To test the battery itself, you can use pre-boot diagnostics. This is a quick diagnostic test that checks hardware across your laptop.

It can test the battery, along parts like the hard drive and fans.

You’ll need to restart your laptop, then press a specific key to trigger pre-boot diagnostics.

Each brand of computer comes with their specific key for this test. For example, it’s “F12” for Dell computers, “Esc” for HP computers, and “D” for Apple Macs.

There is no specific test for the motherboard, but if pre-boot diagnostics comes back to you with failure reports on the RAM and GPU, you may be able to confirm a motherboard failure. This is because the RAM and GPU are embedded on the motherboard of most modern laptops.

On Apple MacBook laptops, if Apple Diagnostics reports a SMC failure, you can also confirm a logic board failure. The motherboard is where power runs through to reach the battery, so the battery will be unable to charge without this channel.

For the charger and charger port, you can use a spare charger to test them first. If that doesn’t work, you can check the charger port with a multimeter. This tests the charger port for failures, as they may become bent or loose. That way it is unable to carry the charge from the charger.

2. My laptop won’t turn on. Is the battery dead?

Not necessarily.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t actually need a working battery to turn on your laptop.

A laptop that won’t turn on might make most laptop users think they need a battery replacement, but that isn’t so. It’s a common scapegoat for dead laptop issues.

Even if you do have a dead battery, you should still be able to turn the laptop on, as long as it is plugged in to the power adaptor (charger pack).

The battery is only the part that stores power to use while the laptop isn’t plugged in. It’s not the part that powers up your laptop.

That’s the motherboard’s job.

The power current goes from the charging port to the motherboard, where power goes through the circuit board to all the other parts of the laptop.

So when your laptop won’t turn on, it’s not because of a dead battery.

It isn’t simply the motherboard’s fault either, it could be some other hardware issue.

A dead laptop can mean a few hardware failures coming from either the motherboard, RAM, or video card. These components are crucial for the laptop’s start up process, and when one falls, the laptop might not be able to turn on.

3. Do I need to unplug my laptop once it reaches full charge?

No, you don’t need to unplug your laptop once it reaches full charge. Leaving the charger cable plugged in your laptop won’t “overcharge” or harm the laptop’s battery life.

I can tell this from my own experience of having seen thousands of computers that need repairs.

I myself have always preferred plugging the charger in whenever I can. While my wife has always used her laptop on battery. Both of our laptops have lasted for well over 8 years!

So, you don’t have to worry about leaving your laptop to charge overnight. You can just leave the charger in while you use it, while you’re not using it, anytime really.

The lithium-ion batteries on modern laptops are made with a mechanism that is designed to stop charging the battery once it reaches full charge.

This avoids the accidents that may happen if the battery keeps charging and starts to heat up. If you click on the battery icon on your laptop, you should see it indicating “plugged in, charging” or “plugged in, fully charged”.

If you’re concerned about battery life deteriorating, that shouldn’t be a big problem with lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are also made to be able to be recharged over and over again, without losing their power capacity.

You could charge your laptop hundreds of times and that wouldn’t change its average battery life and performance. Of course, after about 600 charging cycles or more, the battery could lose its performance and start to fail. Then you’ll need to replace it.

4. What does “service battery” on my MacBook mean?

Apple MacBook laptops have different battery status indicators that tell users about their batteries and when it needs to be serviced. This includes “service battery”, “replace soon”, or “replace now”. Newer Macs may just show “service recommended”.

“Service battery” means that the battery may be holding less charge or isn’t working as well as when it was new. The battery is still working and can be charged up and used, but will need a little attention soon. You might want to take it to the Apple Store for some TLC.

As we’ve mentioned above, a high charging cycle count means that the battery may be on its way out soon. You can check your cycle count on your Mac, from “System Information”. Go to Hardware > Power, then you’ll be able to see “Battery information”.

There you can find information like your laptop’s full charge capacity and cycle count. You can only look up the maximum cycle count for your Mac model from Apple Support.

Although a high charging cycle count should be something to be aware of, it’s not the only cause of laptop battery failure. Even a battery with a low cycle count can fail. Along with the performance of the battery, the way the battery’s been used, and the overall performance of the laptop can cause battery failure.

5. Should I use a surge protector?

Yes, you should!

A surge protector can protect your laptop from getting fried by a current gone awry. When a power surge happens, the current is redirected to other sockets and can pass into your laptop through the charger.

This can do all sorts of damage, including burning the motherboard or frying the battery.

However, don’t assume that a power board with surge protector will prevent power spike from damaging your computers completely. It helps, but it’s not 100% protection.

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is a much better power surge protector for your computers.

If your computer is critically important for your business, you should consider getting a UPS. Many businesses have UPS for their main computers, printers.

Need laptop battery replacement?

Hopefully, we’ve answered what you want to know about your laptop’s power and battery options.

If you need more advice and help with your laptop, we’re here to help! At Safemode Computer Service, located in the heart of Inner West Sydney, our experienced technicians can assist you with any computer issue you have. We fix all computers, whether you have a desktop or laptop, PC or Mac. Call us today, or come on down to our Enmore store!

10 Computer myths debunked: common misconceptions about computer repair

Just like urban legends, there are a few common misconceptions about computer repair that a lot of people believe. Because of how they’ve been talked about so much, people do start to believe them. However, some of these are not true. Oftentimes believing in these myths can lead to misdiagnosis or improper treatment of computer issues. They could make more trouble without fixing the real issue.

Even if some of these myths were true at some point of time, computer technology has advanced so far ahead that a lot of things have changed since then. Those truths don’t apply anymore, and become myths.

As computer repair experts, we thought we’d shed some light on these common misconceptions and bust these myths. Here are the top 10 computer repair myths busted.

1. We can repair only the failed part of a whole component

Most of the time when a piece of computer hardware is failing, you’ll need a full replacement of the part. Computer users will sometimes request to replace only a small part of the component, without understanding how the hardware works. Of course, this doesn’t apply to all computer parts, some parts we can indeed fix the problem area on its own.

Small parts that require complete replacements

An example of this would be laptop video card repairs. In most laptops, the video card is mounted and embedded on the motherboard. That means that it’s impossible to take it out from the motherboard without breaking it. So a laptop video card replacement essentially means a motherboard replacement. There is an exception though, for the Apple Macbook Pro 15-inch 2011 model. The video card on this Macbook is a known issue, which created a demand for an advanced method to replace the video card on its own.

On desktop iMacs from 2012 and onwards, a cracked glass panel on the screen would also call for a complete screen replacement. It is a fragile 27-inch screen panel, and cannot be replaced on its own. This would cost at least $700 to replace the whole screen.

For laptop keyboards, even when one key is not working properly, the whole keyboard needs to be replaced. Each key cap that is mounted on the keyboard is connected to its mechanics, and replacing the single key won’t fix the problem. The key could be jammed, or have accumulated rust on its connective points. Either way, we have to replace the whole keyboard to fix a keyboard failure.

Misdiagnosis?

Sometimes users might misdiagnose their laptop problems as well and request single replacements for the wrong part. We’ve gotten requests over the phone to replace the laptop screen hinge, which is a solid metal part that is quite hard to break. It usually is either the front bezel or back cover of the screen, or the upper cover of the keyboard that is actually broken. These parts may also require complete replacement of the screen, depending on the model of laptop.

2. Batteries last forever

Contrary to some belief, laptop batteries are consumable parts. They last 2-4 years, depending on use and charging cycles. We can expect these batteries to fail just in the same way as the batteries in toys, cameras, and phones.

Failing laptops can expand, leak corrosive liquid, or even heat up quickly and catch fire. So if you notice an error message like “service battery”, or “replace battery”, it’s best you get that checked out as soon as possible.

3. You need to drain your laptop’s power before charging the battery

Laptop batteries are lithium-ion batteries, which allow you to charge it many times without harming its battery life. It will continue to hold charge even after multiple charge cycles.

Some computer users believe that it would benefit battery life to drain the laptop’s power before charging it again. There’s actually no real proof of this, and you can even leave the power cable plugged in the whole time you use the laptop as well.

4. My laptop is not turning on because of a dead battery

Unless your laptop is not plugged in and has no power, this statement is not true. A laptop does not need a working battery to turn on. As long as it has a power supply from the charging cable, it should turn on and boot up just fine.

When a laptop is not turning on at all, this would usually mean a more serious hardware issue. A part essential to the start up process may be faulty, and is causing your laptop to be unresponsive. You could likely have a hard drive or motherboard issue, or even have a faulty video card or RAM. Just remember, you probably don’t need a battery replacement when you can’t turn on your laptop.

5. Having lots of files will slow down your computer

Will having lots of files clog up your system and slow your computer down? The answer is, no. Having more files on your hard drive will only take up its storage space, and not its performance.

The thing that will slow down your computer is having lots of startup programs. These are apps that start running once you boot up your computer. This can cause slow boot up times, or slow down your computer’s performance. You can check on the impact of these startup programs from the “startup” tab of Task Manager. You may also disable these apps from starting automatically from boot up, to smooth things over.

6. A virus is making my computer go crazy

Computer viruses are often the scapegoats of computer issues. They are often blamed for most computer issues, which most of the time turn out to be a hardware issue. Most computer users don’t expect their hardware to fail, so they turn to thinking that they have a virus.

Something like the keyboard making jumbled or incorrect input or image distortions are often incorrectly thought to be virus infections. These are actually hardware failures that need replacing. A computer virus is a program that infects your OS, and can’t damage your hardware.

To be fair, computer virus infections can cause significant changes. Just not damage. Some signs of a virus infection include inappropriate pop-up windows, browser homepage changes, slow performance, and data security breaches. To combat this, make sure you’re browsing the web safely and install antivirus software to protect yourself.

7. Antivirus will stop me from having any computer virus

While antivirus can help you browse the web safely and protect your computer from viruses, there’s no guarantee. Even with a paid subscription of the best antivirus software, computer viruses today are very advanced and can be smart enough to find a way in.

Think of it this way: When we are sick, medicine or treatment from a doctor will cure your illness, but will not protect you from illness forever. Antivirus works the same way, it is definitely useful, but is not effective 100%.

8. Magnets can harm hard drives

Because of how magnets can wipe floppy disks, some continue to believe that magnets can harm other storage devices like hard drives. Hard drives are quite sturdy, and can’t fall from a magnet. Unless it gets hit by substantial force, the hard drive cannot be damaged with simple domestic magnets.

The only magnets that can destroy a hard drive are industrial-strength ones only found in labs or junkyards. These are the magnets that can distort the drive. Otherwise, the only way to wipe a drive is by using software to overwrite its memory sectors multiple times.

9. Wiping the hard drive can fix bad sectors

Wiping a hard drive can delete everything off the drive, including all the files and the OS as well. Users might come up with this idea to fix a failing hard drive, but it will not fix the drive. Bad sectors are permanently damaged parts of the hard drive.

Wiping the drive will only remove the data stored on it, but you can’t necessarily “delete” bad sectors. The only way to fix a faulty hard drive is by replacing it completely. If the damage is not that bad yet, disk repair utilities can sometimes solve some soft bad sectors, but that is not a true fix. It may only buy you another year or so on the drive, until you have to deal with it properly.

10. Only techs can fix computer issues

Just like other DIY projects, you totally can fix your computer by yourself! Most computer hardware replacements are pretty straightforward. You won’t need to get a technician to do them.

Take hard drive replacements for example — they are installed just the same way they are taken out, just by unplugging and plugging in the SATA cable. Even tech beginners can try this and nail it on their first try.

While more advanced computer repairs like motherboard or battery replacements should be left to the professionals, we do encourage DIY repairs. Not only can this save you the time and money, but the sense of accomplishment that comes with it is a pretty good feeling too.

Do your research

Computer myths that have sustained over time should definitely be debunked, as it can prevent you from diagnosing and repairing your computer properly. With a good amount of research, you should be equipped with the right tech know-how to treat your computer.

Need help with computer repairs in Sydney?

You might not all have the time or technological knowledge to deal with your computer issues on your own. That’s where we can help you out. At Safemode Computer Service, we offer the best professional computer repair services in Sydney. We can diagnose and repair computer issues like hard drive failure, liquid spill damage, and virus removal.

Located in the Inner West, our experienced technicians can help you diagnose your faulty computer in no time and offer the right advice to fix it. Call us about your computer issue, or visit our Enmore store today.

Extend your laptop’s battery life with these battery saving tips

Laptops are great for people always on the go or for those who aren’t quite ready for the commitment of a desktop computer. Modern laptops are getting more and more advanced, and that benefit also comes with improved battery lives.

They still do need to be juiced up to get through the day though. Maybe more than once too, depending on the laptop usage. This brings us to our concerns for battery life and how to conserve or optimise it.

Another thing is that laptops batteries do need to be replaced after a while, as they do fail over time. If you’re noticing that the battery runs out a lot sooner than it used to, you might be looking at a laptop battery replacement very soon.

Laptop batteries also come in different sizes and capacities for different laptop models. Its configurations change depending on the design and size of the laptop, as well as its performance. The more powerful the laptop, the more power is needed to match it. Ultrabooks like the Dell XPS 13 and HP Spectre models boast both great performance and battery life. So those batteries may come more expensive than others.

In this guide we’ll be talking all about laptop batteries: how you can optimise its battery life, some misconceptions about them, and what to do when you have a faulty battery.

Laptop batteries

Most laptop batteries these days are lithium-ion batteries. Other than laptops, lithium-ion batteries are also commonly used in small electronics like watches and digital cameras. These batteries can be used and recharged many times during its lifetime.

They also come with a circuit mechanism that stops charging when it reaches full charge, even while plugged in. This prevents the battery from overheating or burning if it continues to go after full charge. With this, you don’t have to worry too much about overcharging the battery while it charges overnight. Though if you do find that the battery seems to be quite warm while it’s charging, it might be on its way to failing.

While you can recharge the battery many many times, a battery does not last forever and will fail eventually. After a couple hundred charging cycles, the battery may start to hold less charge, and eventually no charge at all. Taking proper care of the battery can help you keep your battery as healthy as you can.

Some misconceptions about laptop batteries

Some people think that a battery failure can cause their laptop to fail. The battery of a laptop is one of the biggest scapegoats for computer issues. In fact, when a laptop dies, it is most probably not the battery’s fault. This could actually be caused by motherboard failures, or some other faulty component that is essential for startup.

Surprisingly, a laptop does not need a functional battery to work. Unlike electronics like toys or appliances, the laptop’s battery is not as essential as other computer components are. As long as the power adaptor is plugged in, the laptop should turn on and work as normal. Some might try to replace the battery when they find that their laptop is dead, which does not solve the problem. This is quite understandable, as we view batteries like we do with other battery-powered electronics.

When your battery does start to fail, you should then replace the battery. There’s not really a way to “repair” the battery on its own. Though if your laptop still doesn’t turn on while it is plugged in, you might have a different hardware issue that needs tending to.

Laptop battery saving tips

The easiest way to maintain battery life is to remove the battery while your laptop is plugged in. But as detachable batteries are less common on modern laptops these days, we are left with less battery care options. There are still a few things you can do to keep your laptop battery healthy, though. With a few tweaks to your computing habits and system settings, you’ll be able to improve the battery’s life and performance.

Avoid extreme weather conditions

This can be said for the whole laptop, as we don’t all own military-grade devices that can be used in all weather conditions. Lithium-ion batteries can become volatile under extreme temperatures, so it might be best to keep it safe from harm. They can overheat or burn under hot temperatures. Don’t leave it out on a hot summer day where it is under direct sunlight. Same goes with extremely cold weather too.

Adjust device brightness

This is more about improving battery life while your laptop is unplugged. There are a few brightness settings that you can adjust to save battery life. This includes turning down the screen brightness, and keyboard brightness if you have a backlit keyboard.

The screen is one of the most power-draining parts of the laptop. Higher brightness and advanced screens can take large amounts of battery to maintain a great-looking display. So turning it down from maximum brightness could save you some battery life.

Having a backlit keyboard can be useful for dark environments like watching a movie at night, but keyboard lighting can also drain power. As keyboard lighting is not essential all the time, it might be a good idea to turn it on only when you need it. It’s all about prioritising what you need and turning off certain things that could be taking up all that battery.

Utilise power modes and settings

Power modes and sleep settings could be an easier way to optimise your battery usage, by simply choosing the right mode. Windows computers have a power feature that lets you choose from different power modes. These modes range from “better performance” to “better battery life”. It allows you to maintain great performance of your laptop while keeping a steady battery life.

You can do this by picking the “power saver” mode from “power settings”. From “sleep settings” you can also adjust things to get your laptop into sleep mode sooner to preserve battery. That way your laptop doesn’t just sit idle and waste power while you’re not using it.

With these battery saving tips, you can sustain your battery’s life as much as you can. You may also be more aware of your battery’s status and when to replace it when it does start to fail.

What causes laptop battery failure

Like we’ve mentioned, batteries don’t last very long. They have an average lifespan of 2-4 years. Natural wear and tear will cause them to fail, and they’ll need to be replaced. Once the battery reaches a certain number of recharge cycles, the amount of power it can hold will start to reduce gradually. This will continue until the battery doesn’t work at all.

Accidental damage like liquid spills and blunt force could also hurt the battery. The battery is usually made with a protective plastic or metallic cover that can withstand a certain amount of damage. But with liquid damage, the protective cover can only protect the battery from a relatively small amount of liquid. The battery can still be destroyed by liquid spills or blunt force damage. So definitely be careful around your laptop, you never know what might happen.

Of course, your laptop should still work if you keep it plugged in and powered. It could last you a little bit more time before you get it fixed. But do be careful with a faulty battery though, it could lead to further serious damage like burns or leakages. You may want to pay attention to the signs so you can fix the problem quickly.

Signs of a failing laptop battery

The first thing you’ll notice with a failing laptop battery is that it doesn’t last as long as it used to. It might last you only half an hour or less, and gradually nothing at all. It could cause your laptop to shut off immediately after the power adaptor comes off. Some may also experience unexpected shutdown even while it is plugged in. This sort of improper shutdown could also harm other parts of the laptop, like the hard drive while it is writing information.

System error messages could also show when your detects a failing battery. For Apple Macbook laptops, errors like “service battery”, “replace soon” or “replace now” could appear. Windows laptops from Dell and HP also show similar warnings to recommend battery replacements. Hovering over the battery icon on the taskbar could also show messages like “plugged in, not charging”, which indicates a battery that cannot be recharged anymore. You may also use pre-boot diagnostics to run a quick scan on your system.

Physically noticeable battery failures involve some serious damage that can be quite dangerous. The battery can expand and push the touchpad up. This may also cause the touchpad to jam or break completely. The battery may also overheat while charging, leak corrosive liquid, or even catch on fire. Quite hazardous stuff.

Replacing a laptop battery

Can you replace a laptop battery by yourself? The short answer is yes. But should you replace the laptop battery by yourself? Maybe not.

Online guides on YouTube and ifixit can offer you detailed and helpful guides to replacing a laptop battery. These are the best resources to DIY repair projects. However, you may want to leave this to the professionals. This is due to the substantial hazard of battery repairs. Lithium-ion battery replacements require a high level of expertise and caution that you can’t really control in your own home. Choosing the right battery model would also need a little experience. Best not to pick “generic” or “after-market” models that may be cheaper but do not work well. We would recommend getting high quality genuine brand manufactured batteries that fit the specific laptop model.

As technicians, we have seen quite a few batteries catch fire while working on them. They can get extremely hot within seconds, and catch powerful fires that keep burning. So if you’re not looking into getting into any unwanted accidents, you might want to get your laptop battery replaced by a professional. Easy as!

Professional repairs

A quick trip down to the nearest brand authorised service centre can probably get you what you need to solve your battery troubles. Make sure you still have a valid warranty though. Or else, that would bring you to a third-party repair service like us!

At Safemode Computer Service, we can help you find the right battery replacement and replace it for you. Our experienced technicians know the dangers of defected lithium-ion batteries and proceed with much care and caution. We are conveniently located in the Inner West, which might be a closer option if you can’t be bothered to go all the way into Sydney CBD. In our Inner West store, you can get a computer checkup and our highly rated services. Give us a call to set up an appointment at our Enmore store today.

Battery Calibration

After a new battery is installed for your laptop, it should be calibrated as soon as possible. This helps your laptop get an accurate reading on the battery’s state of charge.

Note that you do not have to calibrate your new battery immediately. If you forget to do so, you can do it later without any harm to your computer. But it is recommended to do this as soon as possible.

Without calibration, the battery percentage reading will be incorrect, and your laptop may behave erratically. For example, your laptop may shut down suddenly even though battery status shows that it has plenty of charge left, or the laptop may work for hours when the battery status shows it has low charge.

How to calibrate your new battery

1. Charge your laptop to 100%, and keep it charged for 2 more hours.
2. Unplug the power adaptor from your laptop and use it normally to drain the new battery to 0%.
3. Reconnect the power adaptor and charge your laptop uninterrupted to 100%.

That’s it!