Your computer has 5 USB ports on it but you are unsure if they will support your devices.  It could be because of the the type of USB port your computer has or the type of USB port your device will need.  If you are wondering, how can I tell if my USB port is 2.0 or 3.0 then you have come to the right place.   This article is here to provide you with answers.

Do 2.0 and 3.0 ports look different?

Yes, 2.0 and 3.0 ports look different. Check out this link to see a great picture demonstrating the different connectors. As you can see from the picture, the 3.0 USB port has what almost appears to be an additional section to it.

If I am using Windows, how can I check to see if I have a USB port 1.1, 2.0 or 3.0?

First, right click on My Computer. Find your way to the Hardware tab and then click on Device Manager. Device Manager will lead you to an option called Universal Serial Bus Controllers. By expanding this option, you will see the different USB names.

What do the different names mean?

– If you see “Universal Host,” then you have a USB port version 1.1.

– If you see a port name with both “Universal Host” and “Enhanced Host,” then you have a USB port version 2.0.

– If you see “USB 3.0,” then you have a USB port version 3.0.

If you don’t want to browse through your computer to determine your version, you can also use the model number for your computer to look up your USB port information in Google.

To learn more about your computer and your USB ports, check out TalkLocal, a free service that helps you find professional help that accommodates your schedule. You will be connected within minutes to professionals right in your neighborhood! It is easy and quick to use. Simply enter your service need, location, and availability onto TalkLocal’s website. You will have all of your computer questions answered!

What are solid state drives? They are drives similar to the workings of the hard drive, but differing in a few ways. It is up to you to decide to use them instead of using a hard drive, if the need exists. Read this guide for more information about the pros and cons of solid state drives.

Pros

On the whole picture, solid state drives feature a consistent speed (little lag) once the data has already been prescribed and stored. So they are more reliable on the processing side as well as the hardware side (less likely to break down due to the factors in design). However the current technology has not yet made the storage space for the solid state drives to catch up with the hard drives. But in terms of MB/$ ratio, hard drives are by far cheaper and more compact (in terms of storage volume – bytes).

Another good thing about them is that they store data without moving, meaning that the device in itself is more durable and stable. It is less likely to break down because the internal components aren’t supposed to move around anyway.

Because there is no movement in internal components involved, there is no noise in operating a solid state drive as opposed to hard drives. Solid state drives have a higher tolerance for impact and humidity.

Cons

The downside to owning and operating a solid state drive is that they eventually wear out. The bits (information data storage units) inside a solid state drive are limited to a certain number of overwrites. Although the data is essentially recordable (can be erased and written), it has an expiration date.

Also, the flash/MLC based solid drives are said to be generally weaker (has a slower processing power) than the hard drives. Due to the slow speed it is generally not recommended for an active use. However, they do make good storage drives because already written files are easily retrieved.

Additional Help

If you feel like you need professional help on evaluating pros and cons of solid state drives, TalkLocal can help with finding the correct local experts in this case, saving you time and energy in what may be a stressful situation.

Have you been trying to figure out how to clean out a laptop fan? Perhaps you know that a dirty, dusty fan makes your laptop run inefficiently and heat up. As your computer heats up, it runs even slower. But what are you supposed to do? The following was written to provide you with information and tips when it comes to cleaning out a laptop fan.

Beware that if you take apart your computer to perform repairs and maintenance of your own, you may be voiding your warranty. Check your paperwork and warranty information online. Also, take your time and use caution as your operate on your computer. Before you begin, turn the computer off and unplug it from its power source.

Use a compressed air can as your primary tool in this repair. First, remove the screws from the back of your computer in order to access the fan. Once the cover is off, locate the fan. Use cotton tips and cotton balls to remove the dust and dirt from the fan blade.

After you have removed the main particles from the fan and surrounding area, get ready to use the compressed air can. The compressed air can is a great tool for clearing out very small particles that you may not see or that are in hard to reach places. Point the nozzle into the area you would like to clean and press to get the compressed air flowing. After you are finished, turn the computer upside down to release any loose particles. Return the computer cover to its original place and replace the screws.

A bit wary to try this on your own because you do not want to mess up your computer? Or think there is something else wrong with you computer? There is hope! Check out TalkLocal. You will be connected within minutes (for free!) to professionals right in your neighborhood that can help you with your problem!

Your laptop speakers, unlike most desktop speaker sets, are integrated into the laptop case. This makes it very difficult to diagnose a problem of busted laptop speakers. Fortunately, there are some ways to diagnose your issue and resolve them.  However, if the speakers having a faulty connection, it may be easiest to call a professional to do the work, rather than personally disassembling your laptop (especially if you are uncomfortable with it). If you still want to learn how to fix a laptop speaker, then read on below.

Sound Drivers

Outdated sound drivers may also be a potential source of the speaker problems.  You should first open up the Device Manager in your system (you can simply search in the start button “Device manager”), then open the Sound tab and choose the speaker device.  Right-click on that device and then click on the Driver tab. Then click “Update Driver,” which should do the rest of the process automatically.

Sound Card Issues

The easiest thing to do first is to check that your speakers are not malfunctioning due to a faulty connection.  Simply plug some headphones into the headphone jack. If you hear sound, then there may be a faulty connection to your speakers.  Verify that the sound isn’t muted and the slider is all the way up.  If there continues to be no sound, you may also want to do a system restore to the point that you originally had working speakers to make sure that a software configuration did not cause the problem.

If you think there may be a faulty connection to your speakers, it’s highly recommended that you contact a computer repair professional to help fix your speakers, as disassembling and working with laptop internal parts is quite hard.  TalkLocal can put you in contact with highly rated local IT professionals in just minutes, so you’ll have this problem taken care of in no time.  Simply input your problem and you’ll get calls up from three professionals instantly!