Computer future-proofing explained: Why future-proofing is so popular

What is futureproofing?

Future-proofing is a design process used in many sectors such as medical, industrial design, and electronics industries. These design principles are used by anticipating the future to develop products or strategies that continue to be valuable in the future. This prevents the product from becoming obsolete in the distant future.

In terms of computer technology, future-proofing means that you won’t have to buy a new computer for a long time. This process makes sure you have the right tech and hardware on your computer that can last you a long time.

When you buy a laptop or desktop computer, you might want to look into its hardware specs, the model’s build and repairability. Realistically, a future-proofed computer doesn’t mean that the computer won’t break at all. It just means that its capabilities and performance will still hold up a few years into its lifespan. All computers will likely run into some sort of hardware issue during its lifetime, so you might want to consider something that is easy to maintain.

Why should I future-proof my computer?

Simply put, if you don’t want to have to buy a new computer for the next 3-5 years, you might want to look into future-proofing your tech. The truth is, all technology, including computers will become obsolete eventually.

Think of some of your old gadgets, for example. The Walkman was quite popular for a long time in the 80s and 90s, but then it was replaced by the more compact mp3 player. Then somewhere along the line, the iPod was introduced and changed the game. Then again, the popularity of Apple iPods went down as soon as music streaming platforms came in. This is why we can only go so far to adapt our tech to future trends. So to realistically future-proof a computer, we’re simply looking to choose something that can last around 3-5 years.

Here’s what a future-proofed computer can do for you: you can spend less on your computers. With a computer that can last pretty long, the most that you’ll need to spend on it will be on repairs. Depending on what you choose, you might not even need to spend that much if you run into hardware issues. The bottom line is, the money you spend on computer repairs won’t be as much as a new computer. You might also want to look into computer models that can be accessible for upgrades down the line. Things like hard drive upgrades or extra RAM storage could give you a bit of a boost when you need it. All in all, future-proofing your laptop or desktop computer could be something to think about when you want to get the most out of your tech.

Things to consider

Depending on what you need out of a computer, your criteria for future-proofing can change. Say if you only use your laptop for basic stuff like browsing the internet and word processing, it’s much more simple.

You’ll need to match what you do with the hardware specs of a computer to find something that can keep up. Looking over the different computer brands and models would also be useful. You might also want to find out how the computer is assembled and how accessible it is.

What you intend to use the computer for

Like we just mentioned, it’s easier to get a future-proofed computer if you only need an everyday laptop for basic tasks. Pick something with a solid-state drive (SSD), with at least 4-8 GB of RAM, and you should be set.

For processors, you might want to set yourself with an i3 or i5 Intel processor. You probably won’t need something as powerful as i7 for a personal laptop. Integrated Intel graphics cards should do you just fine, you’ll be able to do some basic photo editing and watch movies smoothly.

For professionals

If you’re looking for something like a workhouse model for professional photo or graphics editing, there’s a little more to consider. An SSD is a good place to start, along with at least 16GB of RAM. Then you might want to go with an Intel i5 or i7 processor and a 2-4 GB dedicated video card.

Take a look at the software that you normally use for work. Software like Adobe Photoshop often have a list of hardware requirements, so you can match what you need when searching for a new computer. These hardware requirements shouldn’t change that often, and these software are usually optimised for hardware. So a laptop or desktop computer that matches these requirements should be able to keep up with the software updates.

What about gaming computers?

Let’s face it, realistically there’s no way to future-proof a gaming computer for it to be able to last 5 years. Gaming specs change a lot at rapid speeds, with new models of graphics cards coming out every few months. It’s easier to future-proof a gaming desktop computer, with it’s tower form factor and all, but you might come across some troubles if you want to keep it top of the line. You’d be switching out upgrades frequently or even be met with incompatible newer parts that you can’t use.

The brand and model of the computer

It’s important to look at the different specs of the model, but also the brand and how it’s assembled. This informs you on the repairability and accessibility for upgrades. Here are a few notable examples of models that you should be aware of.

Apple iMac and tower desktop computers

Considering how powerful Apple iMac computers are, they make for a pretty good future-proofed piece of technology. You can probably tell that from the price tags of most Apple computers. Even the most basic entry-level iMac computers can achieve great performance for graphics editing work.

They have quite a standard level of repairability. You can easily upgrade the hard drive or add more RAM to it. Unfortunately you can’t upgrade the graphics card, but they are already quite powerful, so you won’t have to worry about it.

Business issue laptops

Business issue laptops are made quite powerful as well. Models like HP’s Probook and Elitebook, or Dell’s Latitude or XPS can deliver great performance for most tasks. These are top-of-the-line models that have a great expected lifespan.

Finding out the repairability of a laptop computer

It can be quite a disappointment when you want to add more RAM to your laptop computer, to find out that the RAM is soldered on the motherboard and you can’t do anything beyond that. That’s why the repairability of a laptop is an important thing to factor into your future-proofing process.

When you have a few options to think over, try looking through the specs of the model or look up teardown videos on YouTube. Just search the model of the laptop and “teardown”. There you’ll be able to take a look inside to see how it’s assembled. This determines how accessible it is to repair or upgrade.

Professional future-proofing advice

If you look online, there’s a whole lot of talk on future-proofing computers. There’s tons of tech forums where computer enthusiasts discuss future tech trends, PC building, and so much more. Feeling the information overload? We can help.

At Safemode Computer Service, we can consult you on finding the right computer for what you need. Just tell us what you use the computer for, and we can offer a few recommendations that best suits you. We can advise you on computers that actually works for you. Unlike retail salespeople who try to sell you on something by mumbling techspeak, we actually know what’s for you.

As a trusted computer repair service in Inner West Sydney, we can also help with repairs and upgrades that you might need for your laptop or desktop computer. Give us a call or come by our Enmore store today!

Lines on laptop screen: how to fix image distortion issues

Any part of your laptop can fail, and that includes the screen. You may experience a single vertical line, or even a completely blank black screen. These display issues can be caused by a number of problems, and do need a bit of troubleshooting to fix. You’ll have to look into the different parts that deliver the visuals on your laptop.

In this guide, we’ll be looking at how to troubleshoot and fix different screen issues. You’ll get a better understanding of how things work, and how you can detect these issues easily.

Screen issues that you may be experiencing:

Screen distortion issues can look like a number of things. When display components start to fail, the image you see on the screen can become distorted or discoloured. The screen image may even crash completely. If some of your display components are faulty, you might experience one or a few of these errors:

• Different coloured thin lines on laptop screen (both horizontal and vertical) — These thin lines usually indicate a screen failure.
• Coloured bars shown on screen (both horizontal and vertical) — While quite similar to the thin lines of a screen failure, these bars are much wider. You can sometimes still see the image under the bars, as the image is just discoloured. This usually is caused by a video card failure.
• Bleeding screen image — This one looks like a crack where the image is bleeding through. Generally happens to physically damaged laptop screens.
• Flickering images — Another physical screen issue.
• Fading images — Commonly a screen issue, but may also turn out to be a faulty screen cable instead.
• Extremely dim screen on older Macbook with LCD screens — Macbook LCD screens use an inverter to control screen lighting, and a faulty inverter could dim the screen.
• Physical cracks on the laptop screen — A pretty obvious sign of a faulty laptop screen that needs to be replaced.

Why is the image on my screen distorted?

When you see distortion or discolouration on your screen, these errors usually point to issues with the parts on your laptop that work to display images on the screen. To understand why these errors appear, we should first look at how your laptop’s display works.

Just like every other process that happens on your laptop, different components work together to display images once you turn it on. This process requires the screen, screen cable, and the video card. Failure in any part in this process could lead to different kinds of visible errors that you need to tend to.

How a laptop displays images

Your computer delivers a seamless computing experience for you. With everything you do, it shows you everything almost instantly. This comes from the different parts of your laptop that work together to create the right display images on the screen.

It all begins with the video card, also known as the GPU. The GPU (and at times, the CPU too) first generates a constant digital image feed. This is fed through the screen cable and into the display output, that is the laptop screen. Every pixel on the screen is needed for this process as well. The image feed informs each pixel of the colour that it is supposed to change to. This is a nonstop process that shows you whatever you’re working on, watching, or playing.

So when any part in this process fails, it could cause all kinds of problems. One thing for sure though, it will all show up on your screen. We’ll have to do a bit of troubleshooting to find out what’s wrong with your laptop.

Differences in screen errors: broken screen or faulty video card?

Screen errors can look very similar but at the same time indicate some very different problems. A broken screen simply means that the image can’t be displayed properly on your laptop’s screen. But with a faulty video card, it won’t even be able to properly generate the right image feed to the screen. This means that it will show the same wonky image even on perfectly fine screens.

That’s how you can find out whether you have a screen issue or a malfunctioning video card. Use an HDMI cable to connect your laptop to an external monitor or TV. If the same distorted image shows up, then you likely have a failing video card.

For more handy tricks to test your computer on your own, read our guide “6 easy tools and tricks to test and diagnose your laptop“. We cover some tools and testing solutions to detect computer issues easily.

Can you fix display issues by yourself?

For both video card and screen problems, failing hardware can only be fixed by replacing it entirely. This usually involves taking apart your laptop and putting in new hardware. It can be quite a complicated process, depending on the model and design of your laptop.

Video card repairs

On most laptops these days, video cards are embedded on the motherboard. This means that it is a built-in part of the motherboard and cannot be removed on its own. It certainly makes it a lot harder to repair the video card.

There are a few exceptions though. Certain models of gaming laptops have detachable video cards that you can take out on its own for replacements or upgrades.

For regular laptops, you’ll either need to get the entire motherboard replaced, or get professional help from component-level repair technicians. These are both rather complex repair jobs that most computer users don’t have the experience and tech know-how to do by themselves.

Curious about motherboard repairs and why they’re so hard to do? Read our guide “Why motherboard failures are so hard to test and repair“.

Laptop screen repairs

Laptop screens are also fairly tricky to deal with. A lot of laptops these days are generally put together as one part. Parts of the laptop screen are usually glued together, where no screws are used at all. This is why we can’t replace the screen panel, or glass panel on its own.

Parts of a laptop screen

A laptop screen might look like a single piece of hardware that you can just unhinge and fit back on, but it’s not that simple. They do require a fair bit of assembly and involve many different parts. Let’s take a look inside:

• Screen — You see things on here. Usually LED or LCD displays for older laptop models.
• Back cover — Where the screen is seated, acts as protection as well. Also the top of your laptop when closed.
• Backlight — Used to light up the screen.
• Inverter — Controls the light for the screen for LCD displays. Discontinued for newer Macbook Air and Pro models with LED screens (uses the logic board to light up the screen).
• Screen hinge — Provides smooth opening and closing of the laptop lid. Made of solid metal.
• Webcam — The camera that you never look at because you’re looking at yourself on the screen.
• Wifi / Bluetooth antenna — Connects your laptop to the wifi. Seated on the back cover, doesn’t get much attention.

These parts are very delicate and take a great deal of care. Specific models that have touchscreen panels or high quality displays will typically be harder to navigate around. If you are keen on DIY and are pretty skilled at it, we of course encourage you to do so. If not, you might want to take your laptop to a repair shop instead.

Laptop screen repairs at Safemode Computer Service

Got a busted laptop screen or a faulty video card? We can help. Laptop screen damage may not be covered by your warranty or accidental damage cover, so you’ll need a third-party repair service for this.

At Safemode Computer Service, we offer free quotes after testing your computer in store (Ts & Cs apply). As a trusted service in Inner West Sydney, we are also among the top 3 best rated computer repair services in Sydney. Our experienced technicians can help with any computer issue and provide the right advice and solutions. Call us or come by our Inner West Sydney store today!

What to do if your Mac won’t boot up: fixing Apple startup issues

A lot of things could cause a Macbook to stop booting up properly, or not even start up at all. It could be a software or hardware problem. Either way, you’re probably looking to boot it up normally again.

Here’s a few things you could run through to fix the problem and get your Mac working again. This includes some simple checks and software resets as a first step. Then we can move on to checking on your hardware and repairing any possible faults.

Having said that, Apple computers have sophisticated designs. Fixing Apple computers is a challenge even for a computer technician who is only specialized in Windows PC. DIY repair for a novice user is often not possible. After you’ve gone through the tips below and your computer still doesn’t work, it’s most likely that you need professional computer repair services.

6 easy tools and tricks to test and diagnose your laptop

Is your laptop acting up but you have no idea what’s wrong? All you need are some simple tools and a little time to figure out what might be the problem. Computer hardware issues can look like a range of things and can be quite tricky to detect immediately. Here are 6 simple tools and tricks to diagnose what might be causing your computer issues.

1. Computer built-in tools

Before we get into the more in-depth software tests, we should first cover the basic tools that are already on your computer. These built-in tests are where you should start out, when you want to figure out what’s wrong with your computer. Sometimes you have a general idea of what the issue is, but running built-in diagnostics tests can still be quite helpful.

Boot diagnostics

On every laptop or desktop computer, there is an option to run diagnostics before it boots up to its operating system. This is known as pre-boot diagnostics, boot diagnostics, or Apple Diagnostics for Mac users. It is a base-level test for its hardware, to find out possible faults and failures. You can test your laptop’s hardware like the hard drive, RAM, or battery.

To enter boot diagnostics, you’ll need the specific key required, depending on your laptop’s brand. This would be “Esc” for HP, “F12” for Dell, “Enter” for Lenovo, Acer, Asus, or IBM, “D” for Apple Macs with Intel processor, or holding down the power button for Apple Macs with Apple Silicon processor then Command-D. Restart your computer and press the corresponding key when it starts up. It should run on its own and report any possible issues that it can find.

Boot diagnostics can come in handy as a diagnostic solution when your laptop turns on but doesn’t boot. When you can’t get your computer to boot to Windows or MacOS to run software tests, starting boot diagnostics can be a helpful way to find out what’s going on.

Built-in support software

Other than boot diagnostics, you can also try using your computer’s branded support software. These software come preloaded on your Windows device, and can be used for troubleshooting and contacting online support. Apps like Dell’s Support Assist and HP’s Support Assistant are examples of this.

Now that we’ve covered the basic tools, let’s move on to some dedicated software tools for testing specific parts of your laptop. Some of these methods may require some disassembly, but it’s nothing too difficult for any computer user.

2. Testing a hard disk drive

Chkdsk (Windows)

“Chkdsk” is a built-in tool in all Windows computers used to test and attempt repairs on hard drives. It is a pretty useful tool for hard drive testing, where it can mark off or possibly repair bad sectors. Type in “chkdsk” as a command, or go to the “Properties” window of your hard drive and run it from the “Tools” panel.

Disk Utilities (Apple Mac)

Similar to chkdsk, running First Aid from Disk Utilities can also attempt repairs or isolate bad sectors that are harming the drive’s health. If a hard drive failure is detected, it can also offer support solutions to repair the hard drive.

Dedicated analysis software

Dedicated hard drive analysis software like Seatools or WD Data Lifeguard are some great free tools to test your hard drive. You can install and use it on your current laptop to test your hard drive for errors.

For a more thorough test that can get you better results, you may also take out your drive and test it separately. This would usually be done on a desktop computer. You’ll need a SATA to USB enclosure box for this as well. The enclosure box powers the hard drive separately from the desktop computer, so this keeps it isolated for in-depth testing.

These extensive tests on your hard drive will most probably take longer than boot diagnostics or chkdsk. But it can offer some conclusive results about your hard drives and what you should do next. Learn more about testing and repairing a faulty hard drive for Dell, HP, or Apple computer users.

3. Tools for solid-state drives

A lot of modern laptops these days come with solid-state drives instead of hard disk drives as the main storage drive. This is because of the technological advances that make SSDs a much better option over traditional spinning hard drives.

While SSDs are much more durable than HDDs, they will still eventually start to fail after a period of prolonged use. And just like HHDs, SSD manufacturers do make free companion software tools for analysing and testing the drive for faults. This would be apps like Samsung Magician and Intel SSD Toolbox.

4. RAM failure testing

A RAM analysis software that most techs recommend would be Memtest86. You can install it right away and test your RAM with it on your laptop. Or you can do it on a desktop computer.

Another easy way to test your RAM is by swapping out the RAM chip with a spare one and see if the problem persists. This works great in fixing situations like startup issues where you can’t boot up or turn on your laptop.

However, most laptops have their RAM chips embedded on the motherboard these days, and that makes it impossible to swap out the RAM. Detachable RAM chips are more common on older laptop models and desktop computers.

5. Troubleshooting lines and distortion on laptop screens

Lines or image distortion on your screen would generally lead you to think you have a screen failure right? Sometimes it’s not that easy to tell just by looking at it and accessing the problem visually on the screen.

Image distortion can definitely indicate a screen failure, but sometimes your laptop may be experiencing a video card failure instead. When your laptop screen is showing distortion like artifacting or columns of different colours instead of thin lines, that’s a sign of video card failure. Another sign of video card failure could also be a laptop that won’t turn on at all.

It’s not always easy to diagnose screen or video card issues, so here’s a straightforward trick to find out: Connect your laptop to an external monitor or your TV via an HDMI cable. If the image looks normal on the second display, you have a faulty laptop screen. If the image remains distorted or does not appear on the display at all, you have a video card issue. You’re looking at replacements for either part failures. We explain more about screen image distortions and screen replacements in our guide “What to do with a busted laptop screen“.

6. Stress testing your video card

Another way to test the status and perform stress tests on the performance of your GPU is by using dedicated analysis software. Using Geeks3D’s Furmark is an effortless way to do so. Not only can you test for GPU failure, there’s also stats on the video card’s performance. This is a handy tool for gamers keen to keep up their computer’s performance to run graphics-heavy programs.

Need more help?

These free software tools should help you get a better idea about your laptop’s problems and what needs to be fixed. For more help, check out our blog! We cover issues like computer boot up issues, or what to do after you’ve spilt over your laptop.

If you find yourself lacking the skills you need to diagnose and fix your laptop by yourself, why not bring it to us? At Safemode Computer Service, we offer a free initial diagnosis and quote to repair any computer issue that we can help with. Along with computer repairs, we can also advise and install upgrades to refresh and bring your computer up to today’s speeds.

Our expert and friendly services are highly-rated in Sydney, especially in the surrounding Inner West suburbs where we are located. Book an appointment with our experienced technicians at our Enmore store today.

4 steps to fix a laptop that’s freezing up

A computer does freeze every once in a while, and can be a minor software problem that can resolve itself. But when you’re noticing frequent freezes occurring on your laptop computer, it might be a sign that there is a much bigger problem that you need to fix.

Here’s how to unfreeze and resolve computer issues. It begins with understanding your laptop and finding out where the problem is coming from. We’ll also be looking at the common causes of frequent computer freezes, and how you can fix them.

A bit about your laptop

Parts on your laptop work together as a whole to process whatever you’re working on. Whether you’re watching a movie, working on a presentation, or playing a game, the different parts of your laptop interact and work with each other to deliver a seamless experience.

Let’s go through how a laptop works. While you’re using your laptop, the CPU sends out instructions to other components via the motherboard. This is where everything else is connected together, on the motherboard. The operating system that is located on the hard drive then works accordingly, launching apps or software as needed. For quick access, the RAM temporarily stores data that you’re using. It usually works faster than a hard drive does and makes it easier for you to multitask.

At the same time, the video card works to generate a constant visual feed that is sent through the screen cable. This shows an almost instant image of what you’re working on, whether it’s typing up a report or playing a video game. Other things like external devices also work with the aid of other components across the laptop.

Now that we understand how a laptop requires almost every part to work, we can get a better idea of why the laptop is freezing up. It usually comes from the failure of a critical part on the laptop. This can cause problems with the laptop’s normal functioning, or even stop it from booting up properly.

Why is my laptop freezing up?

As laptops require most of its parts to work properly, a part failure can become pretty obvious, even during its early stages of failure. Naturally the earlier you notice and tend to a problem, the easier you can avoid further damage or a complete computer crash.

When your laptop starts freezing up, the causes can be put into three categories: display issues, system overload, or a faulty hard drive. Or in rarer cases, you could just have a faulty keyboard or mouse.

To really single out a possible hardware issue, we should first identify what kind of freeze your laptop is going through. Computer freezes may seem all the same, but the way that your device behaves can point to different errors.

Different kinds of computer freezes

Partial freeze

A partial freeze can be identified by how much is affected. You might be able to still hear music coming from your music player or browser, but the screen seems completely frozen. It might go back to normal after a few moments, or not at all. It may also need a quick restart.

This may come from a single app, or a procedure that you’re doing. It could be a sign of a hard drive or RAM failure.

Generic freeze

When your laptop is unresponsive to any action, we call this a “generic freeze”. It usually goes back to normal after a while.

Random hang

Unlike a generic freeze, a random hang can make your computer completely unresponsive. It will only be resolved after you restart the computer.

What to do when your laptop is freezing up

Before we get into repairing a possible hardware failure, there are a few things we recommend doing. These include, restarting your laptop, checking on your mouse and keyboard, backing up your data, and diagnosing hardware issues.

1. Restart your laptop

A computer restart is often quite a handy solution to small errors and software faults. For convenience, laptops users often “turn off” their laptops by simply shutting down the lid. Without shutting down the laptop completely, the cached data stored in the RAM doesn’t completely refresh and stays there until it is reset. This could clog up your laptop’s memory.

Restarting your laptop may also be able to solve your freezing problem, if it is only a small problem. It can help refresh and reset your laptop so everything runs smoothly again.

2. Back up your data

Computer restarts and data backups are the two things we recommend doing first in almost every computer issue. By backing up your data to a secure spot, you’ll be able to know that your data is safe if anything happens to your laptop. You won’t have to waste time or money on data recovery.

Offline storage on an external drive or an online cloud based storage service are both great options to back up your data. In fact, the more backups the better. That way, you can access files from anywhere.

3. Check on your keyboard and trackpad

A faulty keyboard or mouse can also make it look like your laptop is not responding. Keys can get jammed or rusted from liquid damage, and that can cause a keyboard failure. Dust or food crumbs can get inside the gaps between keys and damage connective parts of the keyboard. Same goes for a broken computer mouse and laptop trackpad.

So before you test out other parts of your laptop, use an external keyboard and mouse to check your laptop keyboard and trackpad. If the laptop is still frozen, then you’ll know that neither the keyboard or trackpad is the problem. We’ll have to move on to other diagnostic options to fix the issue.

4. Diagnose possible hardware issues

A faulty hard drive, overloaded RAM, or a malfunctioning video card can be the reason that your laptop is freezing up. So you might want to run some tests to see whether it’s malfunctioning. Then you can solve the problem by replacing the faulty part.

After restarting your laptop, you should be able to work on it as usual to run tests. You can run software utilities and built-in tools as initial tests. If your laptop is freezing up so badly that you can’t get it to work properly, then you can try using pre-boot diagnostics or take the parts out to test on a desktop computer.

Pre-boot diagnostics

Every computer usually has a built-in tool to run basic tests on components across the system. This is known as “pre-boot diagnostics” or “boot diagnostics”. On Apple Mac computers, it is known as “Apple Diagnostics”. With this diagnostic tool, you can find possible faults on parts like the hard drive, battery, video card, and RAM.

Each brand has a specific key to enter boot diagnostics, so you’ll have to use the right one. This may be “F12” for Dell, “D” for Apple, “Esc” for HP computers. Just press the corresponding key when the laptop reaches the logo splash screen at boot up, and it’ll run tests on its own. Now we can move on to the different part failures that may be freezing up your laptop.

Diagnosing a hard drive failure

Hard drive failure is a very common computer error that can affect the laptop’s performance. It can make the laptop run slower than usual, cause start up errors, and also freeze up the laptop.

The computer’s operating system and installed software and apps are all stored and run on the hard drive, so when a hard drive fails, a drop in performance can be pretty noticeable. Files may be corrupted or lost completely, and the system may have trouble running things properly. Ultimately it could cause your laptop to freeze up.

Hard drives can technically last quite long, but its performance does not. So we recommend fixing the drive by replacing it completely. Thoroughly test your hard drive for issues and repair it if you need to. While disk repair utilities can repair certain software related issues on the drive, the hard drive will still break eventually. Learn more about the different kinds of hard drive errors that you may come across in “Top 8 hard drive issues and how to fix them yourself”.

Diagnosing RAM issues

RAM is responsible for a smooth multitasking experience. The use of volatile memory for quick storage of data from the hard drive makes things easier for you to fire up apps at the same time. The RAM usually runs faster than a hard drive does, so data temporarily there helps you bring up windows quicker without having to read multiple times from the hard drive.

So a RAM failure could chop up the processes and freeze up the laptop. While you’re using your laptop, you may want to pay attention to the background or unused processes that you’re running. This could overload the RAM usage and slow things down.

To diagnose a RAM failure, you can use boot diagnostics, RAM analysis software, or use a spare stick of RAM to test it out. Most newer laptop models have embedded RAM on its motherboard, so you cannot take the chips out for testing. You’ll have to use boot diagnostics or RAM analysis software like Memtest. While RAM errors are quite rare, they can still be the root to your laptop freezing problem.

Diagnosing video card issues

The video card, or GPU is what makes things move around the screen, essentially. So a frozen laptop caused by a faulty GPU is not necessarily stuck in its processes, the screen is just not receiving an accurate visual feed from the GPU. The screen may appear unresponsive to any keys or mouse movement, and may even show colour distortion.

The main causes of a GPU failure is from overheating or natural wear and tear. The video card is a processor like a CPU is, just smaller. It can get overworked and warped from heat, if the heat is not properly dispersed within the laptop. A faulty GPU can be identified by a distorted screen image with blocks of different colours, or just simply a completely blank screen.

Test your screen and GPU by hooking up your laptop to an external monitor. If you do have a GPU failure, the external monitor should show the same issue as the laptop does. This is because the visual feed is already inaccurate, so it should show the same image on any other screen.

Like most laptop RAM, the video card is also usually embedded on the motherboard and cannot be taken out on its own. So you’ll need a motherboard replacement if you do turn out to have a busted GPU. This could be a bit tricky, as motherboard repairs are known to be complicated and difficult. Learn more about other laptop screen issues here.

With a bit of sleuthing, you should be able to find out what’s wrong with your laptop. It might be a small issue, or could be a hardware failure. It’s still a good idea to catch these things before it gets too serious.

Professional computer repairs in Sydney

Thinking about how you can’t fit all this in your busy schedule? Not confident in your technical chops? Then a professional repair might be what you’re thinking of.

If you can’t get your laptop serviced at a brand-authorised service centre, that’s where you’ll look to a third-party repair service. Consider us, at Safemode Computer Service. Step into our Inner West Sydney store with your laptop, and we can help you diagnose your computer issues in no time. We are known for our highly-rated and expert service, and can definitely offer the right repair solution for you. Our experienced technicians are always happy to help! Come by our Enmore store today or make an appointment here.

Laptop not turning on? Here’s how to diagnose your laptop for issues

Are you pushing every button on your laptop and it’s giving no sign of life?

It seems to be completely dead. You might be thinking that the battery is dead or it’s something to do with the power supply.

Let’s not jump to conclusions yet. Trying to fix a computer issue without thoroughly diagnosing the problem could waste you unnecessary money and labour.

Not to worry, we can show you how!

To find the right solution to your issue, we must accurately identify your specific startup issue.

When we say that a laptop is not turning on at all, it means that it appears to be completely dead. There is no response when you press the power button to turn it on, even when it is plugged in.

Other startup issues might include situations when the laptop turns on, but stays on a black screen.

Or it may turn on, but never boots to Windows or MacOS. It might even shut down after a few seconds while it is booting up.

If your laptop does not turn on all, you’re at the right place. Check out our other guides which can help you with

How to find out why your laptop is not turning on

Your laptop relies on its different components to work. Every part is necessary for the laptop to work properly, run software, play videos, and more. So once a part starts to fail, it may become quite noticeable when you use the laptop.

When your laptop won’t turn on, it means that a part essential for startup is out of service. The whole process will then be disrupted and the laptop won’t respond.

These essential components include the hard drive, motherboard, video card, and RAM.

A faulty power adaptor may also be the cause of a dead laptop.

To find out why your laptop is not turning on, you may try testing each of these components and repair faulty parts as needed.

When you can’t turn on your laptop at all, there are less options for diagnostic tests. You’ll have to make use of methods that involve taking out the part to test it.

If you do manage to turn on the laptop, you can run more tests on your system with pre-boot diagnostics and analysis software to get more conclusive results.

Hard drive failure

The hard drive is used as the startup disk for your laptop. Along with your files, it contains the boot files and operating system used to start your computer.

Whether your drive is a hard disk drive (HDD), or a solid-state drive (SSD flash storage), it can accumulate bad sectors and fail eventually. These bad sectors cause permanent damage which can corrupt files or even completely remove them.

When the boot files or OS is corrupted, your laptop will have trouble starting up. Essential files are missing or inaccessible, so the laptop might not even turn on. Other hard drive issues could include the blue screen of death (BSOD), SMART failure, or a Mac startup question mark folder screen.

How to fix a failing hard drive

The solution to a faulty hard drive is to first test it out to confirm the problem. Now as your laptop is not turning on, we’ll have to take the entire drive out and test it on a different device, preferably a desktop computer. Connect the drive via a SATA to USB enclosure and use hard drive analysis software like WD Data Lifeguard to diagnose problems.

If your laptop does manage to turn on to the logo splash screen, you may also use pre-boot diagnostics to test your system. At the logo splash screen, hold down a specific key to enter boot diagnostics. There you can test not only your hard drive, but components like the battery and RAM too.

After you confirm a hard drive failure, the next step is to replace the hard drive. While a quick fix with software can get your laptop on again, this is only an emergency fix that might only get you one more year on the drive. Replacing or upgrading your drive can get you a significant and long-lasting fix for your laptop. Learn more replacing a Dell, HP, or Apple Mac hard drive.

Motherboard, video card, and RAM failures

The motherboard (or logic board), video card, and RAM are all components essential to the laptop’s startup process as well as normal functioning.

We’ve put them together in one category because the video card and RAM are commonly embedded on the motherboard in modern laptops these days. So if you find an error with either part that is on the motherboard, you can conclude a motherboard failure.

The motherboard of a laptop computer is the circuit board where every part of the laptop communicates with each other. The processor makes decisions and these instructions are sent through the motherboard to be carried out by the respective components.

So when the motherboard starts to fail, components lose their communication channel and can’t work together. This could make the laptop unresponsive when you try to turn it on.

Components built-in on the motherboard, like the RAM and video card, are responsible for multitasking and the display respectively. When the video card fails, it can’t properly generate the laptop display feed, or not at all. For a RAM error, it will fail to provide readily available storage memory for quick multitasking purposes. These two parts also play a critical part in your laptop’s startup process.

How to test for motherboard issues

A motherboard failure is one of the hardest parts to test and repair, as there is no specific test for it. We’ll have to deduce the issue by eliminating other possible causes. This involves testing the RAM and video card.

Unfortunately, if your RAM and video card are both embedded on the motherboard and you can’t turn on your laptop to perform diagnostics, there’s no other option for you at home. Certain models of laptops do have detachable RAM chips, so you can test that. All you need to do is swap out the RAM with a spare stick of RAM and see if your laptop turns on or not. If it does turn on again, you can solve your RAM failure with a new replacement. If not, you might have a motherboard issue.

As we’ve mentioned, motherboard repairs are very hard to do. The motherboard is a delicate and intricate piece of circuitry, with a lot of connective points that regular consumers might not be familiar with. That said, you might want to get the help of a professional technician to repair your motherboard. Learn more about motherboard failure in our guide to motherboard repairs.

Power adaptor failure

A laptop’s power adaptor, or the PSU, is used to charge up your laptop for you to use it on the go. Your laptop requires a certain amount of juice to startup if it’s not plugged in. When you notice that your laptop isn’t turning on even when it’s plugged in, you might have a faulty power adaptor.

How to fix a power adaptor failure

Power adaptors can break from natural wear and tear, or maybe from accident damage like spilled liquids. You can simply test this out by using a spare adaptor on your laptop. If the light comes on and it charges your laptop, you’ve fixed the problem!

After following the above steps, you should be able to narrow down the culprit behind your laptop’s “murder”. Then you can move on to looking for replacement solutions to your faulty components. You may also use YouTube and repair guides on ifixit as a starting point to fixing your laptop all by yourself.

Professional repairs

The limited options to testing your laptop for issues when your laptop won’t turn on at all can be pretty frustrating. You might not have the time, nor the tools. So is it time to take it to a professional for help?

It might be a good idea to just take your laptop to a repair shop, to save yourself the hassle.

Safemode Computer Service can fix this for you.

Conveniently located in Inner West Sydney, we are a quick stop from Sydney CBD as well. Call us up to set up an appointment, and we can help you test your laptop in-store.

Our trusted services are highly-rated across Sydney, and we take pride in supporting the community. We also can help you with computer upgrades, computer virus removals, and liquid spill repairs. Book an appointment at our Enmore store today.

Mac stuck on loading screen at startup: How to fix Apple startup issues

In most circumstances, booting up a computer is a quick process. Usually takes no more than a minute. But when your Mac is starting to fail, it will show signs that it is not working properly. This may sometimes reflect in the MacOS startup process. Startup processes are pretty frustrating, as you might not even be able to get your Mac to boot at all.

The problem looks like this: Your Mac does get to the Apple logo splash screen. You may also get the Mac startup chime as well. Then instead of booting up properly, you reach a loading bar screen that does not seem to finish loading. It may get to near completion and stay there, or turn off or restart itself.

This MacOS start up issue can come out of nowhere and be quite troublesome to face. Have no fear, you can definitely test your Mac for issues on your own to understand it. Let’s look at why this happens and what you can do to fix this problem. Check out our solutions to other Apple MacOS startup issues, like “How to fix Apple question mark folder at startup”.

The MacOS start up process

When you turn on your Mac, the firmware runs the “Power-On Self Test” (POST). This tests your Mac’s hardware to make sure it is fit to boot up. It includes testing components like the processors, memory, and peripherals. If your Mac passes POST, it will get to the Apple logo splash screen and eventually boots up successfully. If not, it will stay on a black screen and won’t boot at all. This is a sign that some of your hardware might not be working at all. It usually means a motherboard failure.

After passing POST, your Mac will go through the startup process. This involves certain bootup files and the MacOS on the hard drive. If the startup process is taking too long and is having trouble booting up, there might be a problem with your hard drive. Other components that are crucial for startup, namely the RAM and video card, could also be causing this issue.

Faulty components that could be causing this startup issue

Before we look at what could be causing this loading bar startup error, there are a few simple things you could try. Try restarting your Mac first, or reinstall MacOS from MacOS Recovery.

A computer restart is something we always recommend doing, as it can actually do a lot. You can try doing this to refresh your Mac and possibly solve bugs. This could also boot your Mac successfully again.

Alternatively, you could try reinstalling MacOS from Recovery options. Reinstalling MacOS is also a way to refresh your Mac, and could buy you some time before any part of your Mac does fail. If you still get startup issues after trying these fixes, you might have to really look into what hardware issues you have. This brings us to how you can test your hardware for issues that need repairing.

Hard drive

Your hard drive, whether it may be a hard disk drive, flash storage, or fusion drive, is used as the startup disk. This means its normal functioning is crucial for the startup processes. The drive contains the MacOS, along with information needed for the process. When the drive fails and files become corrupted or lost, your Mac may have trouble starting up properly.

Most components on your Mac will fail eventually, and that unfortunately includes the storage drive. In fact, it is a very common computer issue that computer users face. Once a hard drive accumulates too many bad sectors, it will start to fail. Its failure will cause startup issues like the question mark folder error, or cause your Mac to slow down significantly. Data loss or corruption may also occur with a hard drive failure, so keeping regular backups is a useful habit to have.

The solution: Test and repair

There are a few ways to test a hard drive when you can’t get your Mac to boot properly. You can use Disk Utility and Apple Diagnostics from your Mac to do so. To enter Disk Utility from MacOS Recovery, you’ll need to restart your Mac and hold Command + “R” when you reach the Apple logo screen. Disk Utility can perform a quick scan of your hard drive and attempt repairs if possible. It can repair soft bad sectors and isolate hard bad sectors.

Holding down the “D” key will get you to Apple Diagnostics. This is a diagnostics tool for components across your Mac. After a full scan of your system, Apple Diagnostics can detect issues on parts like the hard drive, RAM, or battery. The error reports also come with reference codes for you to report to Apple support or for further research use.

Otherwise, you may also take out the drive entirely and test it on another Mac desktop computer with hard drive analysis software. Free software like WD Data Lifeguard can do more extensive and thorough tests on your hard drive. This method usually takes longer than using built-in Mac diagnostic tools.

Running tests will then confirm whether your hard drive is failing or not. If it is what’s causing your startup issues, it will probably need to be replaced. Learn more about replacing an Apple hard drive in our guide to Apple hard drive repairs.

Video card

Your Mac’s display depends on the video card to work. The video card is responsible for generating a digital image feed. This is sent through the screen cable to reach the screen display. This is a constant visual feed of whatever you’re working on your Mac. Together with the video card, different parts of your Mac work together to display images correctly on screen. As your Mac does need to show a display once it’s turned on, the video card is surely critical for normal MacOS startup.

When a video card does start to fail, it may make things harder for the system to boot up. While it may not show image distortion like usual video card faults do, it can also disrupt the MacOS startup process. Without any visual clues to a video card failure, thorough testing is usually called for.

The solution: Test video card with software and replace

Again, you may use Apple Diagnostics (D key at startup) to test your video card along with other components. We also recommend using FurMark video card testing software from Geeks3D. This free video card analysis software, like hard drive analysis software, offers more in-depth tests and results. If you do find video card errors from these tests, you can start looking into replacement solutions.

Unfortunately, video cards on Apple Macbook laptops are embedded on the logic board, so you’ll need to replace the logic board as well. Only most Mac desktop computers have detachable videos that are available for testing and replacing.

RAM

Your Mac’s virtual storage is significant for multitasking and general normal functioning. Its non-volatile memory stores information readily available for you to use at your convenience. This keeps everything running smoothly, and you won’t have to worry about overloading your Mac all the time. Although less likely, a RAM failure may also create MacOS startup issues.

The solution: Test with software or spare RAM and replace

The RAM on Macbook laptops are also usually built-in on the logic board, so you can only test it with Apple Diagnostics or software. RAM diagnostics software like MemTest86 can help you with that.

Some Macbook laptops and most Mac desktop computers have detachable RAM chips. You may take them out and test your system out with a spare chip of RAM if you have one around. If the loading bar issue still appears at startup, then you can eliminate the RAM as the culprit. This means your RAM is working fine and something else is causing the problem.

Once again, like the video card, you’ll need to replace the logic board if the embedded RAM is faulty. For detachable RAM chips, you can just swap it out with a new and compatible one. It’s as easy as that.

Apple Mac hardware repairs

One thing that affects how we go about Mac repairs is the parts that Apple uses in their devices. Certain Mac computers contain proprietary parts that are specific to MacOS devices. They are made to only work for Apple computers. So this would take some time to look for the compatible replacement part. If the part is out of market or discontinued, looking for a different but compatible part would also take some time.

Proprietary pentalobe screws that are used on some Macbooks can also make things harder for the at-home DIY repairs. Most consumers may not have the right screwdriver or screws to open up their laptops, and they can be quite expensive as well.

Soldered or glued-on parts is also an example of this. The low repairability of most Apple computers can give them quite a short lifespan, considering that sometimes it may not be worth it to get it fixed without damaging other parts. With that said, you may look to a professional technician to get your Mac repaired with no fuss.

Professional repairs

The Apple store or an Apple-authorised service centre is where you can get things done. With Apple Care or a valid warranty, you can typically get support services for your faulty Mac for free. If your Mac is deemed obsolete (from before 2012) by Apple, you might not be able to get free support that easily. This also applies for expired warranties.

So what else? A third-party repair service might be the final option for your professional repair needs. If so, our expert service at Safemode Computer Service might be something to consider! We offer highly-rated Apple Mac repair services, which is widely known across Sydney. Located in the Inner West, we can offer convenient and trusted services for your faulty Mac, test and recommend the right solution for you. Come by our store for a chat! We are in Enmore, Inner West Sydney.

What to do with a busted laptop screen

Laptops are built slim and sleek, which makes it great for mobility and accessibility. But how everything on the laptop is so compact makes it easy for one thing to cause an inconvenience for everything else. Components on a computer all have a part in delivering a smooth experience for the laptop user. Most of the time, once a part stops working, the entire process is disrupted.

In this case, a screen failure may root from different parts of the laptop. Each component plays a part in making images show on your screen. Without one, you’re likely to see visible changes to the screen. You’ll need to replace a faulty part for everything to go back to normal.

We will look at what causes certain screen issues in this guide, along with repair and replacement solutions. But first, let’s check out how your laptop display works.

How does a laptop display images?

Ever wondered how your computer shows you everything almost instantly? Different parts of your computer work together to create the right display images on the screen. The GPU (and sometimes CPU) works to generate a digital image feed. This is sent through the screen cable and fed into the display. It informs what colour each pixel on the screen should be. Then your screen will be able to show you whatever you’re working on, watching, or reading.

Like most things on a computer, if one part fails, the whole display process will likely face errors. All three components needed to display images on your screen can fail. To find the right solution to your screen issues, we will have to find out what’s causing them first.

Parts of a laptop screen

A laptop screen display might seem like a simple piece of hardware on first sight, but there are a few things that help visualise things. They include:

• Screen — Where you see images. Usually LED or LCD displays for older laptop models.
• Back cover — The back of the screen that protects the screen panel. Also the top of your laptop when closed.
• Inverter — Controls the light for the screen for LCD displays. Discontinued for newer Macbook Air and Pro models, which use the motherboard to light up the screen.
• Backlight — Lights up the screen.
• Screen hinge — Provides smooth opening and closing of the laptop lid.
• Webcam — The camera that you put a sticker over when you’re not video calling someone or taking funny selfies.
• Wifi / Bluetooth antenna — Gets your computer connected to the wifi. Hidden away on the back cover, almost never sees the light of day.

What laptop screen damage can look like

Screen damage can be put in two categories: physically visible ones that you can see without turning on the laptop, and ones that are visible only when a display is showing on screen. Either way, you’ll need a screen replacement to fix this.

Dropping or any hard force on the laptop can cause the screen to crack, or the back cover to break or come loose. The screen cable can also come loose or break, but this is very rare. When other parts of the screen like the webcam or wifi antenna need a replacement, you’ll still need to replace the entire screen.

Other faults that you may experience include, a bleeding image, black columns, or thin lines that distort the normal display. A flickering or fading screen can also mean you’ve got a screen failure. While a fading screen can also mean issues with the screen cable or motherboard, it’s more likely to be a screen failure.

What causes screen damage?

Usually by physical accidents or improper use. Screen damage is mostly caused by end-users. Dropping or stepping on it can get you different damages on parts of the laptop. One type of improper laptop use is grabbing the laptop by the screen’s edge instead of its base when moving it around. This puts pressure on the screen that it may not be able to withstand. Most screens like computer monitors, TVs, and laptop screens can last very long, as long as you don’t break it.

What a GPU failure can look like

A GPU failure is another type of display issue. It can look very similar to the image distortion caused by a screen failure. This would look like vertical or horizontal columns of the wrong shade of colour on the screen. The keyboard and mouse may also look like it’s not responding as well.

These types of image distortion still look very similar. How do we distinguish between a broken screen and a GPU failure? All you need to do is to connect your laptop to an external display like a computer monitor or TV screen. If the display works and everything is responsive, you’ve got a broken laptop screen. Otherwise, it’s a GPU issue. Because the video card is having problems with generating an image feed, your laptop won’t show images normally at all.

What causes GPU failure?

The video card is a microprocessor that is generally expected to last 2-5 years. Accumulating dust and rust inside the card can cause overheating issues that lead to its eventual failure.

Processes like overclocking or heavy gaming use will also put significant stress on the GPU. Be prepared to have to replace your video card if you enjoy gaming, as powerful cards don’t usually last very long. You can always upgrade to something better anyway.

Fixing display issues

Either the screen or video card will need to be replaced. For any issues related to the laptop screen, the whole thing will need to be taken out and replaced. This involves assembling the screen and fitting it back on the laptop.

For video card issues, you can choose to replace it or upgrade with a better card. This is only if you have one that can be taken out on its own though. Desktop computers and some gaming laptops have detachable video cards that can be replaced and upgraded.

Most laptops have their video card embedded on the motherboard, and a replacement on its own is impossible in that case. If you do have an issue with an embedded video card, there could also be a problem with your motherboard. It might be time to replace the whole board.

A word on modern laptop screens

Laptop screens have come a long way. Nowadays, people want thinner, lighter laptops that are convenient for travel. That’s the trend of laptop manufacturing these days. Laptops are made sleeker and thinner.

Laptop screens of newer models are usually all glued together as one part. That’s why we usually can’t just fix the screen panel on its own. LED screens, and especially Apple Macbook retina displays are delicate and usually glued to other parts. No screws or separate parts are usually featured in this design. So trying to put in a brand new screen panel on its own onto your current laptop might just break it. Some touchscreen laptops also glue the touch panel and screen together.

Laptop models that are hard to repair

The screens of high-end subnotebook laptops like Ultrabooks are known to be difficult to repair. This includes models like the Dell XPS 13 or HP Spectre x360. They offer a lightweight option that doesn’t sacrifice battery life. Because of how sleek it is, it’s difficult to put together all the glued parts without risking cracking the screen.

This is also the case for most Apple Macbook laptops, including the Macbook Air and Macbook Pro models. Apple manufactures their own screens, while brands like Dell or Toshiba make use of other branded screens. Their thin LED screens and retina displays are also usually glued together and can be hard to repair.

Back in 2015-2016, the known fault of the Apple butterfly keyboard was also known for causing screen cable issues. Users found that opening and closing up the Macbook was damaging the cable that connected the screen to the motherboard. This oversight resulted in a free keyboard replacement program offered by Apple.

Screen issues can sound like a pain to fix, but as long as you know what’s causing the problem, you can find the right replacement solution. Now let’s move on to how you can fix a laptop screen.

Replacing a laptop screen

Before doing so, you’ll need to buy the right laptop screen as a replacement. Of course, you’ll need to buy the exact same model so it’ll actually fit on your laptop. Even if a different laptop screen physically fits your laptop, the interface might not work properly with your motherboard. You can’t necessarily ‘upgrade’ to a better laptop screen.

Thinking about replacing a laptop screen by yourself? If you’re quite keen and good at DIY tech repair, it could be a good idea. You’ll need a few professional laptop repair tools to do so. Also, remember to open up your computer to disconnect the battery first too. Find specialised repair guides from tech site ifixit that can help you.

Laptop screen repairs can be quite challenging, so you might want to think about how familiar you are with tech repair before you do so. We’ve already covered how delicate this process is, and things could go wrong. Repairing an Ultrabook laptop screen might be too difficult to do at home by yourself.

Professional repairs

Since laptop screen repairs can be quite complicated, you might be thinking about going to a professional for help. Try going to a brand-authorised service provider first. There you can get specialised computer servicing for your laptop, usually free under warranty. You can check on your warranty from the warranty booklet that comes with your laptop, or you may also be able to find this from the built-in support apps.

If your laptop’s warranty has expired, or the service provider can’t help you, a third-party repair service can help you as well. Consider us, at Safemode Computer Service, to help replace your laptop screen. Located in Inner West Sydney, our experienced technicians can tackle problems from screen damage to motherboard failure. We are well-known for our excellent service across Sydney and can definitely offer you the right computer repair solution. Come by our Enmore store today for an appointment.