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Help Desk

WHAT IS THERMAL PASTE AND HOW TO USE IT.

When a heatsink is placed on a Processor or a video card you must apply thermal paste.
Thermal paste is also known as thermal grease it is a critical component used to cool the processor by filling the imperfections or gaps between the processor and the cooling fan seat. This filling of the gaps between both components helps dissipate the heat from the processor over to the heat sink for maximum cooling efficiency.
Only a small amount of paste should be used between the components and care must be taken when using metal based thermal paste because it is an electric conductor. Remember that the paste is only used to help conduct cooling not to do the cooling by itself. Many times we receive laptops with way too much thermal paste and the thermal paste is all over the components. Just a drop should be sufficient when using thermal paste.
Please read the article in this link for more information.
Thermal paste and how to use it.

WHAT IS REBALLING?

REBALLING IS THE PROCESS OF REMOVING THE CURRENT SOLDER UNDER A BGA CHIP AND REPLACING IT WITH NEW SOLDER. MOST COMMONLY REPLACED WITH HIGH QUALITY LEAD SOLDER BALLS.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE OLD SOLDER?
THE LEAD FREE TIN SOLDER THAT IS USED BY THE MANUFACTURER HAS CRACKED AND DISCONNECTION HAS OCCURED.

WHY? THE LEAD-FREE SOLDER BALLS USED ARE NOT RESISTANT TO THERMAL FATIGUE AND HAS CRACKED. MANUFACTURERS ARE NOW USING RoHS (Reduction of Hazardous Substances) COMPLIANT SOLDER, THIS TYPE OF SOLDER IS NOT USED ON SATELLITE EQUIPMENT BECAUSE OF THE TIN WHISKER ISSUE CAUSING SHORT LIFE SPANS OF ELECTRONICS.

MORE INFO:

Losing By A Whisker: Lead-Free Solder and the Tin Whisker Problem

"On July 1, 2006 the European Union Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) and Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) came into effect prohibiting the intentional addition of lead to most consumer electronics produced in the EU. California recently adopted a RoHS law[9] and China has a version as well. Manufacturers in the U.S. may receive tax benefits by reducing the use of lead-based solder. Lead-free solders in commercial use may contain tin, copper, silver, bismuth, indium, zinc, antimony, and traces of other metals.

NASA Tin Whisker

WHAT STEPS ARE TAKEN TO REBALL MY LAPTOP?

1. THE LAPTOP IS DISASSEMBLED.
2. EPOXY IS REMOVED FROM AROUND THE BGA CHIP.
3. THE MOTHERBOARD IS DRESSED AND PREPPED FOR BGA REMOVAL.
4. THE BGA IS REMOVED WITH DARK INFRARED TECHNOLOGY VIA SPECIFIC THERMAL PROFILING.
5. THE OLD NON-LEADED SOLDER IS REMOVED FROM THE BGA CHIP.
6. THE OLD NON-LEADED SOLDER IS REMOVED FROM THE MOTHERBOARD BGA LOCATION.
7. CHEMICAL CLEANING OF THE BGA CHIP AND MOTHERBOARD IS DONE.
8. THE BGA CHIP IS DRESSED AND PREPARED FOR REBALLING.
9. THE LEADED SOLDER BALLS ARE PLACED ON THE BGA CHIP AND HEATED TO THE MELTING POINT.
10. THE MOTHERBOARD IS PREPARED FOR PLACEMENT OF BGA CHIP.
11. THE BGA CHIP IS FITTED ON THE BOARD.
12. THE BGA CHIP IS SOLDERED TO THE BOARD WITH DARK INFRARED TECHNOLOGY THERMAL PROFILE.

10 Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts

10. Windows key+Spacebar—The Windows key (Win)+Spacebar keystroke combination gives you a quick way to display your desktop. All open Windows are made transparent, and you can see the desktop underneath. However, you can’t interact with anything on the desktop. When you release the Windows key, the open windows become visible again.

9. Win+Home—This keyboard shortcut provides a handy way to quickly clean up your workspace. Pressing Win+Home minimizes all open windows with the exception of the currently active window.

8. Win+Number—The Windows key plus a number provides a shortcut to opening items in the Windows 7 taskbar. Press the Windows key together with the number that corresponds to the taskbar item you want to open, counting left to right. For instance, Win+2 opens the second taskbar item.

7. Win+(+ or -)—This keyboard shortcut can be handy during presentations because it lets you magnify the screen. Pressing the Windows key and the (plus sign (+) makes the entire screen larger with each iteration. Conversely, pressing the Windows key and the minus sign (-) makes the screen display progressively smaller.

6. Win+T—This keyboard shortcut is handy if you want to quickly scroll through the different items in the Windows 7 taskbar. Pressing Win+T cycles through the taskbar items, displaying the thumbnail image for each item. If you want to change which item you're currently working in, you can press Enter when an item is highlighted to switch to that item.

5. Win+Left arrow and Win+Right arrow—Although some of these shortcuts have been in previous versions of Windows, these two are totally new to Windows 7. They let you take advantage of the UI's side-by-side docking feature. Pressing the Windows key and either the Right or Left arrow key docks the current Window to the side of the desktop that corresponds with the direction of the arrow.

4. Win+L—This keyboard combination is super handy for quickly locking your desktop. Pressing Win+L locks the desktop and displays the Windows logon screen. To unlock the desktop, you need to enter your Windows password.

3. Win+E—Even faster than launching Windows Explorer by right clicking the Start button, pressing Win+E launches Windows Explorer, starting with the Computer view. From there, it's easy to navigate through the system's drives shown in the right portion of the Windows Explorer window to find whatever you're looking for.

2. Win+P—If you've ever needed to give presentations on multiple brands of laptops, you know how annoying it can be to search each different type of laptop for its external projector or monitor hot key. Windows 7 fixes that problem. Pressing Win+P displays the Presentation Display Mode window, which lets you toggle your laptop's presentation mode between Computer Only, Duplicate, Extended, or Projector Only.

1. Win+X—If you're running Windows 7 on a laptop, this keyboard shortcut is for you. Pressing Win+X displays the Windows Mobility Center, which lets you control a number of system settings, including the audio level, the power scheme, wireless networking, external displays, and the external projector. The Windows Mobility Center is also often customized by each OEM.

Source:

http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/windows-7/Windows-7-Keyboard-Shortcuts.aspx

How to Keep a Laptop From Overheating

Instructions

Step 1

Turn your computer off and allow it to cool down if it does overheat. Aside from the underside of your laptop getting very hot, it may also begin to freeze or even shut down completely to protect itself if it begins to get to hot. This is a sign that your computer needs a break, so give it one.
Step 2

Work with your laptop on a flat surface. The rubber feet on your laptop are designed to allow airflow to the underside of the computer, so if you are working on a bed or other soft surface, you cut off the airflow. If you do want to work away from a desk or table, try keeping your computer on your lap, exposing the underside to air.
Step 3

Shut down your laptop before placing it in your carrying bag. While it is convenient to simply pull your laptop from the bag, open the screen and start working, the environment inside of the case may be too warm for your computer and can quickly damage the hardware and the screen.
Step 4

Give your laptop a bit more lift to increase the airflow under the machine. Two simple, flat rulers placed along the front and back edges of your computer is enough to increase the flow of air and keep your laptop cool.
Step 5

Unplug your charger as soon as the battery is full. A common mistake people make is leaving their computer plugged in at all times. However, the constant source of electricity will heat your battery and in turn overheat your laptop. Only charge your computer as long as necessary.

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