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How to Speed up your Computer Exponentially for Minimal Cost with SSD Upgrade

Oftentimes we find ourselves working with a computer or laptop that seems to be not responsive or just sluggish. Of course there are many variables, but under the right conditions you can make your computer snappier than ever with not that much effort. There are multiple ways to upgrade your computer but by far, the most noticeable change comes when swapping out a system drive that runs on a spinning Hard Disk Drive (HDD) for a Digital Solid State Drive (SSD).

Confirm your system would benefit

The first step to determine whether your computer could benefit from putting in an SSD is to confirm that your computer actually is running on a HDD. The easiest way to check on a Windows computer is to search in your search box for the term ” Defragment and Optimize Drives”. That box will provide the “Media Type” Solid state drive or Hard disk drive. In the below example we can see both types of disks in the same computer. In practice, the main benefit would be if the C: drive was a Hard disk drive whereas in this example the system is already running off of a Solid State Drive.

Clone Or Clean Install

The next step is to decide whether to clone or to clean install Windows. Cloning a disk refers to a sector by sector copy from one disk to another. This process does not copy files and has no awareness of the operating system or any data contained on the disks. Typically, the target (destination disk) needs to be the same size or larger than the source (original) disk. The benefit of this method is that it keeps all your files, programs and settings exactly where they were. There are some downsides to this method, however.

A) It’s not clean. Sometimes, it’s better to start fresh. If your system is bogged down by years of downloads, apps and bloatware, now would be the perfect time to start fresh.

B) Size. For cloning to work best, the new drive needs to have the same capacity as your existing drive. The typical Hard drive that ships with a computer is 1 TB or 500 GB. SSD prices vary depending on size, so unless you are storing years’ worth of pictures or videos you may only be using 100 GB or less and a 250 GB SSD will be more than enough for you.

C) HD Health. Cloning a drive from a disk with health issues can cause file system corruption on the target, so you need to ensure that the source drive is healthy. I will be writing another post on methods to check hard drive health.

Cloning should only be chosen for situations where it will be impossible or very difficult to find your program installation files and\or licensing information. Otherwise, it is much more preferred to do a clean install. This post will focus on this second method. I will write a separate post on cloning.

Prerequisite Tools

Before you begin, you will need to make sure that you have the following

Screwdriver – For a laptop you will need a Phillips screwdriver with a small head, but for a computer, a regular Phillips will suffice

Sata to USB – In order to transfer the information from one your HDD to your SSD, you will need either a hard rive dock, Sata to USB adapter or a Hard Drive enclosure. These are all inexpensive and can be easily found on Amazon

Windows Install Media – Windows install media can be created for free on any running Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer on a Flash drive that is 8 GB or larger. See this post on the steps to do so.

Replace Hard Drive with SSD

The first step is to determine how much storage you need to purchase. Typically, a 250 GB SSD should be enough, but if you are using more than 125 GB then you should scale up to the next level. A good rule of thumb is to leave yourself at least %50 room for scalability.

The next step is to gain access to the Hard Drive and identify it. Computers are fairly straightforward, but laptops can be a bit more difficult. Some laptops, on the other hand have a panel to provide access to the hard drive. Here is a sample laptop with the back removed. Look for a youtube guide for your model computer.

Remove the hard drive and replace it with the SSD that you purchased. It is usually held in by just a few screws. Then close up the computer.

Install Windows

Plug your Windows Media into your computer and then power on the computer. There is a special Key combination to enter the boot menu so that you can boot from the USB drive. Each manufacturer is different, but here are some common ones.

Dell Tap F12 repeatedly while you power on the computer until a blue line shows up under the Dell symbol

HP Tap F9 repeatedly while powering on the computer until you reach the boot menu.

Acer F12, but it is disabled by default. You can enable it in the BIOS by tapping F2.

Lenovo F12 or enter or escape. Typically, there is a message when powering on the computer about which button to push.

Asus Tap F2 to enter the BIOS and then choose your boot device in the temporary Boot override section in the BIOS.

Confirm your language and keyboard settings and select Next.

Select Install Now

Accept the License Agreement

Select Custom: Install Windows Only

Choose the SSD Drive and select Next

At this point Windows will install itself. Wait for it to finish until you reach the Out of Box Setup Experience.

Run through the rest of the computer setup.

Update\ Set up Computer

After a clean install Windows will need to install drivers and firmware before it is ready to be used. This used to be a notoriously drawn out and convoluted process involving manufacturer downloads, but with Windows 10 and 11 this is all handled in Windows updates itself.

Restore Your Files

Attach your old laptop to your computer using either a Dock, USB adapter or an enclosure.

Identify the drive letter of the external Windows installation. (In this case it’s D:)

Right click the start menu icon on the bottom left of the screen and select WIndows Powershell (Administrator) Note: It’s important to select the administrator option.

Type the following Xcopy d: c:\backup /s /c and then select D for Directory creation. (replace d: with your external drive letter and C: with your system drive).

Your files should now all transfer to C:\Backup.

Congratulations! Your computer is now running on Solid State Drive!

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Apple Display Supplier Frozen Out – Caught with Shady Practices

According to a recent report by Ben Lovejoy at 925mac, Chinese display manufacturer, BOE is in very hot water after being caught trying to cut corners. Apple outsources its phone displays to other companies. Samsung is in the lead with LG following behind, while BOE comes in third. Despite this, they still were hoping to fulfill an order of 40M OLED screens across various models.

Struggle to Meet Demand

A month ago, the LEC reported that BOE was struggling to meet demand. This was due to 3 primary reasons.

A) The global chip shortage has hit the display driver chip industry particularly hard. Samsung has its own Chip making company called Samsung System LSI, which it uses to supply itself. On the other hand, LG and BOE both share the same chip supplier – LX Semicon. Given the choice, LX Semicon had elected to supply LG before BOE. This left BOE in a crunch.

B) Simultaneously, the yield rate – which is the rate of how much percent of a manufacturer’s production are fit to sell was lower than expected. Apple is notoriously stringent in their quality control requirements, and even Samsung has a lower yield rate for their Apple contracts vs general production. However, BOE was doing even worse than usual.

C) At the same time that all this was going on, one of their new factories was delivering a low factory operation rate. The report does not say why, but we must speculate that the extreme Chinese Covid lockdowns are playing a role.

Desperate Measures

All this left BOE struggling to meet its commitments to Apple. The story took a strange turn last week after it was reported that BOE had secretly made changes to the design of the circuitry without approval from Apple. When they were discovered, they sent some C level executives to try to explain themselves. Apparently, that did not go over too well with Apple either.

As a result, BOE has been cut out of the iPhone 14 orders altogether and its initial 30M order (prior to them raising it to 40M) was handed to Samsung instead. It is extremely unlikely that Samsung will be able to fulfill both their initial order and this one so expect shortages on the iPhone 14. It is unclear however, whether BOE will be permanently banned or whether they will be allowed back for future releases.

I find it interesting how in the “Smart Phone Wars”, everything is connected, and how even when purchasing an iPhone, their direct competitor (Samsung) directly benefits from each purchase. The real-life ramifications of the Geopolitics such as Covid Lockdowns and chip shortages are also fascinating to me.

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How to DIY Laptop Screen Repair

For many of us who have owned and used laptops for business or leisure, the above picture is a familiar sight that fills us with dread. The story is always the same, with some degree of variation. Either we accidentally dropped the laptop or pressed too hard on the screen. Next thing we know there is an ugly splotch on the screen and we panic because the last thing we want is to purchase a new on, not to mention the potential of losing your data. Professional repairs can also cost hundreds of dollars if we were to go that way.

However, I want to share a secret with you. Oftentimes, replacing the laptop screen can be done quite easily with no special tools other than a small screwdriver (which some screen sellers include pro bono). There are caveats and some variation across laptop models, but the main process is very similar and often straightforward.

Here, I will chronicle the screen replacement process of a very common laptop model, but please read through the “gotchas and warnings” at the end of the article before attempting the repair.

Remove Bezel

Remove Bezel

The first step is to remove the plastic Bezel of the laptop. In some models it is held in place by glue as well as plastic “snaps” so try to be gentle but firm. I find that if you keep tugging at it slowly in one of the corners and are patient, it will begin to give. Slowly work your way around the screen. I prefer to use my fingernails only, but if yours are cut short, use a plastic pry tool only. Try to avoid the metal versions.

The bottom portion of the Bezel is often stuck to the tape around the screen’s control board\digitizer. Run your finger along the top of this section of Bezel while unsnapping it so that the sticky adhesive will remain on the bezel for you to reuse.

Once the bezel is fully freed, pry it off completely from underneath.

Disconnect the Screen

Remove screws

The vast majority of screens are held in place by four screws. Simply remove these. There are some other methods that the manufacturers use, so if you do not see the screws or metal tabs, look for a video guide for your laptop for details on how to remove the screen.

Disconnect Video Cable

NOTE: Disconnect the battery before moving to the next step.

Gently disconnect the video cable from the screen. They are generally taped down. Loosen the tape with your fingernail prior to disconnecting the cable. Many cables also have a metal clasp that you need to unhook (As pictured above).

Order\Install Screen

Once your screen is disconnected, you can get the searchable part number from the lower left corner of the screen. There are many codes here, but in general, the most searchable manufacturer model code will have the screen size as the second or third digit. Common screen sizes are 156 (15.6), 173 (17.3) 14 and 116 (11.6). The first digit is the manufacturer, some common ones are B (AU Optronics), N (ChiMei Innolux), LP (LG Philips). In this example we have a ChiMey 15.6 screen with a part number of NT156WHM-T00. You can find more information about laptop screen part numbers here.

The manufacturer does not matter, but please search for the part number directly wherever you go to purchase your screen so you can ensure compatibility. I prefer to purchase from Amazon but there are some dedicated websites that sell laptop screens. The main things to ensure are that screen size, resolution, pin count and form factor match your screen. you can alternate between Matte and Glossy as this is just a matter of preference.

Mount new Screen

Carefully, unbox the new screen when it arrives and connect the cable firmly. Usually there is a noticeable “click” when it is in place correctly. Tape the cable back down then mount the screen. There is no need to put back all the screws until we can verify that it is working. Also leave the protective film on at this time.

Reconnect the power (either the battery or connect the AC adapter) and power on the laptop. If the screen is fuzzy, power off the laptop and disconnect the power again and then check the cable connection.

If it is working, tighten the remaining screws and slowly remove the protective film. Firmly but gently snap the bezel back into place. Take care on the bottom section where the video cable runs, to ensure that it is securely in the grooved paths intended for it, prior to snapping that section back.

Congratulations! You have successfully replaced your own laptop screen and brought your computer back to life!

Words of Caution

  1. No amount of reading or video watching will give you the experience to compare with a professional repair. You may find that you are having more difficulty than you expected. If that happens, simply stop and then bring it in to a repair shop. If you are careful, you should not make things worse than they were before but any laptop repair comes with some inherent risk.
  2. Before attempting a DIY repair, please connect the laptop to another computer monitor so that you can back up your information and also confirm that nothing else was damaged in the incident. For laptops with traditional Hard Drives, they will often fail as the result of a fall. There is no sense in repairing the screen only to find out that your Hard Drive is borked. (We will post another guide on upgrading\replacing a damaged hard drive and salvage data so perhaps it may be worth it to repair after all, but it is always good to know before investing time and money for the part.)
  3. It is advisable not to order the new screen until you are able to open the screen and get the part number. This also helps you avoid a situation where you order the screen and then cannot continue the repair.
  4. This is a general guide, each laptop will have its own unique method, but there are plenty of video laptop opening guides to help you find one for a laptop model very close to yours.
  5. This guide is geared for laptops that have a plastic bezel rim around the screen. For those that have the glass stretch to the rim similar to a phone or tablet (most laptops that flip around like the Lenovo Yoga series), it is advisable to replace the entire display assembly. You can price that against a professional repair to see what makes more sense for you. I plan to post a guide on opening the back of the laptop to help with that.

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Zoom Limits Free Meetings to 40 Minutes

IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Zoom has announced that they will be slashing the maximum meeting time to 40 minutes for their free subscription beginning May2. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Zoom has been hailed as the link that kept people all around the world from feeling completely isolated. Although, even before Covid, video conferencing was quite common both for personal and business requirements, its use and popularity exploded once we were all forced into isolation. Another change that came as a surprise, was how Zoom had a meteoric rise to the top of the video conferencing options.

Prior to Covid, most people associated video conferencing with Skype. Zoom had the advantage of being extremely intuitive and simple to use plus being feature rich. They also caught Microsoft at an awkward time when they were attempting to shift away from Skype to their new offering “Teams”. 2 Years ago, however, Teams was simply not ready to compete with Zoom. I experienced this personally with meetings at my company where after a few weeks we shifted to Zoom.

To be sure, Zoom had its own rocky moments. Most famously, there were serious security concerns, and in November 202, the FTC Required Zoom to Enhance its Security Practices as Part of Settlement. However, for the most part Zoom had been able to overcome these difficulties and remain at the top of the video conferencing food chain.

Microsoft has not been idle these last 2 years and they have been steadily improving the Teams experience, even including ad hoc meetings baked into Windows. This new 40 minute cap imposed by Zoom on will only make competitive products seem more attractive to users. To be fair though, Microsoft Teams has it’s own 60 Minute cap on the free version of Teams, but Skype remains available for free while allowing meetings for up to 24 hours. It will be interesting to see whether this move will let Microsoft regain some of the ground it lost to Zoom.

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Another New Outlook!

Microsoft is once again pushing their reimagining of Office integrations in yet another iteration of Outlook. I find it interesting that although they have been pushing Teams to be their central hub over the past few years (In fact I thought that email integration was coming to Teams), Outlook is not ready yet to be dethroned as the primary “Product Information Management” tool. It looks like it is available for home users as well. I haven’t had a chance to test it yet, but from the way it is being described, Microsoft is leaning more heavily on AI to sniff out and then pin files and items that they feel are most useful. Here’s to me hoping that they do a better job on this than on Cortana in Windows 10 and the dreaded “Show Relevant Results” option for Outlook search in the current editions .

You can read more about it here in this pcworld article.

Microsoft unveils the future of Outlook, and you can try it right now | PCWorld

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