Feeling the Need for Speed
44
Intel’s current families of laptop CPUs also include, in order of most to
least powerful:
✦ Intel Centrino Duo, which is based on the Intel Core 2 Duo used in
desktops; a quad-core version of the processor is expected in 2008,
based on four-processor CPUs offered for desktops.
✦ Intel Centrino, which is a variation of the Intel Pentium 4.
✦ Intel Celeron, which is at the low end of the company’s product line
today.
AMD’s families of laptop CPUs includes
✦ AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual-Core processor; as with Intel, a quad-core ver-
sion is due.
✦ Mobile AMD Athlon is a mid-level processor.
✦ Mobile AMD Sempron is another mid-level processor.
You’ll have a hard time finding processors made by companies other than
Intel or AMD on current mainstream laptops. Like it or not, Intel CPUs are
the standard and AMD is the only major manufacturer whose processors are
essentially completely compatible with operating systems and software
designed for Intel-based systems. If you’re offered an alternative, make cer-
tain it supports whatever operating system you choose to use.
Figure 3-1:
Hidden
within a
plastic cover
and mounted
on the
motherboard
encased
within the
shell of your

sor its own memory but let it borrow some system memory when needed.
Bossing your machine: The operating system
And I bet you thought you were in charge, huh?
You’ve got all this great hardware: the microprocessor and its associated
chipsets that deliver graphics, audio, storage device management (like
hard disks and CD or DVD drives), the memory, the keyboard, and dozens
of other things that install into bays or slots. And you’ve got all of this great
software to handle word processing and other office tasks (spreadsheets
and databases among them); e-mail and instant messaging software keep
you in touch whenever, wherever, and however you want; and high-tech
power tools to edit digital images, video, and audio.
But who’s the boss? In the simplest of terms, think of the operating system
as a great big box of rules and regulations that sits in the middle of your
laptop’s computing universe. Above it are software applications, the key-
board and mouse, and you. Below it are all of the pieces of hardware that
do the actual work.
07 140925-bk01ch03.qxp 4/8/08 12:35 PM Page 45
Feeling the Need for Speed
46
In theory, the operating system could be built into your laptop’s hardware.
Or, your software could be designed to directly control the hardware. But
for most of us, that isn’t a good solution. Here’s why: Not all hardware is
the same, and you can install nearly an infinite number of combinations of
devices. And, although one company’s digital photo editor may be very
similar to another, each is written differently and wants to interact with the
hardware on its own terms.
Here, then, are the main jobs assigned to the operating system.
Managing the hardware
When a piece of software asks for data conversion, for image display, or sub-
mission of product over the Internet, it sends out a series of commands. The

07 140925-bk01ch03.qxp 4/8/08 12:35 PM Page 46
Book I
Chapter 3
Microprocessors,
Memory, and
Operating Systems
Feeling the Need for Speed
47
Am I saying that modern operating systems eliminate all conflicts and confu-
sion between and among various combinations of hardware and software?
Yes, and they can establish world peace, end hunger, and reverse global
warming. Well, actually, no, they can’t. But a well-written operating system in
combination with properly constructed device drivers and software drivers
and competently designed hardware can work together pretty well, and each
new generation of these components smoothes the rough edges.
In other words, Windows Vista and Windows XP, and software and hardware
designed for either, aren’t perfect, but they’re a lot better than what users
had to deal with. And you can hope for ongoing improvement. And that
other stuff too: peace, food, and an environmentally sound planet.
Managing stored data
Where’s your passport? Where are your car keys? The receipt and UPC code
for your two-year-old printer that needs repair? And don’t just say, “They’re
on my desk.” Your computer must find every last bit of information you’ve
ever stored since the beginning of time (or at least from the beginning of its
time in your home or office). And it needs to find it almost instantly. And
then remember where it returned the data after editing.
The operating system is boss of the files index, including data (words,
images, music, and numbers included), software, drivers, settings, and the
thousands of operating system files themselves. The computer’s filing
system uses NTFS, which stands for New Technology File System.

or use the mouse to pull down more options and choose one of them.
Running with the Biggest Operating System Dogs
Some people (guilty, your honor) need . . . or at least want . . . to always
have the latest and greatest technology. How can you look yourself in the
mirror knowing that the guy in the next cubicle is running Vista Premium
and you’re stuck with XP Home? Well, yes, he’s a dork, and you’re much
more productive, and handsome, and due for a raise. But he’s got a newer
operating system.
As this book goes to press, the most current version of Microsoft’s operating
system is Windows Vista in its various versions. Nearly all new systems
delivered from now on are likely to use Vista. However, millions of machines
are already in use that happily employ one or another earlier operating
system from Microsoft. At the end of 2007, nearly 80 percent of desktop and
laptop machines used Windows XP and just over 5 percent used an Apple
operating system. The remaining machines use either an antique version of
Windows (including Windows 98, Windows NT, or Window ME) or one of the
alternative operating systems, including Linux.
Why hang on to an outdated version of Windows? Two reasons:
✦ Inertia. It takes a few hours and a bit of money and sometimes some
gnashing of teeth and wailing to upgrade from an older operating system
to a new one. If your system is working properly with Windows XP and
you can run all of the software and hardware you need, it isn’t illogical to
stay with what you’ve got for as long as you can.
✦ Incompatibility. Many older machines are simply incapable of running
operating systems that weren’t available at the time they were intro-
duced. Each successive version of Windows is more demanding on the
system hardware — upgrading may require a faster processor or more
memory or a more capable graphics card.
And you may find out that not all of your existing hardware or software will
run properly with a new operating system, or you may have to purchase a

uncertain, qualified, and equivocal answer: yes, no, or maybe. Oh, and it
depends on the situation.
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Daring to Fix Your Own Laptop
50
Although modern laptops are generally quite sturdy and reliable, savvy
users always act as if the next time they try to bring the machine to life, it
will play dead. Or the lights may flash and the screen may light up, but
instead of a friendly (or at least familiar) Windows desktop, you’ll see an
uncharming, barely comprehensible fatal error message: Your hard disk
drive can’t be found (it’s there — you can see it — but the computer can’t)
or your system files or file allocation table have been corrupted.
If the computer hardware is functioning properly, you can fix most problems
with software, operating systems, and settings. In the worst possible case,
you can reinstall the operating system, software, and data (if you’ve made
backups of the data to an external device or to removable media like a
CD or DVD).
Hard times for hard drives
If the hard drive has suffered a hardware failure, on most modern laptops
you can remove it from an externally accessible bay or pocket built into the
side or bottom of the closed lower box. With this sort of design you can
easily install a replacement drive purchased from the laptop manufacturer;
depending on the popularity of your machine, you may find a replacement at
a third-party retailer and web site.
Any time you replace a laptop’s primary internal drive, you need to install
the operating system, software applications, and any backups you have of
data files. Be sure to keep your Windows and application installation disks in
a safe place, and get in the habit of making regular backups of your essential
data files on a removal media like a CD, DVD, or external drive.
Your hard drive or another component of your laptop will die one day.

that goes from the adapter to the laptop) is working improperly, the com-
puter won’t receive power and its battery won’t recharge. The good news is
that you can purchase a replacement adapter from most manufacturers or
from third-party sources.
Here are the possible points of failure when it comes to power sources:
✦ All things electronic have a finite life; they will eventually fail. They may
receive dirty power that stresses components. They heat up and cool
down each time you use them. Internal parts may corrode. With luck,
your adapter won’t reach its moment of mortality before the laptop
itself retires.
✦ The converter in the sealed box could become fried from a power surge
coming in from the AC line.
✦ The cable from the converter to the laptop could come out of the
machine. (This one’s easy: Reattach the plug.)
✦ The detachable plug from the wall to the converter could become
dislodged at its point of connection to the converter. (You know what
to do here, right? Lodge it.)
✦ The detachable plug could break or the cable itself could become cut or
shorted out. (Stop. Don’t attempt to use an electrical device with obvi-
ous damage, especially on the AC side of the adapter. If you’re lucky you
can purchase a replacement cable.)
✦ The cable from the converter to the laptop could come out of the
machine.
Failing batteries
Batteries can fail, or over time can lose their ability to hold a charge. You can
usually determine if a bad battery causes the problem by removing it from
its bay (on the bottom or side of the laptop) and running the machine from
the AC adapter only. If the batteryless machine runs properly when con-
nected to the adapter, the battery has most likely kicked the bucket, shuffled
off its mortal coil, and otherwise become defunct.

electronic device.
✦ A cooked motherboard damaged by overheating. If a component mal-
functions or if the internal cooling fan goes on the fritz, the laptop’s
circuitry or individual chips could fail. Sorry, but this one’s got to go
back to its maker for retooling.
Lacking power
The most embarrassing but not-all-that-uncommon reason a laptop isn’t
receiving power from the AC adapter or battery is that the wall outlet isn’t
delivering the juice. Check to see that it is live by plugging a radio or a
lamp into the outlet. And don’t use an outlet controlled by a wall switch;
these outlets are for floor lamps, not electrical devices that need a
continuous flow.
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Book I
Chapter 4
Doing It Yourself
versus Calling
in the Cavalry
Drive, He Said
53
I recommend that any expensive electronic device . . . or any inexpensive
electronic device that you connect to an expensive one . . . use a surge
protector between the plug and the wall. Although in theory the converter
in a laptop’s AC adapter may absorb some level of power surge, a major
hit could fry the adapter and in very rare situations even pass along high-
voltage AC or DC to the laptop. A basic surge protector: about $10. A typical
laptop: about $1,000. You do the math.
Senator, I Do Not Recall That Incident
Modern versions of computer memory are generally quite robust. And RAM
modules are tested pretty thoroughly by manufacturers before shipping.