What Everybody Ought to Know About Laptop PC Memory

Every HP Pavilion Entertainment PC comes with a certain amount of physical memory, usually referred to as main memory or RAM (random-access memory). HP Pavilion computers store currently running applications and data in this area. To find out how much memory you'll need, take into account your operating system and the applications that you plan to use. A general rule of thumb: You'll want at least 1GB (though 2GB is preferable) for Windows Vista or Mac OS X and 512MB for all other Windows and Mac operating systems.

If you're planning to hang on to your HP Pavilion Entertainment PC for a long time, look for a HP laptop with easy-to-access memory slots, as memory is typically one of the first specs you'll want to upgrade. Here is an article for learning about HP Pavilion Entertainment PC part - Memory.

Understanding Laptop PC Memory
Selecting the Proper Type and Amount of RAM for a Laptop PC
By Mark Kyrnin, About.com

Certainly the more memory in a laptop PC the better but there are other concerns regarding memory in laptops. Laptops are generally more restricted in the amount of memory that can be installed into a system. Sometimes access to that memory can also be a problem if you plan a future upgrade.
How Much is Enough?

The rule of thumb that I use for all computer systems for determining if it has enough memory is to look at the requirements of the software you intend to run. Pick up the boxes for each of the applications and the OS that you intend to run and look at both the "minimum" and "recommended" requirements. Typically you want to have more RAM than the highest minimum and ideally at least as much as the highest listed recommended requirement. The following chart provides a general idea of how a system will run with various amounts of memory:

• Minimum: 1GB
• Optimal: 2GB
• Best: 4GB

The ranges provided are a generalization based upon most common computing tasks. It is best to check the requirements of the intended software to make the final decisions. This is not accurate for all computer tasks because some operating systems use more memory than others.
Many laptops also use integrated graphics controllers that use a portion of the general system RAM for the graphics. This can reduce the amount of available system RAM from 64 to 512MB depending upon the graphics controller. If the system is using an integrated graphics controller it is best to get a bit more memory to compensate for this.

Types of Memory
Most of the laptops are now using the DDR2 memory specification, but a number of new laptops use the DDR3 standard. In addition to the type of memory installed in the laptop, the speed of the memory can also make a difference in the performance. When comparing laptops, be sure to check both of these pieces of information to determine how they may impact performance.

There are two ways that the memory speeds can be designated. The first is by the memory type and its clock rating, like DDR2 400. The other method is by listing the type along with the bandwidth. In the case the same DDR2 memory would be listed as PC2-3200 memory. Below is a listing in order of lowest to fastest memory types in both formats:

• DDR2 400 / PC2-3200
• DDR2 533 / PC2-4200
• DDR2 667 / PC2-5300 or PC2-5400
• DDR2 800 / PC2-6400
• DDR3 800 / PC3-6400
• DDR3 1066 / PC3-8500
• DDR3 1333 / PC3-10600
• DDR3 1600 / PC3-12800

Memory Restriction
Laptops generally have two slots available for memory modules compared to four or more in desktop systems. This means that they are more limited in the amount of memory that have available. With current memory module technologies, this restriction generally comes to four gigabytes of RAM in a laptop based on 2GB modules. Newer DDR3 memory can go up to 8GB but this is extremely expensive at this time. Some ultraportable systems are even fixed with one size of memory that cannot be changed at all. So what is important to know when you look at a laptop?

First, find out what the maximum amount of memory is. This is generally listed by most of the manufacturers. This will let you know what upgrade potential the system has. Next, determine how the memory configuration is when you buy the system. For example, a laptop that has 2GB of memory can be configured as either a single 2GB module or two 1GB modules. The single memory module allows for better upgrade potential because by adding another module you are gaining more memory without sacrificing any current memory. Upgrading the two module situation with a 2GB upgrade would result in the loss of one 1GB module and a memory total of 3GB.
Self-Install Possible?

Most laptops today have a small door on the underside of the system with access to the memory module slots. If it does, then it is possible to just purchase a memory upgrade and install it yourself without much trouble. A system without an external door or panel for memory access will require installation by a service technician. This generally will add additional expense to the memory upgrade in the future or possibly even the requirement that the system be sent in to a service center which means the lack of a computer until the upgrade is completed.

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How to Check Your Hardisk And Prevent Losing Your Files

I’ve recently read great tips that’s worth sharing especially if you are trying to know if you are going to replace an HP pavilion Entertainment PC parts Like the Hardisk. Although HP Pavilion Entertainment PCs are one of the best laptops you can invest, it’s also good to know some few tips on how to maintain it especially the hardisk which contains all your data. As a computer Technician myself, this little chunk of information will be useful when to replace and back up your hardisk. Check it out:

Hard disk failures are the most common computer hardware problems. And laptop hard disks fail more often than desktop HDs. If you knock hard or drop your laptop even a few inches while it’s working, you may damage the HD.

Symptoms:

• The laptop starts as usual but when Windows starts to load it goes to blue screen with either “UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME”, “hal.dll is missing or corrupt” or “WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM” (or similar) is missing or corrupt. All these error messages indicate a filesystem problem. Sometimes it can be fixed by just scanning the HD for errors. However in over 50% of the cases these errors indicate that the HD is starting to go bad and is probably developing bad sectors.
• The laptop starts as usual but Windows freezes on the initial “Windows XP” screen, although the blue bar continues to move, and you can hear feint but continuous clicking. Hard disk have to be replaced.
• As soon as the laptop is started there are loud clicks or grinding sounds and Windows doesn’t load. Hard disk have to be replaced.
• Shortly after starting the laptop a message appears (usually on a black screen) “SMART test failed. Backup your data immediately and replace the hard disk” or similar. Well, that says it all. S.M.A.R.T. is a self-test that is build into the hard disk.

In almost all cases the laptop can be started from a “live” bootable CD and everything works normal. In rare cases the HDs PCB (printed circuit board) may short or even burn. Then the laptop wouldn’t start unless the HD is removed.

Troubleshooting:

The first case from above (corrupted filesystem) is by far the most common. There are several ways of diagnosing and fixing the corrupted/missing files. If this was just a software problem, the hard disk will continue to work properly. However keep in mind that this may also be a signs of deterioration and backup daily!

Also the hard disk will need some preventive maintenance. Check it for errors every few days or at least every week. To do that you must be logged in an admin account, then right-click the “C” drive in “My Computer”, select “Properties”, then “Tools”, then click on the “Check Now” button. Select both boxes and click on “Start”. Windows will tell you that the hard disk cannot be checked now but you can schedule a check for the next restart. Click “OK” and restart the laptop. The check will take from about 30-40 min. to over 2 hours, so do it when you’re not planning to use the laptop for some time.

I hope this information provided a lot of value for your HP Pavilion Entertainment PC Parts. Feel free to share this post. Leave your thoughts on the comment

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HP Pavilion Entertainment PC parts - Common Issues With Blu-Ray Movies

Common Blu-Ray problems

Because Blu-Ray discs and readers are a fairly new technology, there may some compatibility issues as the hardware and software are enhanced. For instance, new movies may include features that are not recognized by the original software programs and drivers. In most cases, problems can be resolved by installing updated optical disc drivers and updating the software with which you view DVD materials.

There are several different type of optical discs used on computers, and a movie in the Blu-Ray format will not play in an optical disc drive (DVD) that doesn't have Blu-Ray technology. This document will show you how to identify a Blu-Ray compatible disc drive.

Some Blu-Ray DVD movies recently released feature enhancements to the Blu-Ray specifications called BD Profile 1.1. This feature may prevent the movie from being played and/or access to the movie menus when playing the movies using QuickPlay or MediaSmart programs.

Identify a Blu-Ray compatible optical disc drive

If you place a Blu-Ray disc in the drive and the drive does not spin or play, it's possible that your disc drive is not compatible with Blu-Ray technology. Examine your optical disc drive to determine the following:

• Is there a Blu-Ray sticker on the outside of the drive?
• When you open the disc drive, and remove the disc, does the drive itself have two separate laser lenses?

Image of interior of Blu-Ray optical disc drive, showing two laser lenses.

If your drive isn't compatible with Blu-Ray technology, it cannot play Blu-Ray discs. If your disc drive is capable of playing Blu-Ray discs, but nothing appears on your screen, or only parts of the disc will play, please continue to the sections below.

Update QuickPlay

To resolve problems with a Blu-Ray optical disc drive, you should use the update feature within the software program to update QuickPlay to version 3.7 or later by following the steps below.

1. Click Start , type quickplay in the search field, and then select QuickPlay from the list.
2. In QuickPlay, double-click the Update icon. The Updates and Enhancements window opens.
3. Double-click Get the latest QuickPlay updates .
4. Select Download now! and follow the on-screen instructions.

Update MediaSmart

MediaSmart alerts you when there is an update available by displaying a prompt. If there is no update available, you will not see the alert.

To resolve problems with a Blu-Ray optical disc drive, you should use the update feature within the software program to update MediaSmart by following the steps below.

1. When you see the update prompt, click Update your MediaSmart .
   
2. You will be prompted to stop DVD play before updating. Stop and remove the DVD, then click Retry .
   
3. Click Yes to uninstall the existing version of MediaSmart.
   
4. Once the new version is installed, restart MediaSmart and play the Blu-Ray disc. The update notification is no longer active. You can now insert a Blu-Ray disc.
   

Other issues with Blu-Ray

Why do some Blu-Ray discs not play on my Blu-Ray drive?

The movie industry updates Blu-Ray content protection which requires new codes before you can view the movie. Some Blu-Ray discs, like Spiderman 3, 3:10 to Yuma, Jumper, Dark Knight , will not play at all on a Blu-Ray drive, or will play the previews and the title menu, but pressing the play button will not play the movie. Updating to the latest version of the movie player will correct these issues.

Some Blu-Ray discs will prompt you for an update when they are inserted. You may see an alert prompting you to download a free update similar to this one. Follow the instructions to install an updated version of the DVD player.

QuickPlay or MediaSmart may display the following error message when playing certain Blu-Ray DVD movies:

This player is not equipped with the latest firmware and is unable to play this disc.

If you see this error message, please use the following methods to fix the problem.

• Install an updated firmware driver for the optical disc drive.
  To resolve this problem, go to the Software & Driver downloads web page for your model, and download the latest firmware update for the Blu-Ray optical drive.
• Update to the latest version of QuickPlay software.
  Open QuickPlay and select Updates and enhancements , then download the latest QuickPlay updates.
• Update to the latest version of MediaSmart software

Blu-Ray movie does not play on notebook display and an external display at the same time?

This is the intended behavior. Viewing a Blu-Ray movie is limited to only one display at a time. Therefore, you must choose either the notebook display or an external display device to view the output from the Blu-Ray video.

Blu-Ray movie play menu can not be controlled from either the touchpad or an attached mouse?

This behavior is intentional. The Blu-Ray movie assumes that you are using either the keyboard, or PC remote (if included with the system) to select play.

Why do I see sporadic horizontal lines when playing a Blu-Ray DVD movie if the notebook PC wireless is turned on?

The lines on the display are caused by interference from the wireless network. To resolve the issue, you should close any open applications and turn off wireless by pressing the notebook PC wireless button. This should prevent any further wireless network interference. See HP Notebook PCs - Video Wobble May Occur When Playing Blu-Ray Disk at High Resolution While Connected to HDTV Using HDMI on Extended Mode .

Why can I not hear any audio when the notebook PC is connected to a High-Definition TV (HDTV) using an High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable?

The audio drivers must be configured properly as follows:

1. Click Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound .
2. Select Sound from the list supplied.
3. Select Digital Output Device (SPDIF) and then click Set default
4. Select Playback tab, then select Digital Output as the default setting.
5. Click on SPDIF (Digital Output via HP Doc) and then click Properties button.
6. Select the Supported formats tab and uncheck all boxes in the Encoded formats and click Apply > OK to accept the changes and return to Playback tab.
7. On the Playback tab again ensure that Digital Output Device (SPDIF) is selected and then click Set default button.
8. Press Fn + F4 to toggle to HDMI only. This action refreshes the screen, transfers the display from the notebook to the external display, and the audio should now come from the HDTV sound system .

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HP Pavilion dv8 laptop confirmed

HP confirmed today rumours first started at the end of last month, announcing the launch of the HP Pavilion dv8 Entertainment Notebook PC.

The 18.4-inch, full high-definition, ultra-widescreen, ultra BrightView display with built-in TV tuner, Blu-ray disk reader and subwoofer monster, which is sure to be described as the SUV of the laptop world, will be available in a scratch-proof liquid metallic surface in the chic HP Espresso Imprint pattern.

Inside the machine will offer an Intel Core i7 processor and Nvidia GeForce GT 230M graphics card with 1GB DDR3 SDRAM, as well as the DDR3 memory.

Furthermore, HP is saying that the new laptop will come with a new HP Long-Life battery that offers up to a 1000 recharges and is "an improvement of three to five times over conventional lithium-ion batteries".

The HP Pavilion dv8 Entertainment Notebook PC will be available from 22 October and cost £1299.99 inc. VAT.

In addition to the new dv8, HP also announced several technology updates to its current HP Pavilion dv6 and dv7 Entertainment Notebook PCs. Both the mid-size 15.6-inch dv6 and the larger 17.3-inch dv7 will offer users the choice of either the new Intel Core i7 processor or the latest AMD Turion II ultra Dual Core processor. Nvidia graphics and DDR3 SDRAM will be available on select dv6 and dv7 models.

The HP Pavilion dv7 Entertainment Notebook PC will cost £599.99 inc. VAT and the dv6 £449.99 inc. VAT. Both will launch on 22 October in time for the Windows 7 launch.

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Boston-Power battery powers new HP notebook

Boston-Power Inc., a Westborough company that makes lithium-ion batteries, said that its Sonata battery will ship with the new HP Pavilion dv8 Entertainment Notebook PC.

Hewlett-Packard plans to unveil the new model in Switzerland this week, Boston-Power said in a press release.

"Boston-Power and HP have long shared the mission to bring notebook PC customers a high-performance, environmentally sustainable battery - one that continues to keep pace with the demands placed on it by even the most demanding leisure and business users," Christina Lampe-Onnerud, founder and chief executive of Boston-Power, said in a statement. "The HP Pavilion dv8 is another compelling and demonstrable example of this commitment and we are excited to be the battery of choice for this model."

Boston-Power has been in the news of late. The company had been hoping to qualify for $100 million in federal stimulus money, but when the government announced a funding round in early August, Boston-Power was not on the list for that funding round, a Globe story noted. (Globe Staff)

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On Your Side: Is That Laptop Still Under Warranty?

By Marla Miyashiro

PC World - My daughter Carley called Hewlett-Packard for a free replacement part for her HP Pavilion dv6700 laptop, which was still under warranty. The HP representative told her that she had to give a debit or credit card number to ensure processing of the shipment. Despite the rep's assurances that her account would not be charged, HP debited $69.15, which overdrew her account. We called HP the next day and faxed copies of the receipt showing that the laptop was under warranty. HP says that it will refund the charge for the replacement part, but won't do anything about the bank's service charges, now $143. Can you help us?

Sue Waser, Cherry Valley, Illinois

OYS responds: Shortly after we contacted HP about the Wasers' issue, a representative called them to say that the company would be sending Carley Waser a check for the $143 in bank service charges. He also offered an additional rebate to use in a future purchase of an HP computer.

HP's records showed the laptop's date of manufacture rather than the date of purchase, meaning that the company mistakenly thought the warranty had expired. Fortunately for the Wasers, they had saved the original receipt.

We recommend keeping receipts and service contracts for major purchases for as long as you own the item. You might need the papers to make a return or an ex­­change, or to have repairs done or parts replaced (especially if the product is under warranty); you may also need to refer to those records for income tax or property insurance purposes.

One easy way to keep track of receipts for big-ticket items is to tape them inside the user manual for each product.

Mystery Cable

Keith Sipperley of Levering, Michigan, contacted us after discovering that he was unable to connect his new Fujifilm FinePix Z30 digital camera to his TV set. The FinePix user manual shows an optional audio/video (A/V) cable that would allow such a connection.

Sipperley asked representatives in Fujifilm's accessory, parts, and customer service departments about the A/V cable, but no one could help him. After we contacted Fujifilm, a rep checked into the issue and learned that the separately sold cable was out of stock. She was, however, able to find one at her office, and she sent it to Sipperley for free.

If you're counting on a product to perform a particular function, we recommend that you find out before buying whether you'll need a separately sold accessory and if you can easily obtain it.

Wal-Mart Durabrand DVD Player Recall

Wal-Mart, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling about 4.2 million Durabrand DVD players. The units' circuit board can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard.

Wal-Mart has received 14 reports of DVD players overheating; in 7 of the reported cases, resulting fires caused property damage. As of this writing, no injuries have been reported. Consumers should immediately stop using the re­­called DVD players and return them to the nearest Wal-Mart store for a full refund. For more information, visit the company's Web site at walmartstores.com or call Wal-Mart at 800/925-6278

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