Laptop Hardware - CompTIA A+ 220-1101 - 1.1

Summary

This script offers an in-depth look at laptop repair and maintenance, focusing on the unique challenges posed by their compact design. It covers various components, including modular batteries, keyboards, memory upgrades, and storage options like SSDs and M.2 drives. The video also discusses the process of migrating an operating system to a new SSD and touches on wireless connectivity and modern authentication methods like biometrics and NFC, providing a comprehensive guide for technicians and users alike.

Takeaways

• 🛠️ Troubleshooting laptops can be challenging due to their unique form factors and the need for specialized knowledge of different manufacturers' designs.
• 📚 Technicians often become knowledgeable in specific laptop brands due to their organization's purchasing preferences, leading to expertise in those particular models.
• 🔍 Manufacturers provide service information that helps technicians learn how to replace components like keyboards and displays in laptops.
• 🔋 Laptops typically have modular batteries, allowing for easy replacement and travel convenience, but non-modular batteries require device disassembly.
• 🔌 Lithium-ion batteries are designed to be fully charged without memory effect concerns, but their capacity diminishes with each charge, eventually needing replacement.
• 🔑 When purchasing a new laptop battery, ensure it is specific to the make and model of the laptop to avoid compatibility issues.
• ⌨️ Keyboards are the most-used component of a laptop and are usually easy to replace, often connected via a single ribbon cable.
• 🔄 As laptops shrink in size, keyboard layouts change to accommodate the smaller form factor, sometimes including extra function keys or altered key placements.
• 💾 SO-DIMM (Small Outline Dual In-Line Memory Module) is a common memory form factor for laptops, allowing for easy memory upgrades through accessible slots.
• 🚫 Some laptops have non-upgradeable memory soldered to the motherboard, requiring a full motherboard replacement for memory changes.
• 🖥️ Storage options in laptops include traditional spinning hard drives or newer SSDs, with the latter offering improved speed and performance.
• 🔄 M.2 interfaces provide a compact and modular storage solution, easily slotting into a laptop for additional storage without the need for cables.
• 🔄 SSDs can be upgraded in laptops to improve performance, often by cloning the existing hard drive to the new SSD to preserve the operating system and user data.
• 📡 Older laptops may use Mini PCI or Mini PCI Express interfaces for wireless connectivity, which are user-replaceable for different network options.
• 🔓 Modern laptops offer biometric authentication options such as facial recognition or fingerprint readers, providing secure and convenient access.
• 📲 Near-field communication (NFC) is increasingly integrated into laptops, allowing for data transfer or authentication via mobile devices without physical contact.

Q & A

Why can troubleshooting problems with a laptop be challenging?

Troubleshooting laptops can be challenging because they are unique computing environments designed for a specific form factor, which can make repairs difficult, especially when needing to access internal components.

Why might some laptop brands be easier to repair than others?

Some laptop brands may be easier to repair due to their design, modularity, and the availability of service information. Technicians often become more knowledgeable with one brand because it is the one their organization purchases most frequently.

What is the importance of service information provided by laptop manufacturers?

Service information is crucial as it provides the necessary process details for replacing components like the keyboard, display, or other parts within the laptop, which aids in efficient repair and maintenance.

Why are laptop batteries often modular?

Laptop batteries are often modular to allow for easy unplugging and reconnection, enabling users to quickly swap out a depleted battery for a fresh one without needing to disassemble the laptop.

What are the common types of battery technologies used in today's laptops?

Lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer are the common battery technologies used in today's laptops due to their ability to be fully charged and discharged without memory effect concerns.

Why is it important to purchase a battery specifically for a particular laptop model?

It is important because the battery form factor and specifications are often unique to a specific make and model of a laptop, ensuring compatibility and optimal performance.

What is the primary function of a laptop keyboard?

The primary function of a laptop keyboard is to serve as the main input device for interacting with the operating system.

How can an external keyboard be used as a workaround for an integrated laptop keyboard issue?

An external keyboard can be plugged into a laptop's USB interface, allowing users to bypass issues with the integrated keyboard by using it as an alternative input device.

What are the advantages of using SO-DIMM memory modules in laptops?

SO-DIMM (Small Outline Dual In-Line Memory Module) memory modules are advantageous in laptops due to their compact size, making them suitable for mobile devices, and their ease of installation and removal through accessible windows or openings on the laptop.

Why is it recommended to follow manufacturer's instructions when changing keyboard components?

Following manufacturer's instructions is crucial to avoid damaging fragile keycaps and underlying mechanisms, ensuring proper maintenance and replacement of laptop keyboard components.

How does the form factor of SSDs differ from traditional hard drives, and what are the benefits?

SSDs (Solid State Drives) have a compact form factor without moving parts, offering advantages such as increased speed for reading and writing data, durability, and easy upgradeability compared to traditional spinning hard drives.

What is the significance of the M.2 interface for storage devices in laptops?

The M.2 interface allows for even more compact storage devices, fitting more storage in a smaller space without the need for additional cables, making it a very modular and space-efficient form of storage for laptops.

How can the performance of a laptop be improved by upgrading the storage?

Upgrading from a traditional hard drive to an SSD or using an M.2 interface can dramatically improve a laptop's performance by enhancing data read and write speeds, leading to faster boot times and overall system responsiveness.

What are the different methods for migrating an operating system from a hard drive to an SSD?

One can either perform a fresh installation of the operating system on the SSD and manually transfer user data and applications, or use cloning software to create an image of the hard drive and transfer that image to the SSD, preserving the entire system setup.

Why are biometric authentication methods like facial recognition or fingerprint scanning considered secure?

Biometric authentication methods are secure because they are based on unique physical characteristics that are difficult to replicate, providing a reliable way to verify the user's identity.

How does NFC technology facilitate authentication and data transfer in laptops?

NFC (Near-Field Communication) allows for contactless data transfer and authentication by using a user's mobile device or wearable, which can quickly and easily connect to the laptop without the need for physical contact or password entry.

Outlines

00:00

🛠️ Laptop Troubleshooting and Repair

The script discusses the complexities of troubleshooting and repairing laptops due to their unique form factors and the variation in design among different manufacturers. Technicians often become familiar with a specific brand due to organizational preferences. Service information from manufacturers is essential for understanding component replacement processes, such as keyboards and displays. Laptops are mobile, necessitating modular batteries that can be easily removed and replaced without disassembly. However, non-modular batteries may require a complete laptop case opening. The script also touches on the evolution of battery technology from lithium-ion to lithium-ion polymer, highlighting the absence of memory effect and the gradual decrease in battery capacity over time. It emphasizes the importance of purchasing model-specific batteries for replacements.

05:01

🔋 Laptop Battery and Keyboard Maintenance

This paragraph delves into the specifics of laptop battery configurations, such as modular designs that allow for easy swapping of batteries while traveling. It contrasts this with non-modular batteries that are integrated into the laptop case. The script explains the common use of lithium-ion or lithium-ion polymer batteries and their charging characteristics, including the gradual loss of capacity over time. Additionally, it describes the keyboard as the primary input device, its ease of replacement, and the use of ribbon cables for connection. External keyboards can serve as a workaround for integrated keyboard issues. The paragraph also addresses the challenges of fitting keyboards into smaller laptop form factors, leading to the use of function keys and compact layouts, and the fragility of keycaps, which require careful handling during maintenance.

10:02

💾 Memory and Storage Options in Laptops

The script explores the topic of memory and storage in laptops, starting with SO-DIMM (Small Outline Dual In-Line Memory Module) as a common form factor for mobile devices, allowing for easy memory upgrades through accessible windows or openings on the laptop's bottom. It contrasts this with laptops where memory is soldered to the motherboard, limiting upgradeability. The paragraph then shifts to storage options, comparing the traditional 2.5-inch spinning hard drives with the newer solid-state drives (SSDs) that offer increased speed and have no moving parts. It also introduces the M.2 interface as a compact storage solution with a smaller form factor. The script outlines the process of replacing or upgrading storage, which may involve opening the laptop's back or accessing it through a dedicated window, and emphasizes the ease of replacing drives with either SATA or M.2 interfaces.

15:03

🚀 SSD Migration and Laptop Connectivity

This section discusses the process of migrating from a traditional hard drive to an SSD to enhance system performance. It presents two methods: a manual transfer of data and applications or a more efficient cloning process that replicates the entire drive image onto the new SSD, using specific software. The script also touches on the integration of wireless functionality into modern laptops, with some having built-in 802.11 or Bluetooth capabilities, while older models use Mini PCI or Mini PCI Express interfaces for additional connectivity. It describes the ease of replacing or adding wireless cards through modular slots and the importance of connecting antenna wires for wireless functionality. The paragraph concludes with a brief mention of newer operating systems offering advanced authentication options, such as biometrics, which may require both software support and compatible hardware.

🔓 Advanced Authentication and NFC Integration

The final paragraph focuses on advanced authentication methods for laptops, such as biometric identification through facial recognition or fingerprint scanning, which are considered secure due to the difficulty of duplicating these unique traits. It explains the dual components required for biometric authentication: software support in the operating system and the necessary hardware for capturing biometric data. The script also highlights the use of NFC (Near-Field Communication) in laptops, allowing for contactless data transfer and authentication, which is particularly useful in environments where quick and clean access to the system is required, such as in hospitals or warehouses.

Keywords

💡Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting refers to the process of identifying, locating, and correcting the cause of a malfunction or error in a system. In the context of the video, it is about diagnosing and resolving issues with laptops, which can be challenging due to their unique computing environments and form factors. The script mentions that technicians often become familiar with specific manufacturers' laptops, which aids in troubleshooting.

💡Form Factor

Form factor is a term used to describe the physical configuration and dimensions of a device, such as a laptop. The script emphasizes that laptops are designed with specific form factors to fit particular designs, which can make repairs and internal component access more challenging compared to standard desktop computers.

💡Modular

Modular refers to a design approach where components can be easily removed and replaced without the need for specialized tools or extensive disassembly. The video script mentions modular batteries in laptops, which can be unplugged and reconnected without opening the laptop, providing an example of modular design in action.

💡Lithium-ion Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are a type of rechargeable battery that is commonly used in portable electronic devices due to their high energy density and low self-discharge rates. The script explains that these batteries are designed to be fully charged and can be discharged and recharged without memory effect, but they do lose capacity over time, which may require replacement.

💡Keyboard

A keyboard is the primary input device for a laptop, allowing users to interact with the operating system. The script describes the keyboard as an easy-to-replace component, often connected to the laptop via a ribbon cable. It also discusses the evolution of keyboard design in smaller laptops, including the use of function keys and the challenges of fitting a full-sized keyboard into a compact space.

💡Memory Module

A memory module, specifically a SO-DIMM (Small Outline Dual In-Line Memory Module) in the context of the video, is a type of memory used in laptops that can be easily added or removed to increase the system's RAM. The script explains that some laptops have a modular design for memory upgrades, while others have memory soldered to the motherboard, limiting upgrade options.

💡Storage Space

Storage space refers to the physical or virtual space available on a device for storing data. The video script discusses different types of storage used in laptops, such as magnetic disks (hard drives) and solid-state drives (SSDs), and the advantages of SSDs, including increased speed and lack of moving parts.

💡M.2 Interface

The M.2 interface is a specification for a small form factor that supports different types of devices, including SSDs. The script describes M.2 SSDs as smaller and more modular than traditional SATA-connected SSDs, allowing for more storage in a compact space without the need for additional cables.

💡Authentication

Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user or device. The video script mentions various authentication options available in newer operating systems, such as biometrics (facial recognition or fingerprint scanning), which can provide a secure and convenient way to access a laptop.

💡Biometrics

Biometrics refers to the use of unique biological characteristics, such as fingerprints or facial features, to identify an individual for authentication purposes. The script explains how operating systems can support biometric authentication, and it provides an example of a fingerprint sensor on a laptop keyboard used for this purpose.

💡NFC (Near-Field Communication)

NFC is a short-range wireless communication technology that enables the transfer of data between devices over a small distance. The script discusses the integration of NFC in laptops, allowing for contactless data transfer and authentication using devices like smartphones or watches, which can be particularly useful in environments where quick and clean access is needed.

Highlights

Troubleshooting laptops can be challenging due to their unique computing environments and form factors.

Laptops from different manufacturers vary in repair ease, with technicians often specializing in the most common brand for their organization.

Manufacturers provide service information for laptop component replacements like keyboards and displays.

Laptop batteries are often modular for easy access, but some are internal and not designed to be easily replaced.

Lithium-ion batteries do not suffer from memory effect but lose capacity with each charge cycle.

Laptop batteries are specific to the make and model, requiring correct replacement parts.

Modular battery configurations allow for easy swapping of batteries while traveling.

The keyboard is a primary input device on laptops and is relatively easy to replace.

External keyboards can be used as a workaround for integrated keyboard issues.

Laptop keyboard layouts are adapted to fit smaller form factors, sometimes omitting numeric keypads.

Function keys on laptops often have secondary functions accessed by holding the 'Function' key.

Laptop keycaps are fragile, requiring careful handling during maintenance or replacement.

SO-DIMM is a common memory module form factor for laptops and other mobile devices.

Some laptops have memory soldered to the motherboard, making memory upgrades costly and difficult.

Laptops may use traditional magnetic hard drives or solid-state drives (SSDs) for storage.

SSDs offer increased speed and performance over traditional hard drives.

M.2 interface SSDs provide even more storage in a smaller form factor.

Storage devices in laptops can be easily replaced through access covers or by opening the back of the laptop.

Migrating from a hard drive to an SSD can be done by cloning or imaging the drive.

Wireless functionality in laptops can be integrated or added via Mini PCI or Mini PCI Express interfaces.

Biometric authentication options like facial recognition and fingerprint readers are increasingly available on laptops.

NFC technology allows for contactless data transfer and authentication with laptops.

Transcripts

As a technician, you'll often find

that troubleshooting problems with a laptop

can be challenging.

These are very unique computing environments

that are specifically designed to fit a particular form

factor.

And because of that, it can be a very challenging repair

if you need to get inside of that device and make a change.

You might often find, as you look

at laptops from different manufacturers,

that some laptops tend to be easier to repair than others.

You'll often become very knowledgeable in one

particular manufacturer's laptops

because that's the one that your organization will

tend to purchase the most.

And you'll find, over time, you'll

become much more comfortable with repairing

those particular brand of laptops.

Many laptop manufacturers will provide service information

so you can learn more about the process required

to replace the keyboard, the display, or other components

within the laptop.

Our laptops are mobile devices, so it's

important to have some type of power source

when you're traveling.

Many laptops will have batteries included,

and usually these batteries are very modular.

You can unplug and reconnect those batteries to your laptop.

And you don't have to take apart the laptop

to gain access to that battery.

Some laptops will have batteries inside of the laptop case,

and those obviously are not designed to be modular.

Many of the battery technologies we use today

are lithium ion or lithium-ion polymer.

These batteries are designed to be fully charged.

You can discharge some of the battery

and charge it back up again without worrying that you're

causing a memory effect or limiting the amount of capacity

that battery might have.

However, each time you charge that battery,

it diminishes the capacity just a bit.

So after a number of years, you may

find that you have to replace the battery because it's not

able to maintain the charge that it once did.

Because laptops have a very specific form factor,

you'll find that the batteries used in these laptops

are very specific to a particular make

and model of laptop.

So if you're purchasing a new battery for a laptop,

make sure you're purchasing it specifically

for that particular device.

Here's an example of a very modular battery configuration

on the back of a laptop.

There are two different batteries

underneath this empty space.

And you can see they will slide in and lock into place.

You can unlock the battery with the switch that's on the back,

pull it out, and replace it with a new battery.

This means if you're traveling and you use up

the capacity of one battery, you can easily

disconnect that battery and connect a fresh one

to your laptop.

The keyboard is probably the most-used component

of a laptop.

It is our primary input into the operating system.

And fortunately, it's a very easy component to replace.

There's a single device that's usually

connected with a ribbon cable to the main part of the laptop.

This is the back of a laptop keyboard.

And you can see there is this single ribbon cable that's

used to connect and disconnect from the laptop motherboard.

You do have the option on many laptops

to plug in an external keyboard to a USB interface.

So if you're running into problems

with the keyboard that's integrated into your laptop,

you may be able to work around those problems

by using an external keyboard.

One of the challenges we have with laptops

is as the laptop becomes smaller,

there's less space to have a keyboard.

So we're using a lot of extra function keys

and changing around the layout of the keyboard

just to be able to fit it into this small place.

You can see on this laptop that we

don't have enough room for a numeric keypad

on the right side.

And the inverted T that we use for arrow keys is

put underneath the Shift key on the right side.

Some larger laptops can include other keys.

For example, this laptop does have a numeric keypad,

but you'll notice a lot of the function keys for Home and Page

Up and Page Down have been moved just above the numeric keypad.

And you can also see that the function keys also

have secondary functions associated with them.

So the key that you would normally use for F1

has a question mark, which is probably the Help

key for this particular laptop.

Function 2 looks like it is a brightness or brightness-down

setting.

And F3 is a brightness-up setting.

The way that we would access those secondary functions

is to hold down the Function key on the keyboard

and press the appropriate key on the function keypad.

Because these laptops are mobile,

we tend to sometimes have things fall within the keyboard

itself.

Or the keycaps themselves might be damaged

and we might have to replace them.

These keycaps, though, are very fragile.

So make sure you check with the manufacturer's instructions

and you follow exactly what they recommend when changing

anything with that keyboard.

You don't want to break any part of the keycap itself

when you're removing it or placing it back

onto the laptop.

And you want to be sure that the mechanics underneath are not

damaged at all.

This picture shows just how delicate

these tiny little plastic pieces are underneath the keycaps.

So you want to be very, very careful

when doing any type of maintenance

on that laptop keyboard.

All of the programs that are executing in your operating

system are executing in memory.

And if we ever need to increase the amount of memory

in our laptop, then we'll probably want to use SO-DIMM--

or the small outline dual in-line memory module.

This form factor is very common for laptops

and other mobile devices and often there

is a window or an opening at the bottom of the laptop that

allows you to easily add and remove these memory modules.

Some laptop manufacturers have decided

not to create a modular way to change the amount of memory

inside of the laptop.

And in those cases, the memory is not on a SO-DIMM module.

Instead, it's physically soldered to the motherboard

of the laptop.

This means that you can't upgrade or change

the amount of memory in that laptop.

And if you needed to make a change to the memory,

you would have to replace the entire motherboard

for that laptop.

And that is certainly a very costly endeavor

when all you might want is additional memory

in your system.

Here's a picture of a SO-DIMM.

This one is in context with everything around it.

So you can see this is a relatively small memory module,

especially when you compare it to the larger DIMMs

that you might find inside of a desktop computer.

To be able to install the SO-DIMM,

you place it into the memory slot on the laptop,

push it down so that it locks, and now you

have additional memory in your laptop.

Our laptops also needs some type of storage space

so that we can retrieve or save files to that system.

Older laptops might have storage in the form of a magnetic disk.

This is the hard drives that we traditionally think about.

These are spinning, physical drives.

But they're in a form factor that's around 2 and 1/2 inches.

This 2 and 1/2 inch form factor works well

for these portable platforms, especially when you consider

that desktop platforms have the larger 3 and 1/2 inch size

hard drives.

Many newer laptops will instead have

solid state drives, or SSDs, instead

of spinning hard drives.

As the name implies, a solid state drive is solid state.

There are no moving parts inside of an SSD,

even though the SSD shown here in this picture

looks identical to the form factor

and connectivity you might have for a hard drive.

This makes it very easy to perform an upgrade because you

can unplug a hard drive and connect

an SSD to the same interface using exactly the same form

factor.

One significant advantage of the SSD

is the greatly increased speed for reading and writing data

to this device.

And by simply upgrading from a hard drive to an SSD,

you can greatly improve the performance

of almost any device.

There's also another interface type

available on many devices called an M.2 interface.

This is an M.2 interface on an SSD drive.

And you can see the size of this SSD

is much smaller than the larger and more

traditional SATA-connected SSD.

This means we can fit a lot more storage

in a much smaller space.

And we don't have the cables that you would normally

find on a traditional SATA-connected SSD.

This is also a very modular form of storage.

You can simply plug it into a slot,

use a screw to connect it, and you now

have additional storage inside of your system.

Here's another view of these two storage devices together.

One is a spinning hard drive with a SATA connection.

The other is an SSD using an M.2 interface.

And you can see these are very two different kinds

of connections using a very different form factor

inside of the laptop.

If you need to replace or upgrade

the storage that's inside of your laptop,

you may find that everything is internal to the laptop

and you have to open the entire back of the laptop

to gain access to that particular storage bay.

Or there may be a window or an opening

on the back of a laptop, and you simply

need to open one single window to gain access

to the entire storage area.

Whether these are drives that are inside of the laptop

or they're accessible from a cover

on the back of the laptop, they're

relatively easy to replace.

There are probably a few screws you would remove,

you would disconnect it from the SATA connection that's

on your laptop, and then slide it out of that particular bay.

To add a new drive, you simply plug it into the cable,

screw it down, and now you have a new drive

inside of that laptop.

If you're connecting to an M.2 interface, it's even easier.

It's a single screw that allows you to either connect

or disconnect that M.2 drive.

And it simply slides out of that M.2 interface,

very similar to the interface you

would use for installing memory on a system.

This laptop happens to have a cover in the back that gains

access to the storage drive.

You would unscrew that cover, and remove it from the system,

and then unscrew the mount that is keeping that drive in place

inside of the laptop.

On this laptop, you simply slide the drive back,

which disconnects it from the SATA connection,

and you can remove it from the laptop.

It's a similar process if the drive is inside of the laptop

without an access cover.

You'll just have to remove the entire back of the laptop

to be able to gain access to that drive.

And if you're lucky enough to have a laptop with an M.2

connection, there's probably a cover on the back

that you can remove.

And then you can add the SSD.

Use the single screw to tighten it down, replace the cover,

and now you have a new storage drive on your laptop.

Because the performance of a system

can be improved dramatically by replacing a spinning hard drive

with an SSD, it's very common to perform these migrations

and move an operating system from an existing

spinning hard drive to a new SSD on these laptops.

You can do this a number of different ways.

One common way to do it is to install an operating

system on the SSD and simply move over

a user's documents and any applications

that they might need.

However, this can be time consuming

because it requires an additional operating system

installation.

And then you have to manually move over everything

that user might have in their user documents

and then manually install any applications that

are important for that user.

Another way to migrate from a hard drive to an SSD--

and a method that's perhaps more elegant--

is to create a clone or an image of the hard drive

and move that image to the new SSD.

This means that you don't have to install a new operating

system on the SSD.

And when you move this image from one system to the other,

you're moving everything-- all of the users data

and all of the users applications.

To perform this migration, you'll

need software that can create the image on the hard drive

and move that image or copy it onto the SSD.

There are a number of applications that can do this.

Many manufacturers will include an application

with the SSD that can provide this imaging function.

But there are many commercial and open-source options

available.

Some organizations will create one single image file

and use that image file to create multiple copies

across multiple systems.

You can also perform a drive-to-drive image

where there's no intermediary image file.

You're simply taking everything from one system

and copying it sector-by-sector over to the drive that's

on another system.

This would require that you either

have two systems running simultaneously

so you can perform that drive-to-drive image,

or the system that you're using supports

having multiple drives inside of it simultaneously.

On many newer laptops, you may find

that wireless functionality using

802.11 or Bluetooth connections are built into the system board

or motherboard of that laptop.

Older laptops may include Mini PCI or Mini PCI Express

interfaces so that you can add additional wireless

connectivity.

For example, you could plug in one of these cards

and you might have 802.11 access that

will provide you with local area network

coverage on wireless networks.

Or this may be a Bluetooth connection

so that you can connect over a personal area

network to earpieces, speakers, and other Bluetooth components.

This is designed to be user replaceable,

so there's usually a cover that you

can remove on the back of the laptop that

will allow you access to the Mini PCI or Mini PCI Express

interfaces.

This is an older laptop that has a couple of storage bays.

Here's the memory in the middle of the system.

There's some cooling here for the CPU.

And you can see right here on the bottom right are two Mini

PCI Express interfaces.

One of these is for wireless local area network.

And the other is for a wireless personal area

network, or Bluetooth.

Here's a better view of these.

There's actually three slots available on this laptop.

We're using two of them-- one 802.11

and the other one for Bluetooth.

But there's a slot right in the middle

specifying for wireless wide area network, which

would be a cellular connection so that you

can use a third party cellular provider to gain access

to the network when you're away from 802.11

or any other type of network.

These cards are very modular, so it's very easy

to slide one into a slot, push it down,

and you've installed the card.

For these wireless cards, there are usually antenna wires

connected as well.

So you would connect those to the appropriate ports

on that wireless card.

Our newer operating systems may provide us

with additional authentication options,

which can be really useful on a laptop computer.

For example, instead of typing a password

to gain access to the system, you

might want to use biometrics.

Our operating system can look at our face,

it can look at our fingerprint, and be

able to determine if that's really us

and if we should gain access to the system.

They're usually two components to this.

There's the software in the operating system

so that it can support this method of authentication.

And then you'll need some type of hardware

that can provide either the view of your face

or the view of your finger so that it can determine

if that's really you wanting to gain access to the laptop.

If you look at the options for authentication in your account

settings in Windows, you'll see the different options

that are available.

We're all very familiar with the password option, for example.

But if you wanted to use biometrics,

you could use Windows Hello Face--

which will use the camera on your system

to look at your face--

or use Windows Hello Fingerprint, which

uses a fingerprint reader.

Since it's difficult to duplicate

your face or your fingerprint, these

are relatively secure ways of authenticating

into your laptop.

And in some cases, you might use multiple forms at the same time

to provide additional factors of authentication.

For example, you may have to type a password

and use your fingerprint just to make sure

that you really are the person gaining access to that laptop.

This is the laptop keyboard we were looking at earlier.

You can see on the right side underneath the keyboard

is this small sensor.

That's your fingerprint sensor.

So to be able to authenticate to the system,

you simply slide your finger across that sensor.

It will recognize your fingerprint

and give you access to the operating system.

We're also seeing NFC--

or near-field communication-- being used more and more

with laptops.

It's a technology we've been using for quite some time

on our mobile devices.

Now we're starting to see it integrated

into our laptop systems.

This allows us to transfer data or perform authentication

to the device without physically touching the device.

If you're in a store, and you paid during checkout

with your phone or your watch, then you were using NFC.

But you could also use your phone or your watch

to authenticate to the laptop.

This is great if you're in a hospital or a warehouse

where you might be using this laptop only occasionally,

and you need it to quickly authenticate

each time you walk up to the laptop.

By using your phone or your watch,

you're able to provide that authentication without having

to touch anything else on the system, input

any extra passwords, and quickly gain access

to the operating system.