The first thing you’ll want to do is identify your machine, with a model number if possible. Typically, this will be displayed on the underside of the laptop on a white sticker called the service tag. If you’re not sure what is what on this sticker, write it all down. The model number identifies your machine, and the product number narrows it down even more.

If you are unable to find your specific model number, you may need to remove the LCD itself and find a part number on it. To do so, look at the front of your monitor. It will either have screws or caps along the edge facing you as if you were using the machine. If it has caps these can be removed simply by popping them off with a tool. Remove the screws beneath around the perimeter of the screen. Then, take a corner of the bezel (the part of your computer case surrounding the monitor itself) and carefully remove the entire face and set aside. Now at the bottom of your laptop, you should see screws on the hinges which will also need to be removed, carefully. Once this is done you should be able to lower the monitor itself face down to the keyboard, revealing its backside, which will list its specific part number.

If you do attempt to do this at home, be sure to remove the AC adapter and the battery. Remember always, safety first. If you are not comfortable with doing this, take your machine to a local repair shop, or contact your manufacturer for further assistance.

When shopping for replacement LCDs, there are a number of specifications of which to be cognizant. First and foremost will be size. Especially when purchasing a new laptop monitor, you will be locked into a specific size, so make sure your new monitor will fit your machine properly. Aspect ratio refers to the height and width of display, for example a 16:9 would be considered a widescreen display format. Resolution is typically the gold standard of performance rating. The higher the resolution, the more pixels the monitor will display. More pixels allow for a sharper, crisper image. Most common displays run at WXGA or XGA, depending on the aspect ratio. There are many other specifications that come in to play that you may wish to discuss with a computer repair shop or retailer, but those listed above will be the most influential to the quality and function of your display.

Here are a few of the methods you can use to find your laptop’s serial number.

The Manufacturer’s Label

Most HP and Compaq laptops have a label affixed to the bottom of the laptop itself which give the serial number. In many cases, there is also a separate label for your Windows activation code, which is not related. This sticker will usually list the product number or model number of your laptop, and have a 10-digit number labeled “Serial No.”. This is your serial number. It may be helpful to write this number down in a safe place in the event that your sticker is lost.

HP’s Website

If you are using the machine itself, you can go to HP’s support website to download a piece of software that will check your laptop’s serial number for you. Since HP has merged with Compaq, this will work for both HP and Compaq laptops.

Windows

You can usually check your laptop’s serial number within Windows. Right-click on My Computer and choose Properties. Under the “General” tab, you should see your serial number listed under “Support Information”.

Receipts

If none of these methods reveal your serial number, look on your original purchase receipts. In many cases, the serial number will be listed on the receipt itself.

The notebook is very configurable, offering numerous customization options to fit the varying needs of buyers. There is a choice of powerful AMD processors which provide fast speed and low power consumption, helping to promote longer battery life. Buyers have a choice of 2GB, 3GB, or 4GB of DDR3 system memory depending on their needs. The average user can choose less memory or the high-end user can max out at 4GB for better performance when running multimedia applications or for gaming. The machine includes Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit edition, allowing the operating system to utilize all of the available memory.

Hard drive options range from 250GB to 500GB in a variety of drives that support either 5400 RPM or 7200 RPM speeds. The ATI Mobility Radeon graphics options provide great support for gaming or multimedia applications, and some options even include an HDMI support for outputting to an HDTV.

The 15.6 inch high-definition LED Brightview display has a resolution of 1366×768 and provides bright and clear images. The LED backlighting uses less power than previous technologies, extending battery life.

Multimedia options abound as well. Users have a choice of DVD burners with support for dual-layer discs and Lightscribe technology. For an additional price, users can also opt for a Blu-Ray reader or even a Blu-Ray burner, though this is an expensive option, as it is with any laptop currently.

Home or business users who want a classic laptop with a straightforward design at a great price will love the Compaq Presario CQ62Z series. It has the multimedia features and performance a user needs, and customization options allow buyers to pay for only the features they want.

Not all laptop models are alike, and some models may require different steps for replacement. It is a good idea to consult the manual or a service manual for your specific model for more detailed instructions.

Here are the basic steps for installing an HP CD/DVD/DVDRW replacement:

1. Disconnect the AC power adapter and remove the battery to ensure there is no power going to the laptop, to reduce any risk of electric shock. It is also a good idea to use an anti-static wrist band to minimize the risk of damage from static electricity. Slide the battery latch to release the battery and gently pull it toward you to remove it.

2. For most models, removing the drive is very simple. On the bottom of the laptop, look for a screw located near the back of the optical drive. Remove this screw.

3. The original drive likely has a plastic bezel on the exterior that has the button to eject the drive tray. This may or may not have to be moved over to the replacement drive.

4. If applicable, transfer the drive bezel to the new drive and any other brackets that are attached to the original drive that are not present on the replacement. The idea is to make the replacement drive look exactly like the original drive did when you removed it.

5. Replace any screws that were used to mount the drive into the machine and check to ensure that the drive is secure and will no longer slide or move around inside the notebook.

6. Replace the battery, reconnect the power, boot up the laptop and test the drive.

Be sure to test reading and writing a number of different media types to ensure all functions work correctly. If the drive is working correctly than you are finished. If you continue to have problems you will want to further troubleshoot your machine. Check out our other articles for helpful hints and guides.

Despite its 17 inch screen size, the 4720s is very portable. It weighs only 6.8 pounds and measures a very compact 16.2 inches by 10.5 inches by 1.1 inches. This makes it an excellent choice for users who travel or who need more portability but don’t want to sacrifice a larger screen size and extra computing power.

It features a full keyboard with a full 10 key numeric keypad, but the keys are a little small, potentially causing unnecessary errors for some typists.

Overall, the HP ProBook 4720s offers performance and speed almost comparable to a desktop replacement model at a fraction of the size and weight. Its affordable price will appeal to budget-conscious buyers, but very few sacrifices have been made to achieve its low price, making it an excellent value for the money.

The HP Mini 2102 is built for travel, and aims to tackle some of the major issues inherent in working on the road. It includes a CloudDrive, which is a way for users to sync their data with network storage, ensuring that files are backed up and synchronized at all times. This can protect against data loss caused by theft or equipment failure, and ensure that your files are accessible from nearly any location. In addition to syncing over the internet, it can also sync with a computer on the same wireless network with the included QuickSync software. This is useful for synching files with a home or work desktop computer before or after traveling.

Despite its small size and compact design, there is also a 5-in-1 digital media slot for memory cards and other media. The netbook also has a GPS option when purchasing, for those who wish to use it for navigation or geo-tagging.

The design of the HP Mini 2102 is very striking. Its case is sleek and modern, with an imprint finish on the top that is subtle but very sharp-looking. It is available in a few different colors for personalization. The unit is 1 inch thick and weighs only 2.69 pounds, so it is ideal for a traveler who needs to reduce weight in a travel bag.

Overall, the HP Mini 2102 has a lot to offer in a very compact and lightweight package. Its performance and speed are excellent for the price, and the included synching software keeps files safe and up-to-date with very little effort.

At the heart of the Mini 5102 is a 1.66 GHZ Intel Atom N450 processor. This processor is known for being not only powerful, but very efficient, drawing very little power compared to larger processors, which results in much longer battery life.

Speaking of battery life, its battery lasts for over 3 hours even under heavy use, and much longer for casual use. In addition, and optional 6-cell battery is available as an upgrade for even longer battery life. For a netbook so small, it would be impossible to include a full-size keyboard. HP gets around this by varying the size of certain keys, so that the most important keys are nearly full-size, while less important keys are tucked out of the way, without taking up too much space. The machine also incorporates a number of function keys, which have multiple functions when pressed along with the Function key. This also helps save space.

Nearly every aspect of the Mini 5102 can be upgraded with options. Its 160GB hard drive can be upgraded for more storage. Its 1GB of RAM can be upgraded as well. Unfortunately, many of these upgrades are expensive, taking what is generally a very affordable machine and adding extra costs very quickly.

The screen is a 10.1 inch widescreen display, at a resolution of 1024 by 600. This is a decent resolution with a very bright and vivid look, but not as sharp of a resolution as some competing models.

Overall, the HP Mini 5102 will appeal most to users who need a powerful laptop but also value portability. With its lightweight and compact design, it makes a great travel companion, as long as the price of upgrades doesn’t turn buyers away.

One of the most impressive features of the HP ProBook 4520s is its full-size keyboard. While many laptops include a small keyboard, sometimes with smaller-than-average keys, The ProBook 4520s manages to fit not only a full-size keyboard, but even a numeric keypad, which will be particularly appealing to users who do a lot of calculations or number entry on a daily basis.

The machine includes a choice of Intel Core i7, i5, i3 or Celeron processor depending on your needs, and can include up to 8 GB of RAM and a 500 GB 7200 RPM hard drive. All of this adds up to a lot of muscle for a business-oriented machine.

The laptop comes with Windows 7 preinstalled, but some buyers may be disappointed that only the 32-bit version is included. Using the 64-bit version is supported, but there is no option to have it preinstalled, so users will have to install it themselves. For most users, however, the 32-bit version should suit their needs.

The machine’s 15.6 inch screen supports a resolution up to 1366×768 for sharp HD image quality. The total weight of the machine is 5.26 pounds. Despite its full-size keyboard, it is very compact, measuring only 14.6 by 9.8 by 1.09 inches, which makes it very portable for traveling and other situations where mobility is a must.

Overall, the HP ProBook 4520s is a great choice for the business user who needs solid performance. Its full-size keyboard is a blessing for number crunchers, and its compact and lightweight frame makes it easy to use on the go.

1. It is not a bad idea to back up important data in case something goes wrong. Shut down the HP laptop and remove the battery. Also, unplug the laptop from the wall to ensure no power is going to the machine.

2. With the screen closed, flip the laptop over and find the RAM access door. In most cases, it will be marked with a picture of a RAM stick. If you cannot find the access door, check the user manual for your HP laptop.

3. Unscrew the access door and remove it from the laptop.

4. The memory has clips holding it in. In some models these clips need to be opened to the sides. In other models you must press on the memory and it will swing out toward you to be removed. Remove the memory by gently but firmly pulling it toward you.

5. Replace the new memory in the same slot as the old memory. Make sure the notch at the bottom of the memory stick matches the notch in the slot and gently but firmly slide it into the slot.

6. Replace the securing clips if necessary for your model of laptop. Swing the memory back into place if necessary for your model.

7. Replace the access door and any screws.

8. Replace the battery, power up the HP laptop, and verify that the correct capacity of memory is being recognized.

Replacing memory is a very simple process that can be safely performed by most users, but it is always a good idea to consult your user manual for the location of the access door and specific information on how to replace the memory for your model of laptop.

The next step in notebook hard drive replacement for HP, is to loosen the two Phillips-head screws securing the hard drive cover to the bottom of the notebook. With a flat-edged tool, lift the inside edge of the HP laptop hard drive cover, and remove the unit. Remove the two additional Phillips-head screws that secure the hard drive to the HP laptop enclosure.

Then, before the replacement of the notebook hard drive for HP devices, slide the hard disk drive toward the outside edge of the enclosure, and disconnect the hard drive from the system board connector. HP laptop hard drives should be carefully slid out of the enclosure, and placed in a static dissipative package. After the unit is removed, the installation of the replacement notebook hard drive for HP devices can be performed.

New HP laptop hard drives should be supplied in its own, static-free packaging, and ready for installation. To insert the new hard drive, push the unit toward the inside of the enclosure until the connector is seated properly. Replace the two Phillips-head screws that secure HP hard drives to the base enclosure. Also replace the hard disk cover, onto the enclosure, and snap the outside edges into position. Once the screws are replaced, the battery can be re-inserted, and the notebook hard drive replacement for an HP device is complete.

Dell laptop batteries are made with Lithium-ion technology, in 6-, 9-, and 12-cell formats. Lithium-Ion batteries are light-weight, have high charge-capacity, and require minimal “Conditioning” procedures. It is immensely important to condition Lithium-ion batteries for Dell laptops, every two to three weeks. This can prevent the battery life from depleting, and maximizes the replacement Dell battery’s performance.

If replacement laptop batteries go without routine conditioning, it can result in significantly a shorter battery life. Failure to use the proper AC adapter, with Dell laptop batteries, can also be hazardous. It can potentially create permanent damage to the battery, notebook, or both units. The battery can become dependent on the charger in order to function, and fail to retain any amount of battery life. Using the proper AC adapter helps to ensure optimal performance of the replacement battery for Dell devices.

Dell laptop batteries are CE Certified, through third party test laboratories and certification bodies. The CE seal of approval, certifies that the battery replacements for Dell notebooks have met EU consumer safety, health, and environmental requirements. The CE marking is mandatory on all products sold within the 27 countries of the EU, as well as with all countries that are members of the European Economic Area (EEA).

Since laptop computer batteries are rechargeable batteries, they also undergo a self-discharge when unused for extended amounts of time. Often, new laptop batteries are equipped with internal microprocessor circuits, that optimize the management of battery energy. These batteries are called “Smart Batteries” and also set the charger to the correct charge algorithm, predict running time, and provide a state-of-charge (SoC) indication. There are three primary forms of laptop computer batteries, Nickel Cadmium (NiCd), Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), and Lithium Ion (LiON).

NiCd notebook batteries were the first rechargeable batteries ever manufactured for laptop computers, and were relatively inexpensive, with high outputs. NiMH batteries were then released, and can still be seen on various laptop notebooks. They easily surpassed NiCd laptop batteries in reliability, cost, safety and capacity. The recently developed LiON batteries have become the most popular with today’s manufacturers, and are much lighter in weight than its predecessors.

To maintain optimal performance with laptop computer batteries, it is important to make sure that the  metal connecters are cleaned and free from damage. Also, avoid leaving the device powered-on overnight while charging. The laptop should be turned off occasionally, and it can be damaging to the notebook’s battery, to be continuously charging while powered on. When the device is shut down and powered-off, it is suggested to connect the power cable, to keep the internal battery cells moving at all times.

As TV evolves with recently released 3-Dimensional Television display, Laptop and desktop monitors have been taken to the next level as well. The Sony Vaio AR Digital Studio provides its users with a magnificent, HD quality, video experience. It is fully equip with an HDMI port for complete compatibility with HD TVs and monitors. It also comes with availability for SD Memory cards and Express card expansion. To top it all off, the AR Digital Studio has a luxurious integrated camera with amazing quality and 3 USB ports.



With the release of the AR Digital Studio, Sony has been able to grasp the attention of gamers everywhere. It provides the superior power and versatility of a Mac Book Pro, and compatibility with the grand selection of games for PC only. Everything a gamer needs to overcome the difficulties of “lag” and under-qualified hardware is integrated into the new Sony VAIO at a lower cost to the customer than any of the specialized manufacturers. Now, MMO RPGs are smoother than ever and the beautiful graphics from the heavily detailed, first person shooters can be pushed to the limits.

What can you do with the TX2Z’s touch screen? With the same technology made famous by the iPhone and iPod touch, you can easily control objects on the screen by making gestures with multiple fingers at once. Also, users can make an “M” shape with two fingers to launch HP MediaSmart and its touch-enabled media programs. The TX2500Z has a slightly more restrictive touch screen that you could tap on to make selections, but you cannot make any finger gestures.



The TX2Z comes with a unique stylus that is hidden on the right side of the laptops body, close to the front of the keyboard. With the tablet’s handwriting recognition software the notebook deciphers your written words with incredible precision. It reads cursive handwriting as well, and hardly any pressure needs to be applied while writing. Entire words can even disappear completely when they are heavily crossed out.



The HP Pavilion Tablet comes with a 12.1-inch (1280 x 800) display. The picture is consistent at vertical angles, and watching a movie at almost a 180-degree angle horizontally is easily possible. The HP Pavilion Tablet is readily available with SRS Premium Sound audio technology and Altec Lansing speakers for a high quality entertainment experience.

Fingerprint scanning is an effective means of security. It is also one of the best ways of keeping prying eyes off of classified information being held on your laptop. Protect your hard drive, and remove the need to remember multiple passwords. Hundreds of large corporations are investing in the implementation of biometric scanner requirements. This technology has been proven to be the most reliable form of security for any laptop, personal or business.



Enhance your management by adding an additional layer of network security. Fingerprint readers provide convenience and a sense of security that can be found nowhere else. They supply a variety of uses and enhance workflow to be quicker and smoother than ever. The uses of fingerprint readers on laptops are endless and provide more than just security for sensitive information. Web access, wireless authentication, and simplified password storage reduce the complexity of consistent use.



Wifi has become one of the standard features on laptop computers, and to keep out unwanted infiltration at wireless hotspots, hardware-based options like fingerprint readers have been introduced to increase the security of personal information. Increases in the reports of stolen laptops have been a strong motivation for manufacturers to incorporate this highly reliable feature into laptops everywhere. Hackers are also getting smarter and software has proven to be uses against their tactics. Now, the guaranteed security of a fingerprint reader on personal laptops can put ease to the distress you have over the possible loss of vital information.

The battery of the VAIO VGN FZ21E provides a sufficient capacity for mobile use and has an exceptionally low temperature emission. HP has also provided an HDMI port that makes this new notebook fully equip for High Definition media entertainment. The Sony Vaio FZ21E is obviously optimized for perfection, with its great office task abilities and low heat emission.



Another magnificent version of the Sony Vaio is almost completely directed toward college students. The VGN NR160E has tons of hard drive space peaking at 160GB, and offers a solid computing experience for an unbelievable price. It comes with an Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 dual core mobile processor for the fastest level of performance without using too much power. This allows for less stress on your computer and smaller chances of overheating.



Sony is known for providing the best LCD panels on the market, and the VGN NR160E is no exception. The color and contrast are remarkable and have the same great quality of the high resolution notebooks offered at more expensive prices. At such an inexpensive price, the Vaio VGN NR160E gives students the ability to have a top of the line computer for one of the most inexpensive prices.

This remarkable technology, called LightScribe, uses a compatible recorder and software, to form visible marks on face of CDs and DVDs. These special discs have a thermal-sensitive coating of leuco dye on their top that causes a reaction when they become exposed to infrared radiation. Through an amazing chemical reaction, you can now burn a disc, then flip it over, and put it back into the recorder to create customized designs. All this is easily performed by the same exact laser that is inside your DVD recorder.



Lightscribe discs are about the same price as the name brand media on shelves today. The speed at which the print is made ranges between 6 minutes and 30 minutes, based on the quality and complexity of the design. HP has also promised that the speed will increase as much as 50%, within the next year. This is said to be accomplished with newly developed coating on the face of the disc to maintain compatibility with previously released Lightscribe devices.



Many of the current laptops and desktops come fully-equip with Lightscribe enabled recorders. They are available through a variety of different companies, and are no more expensive than the current DVD recorders available today. It is an incredibly convenient labeling system and there is always a guarantee that your recorded media will work, unlike the often defective quality of cheaper compact discs.

The Mini 1000 XP is HP’s newest ultra-portable laptop (or netbook). It is designed to be as compact and portable as possible, for users who value a small size over power. There are two versions of the Mini 1000, the XP version and the Mi version. Mi refers to HP’s mobile internet software platform, a lightweight alternative to Windows. The Mi software has received much criticism and most users will probably want to choose the Windows XP version, which allows you to install any Windows software you wish, whereas the Mi software does not.

The choice of Windows XP may seem strange when Windows Vista is Microsoft’s newest operating system. However, the HP 2133 laptop, predecessor to the HP Mini 1000, included Windows Vista, but was often slow and sluggish, as the netbook did not have enough power to adequately meet Vista’s minimum hardware requirements. This is actually common in netbooks, where power is secondary to portability, and HP learned its lesson and now includes XP for the mini 1000 notbook model.

At just 2.25 pounds, and measuring 10.3 x 6.56 inches, this is a very light and portable netbook. The case design is plastic, which reduces the weight and is often more resistant to scratches than the aluminum case designs of other laptops. Intel’s Atom N270 processor is included, which provides adequate power for the primary uses of a netbook: email and web-surfing. Don’t expect to do any gaming or intense media editing, as this is not what netbooks are designed to do.

Overall, the HP Mini 1000 XP is a well-designed, lightweight netbook that will suit the needs of anyone who wants values portability. The choice of Windows XP over Vista is an improvement over the previous model, and will improve the performance by not burdening the processor with unnecessary software features.

The Pavilion dv7t is a laptop built for entertainment. High-quality picture and sound is the focus here, with the a multitude of upgrade options that include Blu-Ray drives, ATI Mobility Radeon graphics cards, and high-definition display options. Other features include an integrated subwoofer, for better bass response, integrated webcam, and an optional HDTV tuner for receiving over-the-air HD television broadcasts. Add to this the HDMI video output for connecting to an High-Definition display, and the laptop can double as your media center in the living room.

The dv7t notebook features a choice of dual-core processors from 2.0 to 2.66 GHZ for extra muscle. RAM options range from 2 to 8 GB, and hard drive options include SATA drives from 500GB to 1TB for all the high-definition content users will want to store. The ATI Mobility Radeon graphics options provide good video and gaming performance, but hardcore gamers might want to look at a true desktop replacement system such as the HDX series for more performance. Most casual gamers, however, will be quite satisfied.

At 7.74 pounds, it comes in about average on weight for this performance class. The 17.3” screen may make it somewhat large for some users, but for good reason. The high-definition 17.3” is bright and sharp, making it perfect for watching movies or HDTV, viewing photos, or gaming.

Overall, the HP dv7t is an impressive entertainment laptop with nice extras and a great variety of upgrade options to suit most users needs. Students, media buffs, and casual gamers will find a lot to like, and only the most hardcore gamers are likely to find it underpowered.

The Presario CQ60Z is a fairly compact 15” laptop geared for the average home or business user, who doesn’t need the bells and whistles or the extra processing power of more expensive laptops. Affordably priced, the base configuration starts at around $449, and multiple configuration options allow the user to choose their own hardware priorities.

The main selling point of the Presario CQ60Z, apart from its affordability, is likely the number of configuration options. One of the The laptop comes with your choice of AMD processors, from 2.1GHZ to 2.3GHZ, and hard drive options from 160GB to 500GB. There is also a choice of DVD drives, from a standard dual-layer burning drive or a Lightscribe drive. Users can also choose to have a webcam included, for use in Skype and other videoconferencing applications.

The base configuration includes Windows Vista Home Basic, but for $30 more, you can upgrade to Vista Home Premium. This is a recommended upgrade as Home Basic does not include many of the improvements Microsoft advertises for Vista. At 1GB or RAM in the base configuration, most users will want to upgrade to at least 2GB, as it is the recommended minimum for Vista.

While the configuration options abound, one area that may be lacking for some users is the processor. With only AMD processors to choose from, those who prefer Intel for its lower heat and often better performance may tend to look elsewhere. Of course, the choice of AMD processors is likely what has kept the laptop so affordable.

Overall, the Presario CQ60Z is a solid laptop with numerous configuration options and a compact design that should make it a good choice for most users. Power users who need more speed for video-editing or gaming will not be impressed, but that is the case with any laptop in this price range.

The power utility in your laptop is the best place to start in power conservation . In Windows the path to the power utility looks something like this: Start –> Settings –> Control Panel –> Power Options. This is the area that will allow you to set the time for the monitor to turn off as well as your hard drive and the amount of time it takes to switch to stand by. Power schemes are also available that have preset parameters like “Home/Desktop” or “Portable/Laptop.” These settings will automatically set the times for the typical laptop or home user. The provided “time” fields will be automatically filled in with the appropriate numbers and settings.

You can freely change any of these preset numbers in the selection made. For instance, if the setting shows 45 minutes to turn off the monitor you could change it to 30 minutes, an hour or whatever value you deem necessary. The average laptop can consume up to $50.00 a year in energy costs but using these simple utilities can help reduce this by half.

You may need to loosen a few of the plastic latches individually to fully remove the bezel. Place the bezel out of the way to prevent undue damage. Below the screen you will find the inverter; it is a long rectangular piece with wires attached at either end. Remove the wires and replace the inverter if needed. Three screws reside below the screen on the left and right sides, removing them will allow the plastic hinge covers to become free of the screen. You may now carefully lean the screen forward to reveal the video cable plugged into the back of the screen. Remove the tape covering the connection and unplug the cable from the screen.

The screen is still attached to the hinges via screws along either side of the screen remove these now but be sure to steady the screen so it does not fall and break creating a very large mess that is difficult to clean. Replace the screen and repeat these steps in reverse taking care not to force any screws in their respective holes farther than allowed. Even the slightest mistake could damage internal components rendering your hard work useless.

Click this link and you will be taken to a page to choose your product. The page lists everything from servers to paper and from calculators to laptops. The laptops are listed in the middle of the page and the options include “Mobile Thin Clients,” “Notebook PCs” and “Tablet PCs.” Select the option that fits your needs and proceed. Be sure to select your country of origin at the top of the page before selecting the laptop option. Under the “Notebook PCs” option it provides a list of models currently supported by the HP part surfer service. The model and series of your laptop is printed either on the keyboard area or you may look for the serial number on the bottom and perform a search for the model name.

Choose your model and proceed; for this example we are using the HP G notebooks. Next select your model in the series, the G3000 in this example, and then choose the next model which will be the HP G3100. The next page will bring you to a list of model numbers in the series select yours and proceed to choose the parts. You are able to choose the part by description or keyword or you can list all available parts in the series and model. Choose the parts you are looking for and it will deliver the available part numbers which will allow you to order the part from your favorite reliable parts distributor.

Then locate the large panel on the back of the machine; it will be located on the right side of the laptop. There are eight screws that will need to be removed using a small Phillips head screwdriver. You may find a small amount of dust and dirt in this part of the machine and it is a good idea to clean it with some compressed air. A clean, unused small paintbrush may be used to brush out the dirt form hard to reach places. Under the plate you will find the heat sink and fans on top of the CPU. Find the four screws on the outside of the heat sink assembly, loosen and remove them. Be especially careful when removing the heat sink assembly as it rests on top of the processor itself.

If the heat sink is pulled off at an angle the processor pins could bend as well as the possibility of damaging the receptor holes on the CPU socket. Before attaching the new processor you can take a little of the compressed air and clean out the motherboard. A few simple passes should do just fine. Virtually any P4 processor will work in this HP laptop; line up the CPU with the socket. There will be a “marker,” on one of the corners of the socket and CPU; match these up and then carefully place the new CPU into the socket. Reverse the steps above and you are finished.

The graphics surpass those of most average integrated chip sets by supporting up to 1.4 GB of video memory but with the less than perfect processor this will yield moderately better graphics. A saving grace for graphics is the BrightView technology that helps to reduce glare. The installed DVD-RW is a LightScribe enabled optical drive and capable of creating DualLayer DVDs. The Even though the Compaq CQ50 lacks a few ports, it still has many common interfaces such a s 3 USB, a VGA, HD D-Sub, 10/100Base-TX Ethernet and a 5 -in-1 memory card reader.

The laptop weighs in at about 6 1/2 pounds making it mid-weight but highly durable. The construction is sound and keyboard is comfortable to use. The track pad and mouse buttons are a bit stiff but useable. Overall performance is good for the average internet browser and email user but any advanced user needing to run multiple applications for extended periods of time will need to think twice. The 6 cell lithium ion battery should last for approximately 2 hours, but will depend upon what applications are running. The Compaq CQ50 comes with Vista Home Premium installed as well as Norton Home Security (60 day trial), and an HP suite of support and help software.

The Compaq CQ50 is a good buy but in order to get the lower price sacrifices in performance and usability have been made.

The HP Pavilion HDX weighs in at a whopping 15.5 pounds but is intended to be a desktop replacement so it is to be expected. While the graphics card is capable of it Blu-ray is not available on this laptop, only HP DVDs, an upgrade for $325.00, but the HP BrightView technology produces flawless graphics for gaming and multimedia experiences on the 20.1 inch widescreen display. The Pavilion HDX is also equipped with a removable remote control for media use, TV tuner, and a fingerprint reader to expand the “cool” factor of the laptop. The TV tuner seems a bit of an overkill with advent of cable cards. The HDX comes standard with HDMI, S-Video and VGA-out ports which is typical for a desktop replacement, although a DVI port would be nice. Additional ports on the HDX include 4 USBs, a Gigabit Ethernet connection, Firewire, digital audio out and an external SATA port for more media storage.

The HP Pavilion delivers great features and a multimedia gaming experience that is a step above the competition; with all of the bells and whistles expect to pay over $4,000.00.

A separate USB TV/Digital video recorder is also included but will take some time to set up; the instructions are very explicit, but easy to follow. The HP Pavilion zd8000 is a monster when it comes to weight but keep in mind that it is a desktop replacement model;. The model weighs in at 9.5 pounds, 12 with the AC adapter and 13.5 with the USB box, not a choice for the ultraportable user. The screen gives pristine graphics and is equipped with HP’s anti-glare coating which works better than most. The screen is a large 17 inches wide which may create some issues for smaller default font sizes; these can be easily changed. Overall performance of the HP Pavilion zd8000 is well balanced and suited for home media experiences, but could be used for business applications as well.

The HP Pavilion zd8000 delivers a multimedia experience balanced with desktop features; these features come at a price as the laptop is generally more expensive than most.

A 60 GB or 120GB hard drive can be standard on the Compaq Presario V6000; hard drives are Seagate Momentus 5400 hard drives. These sizes are pretty standard on laptops in this class but the V600 supports more memory than most. Wireless cards are installed and support 802.11a/b/g as well as an HDAduio Soft Data modem. Along with these are a 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet connection, 5 in 1 digital media card reader, and optional Bluetooth which is becoming more common in laptops. The choice of DVD ROM drives is commonplace in the laptop market and the Compaq Presario offers the choice of Super Multi 8x DVDR/RW with DualLayer support or the LightScribe 8x DVD+/RW & CD-RW combo drives. In addition the Compaq Presario is equipped with 1 PCI-E slot, 3 USB Ports, a mini Firewire port, S-video, and VGA ports.

Overall performance is good with a fast processor and above average memory specifications, but the unit lacks a little due to poor screen design; priced around $800.00 the Compaq Presario v6000 is a decent purchase for a mobile small business or home user.

A wide variety of free programs offer FTP uploading and downloading capability, including:

• Filezilla (and Prozilla)
• Putty
• NcFTP
• Downloader for X
• Cyberduck
• Curl
• Net Transport
• Star Downloader
• AceFTP

These free programs offer a varying range of features, which typically include remote file editing capabilities, queue management tools and the ability to support a range of file transfer formats, such as Telnet, TFTP, SFTP, DICT, FILE and LDAP. However, they’re subject to security breaches which enable third parties to interrupt and manipulate data in the process of transferring from one user to another. Most of all, conventional file transfer protocol programs are designed to prioritize data integrity over speed, leading to longer transfer times and increasing the chances of an Internet connection disruption canceling the process and forcing the user to start over.

FTP Uploads Without Size Limitations

We have solved these problems while creating a system that allows you to transfer files of unlimited size. You’ll enjoy faster and more secure file transfers, automatic resumption of interrupted downloads and powerful management tools that make organizing your files easy.

Other times, online sites will offer free FTP storage space without giving users any tools to organize and manage the files they’ve uploaded or downloaded. While many dedicated file transfer protocol programs offer file and queue management capabilities, the Internet connection integrity is often less than optimal. This leads to connection interruptions which can completely disrupt the progress of a transfer, forcing the downloading user to abort the attempt and start over at the beginning.

Fast, Secure Free FTP Storage

FTP companies have developed a system that’s superior to conventional approaches to file transfer protocol applications. Offering better security, easy file management and organization and the ability to send and receive files of any size, FTP is a more efficient and faster alternative. You can also take advantage of convenient features designed to make your experience quicker and more reliable, including automatic file zipping and the automatic resumption of interrupted transfers.

A long list of FTP freeware applications have popped up over the years. Common programs such as Filezilla and Prozilla, AceFTP, Putty and CuteFTP include features like queue management, remote editing capability, multiple connection management and batch downloading, among others. There are also many free software products designed for specialty applications, such as Downloader for X. This product is a download manager specifically created for the Unix and Linux platforms, allowing you network access even if you’re behind a firewall or a proxy server.

Convenient though they can be for casual, everyday users, these FTP freeware products also face significant drawbacks that limit their usefulness. By its very nature, file transfer protocol is more oriented towards preserving the integrity of the data than completing the transfer quickly. However, it’s susceptible to security breaches that allow third parties to intercept and manipulate data being sent from one user to another. This can give rise to a whole set of nasty consequences, including viruses and spyware.

Overcome the Limitations of Conventional FTP Freeware

We’ve developed a system that offers better security, faster uploading and downloading and, best of all, no maximum file size limitations. You can share documents of any size with users around the globe quickly and easily, all while taking advantage of our cutting-edge file management and organizational tools.

Free FTP space is available on servers located in virtually every country in the world. However, establishing connections between a client and a server located great distances from one another is a precarious process at best. This forces users to seek out local servers instead, which may have higher traffic, slower connection speeds, inferior security or volume limitations that inhibit their usability for certain applications.

FTP space sites offers Web surfers an effective alternative to the challenges posed by using conventional file transfer protocol programs. The company has developed cutting-edge technologies that replace traditional file transfer protocol clients.

Free FTP Space for Transferring Large Files

Far less cumbersome and far easier to use, FTP software are fast, secure, reliable and convenient. It also doesn’t restrict the size of the files you can send and receive, and hosts the capability to transfer documents and files in excess of the standard 2 GB limit. Users also enjoy advanced features like automatic zipping and resumption of interrupted transfers.

One of the most popular free FTP software programs is Filezilla, an open-source client that supports uploading and downloading across a range of operating systems including Windows, Mac OS-X and Linux. Filezilla, unlike many of the free clients available in cyberspace, works with firewalls to allow transfers to complete even when connection restrictions are in place.

GlobalSCAPE’s CuteFTP program offers those users who are willing to pay for service a host of desirable features, including transfer scheduling, remote editing capabilities and folder synchronization. However, for the casual surfer and downloader, the cost of the license is often not worth the investment. Though a low-cost “lite” version of CuteFTP is available, it doesn’t allow for the transfer of especially large files. In fact, the vast majority of programs available at no charge (or even for a licensing fee) have size limitations, since bandwidth restrictions are often implemented by Internet service providers, not the actual creators of these programs.

The Next Generation of FTP Software

If you have the need to send and receive large files in excess of 2 GB and can’t find a client to suit your needs, take advantage of the powerful next-generation technologies available. Offering generous storage capabilities and freedom from the restrictions of other sites, FTP Softwares convenient and easy-to-use no-cost solution for both businesses and individual end users.

Features of Free and Licensed FTP Programs

CuteFTP is an FTP program designed and marketed by GlobalSCAPE. While free trial versions are out there, which host enough features for the casual user, most of the product’s most advanced and useful features are only available through licensed versions. Like many of the free FTP programs out there, CuteFTP offers the capability to:

• Synchronize folders
• Manage a transfer queue
• Create an address book
• Enjoy SSH and SSL security
• Edit files remotely
• Schedule transfers
• Perform scripting and macros processes
• Drag-and-drop transfer management

However, neither of these products comes without drawbacks. The best CuteFTP features are only available if you pay for the service, with prices that don’t make sense for the average, casual Internet user. To take full advantage of Putty’s capabilities, you need relatively advanced computer knowledge. In addition, in terms of file sharing, both applications have limitations on the actual sizes of the files they can handle.

Many FTP sites offer a no-cost alternative to these applications which doesn’t have any restrictions on the file sizes you can send and receive. With easier, faster and more secure transfer capability, FTP is a smart alternative to conventional file transfer protocol products.

In active mode, the user connects to the FTP server using a dynamic port. A dynamic port is set up to faciliate client-end communication in a client-server connection. After listening for this connection to be established, the file transfer protocol client is then bound to a source port and data transfer is initiated.

Other software allows you to connect in passive mode, which still uses dynamic ports but initiates connections and client-server communications slightly differently. In passive mode, the source end of the transfer also runs through a dynamic port (unlike active mode). This mode can be initiated by entering the command “PASV” into your software’s dialogue box or user interface.

Extended passive mode is virtually identical, except that it does not break the port number down into high bytes and low bytes the way both active and passive modes do. Firewall, connection and transfer interruption problems are most often experienced by users connecting to FTP servers in extended passive mode.

An FTP Server Alternative With Free Transmission and Storage Capabilities

All three of these modes can create problems for the end user, but FTP sites has developed a powerful alternative that makes file sharing faster, easier, safer and more reliable. The FTP system allows you to send extremeley large files for free and offers dedicated online storage space where you can manage and organize your uploads and downloads with unprecedented ease.

Website updates can also be thrown askew relatively easily without secure FTP products. All a third party needs is the website’s IP address, easily attainable by performing a reverse ping, to set up a sniffer program which can intercept the site administrator’s login and password information. A malicious individual can then gain access to the site and wreak all kinds of digital havoc on the content, links and images it contains.

The servers that operate most of the popular free file transfer protocol applications are unsecured, leaving them vulnerable to these kinds of attacks. This leaves many users searching for a safer alternative that offers the same peer-to-peer file-sharing power without worrying about server insecurity.

A Secure FTP Alternative With Superior Capabilities

Find a free service that offers users extremely high safety standards in addition to more powerful data transmission capabilities. The site hosts file transfers of unlimited size, allowing users to manage multiple uploads and downloads easily, efficiently and free of worry. you can also find offers both the automatic zipping of shared files and a handy auto-resume feature that ensures your transfer picks up right where it left off in case of interruption.

OneButton FTP is a free graphical client designed specifically for use with the Macintosh OS-X operating system. Using the Cocoa transfer framework, it is designed to offer superior file queueing and drag-and-drop capability. Curl is a command-line interface program that uses SFTP, TFTP, Telnet, FILE, LDAP and DICT in addition to the standard file transfer protocol platform. Unix and Linux users can share files with Downloading for X, which let you use either the standard file transfer protocol or the HTTP protocol, even if you’re behind a proxy server.

Countless other applications are out there in cyberspace, each of which offers a slightly differing interface and set of features. However, the one thing they all have in common is that they limit the size of the files they can transmit. If you want to send or receive unusually large files or documents, you were traditionally left with very few alternatives…until now.

A Free FTP Client That Hosts Files of Unlimited Size

Free FTP Clients offers the fast, reliable and secure peer-to-peer sharing of files of unlimited size. The GoFTPExpress.com technology is also specially designed to resume an interrupted transfer from the point at which it left off, liberating you from two of the most cumbersome limitations of conventional file transfer protocol programs.

Because free FTP hosting sites require two connections to manage a single file transfer, users have twice the chance of experiencing an interruption that will make them have to start their upload or download over again. Also, the amount of storage space available to each individual account holder tends to be extremely limited, which creates restrictions on the types and sizes of files the site can successfully transfer. With independent users looking to transmit more and more data-dense and media-rich files and documents, people are seeking new ways to enjoy reliable peer-to-peer sharing without the limitations and connection interruptions that plague conventional file transfer protocol clients.

Free FTP Hosting Without File Size Limits

The technologies at the free ftp hosts are available to you at no cost, and let you to share documents of any size with users around the world. Allowing you to include private information with your upload or download and manage and organize your files with ease and convenience, FTP hosting sites offers a powerful alternative. You’ll also enjoy features like automatic resumption of interrupted transfers, automatic file zipping, faster connection speeds and much more.

Problems With Free FTP Sites

However, the free hosting capabilities of FTP sites is limited, due to a range of factors which include:

• Bandwidth limitations
• Connection reliability issues
• Complications caused by firewalls
• Access restrictions

These limitations can lead to a number of problems for users on both ends of the file transfer. First, the actual size of the files that can be shared using these freeware applications is heavily restricted, since sending and receiving large files taxes the system, creating problems for other users. Thus, the administrators of these file-sharing websites often place daily limits on the amount of data a single user can transmit or receive. Second, traffic on the system can cause connection interruptions, which will stop a download prior to completion and force the user to start over. Because there’s no telling how many times this can happen in a single session, increasing numbers of people are seeking more reliable, less restrictive alternatives.

FTP Sites represents the next generation of peer-to-peer file sharing. The powerful technologies the company has developed allow users to circumvent conventional file transfer protocol applications and allow for the sharing of files of unlimited size. Many FTP Sites supports multiple transfers at once, easy management and organization, and excellent security and privacy controls, and is a cutting-edge solution to the limitations of traditional file transfer protocol clients.

SmartFTP offers users a host of features, including multilingual support capabilities, modern graphical user interfaces (GUIs), remote editing of shared files, verified transfer integrity, transfer queue management tools, multiple simultaneous connections and much more. However, to enjoy the full breadth of these features, users are required to pay a hefty licensing fee, which isn’t worth the money for many average Internet users.

The Filezilla software is available for Windows, Linux and Macintosh’s OS-X. While it does allow for the timestamping of uploads and downloads, something many FTP programs lack, it is limited in terms of the file sizes it can support and often offers less-than-optimal connection and transfer speeds. These restrictions are, in and of themselves, enough to leave even casual Internet users seeking a more convenient alternative.

A Powerful Alternative to Conventional FTP Programs

FTP Softwares uses unique, patented technology developed specifically to give peer-to-peer file sharers a way to transfer even extremely large files quickly and reliably. Without file size limits, the FTP system allows for the fast and secure sharing of digital documents with a wide range of added features that make conventional file transfer protocol applications obsolete. You can use FTP programs to send multiple files of any size for free, all while enjoying superior organizational and management capabilities.

What Is FTP and How Does It Work?

What file protocol transfer systems do is allow users to transmit files regardless of any incompatibilities in the operating systems their computers use. They use a technology known as out-of-band control, which separately manages both the system controls and the data itself, facilitating a high degree of accuracy over the course of the transfer. Despite this, though, free FTP clients have a number of significant restrictions which limit their usability, especially for users looking to transmit large files to other people.

Because servers have bandwidth limitations, it’s not feasible to send extremely large files to another user via file transfer protocol applications. Connection interruptions are also common, leaving the end user to start transfers over from the beginning in the event that their downloads don’t complete properly. However, there are alternatives available. What these alternatives are designed to do is offer the same peer-to-peer file sharing capabilities while overcoming the restrictions and inconveniences of cumbersome file transfer protocol applications.

What is a powerful file transfer protocol? alternative, allowing users to upload and download digital documents of any size quickly and easily, with the added capability of sharing private information between users at each end of the transmission. The FTP system offers superior speed, easier use and better reliability than conventional software.

Alternative options address these FTP problems in a number of innovative ways. First, they use unique web-based technologies to allow users to share files of any size. FTP alternatives also have built-in mechanisms for organizing and managing uploads and downloads, and allow users on both ends to zip their files automatically while providing superior security. In addition, these systems offer the capability to resume interrupted uploads and downloads. Rather than having to start a transfer over from the beginning, the system automatically remembers where the process left off and picks things up from there.

A Powerful, Next-Generation FTP Alternative

There is a developed free, powerful web-based technologies that liberate you from the limitations of conventional file transfer protocol systems. With superior speed and no hassles, FTP represents the future of online file sharing.