repair shop instead.
Use this repair guide at your own risk.

First of all, you’ll have to disassemble your laptop and remove the motherboard. Here you’ll find disassembly instructions for some major laptop brands such as IBM, Dell, HP, Compaq, Toshiba. If your laptop is not on the list, you’ll have to figure out yourself how to take it apart.

For this repair you’ll need the following tools.
1. Soldering iron or soldering station. I use Weller WES51 soldering station and for this job I set temperature to about 800-850°F.
2. I use high-tech rosin core silver-bearing solder from Radioshack with diameter 0.022″ ( Catalog #: 64-013 ). I think standard rosin core solder will work just fine.
3. Desoldering pump for removing solder around component leads. I use Edsyn Soldapullt pump, model DS 017.
4. 99% isopropyl alcohol and tooth brash for cleaning the motherboard from flux.
5. A new DC power jack, you can find a cheap one here.






As you see on the following picture, the solder drop on the positive terminal looks different than on other three contacts. That’s where the problem is. The positive pin is not making a good contact with the motherboard and because of that power to the laptop cuts off when I move the power plug inside the power jack.
I’m going to desolder the power jack from the motherboard, clean contacts on both power jack and motherboard and then solder it back in place - this is the proper way fixing the power problem.

power jack bottom

Start desoldering process with adding some new fresh solder to all three contacts. This will make old solder more flowable, easier to remove.

---

DC power jack repair guide. Do-it-yourself instructions.

This guide will explain how to repair a failed or loose DC power jack on a laptop computer yourself. Here’s my previous post related to DC power jack related issues.

Disclaimer: I’ve made these instructions only for people experienced with soldering and repairing computers. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this job, please do not open the laptop or you can permanently damage your computer. Take your laptop to a professional repair shop instead.
Use this repair guide at your own risk.

First of all, you’ll have to disassemble your laptop and remove the motherboard. Here you’ll find disassembly instructions for some major laptop brands such as IBM, Dell, HP, Compaq, Toshiba. If your laptop is not on the list, you’ll have to figure out yourself how to take it apart.

For this repair you’ll need the following tools.
1. Soldering iron or soldering station. I use Weller WES51 soldering station and for this job I set temperature to about 800-850°F.
2. I use high-tech rosin core silver-bearing solder from Radioshack with diameter 0.022″ ( Catalog #: 64-013 ). I think standard rosin core solder will work just fine.
3. Desoldering pump for removing solder around component leads. I use Edsyn Soldapullt pump, model DS 017.
4. 99% isopropyl alcohol and tooth brash for cleaning the motherboard from flux.
5. A new DC power jack, you can find a cheap one here.

Laptop DC power jack repair guide.

As you see on the following picture, the solder drop on the positive terminal looks different than on other three contacts. That’s where the problem is. The positive pin is not making a good contact with the motherboard and because of that power to the laptop cuts off when I move the power plug inside the power jack.
I’m going to desolder the power jack from the motherboard, clean contacts on both power jack and motherboard and then solder it back in place - this is the proper way fixing the power problem.

Start desoldering process with adding some new fresh solder to all three contacts. This will make old solder more flowable, easier to remove.

While heating one of the contacts, remove the solder from this contact using the desoldering pump. Repeat the same steps with all power jack contacts until you remove as much solder as possible.

Grab the power jack and carefully try removing it from the motherboard. Most likely you will not be able to remove the power jack the first time because there will be some solder bridges left between the contacts and traces on the motherboard. Carefully wiggle the power jack without applying any significant force and at the same time heat up all contacts one by one. This will help you to remove the power jack.
The DC power jack is almost removed from the motherboard.
Be careful. Inside the positive hole there is a copper sleeve witch connects the terminal on one side of the motherboard with the traces on the other side. If you are removing the power jack with force, you can pull the sleeve from the hole. You don’t want to do that.
So, do not apply any force and make sure the solder is melted when you are removing the power jack. I hope you understand what I’m talking about.


After the power jack is removed, clean all oxidized contacts with a knife.

Apply a fresh coat of solder to all contacts on the power jack.
You can remove the flux using the tooth brash and alcohol. It’s not necessary but it will make your job looking clean.

Apply a fresh coat of solder to all power jack terminals on both sides of the motherboard.

This side has been coated.

And this side has been coated too.

Now you can install the power jack back on the motherboard. Put something under power jack so there is no gap between the jack and the motherboard. Now you are ready to solder the jack back in place.

Solder all power jack pins.

The job is done and the laptop DC power jack is fixed. B-E-A-utiful!
Now just install the motherboard back into the laptop and you are done.

Read More......

Windows uses several directories, such as the C:\WINDOWS\TEMP directory, to store files (*.tmp, *.spc) intended only for temporary use. Over time, the number of files can build up and slow the operation of programs, such as print spooling. For Windows 98, ME, 2000, and XP, do the following activities to delete these files to increase hard disk space and reduce the time needed to access the hard drive.

1. Close all open programs.
2. Click Start , select Programs , select Accessories , select System Tools , and then click Disk Cleanup (see Figure 1).
3. When prompted, select the name of a drive from the drop-down list. (Drive C:\ is normally the hard drive on a PC. However it may be both drive C:\ and drive D:\ if there are multiple hard drives, or if hard drive is configured for multiple logical drives.)
4. Place a check next to the types of files to be deleted. It is always safe to delete temporary files, Internet files, and recycle bin files.
5. Select OK to begin the cleanup. When prompted, click Yes to confirm the actions.
   Figure 1: Disk Cleanup Window
   

Method 5: Delete temporary files and directories - Windows 95

In Windows 95, temporary files (*.tmp) are stored in the C:\WINDOWS\TEMP directory. There is no utility to safely remove these file.

Actions should be taken by experienced users only

To delete these files, it is necessary to open a DOS command window , use the CD command to change to the c:\ root directory, use the DIR command to verify what type of files in the temporary directory, and use the DEL TEMP\*.tmp command to delete the files.

WARNING: Running these commands incorrectly may delete important files and could cause the computer to stop working. Do not perform these activities if you are not experienced using these commands.

Read More......

Use an antivirus program to remove spyware and adware

Adware is any program that displays advertising banners while it is running. This may include sometimes annoying pop-up windows. Spyware is any application that collects information from the computer and sends that information to another computer over the Internet.
These programs, as well as viruses and worms, can degrade the system resources. Set up a schedule to search for and remove these types of programs.
Install an antivirus and antispyware software and use the automatic update feature to keep the virus and spyware definition files current. Use the Symantec Security Check to test the computer's exposure to a wide range of online threats. It's a free service designed to help HP customers determine their Internet security needs.

Resources
Paid solutions are often better than the free ones. Here is a list of paid solutions.

http://www.symantec.com
Symantec's antivirus products have historically always provided excellent detection and removal of malware. On the downside, that protection came at the price of often crippling system performance. That's now a thing of the past. Performance overhauls are the hallmark of Norton Internet Security 2009, which features 'pulse updates' to deliver more frequent and thus smaller signature updates, whitelisting to streamline scan times, and a lighter, sleeker footprint that installs in mere minutes.

Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition PremiumAntiVir is a consistent leader in independent antivirus tests. Avira's AntiVir PersonalEdition Premium is a low-impact, easy to use virus scanner that also the ability to make an antivirus rescue CD for your system. Also includes WebGuard to protect against malicious or compromised websites. Five euros of each purchase is automatically donated to the Auerbach Foundation, a non-profit that supports various charity and community-related services. AntiVir PersonalEdition Premium should be used in conjunction with a firewall.

McAfee VirusScan Plus
McAfee VirusScan Plus is an ideal candidate for those seeking an antivirus/firewall combination without all the bloat of traditional Internet security suites. McAfee VirusScan Plus makes an easy job of removing adware and spyware, something not all antivirus products deliver. SiteAdvisor service is including, helping to guard against malicious websites.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal

Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal offers excellent antivirus protection, perhaps unsurpassed in its ability to unpack and scan compressed files - something that trips up a lot of other vendors. Should be used in conjunction with a firewall.

5. Panda Antivirus Pro 2009

Panda Antivirus Pro 2009 combines antivirus, antispyware, antiphishing and a firewall with its highly touted behavior-based TruPrevent Technology. License covers use on up to three computers and includes free tech support via email (telephone support options are also available).

6. BitDefender Antivirus Plus

Softwin's BitDefender Professional protects against viruses, spyware, and instant messaging threats, as well as offering firewall rules to block undesirable traffic and a privacy gateway to keep your identity and preferences private while surfing the Internet.

7. Eset Nod32

Nod32 features a small footprint, low performance hit, and fast scan speeds, providing focused virus protection ideal for gamers or those with an older PC. Should be used in conjunction with a firewall.

8. AVG Anti-Malware

AVG Anti-Malware combines traditional virus protection with adware and spyware scanning, in a low impact footprint ideal for resource-strained PCs or those who just want the best performance possible out of their computers. Free tech support is available via email and the standard license includes two years of protection. Should be used in conjunction with a firewall.

9. G Data AntiVirusKit (AVK)

AntiVirusKit (AVK) provides a double layer of protection, bundling two of the best antivirus engines - Kaspersky and BitDefender - under a single, easy-to-use console. You'll want to bolster G Data's AVK with a firewall.

10. F-PROT Antivirus

F-PROT Antivirus for Windows offers a feature that's increasingly harder to find - it includes a command-line scanner that can be used to create a rescue CD for scanning the system in Safe Mode. This is a particularly effective way to remove stubborn resuscitators. Firewall not included.

Read More......

Here are some simple and advanced tips and tricks to improve your PC's/Notebook's performance. Follow these techniques, and see the results!

This tutorial is valid for : All brands of PCs and Notebooks with Operating System: Windows only.

BASIC Techniques

• Use and Antivirus Program to remove adware and spyware.
• Close programs that are not being used.
• Empty Recycle bin
• Delete temporary files and directories.

ADVANCED Techniques

• Scan hard drive for errors
• Defragment Hard Drive
• Use MSConfig to prevent programs from loading. (Win. 98, ME, XP)
  
• Remove icons from startup folder to prevent programs form loading (windows 95)
• Determine memory leakage
• Remove unused files from the hard drive.

Read More......

ALERT
Win32/Conficker.C Virus Triggers April 1st, 2009.

Conficker, also know as Downup, Downadup and Downadup is a computer worm that exploits a known vulnerability in the Windows Server System installed in Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003, and Server 2008.

Symptoms of infection:

• Account lockout policies are automatically reset.
• Microsoft Windows Services, such as Background Intelligent Transfer Service, Windows Defender, and Error Reporting Services are automatically Disabled.
• Domain controllers respond very slowly to their client requests.
• System networks usually get congested. This can be checked by network traffic chart on the windows task manager.
• Windows systems updates cannot be accessed.
• Launches a brute force dictionary attack against administrator passwords to help it spread through ADMIN$

Impact?
Experts say that this is the WORST attacker after SQL Spammer. In recent years, a range of 9 - 15 million computers across the globe were infected by this worm.

Patching and Removal

On 15 October 2008 Microsoft released a patch (MS08-067) to fix the vulnerability.^[30] Removal tools are available from Microsoft,^[31] BitDefender,^[32] ESET, Symantec,^[33] Sophos,^[34] and Kaspersky Lab,^[35] while McAfee and AVG can remove it with an on-demand scan.^[36][37] While Microsoft has released patches for the later Windows XP Service Packs 2 and 3 and Windows 2000 SP4 and Vista, it has not released any patch for Windows XP Service Pack 1 or earlier versions (excluding Windows 2000 SP4), as the support period for these service packs has expired. Since the virus can spread via USB drives that trigger AutoRun, disabling the AutoRun feature for external media (through modifying the Windows Registry) is recommended.^[38] However the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team describe Microsoft's guidelines on disabling Autorun as being "not fully effective," and they provide their own guides.^[39] Microsoft has released a removal guide for the worm via the Microsoft website.

Also, on March 16, 2009, BitDefender released an updated tool to remove the already famous Downadup/Conficker worm on a new domain that has not been blocked by the malicious computer code at a website called "bdtools.net".

Apart from the fact that the BitDefender tool removes the latest and most resilient to disinfection release of the virus, it also comes as a separate installer dedicated to network administrators. In this way, the scanner can be dispatched throughout networks in order to remotely scan and disinfect workstations.

Read More......

Optimize the Performance of your Notebook Battery

Well, now that you've got a notebook/laptop, you might want to make sure you use it safely, and only for the needs that a laptops are meant to be used for. Here are some general guidelines for improving the performance of your notebook's battery .

• It is not uncommon for a notebook battery to last less than an hour or over two hours. The approximate battery life for a NiMH battery is between 1.5 and 2.5 hours and for a lithium ion (Li ion) battery between 2.0 and 3.0 hours. So don't worry if it doesn't last for more time than that.
  
  


• Do NOT plug the AC adapter when the laptop/notebook is not in use. Simply plug the AC adapter off.
  
  


• To optimize the battery life and improve its performance, fully discharge and recharge the battery at least once in every 60 days.
  
  


• With out the AC power the Notebook will work with the battery and the maximum time for battery is 2 to 2 1/2 hrs. You can use the Notebook continiously without of shutdown for 5 - 6 hrs. A shutdown is required after this.
  
  


• If you have to replace the battery, Always follow the vendor's recommendation. Do not experiment with your battery.
  
  


• To optimize the battery life, always use lower than full screen resolution on your notebook. High resolutions call for high power, which inturn, adversly affect the life of your battery.
  
  


• Do NOT overcharge the battery. Once the battery is fully charged, disconnect it from the AC adapter. This will prevent overheating.
  
  


• Windows Vista comes with a default power meter gadget. If you're running windows XP/XP Professional or XP home edition, you can download and install the Power Meter Gadget after downloading and installing Google Desktop from
  


• If you have bluetooth or infrared on your notebook, turn it off at times when you don't need it. Both IR ad Bluetooth consume lots of energy, generally affecting the overall lifetime of your notebook's battery.
  
  


• With Windows Vista, always set the power management options from the control panel.



• If you're not going to be using your notebook for 2 weeks or over 2 weeks, you need to
  1. Remove the AC adapter.
  2. Remove the battery pack
  3. Seperately store the battery in a cool, dry place.

Maximum capacity of a given battery will decrease with time or use. Loss of battery capacity will depend on the product configuration and useage, including, but not limited to the product model, applications running and power management options selected.

Read More......