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Struggling to type in a dimly lit room or during a late-night work session? Many HP laptops come equipped with a fantastic feature: a backlit keyboard. This gentle light illuminates the keys, making them easy to see and helping you type more accurately without needing to turn on a bright overhead lamp. It’s a simple tool that can make a big difference in your comfort and productivity.

If you’re unsure how to activate this helpful light, you’re in the right place. The method can vary slightly depending on your specific HP laptop model, but the process is generally straightforward once you know which key to press.

The Easiest Way to Turn On the Keyboard Light

For most modern HP laptops, turning on the keyboard backlight is as simple as pressing a single key. Look at the top row of your keyboard, specifically at the F5 key or sometimes the F9 key. You should see a small symbol on the key that looks like a keyboard with light rays emanating from it. Simply press the Fn (Function) key and this corresponding F-key at the same time. This key combination acts as a toggle, so you can press it repeatedly to cycle through different brightness levels or turn the light off completely.

What to Do If the Function Key Doesn’t Work

If pressing the Fn and F5 (or F9) key doesn’t bring your keys to life, don’t worry. The first thing to check is whether your specific HP laptop model actually has a backlit keyboard. This is often a feature found on premium or business-oriented models. A quick way to check is to look at the F5 and F9 keys for the backlight symbol. If the symbol isn’t there, your model might not have this capability.

Adjusting Your Keyboard Light Settings in Windows

Sometimes, the backlight might be controlled through software. You can check this by opening the HP System Utility or the HP Command Center on your laptop. These applications, which come pre-installed on most HP computers, often have a section for keyboard settings where you can adjust the backlight behavior, including setting a timer for how long the light stays on.

Having a backlit keyboard is a small feature that offers significant convenience. With these simple steps, you can easily light up your keys and create a more comfortable typing experience in any lighting condition. Remember to try the function key combination first, and you’ll likely have it working in no time.

Choosing a new laptop can feel like a daunting task. With so many technical terms and models on the market, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But finding the right computer doesn’t have to be complicated. By focusing on how you plan to use it, you can cut through the noise and find a machine that feels like it was made just for you.

Matching the Laptop to Your Daily Life

The most important question to ask is, “What will I use this for?” Your daily tasks determine everything. If you mainly browse the web, check email, and stream videos, a standard laptop will serve you well. For frequent travelers, a lightweight model with long battery life is a must. If your work involves photo editing, video production, or gaming, you’ll need a more powerful machine with a dedicated graphics card.

Finding the Right Balance of Power and Battery

The processor (CPU) is the brain of your computer. For everyday use, a modern Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 offers a great balance of performance and efficiency. If you need more power for demanding applications, consider an i7 or Ryzen 7. Alongside the CPU, aim for at least 8GB of RAM for smooth multitasking. Also, pay close attention to battery life. Look for manufacturers’ estimates, but know that real-world use often gives you a few hours less.

Considering Your Screen and Storage Needs

You’ll be looking at your laptop’s screen for hours, so make it a good one. A 14-inch display is a popular sweet spot for portability and usability. For storage, a Solid State Drive (SSD) is non-negotiable for a modern computer. It makes everything from starting up to opening apps incredibly fast. A 256GB SSD is a good starting point, but consider 512GB or more if you store lots of photos, videos, or games.

The Feel of the Keyboard and Ports

Don’t forget the physical experience. If you type a lot, try to test the keyboard for comfort and key travel. Also, check the port selection. Ensure it has the connections you need, like USB-A for older devices, USB-C for modern peripherals, and an HDMI port for connecting to external monitors.

Remember, the best laptop is the one that fits your unique lifestyle and budget. By thinking about how you’ll use it most, you can make a confident choice and find a reliable partner for your daily tasks.

That little glowing circle on your ASUS Vivobook’s touchpad can be a bit of a mystery. Officially known as the NumberPad, it’s a clever feature that turns your touchpad into a numeric keypad with a simple tap. It’s fantastic for data entry, but if you find it accidentally activating while you’re typing or navigating, it can quickly become more of a nuisance than a help.

You’re not alone if you’ve been searching for a way to turn it off. The good news is that disabling the NumberPad is a straightforward process, and you have a couple of reliable methods to choose from.

The Quick Toggle for Your Touchpad NumberPad

The fastest way to turn the NumberPad on and off is with a simple keyboard shortcut. Look at the top-right corner of your touchpad itself. You should see a small icon that looks like a touchpad with a glowing corner. Press and hold that spot firmly for about one second. The light should turn off, indicating that the NumberPad is now disabled. To turn it back on, simply press and hold the same spot again until it lights up. This method is perfect for a quick fix.

Disabling the Feature Through Your Settings

If the touchpad toggle isn’t working for you, or you’d prefer to manage the setting through Windows, that’s easy to do. Click the Start menu and open the Settings gear icon. From there, navigate to Bluetooth & devices and then select Touchpad. Scroll down until you find the option labeled NumberPad or “Touchpad NumPad.” You’ll see a toggle switch right there. Simply click the switch to turn it off. This completely disables the feature until you decide to turn it back on.

What to Do If the NumberPad Still Acts Up

In some cases, the feature might not respond as expected. This can often be resolved by ensuring you have the right software. Visit the official ASUS support website, enter your Vivobook’s specific model number, and look for the ASUS NumberPad Driver. Downloading and installing the latest driver can fix any glitches and give you smoother control over the function.

Whether you use the instant touchpad toggle or the settings menu, you can easily reclaim your touchpad from that glowing circle. With these simple steps, you can enjoy a distraction-free typing and navigation experience on your ASUS Vivobook.

If you’re working from a modern laptop, you’ve likely encountered the challenge of having too few ports. A single Thunderbolt cable can change that, instantly turning your sleek notebook into a full-fledged workstation. But with so many options, how do you find a good Thunderbolt docking station that truly meets your needs?

What Makes a Docking Station “Good”?

A good Thunderbolt docking station does more than just add ports. It’s a reliable hub that provides stable power delivery to charge your laptop, supports multiple high-resolution monitors without flickering, and offers a variety of ports for your peripherals. The goal is to create a seamless, one-cable connection that handles everything from data transfer to video output.

Key Features to Look For

When shopping, pay close attention to a few critical specs. First, check the power delivery. A good dock should deliver at least 90W to power and charge most laptops. Next, consider your display needs. Look for docks that support dual 4K monitors at 60Hz for a crisp, fluid viewing experience. Finally, examine the port selection. A mix of USB-A and newer USB-C ports, along with an Ethernet jack and a headphone port, offers the most flexibility for connecting all your devices.

Matching the Dock to Your Workflow

Your ideal dock depends on what you do. If you’re a creative professional working with large files, prioritize models with SD card readers and multiple high-speed USB ports. For an office setup, focus on reliable monitor support and stable Ethernet for a wired internet connection. If you frequently switch between home and office, a more compact, portable dock might be the perfect fit for your on-the-go lifestyle.

Ensuring a Smooth and Reliable Connection

Compatibility is crucial. Before you buy, a quick visit to the manufacturer’s website to check your laptop model can save you future headaches. It’s also wise to look for brands known for good driver support and firmware that can be updated. This ensures your dock will work reliably today and continue to perform well with future laptop and operating system updates.

Finding the right Thunderbolt docking station is about creating a personalized, efficient workspace. By focusing on the power, display, and ports you genuinely need, you can choose a dock that simplifies your daily routine and gets the most out of your laptop.

Taking a screenshot on your ThinkPad laptop is a fundamental skill that can save you time and help you communicate more effectively. Whether you need to capture an error message for tech support, save a receipt from an online purchase, or keep a record of an important conversation, knowing the right keyboard shortcuts is key. The process is straightforward, and your ThinkPad offers several built-in methods to get the perfect capture.

The Quickest Way to Capture Your Entire Screen

For the fastest method, locate the PrtSc key on your keyboard, typically found in the top-right row. Pressing this key once captures an image of everything visible on your monitor. On many systems, this automatically copies the screenshot to your clipboard, ready for you to paste into an application like Microsoft Paint or a Word document using Ctrl + V. Some ThinkPads, depending on your settings, may also save the image directly to a “Screenshots” folder within your Pictures library.

Capturing Just a Single Window

If you only need a picture of one specific application window, there’s a handy shortcut for that. Simply click on the window you want to capture to make sure it’s the active, front-most window. Then, press Alt + PrtSc. This command takes a screenshot of that single window only, ignoring everything else on your desktop, and copies it to your clipboard. It’s perfect for when you want a clean image without any distracting background elements.

Using the Snipping Tool for More Control

When you need precision, the Snipping Tool (or its newer version, Snip & Sketch) is your best friend. You can easily find it by typing “Snipping Tool” into your Windows search bar. This tool allows you to capture a free-form area, a rectangular section, or a specific window. After you take the snip, a small editor opens where you can annotate, highlight, or crop the image before saving it. It provides the most flexibility for your screenshots.

With these simple techniques, you can easily capture anything on your ThinkPad’s screen. From the quick full-screen PrtSc to the precise Snipping Tool, you have all the options you need to save and share information instantly.

Have you ever wished you could continue your Teyvat adventures from the comfort of your couch or while lounging in bed? Your powerful desktop is running Genshin Impact beautifully, but you’re not always tethered to your desk. The good news is that you can easily stream the game from your desktop to your laptop, giving you the freedom to play from anywhere in your home.

This process, often called in-home streaming, uses your local network to send the video and audio from your desktop to your laptop, while sending your controller or keyboard inputs back. It’s a fantastic way to make the most of your hardware without being confined to one spot.

Choosing Your Streaming Method

You have a couple of excellent, free options for setting up your stream. The most popular are Steam Remote Play and Moonlight. If you already have Genshin Impact added as a non-Steam game to your Steam library, Remote Play is a straightforward choice. For those with an NVIDIA graphics card, Moonlight paired with Sunshine on the host PC often provides a lower-latency, higher-quality experience.

Setting Up Steam Remote Play

First, add Genshin Impact to your Steam library as a non-Steam game. On both your desktop and laptop, ensure you are logged into the same Steam account. In Steam’s settings, under ‘Remote Play’, make sure ‘Enable Remote Play’ is checked. Now, from your laptop’s Steam library, you should see your desktop listed. Simply click ‘Stream’ to start playing. You can adjust the streaming resolution and bandwidth from the Remote Play settings for a smoother experience.

Optimizing Your Game Stream

For the best performance, a wired Ethernet connection for both your desktop and laptop is ideal. If you must use Wi-Fi, a strong 5GHz connection is your next best bet. Close any unnecessary applications on your desktop to free up system resources. You might also want to lower some in-game graphics settings, like shadows or render resolution, as streaming can add a slight performance overhead. A stable network is the key to a seamless, lag-free session.

Streaming Genshin Impact to your laptop is a simple process that opens up a new level of gaming flexibility. With just a little setup, you can take your journey across Teyvat with you, making it easier than ever to complete your daily commissions or tackle domains from your favorite cozy spot at home.

If you’ve ever looked at a System76 laptop, you’ve probably noticed it comes with its own operating system called Pop!_OS. It’s not just a random version of Linux; it’s a key part of the experience. This operating system is developed in-house by System76 itself, designed to work in perfect harmony with their hardware.

What Makes Pop!_OS Special?

At its heart, Pop!_OS is built on Ubuntu Linux, so it has access to a vast library of software. However, System76 has tailored it specifically for creators, developers, and power users. It’s known for its clean, modern interface and a focus on productivity. Out of the box, it includes features that make managing windows, workspaces, and your workflow feel intuitive and smooth.

A Seamless Experience from the Start

One of the biggest benefits of having Pop!_OS pre-installed is the complete lack of driver hassles. Every component in your System76 laptop—from the graphics card to the keyboard backlighting—is guaranteed to work perfectly the moment you turn it on. This level of integration is often hard to achieve with other operating systems, saving you time and frustration.

Built for Tinkering and Getting Things Done

Pop!_OS truly shines for technical work. It has excellent support for both integrated and discrete NVIDIA graphics, making it a great choice for gaming, machine learning, and video editing. The operating system also features robust encryption options during installation to keep your data safe. For developers, tools like the Pop Shell with its tiling window management can dramatically improve coding efficiency.

Is Pop!_OS Right for You?

You don’t need a System76 computer to try Pop!_OS; it’s free to download and install on most hardware. But when you get it on a System76 laptop, you’re getting a cohesive package where the software and hardware are designed for each other. It’s an excellent choice if you want a powerful, ready-to-work machine that respects your privacy and gives you full control over your computing environment.

In essence, Pop!_OS is the soul of a System76 laptop. It’s a thoughtfully designed operating system that empowers you to be productive from the moment you open the lid, without any of the usual setup headaches.

Finding a new laptop can feel like a big decision, and sometimes you just want to see and touch the device before you buy. You’re not alone in wondering where the best places are to find one nearby. Whether you need it for work, school, or play, knowing your local options can save you time and give you peace of mind.

Your Go-To Local Electronics Retailers

For a hands-on shopping experience, large electronics stores are often the first stop. Chains like Best Buy have a wide selection of brands and models on display, allowing you to test the keyboard and screen. You can also get immediate help from their sales associates. Don’t forget big-box stores like Target or Walmart, which carry a variety of popular and budget-friendly laptops. They are convenient and often have flexible store hours.

Consider Visiting a Brand-Specific Store

If you already have a brand in mind, visiting their dedicated store can be a great move. The Apple Store offers a full range of MacBooks with expert staff to guide you. Similarly, Microsoft Store locations showcase their Surface line and other Windows-based partners. These stores provide a deep dive into the ecosystem and offer hands-on support and setup advice right there.

Don’t Overlook Local Computer Shops

For a more personalized touch, a locally-owned computer shop can be a hidden gem. These smaller stores often provide exceptional customer service and can offer knowledgeable advice tailored to your specific needs. They might also have unique refurbished models that offer great value. A quick online search for “computer store near me” can reveal these valuable local businesses.

A Quick Tip Before You Go Shopping

Before you head out the door, it’s always a good idea to call ahead. Confirm that the store has the specific model you’re interested in in stock. You can also ask about their current promotions, return policy, or if they offer price matching. This simple step can ensure your trip is productive and you get the best possible deal.

With these options in mind, your search for a local laptop should be much smoother. From national chains to friendly neighborhood shops, you have several avenues to find the perfect computer for you. Happy shopping!

Have you ever needed to find a specific driver, check your warranty status, or sell your laptop, only to realize you don’t know its exact model name? You’re not alone. Knowing your laptop’s model is like knowing its full name; it opens the door to getting the right support, software, and accessories. It’s a simple piece of information that can save you a lot of time and hassle.

Finding Your Model on a Physical Check

The quickest way is often to look at the laptop itself. Flip it over and look for a sticker or etched text on the bottom case. This label usually displays the manufacturer, like Dell or HP, followed by the model number, which might look something like “Inspiron 15 3000” or “Pavilion x360.” Sometimes, the model information is also found around the screen bezel or underneath the battery if it’s removable.

Using Your Computer’s System Information

If the sticker is worn off, your computer can tell you what it is. On a Windows PC, click the Start button, type “System Information,” and open the app. Look for the System Model field. This will show you the exact model number. For those using a Mac, click the Apple logo in the top-left corner and select “About This Mac.” The model name, like “MacBook Air (13-inch, M2, 2022),” will be clearly displayed.

Why Knowing Your Model Number Matters

This isn’t just a random string of letters and numbers. Your specific laptop model is the key to finding compatible parts, like a new battery or RAM. It ensures you download the correct drivers from the manufacturer’s website, which can fix glitches and improve performance. When you need technical support or want to see if your warranty is still active, having the model number ready makes the process much smoother.

Taking a moment to find and jot down your laptop model is a small task with big benefits. It puts you in control, making future troubleshooting and upgrades a straightforward process. Keep this information handy; you’ll be glad you did the next time you need it.

Forget the days of struggling to remember dozens of complex passwords. Passkeys are here, offering a simpler and far more secure way to log into your favorite websites and apps. If you’re using a laptop, you might be wondering how to best integrate this new technology into your daily routine. The good news is that you have a couple of excellent options, each with its own strengths.

Your Laptop’s Built-In Security System

The most straightforward method for using passkeys on your laptop is to leverage the built-in security you already have. Both Windows Hello (on PCs) and Touch ID (on Macs) are perfectly designed to manage passkeys. When a website asks if you want to create a passkey, your laptop will prompt you to use your fingerprint, facial recognition, or PIN. The passkey is then stored securely directly on your device. This method is incredibly convenient for everyday use on your personal machine.

Why a Password Manager is a Smart Choice

While using your laptop’s native system is great, it ties your passkeys to that single device. This is where using a password manager like 1Password, Bitwarden, or Dashlane becomes the best overall method. These apps can now store and sync your passkeys across all your devices, including your laptop, phone, and tablet. This means you can create a passkey on your laptop and then easily use it to log in on your phone later. It centralizes your digital keys in one secure, familiar place.

Getting Started with Passkeys Today

Ready to make the switch? Start by visiting the account settings of services that support passkeys, such as Google, PayPal, or eBay. Look for an option to “add a passkey.” Your browser and laptop will guide you through the simple setup. Choose to save it in your password manager if you use one for the best cross-device experience. Remember, you can often have both a password and a passkey active during the transition.

By choosing a method that fits your lifestyle, you can enjoy a faster, easier, and more secure login experience on your laptop and beyond.