CompTIA A_ Certification All-In-One Exam Guide, Seventh Edition - Michael Meyers [371]
Figure 21-24 Hardware Removal Tool in system tray
Figure 21-25 Safely Remove Hardware dialog box
Mobile NICs and Mini PCI
Every laptop made in the last few years comes with networking capabilities built in. They have Ethernet ports for plugging into a wired network and Wi-Fi for wireless networking, and some have Cellular WAN radios so you can access the Internet over a cell phone network. Laptops run Windows just like a desktop system, so they have all the networking software ready to go.
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NOTE See Chapter 23, “Local Area Networking,” for the scoop on dial-up networking and Ethernet.
Many of these integrated network cards are installed in a Mini PCI slot on the laptop motherboard. The Mini PCI bus is an adaptation of the standard PCI bus and was developed specifically for integrated communications peripherals such as modems and network adapters. Built-in networking support means you don’t need an additional PC Card to provide a network adapter. The Mini PCI bus also provides support for other integrated devices, such as Bluetooth, modems, audio, or hard drive controllers. One great aspect of Mini PCI is that if some new technology eclipses the current wireless technology or some other technology that uses the bus, you can upgrade by swapping a card.
EXAM TIP A typical reason to upgrade a Mini PCI Wi-Fi NIC is to gain access to improved security options such as better encryption.
Officially released in 1999, Mini PCI is a 32-bit 33-MHz bus and is basically PCI v2.2 with a different form factor. Like PCI, it supports bus mastering and DMA. Mini PCI cards are about a quarter the size of regular PCI cards and can be as small as 2.75 inches by 1.81 inches by .22 inches. They can be found in small products such as lap-tops, printers, and set-top boxes.
To extend battery life, you can toggle built-in communication devices such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth adapters on and off without powering down the computer. Many laptops come with a physical switch along the front or side edge allowing you to power the communications adapter on or off. Similarly, you can often use a keyboard shortcut for this, generally by pressing the Function (FN) key along with some other key. The FN key, when pressed, allows other keys to accomplish specific tasks. For example, on my laptop, pressing FN-F2 toggles my Wi-Fi adapter on and off; pressing FN-F10 ejects my CD-ROM drive.
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NOTE Chapter 24 covers wireless networking in great detail.
Managing and Maintaining Portable Computers
Most portable PCs come from the factory solidly built and configured. Manufacturers know that few techs outside their factories know enough to work on them, so they don’t cut corners. From a tech’s standpoint, your most common work on managing and maintaining portables involves taking care of the batteries and extending the battery life through proper power management, keeping the machine clean, and avoiding excessive heat.
Everything you normally do to maintain a PC applies to portable PCs. You need to keep current on Windows patches and Service Packs and use stable, recent drivers. Run Check Disk with some frequency, and definitely defragment the hard drive. Disk Cleanup is a must if the laptop runs Windows XP or Windows Vista. That said, let’s look at issues specifically involving portables.
Batteries
Manufacturers use three types of batteries for portable PCs and each battery type has its own special needs and quirks. Once you have a clear understanding of the quirks, you can usually spot and fix battery problems. The three types of batteries