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Used Laptop Computer: Your Quick Purchase Inspection Guide - Part 2

Used laptop computers are everywhere these days. How can you sift through the mass of available used laptop computers to narrow your search down to the right laptop for you? This is the second part of a series of articles designed to give you a few suggestions for your next purchase.

Assuming you've done the visual inspection mentioned in part one, you're ready to power up the laptop and do some more digging.

Laptop Operating System

Does the laptop you're looking at come with an operating system? If not, it could be difficult for you to fully test the operation of the laptop. One good alternative to a built in operating system is to download and burn a copy of Knoppix. Knoppix is a linux operating system that runs off the CD-ROM drive instead of the hard drive. This allows you to test the laptop even if it doesn't have an operating system installed. You can find Knoppix at www.knoppix.com

Quick Power Up Inspection

Power up the laptop if it already isn't on. Make sure to open the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive that comes with the laptop. Look for USB ports and make sure they are in good repair. Locate the vent for the CPU fan (if it has one - most do) and listen to the sound it makes. If you hear any whining or grinding sounds, beware. This may be an indication that the CPU inside has not been getting proper cooling which can definitely lead to problems down the road like random crashes, shut downs, etc...

Examine the LCD Screen

Chances are, you're going to be staring at that screen an awful lot. Make sure the colors are stable and that there are no parts of the LCD screen that are washed out or discolored. Replacing an LCD screen is expensive. Better to find a problem with it before you buy it then afterwards.

Is the LCD screen bright enough for your needs? Some used laptops will have LCD screens that are too dim to be practical. Keep in mind that older laptops will often not be very bright in direct sunlight. They should all be bright in normal lighting conditions however.

Joe Duchesne is the President of Gotocompare.com a site that specializes in Computer Hardware related information. Gotocompare helps owners find the device drivers, manuals and tech support they need to keep their equipment in tip top shape. Reprint freely as long as the links in this resource box are live and point back to Gotocompare.

MORE RESOURCES:

Yahoo! News Search Results for hardware
Yahoo! News Search Results for hardware

• DEACOM ERP Software To Integrate Building Component, Lumber And Hardware Busi...
Deacom, Inc. today announced Allensville Planing Mill, Inc. will implement the DEACOM Integrated Accounting and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software System to manage its truss and wall panel manufacturing business and lumber and hardware stores.
• Rich Forbes, Home & Hardware Unit Leader at Fortune Brands, to Retire (Buildi...
DEERFIELD, IL -- Rich Forbes, president and chief executive officer of Fortune Brands Home & Hardware, announced that he plans to retire at the end of 2009. Effective April 1, 2009, Christopher J. Klein, currently senior vice president - strategy and corporate development of Fortune Brands, will become president and chief operating officer - home products, and report to Forbes.
• Dell hopes business realignment, new offerings help it go beyond commercial h...
Dell Inc. likes the consumer market just fine, thank you, but it sure didn't waste any time shifting the focus from holiday shopping to commercial technology.
• Indian navy agrees to $2.1B deal for Boeing planes (AP via Yahoo! Finance)
The Indian navy has agreed to buy eight reconnaissance and anti-submarine planes from Boeing Co. in a $2.1 billion deal that signals the developing nation's drive to upgrade its military hardware.
• New Apple Mac Mini Hardware To Be Supported By Revolutionary SeeFile Web Shar...
Announcement at MacWorld SanFrancisco - Bundles available to include SeeFile 4.6 software and new Mac hardware; Web hosted version to offer affordable monthly startup (PRWeb Jan 5, 2009) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/macworld/DAM/prweb1824054.htm

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