Larry Koloz | MicroMend

Laptop in a BAG issue Part 1

November 10, 2022
by Larry Koloz

Did you ever take the laptop out of the bag, and it was super-hot?We always carry laptops with us. The standard is to slot it in with other items into a bag, suitcase, rucksack etc.
This is of course a normal procedure.
When this happens, we are not aware of the problems coming with this.
The laptop is in the bag coming with me and I’m on the tube or in a crowded place and as I’m trying to get to the other side of the crowd the bag is notched. I am not aware of this and when I got to work the laptop had a damaged screen. Often, after the flight same issue arises. The laptop is crushed by the weight in the Cargo area.
The most damaging moments for laptop in transport are shocks while on the go. Then this damages the LCD but more often the hard drive is affected.
As this occurs the laptop is not able to work anymore at normal speed or in worst case scenario the laptop just won’t boot anymore to the operating system.
This made scientist to come up with SSD (solid-state drive). The invention removed the movable parts from an HDD and works based on chips as storage. Sounds perfect at first look! But let’s don’t fool ourselves here.
The SSD has a controller chip (the boss) when this chip decides not to work anymore, in most cases the data cannot be recovered. This chip holds the encryption key. This is the key to opening the data on the storage readable for the user.

Issues With Broken Hinges

November 10, 2022
by Larry Koloz

Most of the laptops today are prone to hinge related damage.

The usual time is after 10 months from new as the screen gets opened and
closed many times. The hinge mechanism gets tighter due to dust and slow
process of ripping apart the threads on the base and palm rest, or
destruction of the screen or lid is often the end. If luck is NOT on
your side and this is delayed for too long, damage of the screen and
possibility of motherboard failure is unavoidable.

How to spot this?

Most of us are opening the laptop many times during the day, so it is no
difference the owner while opening the lid. The best to find out if there is
a problem is to take a brand new laptop and see how easy it is
to lift the lid. If you have no access to new laptop just pop into local
computer shop and check on a new laptop.

How to avoid the problem?

Best practice is to get the laptop for check-up on average at least
every 8 months. You should be able to ask your trusted computer repair
shop to do a health check. It can be done fast! Based on the results you
will know if any further service needs to be done on your laptop. You are
able to book an appointment at a time convenient to you.

The Laptop Service Issue or MOT

November 10, 2022
by Larry Koloz

In just a few words I would like to express the need for service of the laptop that you own.

This applies to all brands of computers: Mac or PC.

If the laptop is used 24/7 the result of build up micro dust particles is normal.

In 6-8 months it is strongly advised to get your laptop checked. The cost of cleaning is around 1 to 2 hours of labor in usual case.

If you don't service the laptop there will soon be no air flow in the laptop and the fan will start to be very loud.

Most of us know this situation, as the laptop gets older the speed is not there anymore. At some point the laptop just stops working.

Most of us are driving on daily basis. Can you imagine if you never changed or added engine oil to the car, and never took the car to the garage?

I guess that is why we got introduced the servicing and MOT. So why we are not doing this for the tool - which is often doing most for us?

You are forced to buy a new laptop around 18 months. After servicing in most cases the laptop is still in good performance and no need to purchase a new one.

Lets try to save the planet instead of emptying our own pockets

Battery facts to remember, use it to the max.

June 22, 2022
by Larry Koloz

Part 1

Battery facts to remember, use it to the max

Battery must incur minimum on average 10 charging cycles per month, to keep good health.

What is a charging cycle? The charging cycle is when the battery is discharged to 0% and then charged to 100%.

How can you discharge to 0% if the battery doesn’t like to go under 30%???

The cycle counts as if you are at 100% and u use 50% and then recharge, this is 50% of a cycle.
Next day you use another 30% and then recharge to 100% again and so on.

The cycle, charging and discharging is based on cumulative process.

This means that until you used 100% as divided in parts, same apply to charging.

The last important fact is related to cycle count and in today’s battery you have about 500 to 1000 cycles to use depending on technology.

Average user complete a cycle in 2-3 days based in that the battery is in max capacity for average 2 to 3 years, based on technology.

I guess this explains lots of questions.

To be continued - next week.

(SSD) Solid State drive disaster

March 9, 2022
by Larry Koloz

SSD - (Solid State drive)

! data storage !
!used in all devices today!
!please keep regular backups!

The SSD - (Solid State drive) has a controller chip (the boss) when this chip decides not to work anymore, in most cases the data cannot be recovered. This chip holds the encryption key enabling the data on the storage to be readable by the user.
Usual encryption key is 39 digits long if worse then 79 digits long.
Today only quantum computers would be able to do this in reasonable time.
So, you can guess what this means.

Laptop Service as MOT ?

January 6, 2022
by Larry Koloz

In just a few words I would like to express the need for laptop service as MOT of the laptop that you own.