Keyboard

When replacing the keyboard, one of the main things you want to keep in mind is not to damage the data cable connector to the system board.

1. With the laptop fully powered off and unplugged from the wall, remove the battery. Examine the screws on the back of the laptop. Ideally, icons indicating which screws are attached to the keyboard will be available. If not, look up the model online and determine which of the screws are attached to the keyboard.
2. Remove the screws with a T-8 or Phillips-head screwdriver. With the laptop turned back over, open it. If the keyboard is tucked under any plastic pieces, determine whether those pieces need to have screws removed to get them out of the way; if so, remove the screws and the plastic pieces. In some cases, there may just be clamps that are easily removed.
3. With any plastic covers out of the way, remove any screws at the top and remove the keyboard itself from top to bottom. There should be a thin, but wide, data cable to the system board at the bottom. This is the piece to be careful with!
4. Take a pick and lift the plastic connectors that hold this data cable in place. Remove the data cable. Take the new keyboard and slip the data cable back in between the plastic connectors on the system board. Ensure it’s all the way in.
5. Put the plastic connector back into place and make sure it’s holding the data cable in. Position the keyboard into place and refasten the keyboard in place at the top, replacing any screws that were there before.
6. Replace any plastic pieces that were covering the keyboard, turn the laptop over, and replace all of the keyboard screws. When you replace the battery and turn it on, check the functionality. If the keyboard doesn’t work, the main component to check is the data connector.

Hard drive

Before changing a hard drive, you should back up the old hard drive if the data is needed. Then, to change the hard drive, follow these steps:

1. Turn the laptop upside down and look for a removable panel or a hard drive release mechanism. Laptop drives are usually accessible from the bottom or side of the chassis. Release the drive by flicking a lock/unlock button and/or removing a screw that holds the drive in place.
2. You may be required to remove the drive from a caddy or detach mounting rails from its sides. Attach the rails or caddy to the new drive using the same screws and washers. If required, remove the connector attached to the old drive’s signal pins and attach it to the new drive. Make sure it’s right side up and do not force it. Damaging the signal pins may render the drive useless.
3. Reverse your steps to place the drive (and caddy if present) into the case. Replace the screws and start the laptop. The system should recognize the drive. If you or the user created a bootable backup disc or a complete image disc (before the drive failed, by the way), place it in the optical drive and follow the instructions for restoring the data. You may have to update a driver or two, but you should otherwise be ready to go.

Memory

There should be a panel used for access to the memory modules. If the panels are not marked (many are not), refer to your laptop instruction manuals to locate the panel on the bottom.

1. Remove any screws holding the panel in place, remove the panel from the laptop, and set it aside. If removing an existing memory module, remove it by undoing the module clamps, gently lifting the edge of the module to a 45-degree angle, and then pulling the module out of the slot.
2. Align the notch of the new module with that of the memory slot and gently insert the module into the slot at a 45-degree angle. With all pins in the slot, gently rotate the module down flat until the clamps lock the module into place.
3. Replace the memory access panel, replace any screws, and power up the system. When the computer is powered back up, it may be necessary to go into the computer BIOS to let the system properly detect the new RAM that has been installed in the computer. Please refer to the user manual for the computer system for any additional information.

Smart card reader

Smart card readers come in both internal and external versions. External versions will most likely plug into a USB port, and replacing them is easy; all you do is plug them in. It is possible that you may need to install a driver for the device; and if so, you should use the installation utility that came with the device if there is one. There are also external readers that use the ExpressCard slot.

Internal readers will reside in a drive bay as a hard drive or optical drive would. Take the following steps to replace one:

1. Remove the hard drive, optical drive, and keyboard screws first, and then remove the screws that hold the bottom case on the laptop. There will also be some screws marked P or P1 inside the case to remove.
2. Once they are removed, turn the laptop over and remove the keyboard screws, keyboard, and the palm rest cables. Don’t forget to unplug both the keyboard and the palm rest cables! Underneath you will now be able to access the smart card reader.
3. Unplug the reader, remove the screw holding it in, and remove it. Place the new reader in the same place and reverse these steps.

Optical drive

Replacing an optical drive is usually easier than replacing a hard drive or memory. Remove the screw that secures the optical drive to the bottom of the notebook. Grasp the edge of the optical drive bezel and slide the optical drive out of the base enclosure. Insert the new optical drive into the base enclosure until the connector is seated and replace the screw that secures the optical drive to the bottom of the notebook.

Wireless card/Bluetooth module

Both 802.11 and Bluetooth wireless cards that are built in can be replaced if they go bad. Sometimes they reside near the memory, so you would open the same panel that holds the memory. In other cases (such as a Dell Inspiron), you have to remove the memory, keyboard, optical drive, and hand rest to get to it. The Bluetooth card may be located in the same place, or it may be located at the edge of the laptop with its own small panel to remove. Consult your documentation.

Once you’ve found either type of wireless card, disconnect the two antenna contacts from the card. Do not pull by the wire; pull by the connector itself. Remove any screws from the wireless card and gently pull out the card from the slot. Insert the replacement card into the slot at a 45-degree angle, replace the screws, and reconnect the antenna to the adapter. Replace the parts you were required to remove to get to the card, reversing your steps carefully.

Cellular card

Changing an external mobile broadband card is as simple as pulling the old USB stick out and plugging in the new one. Because USB is plug and play, you shouldn’t have to do anything, but even in the case of an issue the manufacturer usually provides a CD with the drivers or you can obtain them from the vendor website.

Changing an internal card is much like the process of changing an internal 802.11 card; follow the instructions indicated in the previous section.

Video card

When changing a graphics card, you must ensure that the card is supported by the laptop and the operating system. This is the process:

1. Remove the hinges using manufacturer instructions.
2. Detach the keyboard and keep track of your screws and where they go!
3. Remove the display assembly, and unplug the video and Wi-Fi cables.
4. Remove the upper shell, and keep track of your screws.
5. Remove the old card, and install the new.
6. Reverse your steps to reassemble the laptop.

Mini PCIe

Since many of the wireless cards are mini-PCIe, replacing any other card in this format will follow the same procedure, with the exception of removing and reconnecting the antenna cables (present only on the wireless cards). You can find the location of the card in the documentation. Make sure that the new card is firmly inserted into the slot after removing the old card.

Screen

The screen is one of the more involved parts to replace, which is why many people throw a laptop away when the screen gets damaged. It’s possible to replace a damaged screen, but you have to remove a lot of parts to do so. Start by removing the battery and then hold the power on for 10 seconds to drain the power out of the capacitors.

Remove all the screws on the back of the unit and then turn the laptop over. Remove the speaker bezel and you will see six wires coming from the old screen to the laptop. Remove the keyboard (see the instructions in the section “Keyboard”). Under the keyboard, locate where these six wires connect, and disconnect them. Make note of what went where so you can replace them correctly when you reconnect the new screen.

Remove the screws that are holding the old screen to the hinges of the laptop. Position the new screen in place and screw it into the hinges. Reroute the six wires coming from the new screen through any holes or spaces that lead them to their connection points. These are usually for the video cable, mic jacks, and wireless antenna. Reconnect the keyboard and reinstall it. Replace all parts that were required to get at the keyboard and replace all screws on the back of the unit.

These are general guidelines for this replacement, and you should always check the documentation for any departures from this general approach.

DC jack

Replacing a bad DC jack usually requires soldering. If this is not a skill you possess, just replace the motherboard. If you want to attempt it, remove all the parts to get to the motherboard. In some cases, the old DC jack can still be used; it just needs to have the old solder removed and replaced. If that is not the case, remove the old DC jack by unsoldering it from the connector. Then put the new jack in place and solder it to the connectors. Replace all the parts and pieces you removed to get to the board. In general, a bad DC jack usually means a new board.

Battery

Replacing the battery in a laptop is simply a matter of removing the battery storage bay, removing the old battery from the bay, inserting the new battery into the bay, and replacing the bay. Determining the battery type for the replacement will probably take longer than the replacement procedure. In fact, many users carry extra batteries for situations where they know they will need to use the laptop for longer than the battery life (such as a long plane trip) and change the battery as needed.

Touchpad

This is another repair where many parts must be removed just to get to the piece to be replaced.

1. Remove all the covers from the back of the system first. This may include those for the hard drive, RAM, and wireless card compartments. Remove the RAM, hard drive, and wireless card. Take the screw holding the CD-ROM in place and remove it as well.
2. Turn the laptop back over, open the lid, and remove any plastic pieces in the way of the keyboard. Remove the keyboard (see the section “Keyboard”). Disconnect the video and antenna cables from the motherboard (see the section “Screen”). Remove the Phillips-head screws from the LCD hinges and then remove the LCD.
3. Disconnect the touchpad cable from the motherboard. Separate the upper casing assembly from the bottom casing and set it aside. Remove the touchpad from the upper casing assembly. Install the new touchpad by reversing the previous steps.

Plastics/frames

Several of the replacement procedures in this section have involved plastic pieces that either hold something in place or cover something. These pieces—which are important enough to be noted specifically as a component of this exam—may be held in place by screws, or they may use snaps. In either case, it is easy to damage these parts (especially the snaps) in the disassembly or assembly process. If this occurs, consult the documentation for the laptop. Even these pieces will have part numbers and can be ordered. It’s easier to just take great care not to damage them in the first place. The best way to prevent damage to these pieces is to never force a piece in place. If you meet resistance, back out and try to determine what the obstruction is. Restoring the full case is also important. Leaving open spaces can tamper with the air circulation as it was originally designed, resulting in overheating. A mobile device, particularly a laptop, will quickly overheat if the case is compromised in any way.

Speaker

To replace speakers, first follow the earlier instructions to remove the hard drive, the battery pack, and all the screws holding the body together.

1. Lift the screen up and separate it from the body (see the section “Screen”). Do not remove the wires connecting the screen to the motherboard.
2. Separate the two pieces of plastic body frame to view the inside of the laptop. Locate the speakers, using the documentation if necessary.
3. Unscrew the speakers, and note where they connect to the motherboard. Disconnect the old speakers, and connect the new ones to the same location as where the old speakers were removed.
4. Replace all the parts in the reverse order you removed them.

System board

Replacing the system board requires removing all parts discussed up to this point since they all are either in the way of or connected to the motherboard. Once that is done, take the following steps:

1. Open the processor access door if there is one on the machine. If the processor is removable and one did not come with the new motherboard, remove it, and set it aside in a safe place.
2. Disconnect any remaining wires that are connected to the motherboard.
3. Unplug any cards, such as the video card, that are not built directly into the motherboard.
4. Locate the mounting screws for the motherboard, and unscrew them. Remove the old motherboard, mount the new unit, and reassemble the parts in reverse order.

CPU

If the CPU is not built into the motherboard, it can be replaced. If it is built in, then you will be replacing the motherboard as well. If you are upgrading the processor and not simply replacing it, make sure your BIOS will support the new processor. It may be that you need to flash the BIOS to support the new CPU. You can determine this at the website of either the CPU maker or the laptop. This is important!

Follow the earlier instructions to remove the case, keyboard, and display. This will allow you to separate the two parts of the case.

1. Remove the graphic card and note where it plugs back in.
2. Remove the heat sink from the top of the CPU by removing the screws holding it in place.
3. Remove the single screw holding the CPU in place and pull it out. Insert the new CPU in place, and replace the screw. (In some cases, it is not a screw but a locking bar.)
4. Place some thermal grease between the CPU and the heat sink. Replace the heat sink and its screws.
5. Reverse your steps to reattach all the other parts and pieces.

In some cases, you may encounter a laptop that allows you to get at this from the bottom without removing the keyboard and display. This is why it is best to follow the specific directions in the documentation to save unnecessary component removal.

LCD

LCDs have completely replaced CRTs as the default display type for both laptops and desktops. Two major types of LCDs are used today: active matrix screens and passive matrix screens. Their main differences lie in the quality of the image. Both types use some kind of lighting behind the LCD panel to make the screen easier to view. One or more small fluorescent tubes are used to backlight the screen.

Passive Matrix A passive matrix screen uses a row of transistors across the top of the screen and a column of them down the side. It sends pulses to each pixel at the intersection of each row and column combination, telling it what to display. Passive matrix displays are becoming obsolete because they’re less bright and have poorer refresh rates and image quality than active matrix displays. However, they use less power than active matrix displays do.

Active Matrix An active matrix screen uses a separate transistor for each individual pixel in the display, resulting in higher refresh rates and brighter display quality. These screens use more power, however, because of the increased number of transistors that must be powered. Almost all notebook PCs today use active matrix. A variant called thin-film transistor (TFT) uses multiple transistors per pixel, resulting in even better display quality.

LED

LED-based monitors are still LCDs (they still use liquid crystals to express images on-screen), but they use a different type of backlight than what is normally used. Several types of backlights are used with LED.

The most common for computers is white LEDs (WLEDs). Using a special diffuser, the light is spread to cover the entire screen. A more expensive type is RGB LED. Instead of using WLEDs on one edge of the screen, with RGB LCD layers, like the previous technology, RGB LEDs are aligned all over the panel matrix. Each LED is capable of red-, green-, or blue-colored light. This gives the display more accurate color than WLEDs. Finally, there is WLED on a flat array, covering the entire screen (like an RGB LED using only WLEDs). Currently, it’s used only in LED-backlit HDTVs. As you’ve seen, however, computer output can be directed to the HDTV screen.

OLED

An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) is another type of LED technology. It uses an emissive electroluminescent layer of organic compounds that emit light in response to an electric current. An interesting characteristic of these displays is their flexibility and transparency. This means they can roll up for storage (like a mat), and you can see through the display to objects behind the display. These displays are now available but quite expensive.

Dual displays

When additional displays are connected to the laptop (for example, a projector or second monitor), holding down the Fn key and pressing the function key with an icon of a monitor (or sometimes a laptop display and second screen) will move the active screen from display to display (or display to a projector) and then to a setting where all monitors have the same output. This is valuable when making a presentation or to direct the image to the projector or the laptop screen. It is also worth noting that various laptop keyboards implement this function on different keys, including F1, F4, and F8.

Wireless (on/off)

There is also a function key that will turn the wireless off and on; this key usually has an antenna icon, or perhaps an airplane for airplane mode, and you may not have to hold the Fn key to use it. If wireless does not work (especially if the system is telling you to turn the wireless on), check this setting. It is easy to hit this key and disable the wireless!

Cellular (on/off)

Just as you can turn off the wireless (802.11) connection, you can also turn off the cellular (WWAN) connection (if one exists on the device). You will probably need to refer to the device’s documentation to identify the exact key.

Volume settings

On the top row where the keys labeled F1–F12 are located, there are usually a couple of keys (typically F8 and F9) with icons that look like speakers. These keys can be used to raise and lower the volume of the sound. If the icon is blue, you have to hold down the Fn key. Otherwise, you do not need to use the Fn key to activate them. (As a matter of fact, if you hold down the Fn key and use the F8 key, you may be changing the location of the display output, as described in the section “Dual displays.”) If these keys are not present, consult the documentation for the key to use in conjunction with Fn to lower and raise the volume. Most laptops also include a mute button marked as such.

Screen brightness

There are usually a couple of function keys (often F4 and F5) with sun icons with arrows pointing up and down, respectively. They could also be located on the lower right on the keyboard. These keys can be used to increase and decrease the brightness of the display. As with the volume settings described in the previous section, you do not need to use the Fn key to activate them. If these keys are not present, consult the documentation for the key to use in conjunction with Fn to increase and decrease the brightness.

Bluetooth (on/off)

In most cases, the same key that turns 802.11 wireless off and on also does the same for Bluetooth. See the section “Wireless (on/off).”

Keyboard backlight

Some keyboards come with backlighting. These models will usually allow you to turn the backlighting on and off by using the Fn key in combination with another key, such as the Z key on some models. Consult the documentation to determine which key combination will perform this function.

Touchpad (on/off)

While touchpads provide you with a way to operate without a mouse, there are cases when you don’t want to use the touchpad, and it gets in your way when typing. In other cases, the touchpad does not work, simply because it has been turned off. So, how do you enable and disable the touchpad? It can be done using either software or hardware.

In some cases, you may find there is a touchpad icon in the notification area. If there is, you can right-click or double-click it, and in the settings you should find an enable/disable feature. If there is no icon, it may be possible to go to the mouse settings in Control Panel and find touchpad settings. Finally, you can always open Device Manager and enable and disable the touchpad from there.

There also is usually a way to physically enable and disable the touchpad. This varies from laptop to laptop. For example, on a Lenovo, you hit a location in the upper-right corner of the touchpad, and it acts as a toggle switch between on and off. Consult the documentation that came with the laptop, or look on the vendor’s website.

Screen orientation

The screen orientation refers to the position of the image on the screen. This is changed by “rotating” the screen. For example, if you rotated the screen 180 degrees, the image would be upside down. Rotating the screen can be done either by using the display settings or in some cases by using a special key combination. In most cases, if you right-click the desktop, you will find the option to rotate in various ways in the menu. It may also be under the Graphics Options menu, as shown in Figure 1.1.

Media options (fast forward/rewind)

Many laptops also offer keys that are used with media players. For example, you can fast-forward (or go to the next track), rewind (go to the previous track), and stop the player. These keys may have a special location, or they may be included as function keys at the top of the keyboard. If they are in the function keys, you will need to hold down the Fn key as usual. In Figure 1.2, they are located at the top of the keyboard.

GPS (on/off)

Many devices now come with a built-in GPS feature. You can enable and disable the GPS using the privacy settings in Windows. While you will probably find it is enabled by default, you can disable it in Windows 10 by bringing up the Charms bar. At the bottom, choose the Settings charm. Tap or click the Change PC Settings link and then select Privacy on the left. Choose Location. On this page you can select to either turn it off completely or turn it off for certain applications, as shown Figure 1.3.

Airplane mode

Airplane mode suspends many of the device’s signal-transmitting functions. It’s called airplane mode because it disables the transmission of signals that interfere with aircraft signaling (or so they say). Enabling and disabling this mode can be done either in Windows or in some cases by using a special key on the keyboard.

To enable and disable it in Windows 10, navigate to the PC settings, as discussed in the “GPS (on/off)” section. In the PC settings, select Network. Then select Airplane Mode. On the right you will see a button to toggle between on and off, as shown in Figure 1.4. There will be separate controls for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

On many laptops this can also be done using one of the function keys. If this feature is present on the laptop, the key will have an airplane icon on it. Use it as you would any function key to toggle between off and on.

Smart watches

Smart watches that are computers on your wrist have arrived! Although the jury is still out on the long-term viability of the smart watch, when Apple introduced one in 2015, most in the industry began to take the devices seriously. These devices run either proprietary operating systems or Android. The Apple model runs an operating system called Watch OS.

These devices are typically paired to a smartphone for the purpose of accessing calls and messages, and they contain GPS features as well. The following are some of the features you may find in these smart watches:

• Anti-lost alert
• Time display
• Call vibration
• Caller ID
• Answer call
• Micro-USB input port

Fitness monitors

While many smart watches can also act as fitness monitors, there is a class of devices that specializes in tracking your movement. Fitness monitors read your body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. They do this while also tracking where you are for the purpose of determining the distance you ran or walked and the time it took to do so.

Some of the devices, called fitness trackers, are wrist bands that can track the information discussed and communicate wirelessly to an application located on a computer. One of these is shown in Figure 1.7. Other, more sophisticated units combine a strap that goes around the chest with a watch or band that collects the information gathered by the sensors in the band.

VR/AR headsets

Extended reality is an exciting new field that includes both augmented reality and virtual reality. Both concepts involve wearing special headsets that deliver the visual experience. While reality immerses the user into a virtual environment, much like a four-dimensional game, augmented reality involves glasses that while permitting a clear vison of the real world, can project graphics and text onto this view using a small side screen. A virtual reality headset is shown in Figure 1.8.

By now, everyone has heard about and probably seen Google Glass, the most well-known and recognizable computing device worn as glasses. Just in case you haven’t, Figure 1.9 shows a drawing of the glasses.

While worn as glasses, they also have a small screen just to the side of one of the eyes that houses the computer screen (think Cyborg). The user can view the screen at any time by just casting a glance at it. Many promising uses have been proposed for the devices, with a number in the healthcare field. Although sale of the devices to individuals was halted, sales to organizations that have or are working to find ways to use the glasses continue.

Another similar device that is not based on glasses but around a headset format is the HC1 headset computer by Zebra. It can respond to voice commands and body movements. One of these is shown in Figure 1.10.

Wired

While mobile devices may not have as many wired options as desktop devices, they still can have a wide range of physical port types.

Micro-USB/Mini-USB/USB-C

The two most common ports found on mobile devices are micro-USB and mini-USB. Both are small–form-factor implementations of the USB standard, the latest of which is USB 3.1. In Figure 1.11, the mini-USB and micro-USB connectors are compared to the regular USB connector.

The USB-C is a new port type that can accept either end of its cable, and it doesn’t matter if it’s upside down! USB-C, also known as USB Type-C, is a 24-pin USB connector system, which is distinguished by its two-fold rotationally symmetrical connector. All Thunderbolt 3 cables will work as USB-C cables as well.

The data rates for various types of USB are in Table 1.2.

Type	Speed
1.0	187.5 KB to 1.5 MB
2.0	60 MB
3.0	625 MB (super speed)
3.1	1.25 GB
3.2	2.5 GB (super speed)

Lightning

The Lightning connector from Apple is an eight-pin connector that while not standard has advantages over USB, according to Apple. The following are some of these advantages:

• It can supply more power.
• It can be inserted either way.
• It is physically more durable than USB.
• It can detect and adapt to connected devices.
• It operates at USB 3.0 speeds.

Figure 1.12 shows a Lightning connector next to a USB cable.

Wireless

Mobile devices can have several types of wireless connection options. In this section we’ll look at those.

Headsets

Headsets provide the ability to take your conversation offline or to listen to your music in private. They can be connected both through a wired connection, usually a 3.55 mm audio connector or USB, and by using Bluetooth to pair the device with the headset.

Speakers

Speakers are used in the same fashion as headsets. They can also be connected using the same options that include using USB, using a 3.55 mm audio plug, or by pairing the speakers with the devices using Bluetooth. This includes the speaker systems in many cars, which can now be paired with the devices using Bluetooth as well.

Game pads

People seem to love to kill time playing games on their smartphones and other mobile devices, but they may find their level of enjoyment increased by connecting the devices to a game controller offering them many more input options. These controllers look like any game controller, which can differ based on the game being played and the type of input required for the game.

These controllers can also be small, some fitting on a keychain. They typically are paired to the mobile device using the Bluetooth connection. Some of the newer game controllers for this purpose can be set on a table and the mobile device plugs physically into a slot or holder on the controller, making a connection with the controller. Figure 1.13 shows the layout of a typical game controller.

Extra battery packs/battery chargers

Batteries are the lifeline of mobile devices. For a device to stay constantly connected, many users purchase extra battery packs that can be used to power the devices when the battery is dead and no power outlet is available. Some of these packs simply provide power to the device, while others store power used to charge the device’s battery. Figure 1.14 shows an example of a battery pack that can be charged while providing power to the device.

Protective covers/waterproofing

While much work has been done to make mobile devices sturdier and more durable, they are still somewhat delicate pieces of electronics. For this reason, an entire industry has sprung up to provide protective covers for the devices. Some are made of a hard plastic material and protect the device from all but the worst impacts, while others go further and provide waterproofing as well.

Credit card readers

Mobile devices can also accept connections from external credit card readers. Some of these physically connect to the smartphone, and others can communicate with the phone using Bluetooth. Many of them use the same jack used for the headphones. There is usually software that has to be installed on the device as well and a processing agreement established with a provider. Figure 1.15 shows the Square reader.

Memory/MicroSD

Secure digital (SD) cards are a type of flash memory. Micro-SD is the smallest of three standards. Many mobile devices have MicroSD slots or ports on them that allow you to connect one to the device. This allows you either to access data on the memory card or to move information to the memory card from the smartphone. For more information on MicroSD, see the section “Solid-state drives” in Chapter 3.

Hotspot

Hotspots are publicly provided points of access to an 802.11 wireless network connected to the Internet. They typically have little or no security configured to make it as easy as possible for users to connect. Vendors have also created devices that allow a single device to act as a hotspot for other devices in the area. Sometimes these are called mobile hotspots. Some mobile devices can be turned into mobile hotspots with a software upgrade or an addition to the service plan.

Tethering

Tethering is the process of sharing the Internet connection of one device with another device. Connection of the phone or tablet with other devices can be done over wireless LAN (Wi-Fi), over Bluetooth, or with a physical connection using a cable, for example through USB. It also may be done by using a mobile hotspot or by using a similar feature on a mobile device.

Airplane mode

Since airlines do not permit enabling the wireless connection on mobile devices during takeoff and landing, vendors created a mode called Airplane mode in which this function is turned off but all other functionality (games and other applications not requiring Internet access) is still fully functional.

Enable Bluetooth

On Android mobile devices, follow these steps:

1. From the Home screen, select the Menu button. From the menu, choose Settings ➢ Connections ➢ Bluetooth.
2. Once Bluetooth is selected, wait until a check mark appears next to Bluetooth. Bluetooth is now enabled.

On iOS mobile devices, follow these steps:

1. On the main page, choose Settings ➢ Bluetooth.
2. Tap the slider to enable Bluetooth.

Enable pairing

Pairing a mobile device with an external device (speaker, headphone, and so forth) will enable the two devices to communicate. The first step is to enable pairing. This is much simpler than it sounds. For either mobile operating system, simply turn the external device on and you are ready for the next step. In some cases, you may need to make the external device discoverable. Check the documentation for the external device to see whether this is the case and how you do this.

Find a device for pairing

Now that the external device is on and transmitting a signal, the mobile device is ready for pairing.

On an Android mobile device, follow these steps:

1. Swipe up on an empty spot on the Home screen to open the Apps tray.
2. Select Settings and then Connections.
3. Turn on the Bluetooth switch by tapping it.
4. If the mobile device stops scanning before the Bluetooth device is ready, tap scan again.
5. In the list of Available devices, tap the Bluetooth device to pair it with the phone.
6. Follow any on-screen instructions.
7. If a password is required, consult the documentation or try either 0000 or 1234 (common passcodes).

On an iOS mobile device, when Bluetooth is enabled, it automatically starts scanning for Bluetooth devices. When your device appears in the list, select it. If a PIN is required, move on to the next step.

Enter the appropriate pin code

Many external devices will ask for a PIN when you select the external device from the list of discovered devices. In many cases, the PIN is 0000, but you should check the manual of the external device.

Test connectivity

Once the previous steps are complete, test communication between the two devices. If you’re using a headset, turn on some sound and see whether you can hear it in the headphones.

POP3

On an Android mobile device, follow these steps:

1. In Settings, select Clouds And Accounts and then Accounts.
2. In Accounts, select Add An Account and select Email as the type.
3. Enter the email address and password and select Sign In.
4. After your account is recognized and set up, select Pop3 as the account type.
5. Enter the name of the incoming POP3 server, and if desired, select to enable encryption.
6. Enter 110 as the incoming port, and if desired, select Delete Email Off The Server.
7. Enter the name of the outgoing PO3 server and enter port number 25.
8. Finally, if desired, turn on SMTP authentication.

On an iOS mobile device, follow these steps:

1. Select Settings ➢ Accounts And Passwords ➢ Add Account.
2. Select Other.
3. Select Add Mail Account. Fill in your name, your email address, your password, and a description. Click Next.
4. Select POP. Verify that the name, address, and description carried over from the last page.
5. Under Incoming Email Server, enter the FQDN of the POP3 server, your email address, and your password.
6. Under Outgoing Mail Server, enter the FQDN of the SMTP server and your email address.
7. Click Next. Click Save in the upper-right corner.

IMAP

On an Android mobile device, follow these steps:

1. In Settings, select Accounts then Add an account.
2. Click the appropriate account type.
3. If prompted for an account subtype, select the type.
4. After entering the email address, tap Next.
5. After entering the password, tap Next.
6. If prompted, enter either the username, password, or server.
7. After configuring any account options desired (Sync Frequency, Inbox Download Size, and so on), click Next.
8. Complete any account options based on the account type chosen.
9. Enter the account name and, if prompted, the name for outgoing messages.

On an iOS mobile device, follow these steps:

1. Select Settings ➢ Accounts And Passwords ➢ Add Account.
2. Select Other.
3. Select Add Mail Account. Fill in your name, your email address, your password, and a description. Click Next.
4. Select IMAP. Verify that the name, address, and description are carried over from the last page.
5. Under Incoming Email Server, enter the FQDN of the IMAP server, your email address, and your password.
6. Under Outgoing Mail Server, enter the FQDN of the SMTP server and your email address.
7. Click Next. Click Save in the upper-right corner.

Port and SSL settings

With either operating system, you can (and should) select to use security if your email server supports it. This will encrypt all traffic between the mobile device and the email server. The choices offered are usually SSL or TLS, so you will need to know which of these is in use.

S/MIME

With respect to the S/MIME configuration, you need the following:

• A digital encryption certificate for yourself as the sender
• A copy of the digital public key from your intended recipient
• An email program capable of handling S/MIME email

Exchange supports S/MIME, so that part is taken care of. Once you have obtained your certificate, you must import it into your device and make it available to the email program. Your certificate must be obtained from a certificate authority company such as VeriSign. The steps to this process will vary from organization to organization. Once you have downloaded the certificate, place it at a location on the device where you can find it during the import process.

Typically, the certificate will come to you in an email that you should open on the Android device. When you click the enrollment link in the email, you will be required to enter the password you set when you requested the certificate. Then you will create another password (called a PKCS#12 passphrase) that you will need during the certificate installation.

When the certificate downloads to the device, it will go into the Downloads folder. Now you have to add it to your credentials. Follow these steps:

1. Navigate to Settings ➢ Security and select Install From Storage.
2. Locate your downloaded certificate file (it’s a .pfx file).
3. Enter your PKCS#12 passphrase (this is the one you created just before the downloads, not the one you created during enrollment).
4. Set the certificate name and its use (email).

The certificate is now available to use to encrypt email.

For iOS, follow the organizational steps to request a certificate. When the email arrives, open it on the iOS device as you did in Android. Then follow these steps:

1. Open the Mail app and find the message that contains the .p12 file. Tap the file icon to load it.
2. An Install Profile pop-up will appear for the identity certificate. Tap Install.
3. A warning that this is an unsigned profile may appear. If that happens, tap Install Now to acknowledge it.
4. You will be prompted for your passcode. Enter the passcode you use to unlock your iPad or iPhone when it’s at the lock screen.
5. You’ll then be asked for the password for the certificate. Enter the passphrase you came up with when you created the .p12 file on your Mac.
6. You may see a note that the certificate is Not Trusted. That’s OK.
7. Push the Home button. Find the Settings app and start it.
8. In Settings, find Accounts And Passwords.
9. In the list of accounts, find the account for this email address and tap it.
10. Tap the Account line.
11. Scroll down until you see Advanced. Tap it.
12. Scroll down until you see the S/MIME section.
13. Make sure S/MIME is turned on.
14. Tap Sign. Make sure that the certificate for this account is selected and that Sign is turned on. (If you tap the i icon, you should see that the certificate is Trusted.)
15. Tap Advanced or Back to go back to the Advanced screen.
16. Tap Encrypt By Default. Again, select the correct certificate, and make sure Encrypt By Default is turned on.
17. Back out until you’re at the Account screen and then tap Done to accept the changes.

iCloud

To set up iCloud email on an Android device, follow these instructions:

1. Swipe up or done in the Home screen to access the Apps screen.
2. In Settings, select Accounts then Add an account.
3. Click the account type.
4. If prompted, select the account subtype.
5. After entering the email address, select Next.
6. After entering the password, select Next.
7. If promoted for the username, password, or server name, enter them and select Next.
8. Enter the SMTP server, port number, and outgoing server, and select Next.
9. After configuring any account options desired (Sync frequency, Inbox download size, and so on), click Next.
10. Address any additional options you encounter and select Next.
11. Enter an account name for outgoing messages.

As you can imagine, setting up iCloud email on an iOS device is simple because the applications all reside in the Apple ecosystem. First set up an iCloud email account. If you have an email address that ends with @mac.com or @me.com, you already have an equivalent address that’s the same except it ends with @icloud.com. On your IOS device, go to Settings, tap your name, and then select iCloud. Choose the apps—such as Photos, Contacts, Calendars, and third-party apps—that you want to use with iCloud.

Google/Inbox

On an Android mobile device, follow these steps:

1. Select the Gmail icon.
2. Select Already Have A Google account.
3. In the Sign In With Your Google Account field, enter your username and password and select Sign In.

On an iOS mobile device, follow these steps:

1. Select Settings ➢ Accounts & Passwords ➢ Add Account.
2. Select Gmail.
3. Fill in your name, address, password, and description if desired. Click Next.
4. Verify that the address carried over from the last page. Click Next.
5. Select the items you want to sync automatically with the email server and click Done.

Exchange Online

To set up Outlook on Android, first, if required, install Outlook for Android. Follow these steps:

1. On the Android device, select Email icon.
2. After entering the email address and password, select Manually Setting.
3. Complete the Domainusername field.
4. After entering the password for the Exchange server, select Use Secure Connection (SSL) and then Next.
5. In the Account Options interface, select a frequency for checking email and click Next.
6. Finally, if desired, enter a name for the account in the Give This Account A Name field and select Done.

On iOS, follow these steps:

1. Add your Exchange account by tapping Settings ➢ Passwords & Accounts ➢ Add Account ➢ Exchange.
2. Enter your address.
3. Choose either Configure Manually or Sign In to connect to your Exchange Server.

If you select Configure Manually, you can set up an Exchange account with Basic authentication. Enter your email password. You might also be prompted to enter additional server information.

If you select Sign In, your email address is sent to Microsoft to discover your Exchange account information. If your account uses multifactor authentication, you’ll be guided through a custom authentication workflow.

Yahoo

Because Yahoo recommends using IMAP as an email client, these are the instructions for setting up IMAP on Android systems:

1. Swipe up or done on the Home screen to access the Apps screen.
2. In Settings, select accounts and then add an account.
3. After selecting the account type, select the subtype if required.
4. Enter the email address and then select Next.
5. After entering the password, select Next.
6. If prompted, enter the username, password, or server and click Next.
7. Configure the SMTP server, port number, and outgoing server and click Next.
8. Select any account options desired, such as Sync Frequency, Inbox Download Size, and so on, and select Next.
9. If prompted, enter an account name and an account for outgoing messages.

On an iOS device, use these instructions:

1. Tap Select Settings ➢ Accounts & Passwords.
2. Tap Add Account.
3. Tap Yahoo.
4. Enter your name, your email address, your email password, and a description; then tap Next.
5. Optionally, disable aspects of Yahoo Mail from syncing.
6. Tap Save.

PRL

In Android phones, the location of the PRI update option will differ, but you’ll generally find it in one of a few places in the Settings menu.

• Settings ➢ System Updates ➢ Update PRL
• Settings ➢ Sprint System Updates ➢ Update PRL
• Settings ➢ About Phone ➢ Update PRL

In iOS, there is no separate PRL update command on iOS devices, but running a software update will force an update of the PRL.

PRI

A PRI update is a flash process. This usually occurs in over-the-air updates. When done manually, it involves acquiring the file and then performing a flash process with the bootloader, which in many cases also updates the radio (see the next section). The flash process can result in a useless device (bricked), so follow the vendor instructions.

Synchronize to the cloud

One synchronization method that is gaining in popularity (along with all things “cloud”) is synchronizing all your devices to a cloud server. This provides a central location for your data, settings, and all other items listed in the “Types of data to synchronize” section next. This can be set up such that all devices update with the cloud as soon as they attain Internet access.

Synchronize to the desktop

Another approach is to set up a sync process directly between two devices such as a smartphone and a desktop computer. In this case, the two devices will sync with one another at any time they find themselves on the same network such as a home wireless network.

Synchronize to the automobile

Yes, cars now have computing systems and as such can be synced to the mobile device either by using Bluetooth or by using cables designed by the vendors to connect to the car system.

Contacts

No one wants to enter a long list of contacts into a mobile device when that same list already exists in your email account. Using push synchronization (push means it’s automatic and requires no effort on the part of the user), you ensure that any changes made to the contact list either on the mobile device or on the desktop will be updated on the other device the next time you make a connection to the email account from the other device. It will also update if the mobile device makes a direct connection to the desktop (covered later in “Connection types to enable synchronization”).

Applications

Program data from applications such as databases can also be synchronized between servers and mobile devices. A good example is the synchronization of the data entered into handheld devices used by the wait staff in restaurants and the server in the back room of the restaurant. Another example is the synchronization of data from handheld scanners in a warehouse with a server that may or may not be on-site. This seamless automatic updating makes the entire operation more productive.

Email

Even more important to users than their contacts is the state of their email. The mobile device will synchronize the contacts, calendar items, and email each time the mobile device makes contact with the email account. This results in a consistent state between what is seen on the desktop and what is seen on the mobile device. Push synchronization will usually allow you to configure the push schedule, such as every 30 minutes. To preserve battery life, push sync should take place less frequently.

Pictures

Pictures are another item that users frequently want to view from their mobile device without going through the process of manually downloading them to the device. Synchronization allows the pictures stored on the desktop (or even a share on a server) to be available on the mobile device, even the one you just added an hour ago.

Music

Music files can also be included in the sync process. This helps to keep your library available on the mobile device. When you start talking about music and video files (see the next section), a word of caution is in order. These large files can quickly add up and fill the hard drive and also add significantly to your data usage if the sync is happening over a wireless cell phone connection using a data plan. They can also be hard on the battery.

Videos

Video libraries can be kept consistent across devices using synchronization. Be aware of the effect of these large files on your drive space, battery level, and data usage if you are syncing wirelessly through a cell phone network.

Calendar

The calendar is a critical application for both work and play. All mobile devices support syncing the calendar between devices. In some cases, it may require a small application, especially when the email system of which the calendar is part of is in a different ecosystem (for example, Google Mail and an iPhone).

Bookmarks

Bookmarks of frequently visited websites make everyone’s day easier, and when the same ones are available in the browser of all your devices, including your mobile devices, it doubles the benefit. Bookmarks are another item that can be configured to sync automatically.

Documents

Technology to sync documents located in multiple locations has been around for some time now. Users have come to expect this functionality, and it is present in modern mobile devices as well. Users want to be able to work anywhere on any device and this facilitates that.

Location data

In some cases, users may decide to allow an application to track their location for the purpose of tailoring search results. When this is done, it can be a onetime thing or the users can give the application ongoing permission to do so. Most device browsers will indicate this with some sort of icon or indicator on that page. These settings can also be synchronized between devices as well.

Social media data

While social media was once a guilty distraction, today even businesses and organizations use social media. When users have multiple accounts, many mobile platforms such as Google and Apple offer applications that can allow them to track and post to multiple accounts at once, reducing the time required to “check and update” the accounts.

E-books

Many users have accounts that give them access to books in digital format, or e-books. Naturally, they want to have access to these books (and other content types) on all their devices. Not only can this be done, but the sync process can keep their various devices up-to-date with the latest position of a bookmark in the book or of new items that have been highlighted or notes that have been made.

Passwords

Finally, passwords can also be synchronized across devices. For example, when you change your Gmail password on one device it automatically updates it on all other devices.