Blog

You press the power button on your Dell laptop, you hear the fans whir to life, and the power light glows, but the screen remains stubbornly black. It’s a common moment of frustration that can make even a simple task feel impossible. Before you worry about a major hardware failure, take a deep breath. Most of the time, a Dell laptop screen that won’t turn on is caused by a simple, fixable issue.

This guide will walk you through the most common solutions, starting with the simplest checks and moving towards more specific troubleshooting steps. Let’s get your display back in action.

The First Thing to Check: Power and Connections

It might sound obvious, but it’s the most common oversight. First, ensure your laptop is receiving adequate power. If you’re using a battery, plug the AC adapter directly into a wall outlet. Look for the charging indicator light to confirm it’s receiving power. A completely drained battery can sometimes cause a black screen even when plugged in, so give it a few minutes to charge before trying again.

Is Your Laptop On But the Screen is Off?

Your laptop might actually be on, but the display is just not active. A quick way to check this is to look at the power LED. If it’s solid white or blue, the unit has power. Press the Caps Lock key and see if its corresponding light on the laptop turns on or off. If it does, your laptop is running—the issue is isolated to the display.

Simple Fixes to Wake the Display

Often, the screen is merely in a low-power state. Press any key on the keyboard or tap the touchpad. If that doesn’t work, try pressing the Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B combination. This keyboard shortcut resets your graphics driver and can often jolt the screen back to life. You should hear a short beep, and the screen may flicker as it restarts.

Checking Your External Display Connections

Your laptop might be trying to send a signal to an external monitor. If you have a projector or second monitor cable plugged in, even from an old session, disconnect it. Then, press the Windows key + P simultaneously to open the Project menu. Use your arrow keys to select “PC screen only” and press Enter. This forces the laptop to direct all video output to its own built-in display.

When to Try a Hard Reset

If the screen remains dark, a hard reset can clear temporary glitches. Shut down the laptop by holding the power button for about 10 seconds. Once it’s off, unplug the AC adapter and remove the battery (if it’s removable). Then, press and hold the power button for 15-20 seconds to drain any residual power. Reconnect the battery and power adapter, then turn the laptop on normally.

By methodically working through these steps, you can usually resolve the issue without needing advanced technical support. Start with the power connection and work your way down the list—you’ll likely find the solution is simpler than you thought.

Is your Acer laptop feeling sluggish, cluttered with files you no longer need, or acting up with strange errors? Sometimes, the best solution is a fresh start. Restoring your laptop to its factory settings can feel like getting a brand-new machine again, wiping away years of digital clutter and software conflicts.

This process, often called a factory reset, will erase all your personal files, applications, and settings, returning the computer to the state it was in when you first took it out of the box. It’s a powerful step, but with a little preparation, you can do it confidently.

Getting Ready for the Reset

Before you begin, the most important step is to back up your important data. Copy all your precious photos, important documents, and any other files you can’t afford to lose to an external hard drive or a cloud storage service. Remember, this process will erase everything on the main drive.

Also, make sure your laptop is plugged into a power source. The last thing you want is for the reset to fail because your battery died halfway through.

Two Main Ways to Reset Your Acer Laptop

There are two primary methods to restore your Acer laptop, depending on how it’s currently functioning.

Using the Built-in Recovery Management

If your laptop can still start Windows, this is the easiest method. Click the Start menu and type “Reset this PC.” Select the system settings option that appears. Inside, you’ll find the “Get Started” button under the Recovery section. You will typically have two choices: Keep my files (which removes apps and settings but keeps personal files) or Remove everything (a full factory reset). For a complete fresh start, choose “Remove everything.”

When Windows Won’t Start: Using Acer Recovery Keys

If your laptop is having serious startup issues, you can still access the recovery environment. Turn the laptop completely off. Then, as you turn it back on, immediately press and hold the Alt and F10 keys simultaneously. Keep holding them until you see the Acer recovery screen. If Alt + F10 doesn’t work, try holding the F2 key during startup to enter the BIOS, and look for a “Boot to Recovery” or similar option.

From the Acer recovery menu, you can select “Restore Factory Settings” or “Reset Your PC.” The system will guide you through the process, which may take some time as it wipes and reinstalls the original software.

A Fresh Start for Your Acer

Once the reset is complete, your Acer laptop will walk you through the initial setup process, just like it did on day one. You’ll be greeted with a clean, fast system, ready for you to reinstall your favorite applications and restore your backed-up files. It’s a simple yet effective way to breathe new life into your trusted device.

Have you ever needed to quickly save what’s on your laptop screen? Whether it’s a funny conversation, an important error message, or a section of a webpage you want to remember, knowing how to take a screenshot is an essential skill. It’s like having a digital camera for your computer, and it’s much simpler than you might think.

This guide will walk you through the easiest methods for capturing your screen on both Windows and macOS laptops. You’ll be saving and sharing images of your screen in no time.

The Quickest Way to Capture Your Entire Screen

For a fast, all-in-one capture, your keyboard has a dedicated key. On most Windows laptops, look for the PrtScn (Print Screen) key. Pressing it once copies an image of your entire screen to your clipboard. You can then paste it directly into an email, a document, or an app like Microsoft Paint to save it as a file.

If you’re using a Mac, press Command + Shift + 3 simultaneously. You’ll hear a camera shutter sound, and the screenshot will be saved directly to your desktop as a PNG file, ready for you to use.

Taking a Screenshot of Just One Window

Sometimes you only need a picture of a single application window, not your whole desktop. This keeps the image clean and focused. On a Windows laptop, press Alt + PrtScn. This copies just the active window you’re currently using to your clipboard.

Mac users can achieve the same result by pressing Command + Shift + 4, followed by the Spacebar. Your cursor will turn into a little camera icon. Just click on the window you want to capture, and the screenshot will be saved to your desktop.

Selecting a Specific Area for Your Screenshot

For the most control, you can select a custom portion of your screen. This is perfect for highlighting a specific piece of information. On Windows, press the Windows key + Shift + S. Your screen will dim, and you can click and drag to select the exact area you want to capture. The image is copied to your clipboard for pasting elsewhere.

On a Mac, use the Command + Shift + 4 shortcut. Your cursor will turn into a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a box around the area you wish to capture. When you release the mouse button, the screenshot is taken.

Finding Your Screenshots After You Take Them

Knowing where your screenshots go is just as important as taking them. Windows screenshots using PrtScn go to your clipboard, so you need to paste them into another program to save them. Mac screenshots, by default, are conveniently saved right on your desktop for easy access.

With these simple keyboard shortcuts, you’re now equipped to capture anything on your laptop screen. It’s a small skill that can make sharing information and solving problems much smoother.

Have you ever found yourself wishing for just one more screen? Maybe your desktop monitor suddenly stopped working, or you need to extend your workspace while traveling with only your laptop. It’s a common thought: since my laptop has a beautiful display, can’t I just use it as a monitor for another computer? The answer is a bit more nuanced than a simple yes or no, but with the right tools, it’s absolutely possible.

While you can’t typically plug an HDMI cable directly from a gaming console or PC into your laptop’s video port, modern software solutions have made this process surprisingly smooth. Let’s look at the most effective ways to turn your laptop into a second screen.

Using Built-in Windows Features

If both your primary computer and your laptop are running Windows 10 or 11, you’re in luck. Microsoft includes a feature called Projecting to this PC. You can find this in your laptop’s Settings under System > Display. Once enabled, your laptop will be discoverable by your main PC. On your primary machine, press the Windows key + P and select “Connect to a wireless display.” This method works over Wi-Fi, creating a seamless extended or duplicated display without any extra cables or software.

Exploring Third-Party Software Solutions

For those who need a more robust solution or are connecting different operating systems, third-party software is your best friend. Applications like Space Desk or Parsec are popular choices. These programs involve installing a server application on your main computer and a client or viewer application on your laptop. After a quick setup, you can connect the two over your local network. The performance is often excellent, making it feel like your laptop is a native second monitor.

What About a Mac and a PC?

Mixing operating systems can be trickier, but it’s not impossible. While Apple’s native Sidecar feature only works between Macs and iPads, software like Parsec or TeamViewer can bridge the gap between a Windows PC and a Mac laptop. The experience might not be quite as fluid as a same-OS connection, but for general productivity tasks, it gets the job done very well.

A Few Tips for a Smooth Experience

For the best results, make sure both devices are connected to the same network, preferably via a strong Wi-Fi signal or even an Ethernet cable for the host PC. This minimizes lag and provides a sharper image. Also, close any unnecessary applications on both machines to free up resources for a smoother connection.

Turning your laptop into a secondary monitor is a clever way to boost your productivity without buying new hardware. Whether you use a built-in Windows tool or a trusted third-party app, you can easily create a dual-monitor setup that fits your workflow perfectly.

Getting ready for a video call only to find your laptop camera isn’t working is a common frustration. Whether it’s for an important meeting, an online class, or catching up with family, a non-responsive camera can bring everything to a halt. The good news is that getting your camera running is usually a simple process. Let’s walk through the most common and effective ways to turn on your camera and get you back on screen.

Start with a Simple Keyboard Shortcut

Many laptops have a dedicated function key for the camera. Look at the top row of your keyboard, specifically the F1 through F12 keys, for an icon that looks like a camera. To use it, you typically need to hold down the ‘Fn’ key (usually near the bottom-left of the keyboard) and press the corresponding camera function key. This acts as a quick hardware switch to enable or disable the camera. If the camera was accidentally turned off, this should instantly solve the problem.

Check Your System’s Camera Privacy Settings

If the keyboard shortcut doesn’t work, your computer’s privacy settings might be the culprit. Modern operating systems give you control over which apps can use your camera. On Windows, go to Settings > Privacy & security > Camera. Make sure that ‘Camera access’ is turned on. Also, check the list of individual apps below to ensure the specific application you’re using (like Zoom or Teams) has permission. For macOS, you can manage these permissions under System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Camera.

Ensuring You Have the Right Drivers

Think of drivers as the translators that help your laptop’s hardware and software communicate. If your camera driver is outdated, missing, or corrupted, the camera won’t function properly. You can check this by opening the Device Manager (on Windows) and looking under ‘Cameras’ or ‘Imaging devices’. If you see a yellow exclamation mark, the driver needs attention. You can usually right-click the device and select ‘Update driver’ to have Windows search for a new one automatically.

Testing Your Camera in Different Applications

Sometimes, the issue isn’t with the camera itself, but with a single application. A great way to test this is to try using your camera with a different program. If you’re on Windows, you can use the built-in Camera app. Simply type “Camera” into your start menu and open the application. If the camera works fine here, then you know the problem is specific to the permissions or settings within your original software, like your web browser or video conferencing tool.

With these steps, you should be able to identify and fix the issue preventing your camera from turning on. A quick check of the function keys, privacy settings, and a simple test will have you video-ready in no time.

Have you ever seen something perfect on your Asus laptop screen that you just had to save? Maybe it was a funny meme, an important confirmation number, or a beautiful piece of digital art. Taking a screenshot is the easiest way to capture that moment exactly as you see it. If you’re wondering how to do it, you’ve come to the right place.

Your Asus laptop, running Windows, comes with several built-in methods to take a screenshot. Whether you want to grab the entire screen or just a specific window, there’s a quick and easy way to do it. Let’s look at the most common and useful methods.

The Quickest Way: Print Screen Key

Look at the top-right of your keyboard for a key labeled PrtSc or PrtScn. Pressing this once captures an image of your entire screen. It copies the screenshot to your computer’s clipboard, which is like a temporary holding area. To see it, you need to paste it into a program like Microsoft Paint, Word, or an email. Just open the program and press Ctrl + V.

Instantly Save a Picture with Windows Key + Print Screen

For an even faster method that automatically saves the file, try this: hold down the Windows logo key and then tap the PrtSc key. Your screen will dim briefly. This method instantly saves the screenshot as a PNG file in a folder called “Screenshots” inside your “Pictures” library. You don’t need to paste it anywhere; the file is ready for you to find and use.

Capturing a Specific Area with the Snipping Tool

What if you only need a part of the screen? Windows includes a fantastic tool for this. Click the Start menu and type “Snipping Tool” to open it. You can choose to snip a rectangular area, a free-form shape, or a specific window. After you capture your selection, the tool opens in a simple editor where you can make quick notes with a pen or highlighter before saving it.

Using the Modern Snip & Sketch Feature

An even more advanced tool is Snip & Sketch. A quick way to launch it is by pressing Windows Key + Shift + S. Your screen will dim, and a small menu will appear at the top letting you choose your snip type. Once you capture the area, a notification will pop up. Clicking on it opens the screenshot in the Snip & Sketch app, where you can annotate, crop, and share it easily.

With these methods at your fingertips, you’re all set to capture anything on your Asus laptop screen. The best method often depends on what you need the screenshot for, so feel free to try them all and see which one becomes your favorite.

If you’ve ever felt like your MacBook’s screen is just a little too cramped, you’re not alone. Juggling multiple windows and applications on a single display can slow you down. The good news is that connecting a second monitor is a fantastic way to expand your digital workspace, and it’s much easier than you might think. Whether you’re working on a complex project, studying with multiple sources, or simply want to stream a movie while you browse, a second screen can make everything feel more fluid and organized.

Connecting Your Monitor to Your Mac

The first step is making the physical connection. Take a look at the ports on the side or back of your Mac. You’ll likely see USB-C ports (also known as Thunderbolt), an HDMI port, or both. Your monitor will have its own set of ports, commonly HDMI or DisplayPort. Simply find a cable that bridges the two. For most modern setups, a USB-C to HDMI or USB-C to DisplayPort cable will do the trick. Once you have the right cable, just plug one end into your Mac and the other into the monitor, then turn the monitor on.

Adjusting Your Display Settings

After you’ve connected everything, your Mac will usually detect the new monitor automatically. If it doesn’t show up right away, head to Apple menu > System Settings and click on Displays. Here, you can arrange how your screens work together. You’ll see a graphical representation of both your laptop screen and the external monitor. You can drag them around to match their physical placement on your desk. This is especially helpful for moving your cursor seamlessly between the two screens.

Choosing Between Extended and Mirrored Displays

You have two main ways to use your second screen. The default is usually Extended Desktop, which gives you one large, continuous workspace across both displays. This is perfect for having your main work on the big monitor and your email or Slack on the laptop screen. The other option is Screen Mirroring, which shows the same thing on both screens. This is great for presentations or when you want to share what’s on your laptop with a larger audience.

Fine-Tuning for a Better Experience

To get the most out of your new setup, spend a moment in the Displays settings to adjust the resolution for a sharper image. You can also set which screen is your main display—the one that shows the menu bar and Dock. If you find the brightness or color balance between the two screens is different, you can often calibrate the external monitor from this menu as well to create a more uniform look.

With just one cable and a few clicks, you can create a powerful and efficient workstation. This simple upgrade can dramatically improve your workflow, giving you the screen real estate you need to be more productive and organized.

You’re shopping for a new computer and keep seeing these sleek, affordable devices called Chromebooks. They look just like a laptop, with a keyboard, screen, and trackpad. But then you hear they run a different operating system and might not run your usual programs. This naturally leads to the big question: is a Chromebook actually a laptop computer?

The short and simple answer is yes, a Chromebook is a type of laptop computer. It fits the basic definition perfectly: a portable personal computer with a clamshell form factor. The difference lies not in what it is, but in how it works and what it’s designed to do.

What Makes a Chromebook Different?

While all Chromebooks are laptops, not all laptops are Chromebooks. The key distinction is the operating system. Most traditional laptops run Windows or macOS, while Chromebooks run on Chrome OS, a lightweight system built by Google. Think of Chrome OS as an extension of the Chrome web browser. It’s designed to be fast, simple, and secure, with most tasks happening within the browser or through web apps.

When a Chromebook is the Perfect Fit

Chromebooks truly shine for users whose lives are already on the web. If your primary activities include browsing the internet, checking email, streaming videos, using Google Docs for schoolwork, and video calls, a Chromebook offers a fantastic, hassle-free experience. They start up in seconds, receive automatic updates, and are generally less expensive than their Windows or Mac counterparts. They are a popular and excellent choice for students, families, and anyone needing a secondary computer for everyday tasks.

Considering Your Software Needs

Before choosing a Chromebook, it’s important to consider the software you rely on. You cannot install traditional desktop programs like Microsoft Office (the full version), Adobe Photoshop, or specific video games that require a Windows or Mac environment. Instead, you use web-based alternatives like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 online, or Android apps from the Google Play Store, which are available on many modern Chromebooks.

Making the Right Choice for You

So, is a Chromebook a laptop? Absolutely. Deciding if it’s the right laptop for you depends entirely on your needs. If your work or hobbies are centered on the web and you value simplicity, speed, and security, a Chromebook is a brilliant option. If you depend on specific, powerful desktop software for work or creative projects, a traditional Windows or macOS laptop might be a more suitable fit for your workflow.

Ultimately, recognizing that a Chromebook is a specific type of laptop designed for a cloud-first world helps you make an informed decision. By aligning the device’s strengths with your daily tasks, you can find the perfect portable computer for your life.

It happens to the best of us. You’re in the middle of downloading a large file, watching a long video, or simply reading an article, and your laptop screen suddenly goes black. Your laptop has decided it’s time for a nap, but you’re not ready to stop working. This automatic sleep mode, while great for saving battery life, can be a real interruption when you need your computer to stay awake.

Thankfully, you have complete control over these settings. Whether you’re on Windows or macOS, a few simple adjustments can keep your laptop active for as long as you need it to be. Let’s look at the most effective ways to manage this.

Adjusting Your Power & Sleep Settings

The quickest fix is usually found in your system’s power settings. On a Windows computer, go to Settings > System > Power & sleep. Here, you’ll see dropdown menus for screen and sleep timers. You can set your screen to turn off after a certain time to save power, while setting the “Sleep” option to Never to prevent the system from dozing off.

For Mac users, the process is just as simple. Head to System Preferences > Battery (or Energy Saver on older macOS) and then Power Adapter. You can adjust the slider for “Turn display off” and make sure the “Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off” box is checked when plugged in.

When You Need a Temporary Solution

What if you only need to stop the sleep function for a little while? You might not want to change your system settings permanently. A handy trick is to use a simple software tool that simulates activity. You can find small, free programs that press a “phantom” key at set intervals, tricking your laptop into thinking you’re still actively using it.

For a completely software-free method, open a blank text document or a music player. If you’re playing media, even with the volume muted, many operating systems will stay awake to support the playback.

A Quick Note on Battery Life

While it’s convenient to disable sleep mode, remember that its primary purpose is to conserve your battery. If you’re working on battery power, keeping your laptop awake for extended periods will drain it much faster. It’s a good practice to only change these settings when your laptop is plugged into a power source, or when you absolutely need it for a specific task.

With these adjustments, you can ensure your laptop stays awake and ready for work exactly when you need it to. A quick trip to your settings is all it takes to put you back in control of your computer’s schedule.

Have you ever seen something perfect on your laptop screen—a funny meme, a completed online order, or an important error message—and wished you could save that exact image? That’s the magic of the screenshot. It’s a digital photograph of whatever is currently displayed on your monitor, and it’s an incredibly handy skill for work, school, or just sharing a laugh.

While it might seem like there should be one simple button, the method can vary depending on whether you use a Windows laptop, a MacBook, or a Chromebook. Don’t worry, though; capturing your screen is straightforward once you know the right keys to press.

The Universal Keyboard Shortcut

No matter what kind of laptop you have, there’s a universal method that works almost everywhere. Simply press the PrtScn (Print Screen) key. On Windows, this copies an image of your entire screen to your clipboard, which you can then paste into an app like Paint or Microsoft Word. On a MacBook, pressing Shift + Command + 3 does the same thing, instantly saving the screenshot as a file on your desktop.

Capturing Just a Part of Your Screen

You often don’t need a picture of everything. For a more precise capture, both Windows and Mac offer a snipping tool. On Windows, press Windows Key + Shift + S. Your screen will dim, and you can click and drag to select the specific area you want. On a MacBook, the shortcut is Shift + Command + 4, which turns your cursor into a crosshair for you to select your region.

Finding Your Screenshots Afterward

So where do these pictures go? On a Windows laptop using the PrtScn key, the image is only copied to your clipboard until you paste it. Using the Snipping Tool (search for it in your Start Menu) gives you more options to save. For MacBooks, your screenshots are typically saved directly to your desktop as .png files. Chromebooks save them in the “Downloads” folder.

Using Built-in Tools for More Control

For the most flexibility, both major operating systems have dedicated apps. Windows has the Snipping Tool (and the newer Snip & Sketch), which lets you take free-form, rectangular, or full-screen snips and then annotate them before saving. Macs have the Screenshot app, accessible by pressing Shift + Command + 5, which provides a toolbar for capturing the entire screen, a window, or a selected portion, and even recording your screen.

With these simple methods, you’re all set to capture and save anything on your screen. It’s a small skill that makes sharing information and saving memories much easier.