Repairing Laptops

Portable devices are surprisingly tough, but because they live in the world rather than in a climate-controlled, secured server room, they tend to take extreme abuse. Repairing a laptop is simple. The parts that break have their own access panel: RAM, battery, HDD, and expansion slot devices. Parts that break and cost more to replace than the value of the laptop are difficult to access: CPU, motherboard, and LCD screen. It is imperative that you explain this to your customers before you commit to a major repair on a laptop (considering their very short life span).

Common Laptop Problems and Solutions

Unfortunately, repair of many common problems is often an economic death sentence (for example, cracked LCD screens, battery failure, water damage, and overheating). First, check to determine whether the laptop is still under warranty. Many laptops come with a 3-year warranty under the condition that it gets fixed by the manufacturer. You do not want to be the one who voids it on behalf of your client. Table 22-1 shows some common laptop problems, all of which are fair game on the A+ exam.