Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Why you should consider purchasing from us...
• How do I determine which laptop will meet my needs?
• Can I purchase upgrades?
• I see OpenOffice , AdAware and AVG Anti-Virus software is included on many of your laptops.  Tell me more about this software.
• What does my laptop purchase include? What does it NOT include?
• How soon will I get my laptop? Is the shipping cost included in the price of the laptop?
• Do you have more than one laptop for each listing?
• Where do you purchase the laptops?
• How will I know you've shipped my laptop?
• I'm local...can I stop by and take a look at your Inventory?
• What is the condition of the laptops you sell?
• I am an AOL user. Can I load AOL's current version (8.0 at the writing of these FAQs) on my laptop?
• I'd like for my laptop to include a CD-RW Drive (CD Burner).
• Does my laptop purchase include an A/C adapter?
• Does my laptop purchase include a User's Guide?
• Does my purchase include an Operating System CD or recovery disk?
• I did not receive an Operating System CD or  driver disk with the computer. 
• How can I get these in the event I need to load the system from scratch?
• Do the laptops come with any other software (other than the Operating System)?
• Does loading other software void my warranty (the part of the warranty that states "changing the operating system voids the warranty")?
• Does UsedLaptops sell used batteries?
• What is the condition of the laptop battery?
• Want a working battery?
• Want a new battery?
• How can I prolong the life of my Lithium-based battery?
• What does "swappable" mean?
• What does "hot swap" mean and does my laptop have that capability?
• How do I know which expansion ports and slots the laptops have?
• I want to hook a printer up to the laptop. How can I do this?
• How can I toggle between CRT and LCD?
• My laptop keeps going into suspend or sleep mode.
• Can you provide RW capability with the laptops?
• What is the difference in the types of displays available?
• My laptop has an XJack PCMCIA card.  How does it work?

1.  Our laptops come with an Operating System (OS) installed.  Many used laptop sellers do not include the OS, so be sure to check.  Loading an OS a laptop can be time consuming and challenging for those not familiar with where all the drivers and appropriate files need to be located.  Not only is it a challenge, but it can be an expensive additional expense.

2.  We specialize in used laptops and have been doing so since March 1996.  Our first laptop site went live on the Internet in July 1996.  We know laptops and can answer your laptop questions.  Our company name, UsedLaptops.com, Inc. and our URL www.usedlaptops.com says it all.

3.  We answer our phones and respond to all e-mails.  Call us and you will actually have a person pick up the telephone, often on the first ring (if we are unable to answer the phone please leave a message and know that your call will be returned promptly).  Technical support calls get the same type of quick response.

4.  We test, test and test the laptops.  In 2001 we had a return rate of less than 3%.  We do not like Dead on Arrivals (DOAs) and rarely have them.  Before shipping and packaging your laptop we re-test it with the AC adapter you will receive to insure there are no problems.

5.  Our site is easy to navigate and kept very current.  Every laptop on the site is in stock and can be purchased immediately.  We typically will ship the same day your order is processed.  You will receive the tracking number via email either before the close of business or first thing the following morning.

Our laptops come with the Operating System (Windows 98) and three freeware programs, an Anti-Virus program , an Anti-Spyware program and OpenOffice (allows creation of and manipulation of existing Microsoft Office documents).  Other than that you'll need to install any other software you'd like to use.  All the laptops come with modems allowing internet access via a dial-up account so, the best place to start when determining what specifications you need is to look at what you'll be doing with the laptop. For example, if you'll be adding additional software, what are the software manufacturer's minimum hardware requirements (hard drive, processor speed, etc).

We can upgrade many of the laptops on our site.  Not every component can be upgraded.  Some upgrades can be done immediately, some require an extra day.  We do not always have components to do the upgrade and sometimes it is not cost effective.  In some cases you are better off buying the right laptop with the features you require.

• RAM memory can often be upgraded.  If the laptop has 128MB and you want 256MB it will cost $45 to upgrade.  This can usually be done the same day you order the laptop.  Check the specification to see if the laptop allows more RAM.  Check with us to see if we have it in stock.  Increasing RAM will sometimes for certain applications increase the speed and performance.

• The processor or CPU cannot be upgraded, as it is soldered to the system board.

• The video chip cannot be upgraded, as it is soldered to the system board.

• If the laptop does not have a network card for connection to you DSL modem or Cable modem it can easily be added.  10 MHz network cards are $15 and 100 MHz cards are $25.  This can be done at the time the laptop is ordered and still allow same day shipment.

• The LCD display cannot easily be changed for a larger one.  You need to pick the laptop with the size of display you require.

• Most laptops we sell can have a Wi-Fi card added.  We have 802.11b for $30 and 802.11.g for $40.  This can be done the day you order the laptop.  The cards slide into a PCMCIA card slot and is easily installable by the user.  The card will include software.

• A larger hard drive can be installed in most laptops.  This could take several days and might not be cost effective.  We can provide a quote if this is of interest.

• We can change the Operatating System, but this can also be expensive and often is not cost effective.  This could take several days and we would need to provide a quote.

• We do not warranty the battery.  In some cases we have working, tested batteries.  If you need one ask us.  We sell refurbished batteries from $25+ and warrant they have been tested and hold a charge for at least one hour.  Often we will suggest a vendor that can provide new batteries.

• We can include a mouse with your purchase.  A USB/PS2 mouse is $9.95.

• Carrying cases are $25 and can be included with your purchase.

• Media Drives (CD-ROM Drives or DVD drive or DVD-CDRW drives) can usually be upgraded.  It is usually not cost effective.  Choose the laptop with the right media.  If you have some compelling reason why you want the drive changed ask us.

• We usually don't extend the warranty beyond 90 days.  At one time we had a 30 day warranty, which we changed several years ago to 90 days.  When we had even longer warranties people rarely bought them.  A combination of they tend to be expensive, refurbished laptops buyers are frugal and usually if you have a hardware problem it will show up the first 30 days you have the laptop.  Combine that with the extra effort we put into testing the laptops most people have a good experience with our 90 day warranty.

If you're used to using other office suites - such as Microsoft Office - you'll be completely at home with

OpenOffice You can of course continue to use your old Microsoft Office files without any problems - and if you need to exchange files with people still using Microsoft Office, that's no problem either.  Just as with Microsoft Office, OpenOffice has several components you can choose from including word processing, spreadsheet, drawing, and database management.  For more information visit the OpenOffice website.

AdAware can comprehensively scan your memory, registry, hard, removable and optical drives for known datamining, aggressive advertising, and tracking components, AdAware will provide the user with the confidence to surf the Internet knowing that their privacy will remain intact. Questions? See AdAware's website  .

AVG Anti-Virus provides AVG Resident Protection, AVG  e-mail Scanner, AVG  On-Demand Scanner, basic scheduled tests, free virus database updated, automatic update feature, automatic healing of infected files, Virus Vault for safe handling of infected files all with an easy-to-use interface.  AVG's website will provide lots more detailed information.

Each laptop ships with the peripherals specified in it's description (e.g. floppy disk drive, CD ROM drive), an A/C adapter, a Windows registration document (card or sticker) and the laptop. If a modem cable is required it will be included. Unless listed as part of the laptop's description, we don't include a carrying case, a "paper" User's Guide, an external mouse or any of the original packaging.

We are located in Northern California. Our hours are Monday-Friday, except Holidays, 9:00 to 5:00. If we receive an order by 12:00 PST we will ship the same day although in general we will ship an order within 48 hours of receipt of the order and approval of the payment. If you are on the East Coast and choose UPS ground you can expect to receive the laptop within 10 business days. Shipping costs are not included in the posted price of the laptop; the cost to ship one laptop via UPS Ground, 3-Day, 2-Day or FedEx overnight is $19, $37., $46. And $54., respectively. More shipping information is available at our Shipping Info page .

As we purchase in quantity we have more than one of each model available for purchase.

We purchase from leasing companies, corporations, brokers and wholesalers. We don't purchase "ones" or "twos" as it is too difficult to refurbish and sell.

We will e-mail you a UPS or Federal Express tracking number within twenty-four hours of shipping your order.

We enjoy meeting our local Customers in person but aren't set up for walk-in traffic.  If you'd like to purchase a laptop from us and pick it up in person please choose the system then call ahead (650) 919-1820 to make payment/pick up arrangements.

Our laptops will not have significant signs of use such as damaged displays or cracked cases. As they are used there may be some minor cosmetic marks on the units, generally limited to the outside of the case. Some laptop dealers list these as "A" Condition. Not new, but in great shape.

Although AOL claims that AOL v. 7.0 (and higher) is compatible with the Windows 95 Operating System, practical applications shows it is not. If you install AOL v. 7.0 (or higher versions) on your Windows 95 system, there is a substantial risk of corrupting your operating system and your laptop may not run properly. We advise you not to install AOL v. 7.0 to your Windows 95 system; our recommendation is to use AOL v. 5.0 with Windows 95 and the browser Internet Explorer v. 5. These older versions are available from AOL. For more information on AOL mishaps please visit: http://www.computergripes.com/Aol.html

When our Inventory was originally manufactured, CD-RW drives were not available.  Your options are to purchase a newer, more expensive laptop that comes with a CD-RW drive OR purchase an external CD-RW drive to work with our less expensive laptops.  These external drives connect via the USB Port BUT require USB 2.0 to burn at their maximum rate (our Inventory comes with USB 1.0 which transfers data slower).  You need to purchase two things: a USB 2.0 PCMCIA card and the external drive.  The least expensive USB 2.0 PCMCIA we've found is manufactured by Zonet and requires a PII CPU, 32MB RAM, 2MB hard drive space.  Click here to see more detailed information. 

Yes, all orders include an A/C adapter.

User's Guides are not included with the laptops as we rarely get manuals when we purchase the laptops. Should you require a manual they can usually be found for free download or use online at the laptop manufacturer's web site; links to these support sites on our Support page. 

We don't have Recovery Disks or Operating System CDs to include with your order. We'd suggest creating a Boot Disk when you receive your laptop to use in case reinstallation of the Operating System becomes necessary. For more information on creating a Boot Disk, see http://www.computerhope.com/boot.htm .

Drivers for your laptop as well as the essential Microsoft Windows components are located on your hard drive in the 'C:\Windows\Options\Cabs' directory. Additional hardware that requires the Microsoft Windows CD can get the files it needs from there. If you need to re-install the operating system you can navigate to that directory through DOS and type 'setup.exe' which will run the Microsoft Windows setup program. 

Unless otherwise noted as part of the laptop's description, we only include the Operating System with the laptop. You'll need to install any other software you'll need to use.

No. We expect our Customers to install software...just make sure the laptop specifications meet those required for the particular application.

The latter part of 2005 we started to experiment testing batteries.  Our online survey revealed only 2% indicated the battery is the most important factor when purchasing a used laptop. We purchase quantities of laptops (10, 25, 100 or even 500 or more at a time), so there are usually some "working" batteries.  We've resisted providing a warranty for batteries, since testing them is very labor intensive with different laptop applications draining the battery at varying rates, e.g., typing uses much less juice than using the modem or playing a DVD ROM.  

When we test a battery plug it in (typically overnight), then track how long it holds the charge. Even though those Customers requireing a working battery appears to represent a small percentages of our typical customer we want to try to fill their need.  To that end, we've started selling used, tested, warranted batteries for some of our laptops.  We warrant these used batteries will hold a charge for one hour on "Standby Mode" for $35.00.  In comparison, new batteries tend to cost $75 to $100+ and have a one year warranty. We test the batteries with the display, hard drive and full power forced to stay on.  They might not play a DVD for a full hour, but will allow you to do most other things with your laptop on battery power for an hour.  So, if one of these batteries interests you ask to see if we have one for the laptop you are interested in purchasing!

We do not replace or test the batteries/charging systems and, as such, they are excluded from our Ninety-Day Warranty. It is possible the battery will not hold a charge at all even when you first receive your laptop.

At times we will get a significant quantity of one laptop model.  We will then test batteries and sometimes find some that will hold a charge.  In these cases these batteries cost $35 and are warranted for 30 days and guaranteed to hold a charge for an hour with the laptop on "stand-by" mode. 

We do not sell new laptop batteries, as there are many different types; we'd recommend http://www.ebatts.com/ .

Please see the discussion at http://www.buchmann.ca/Chap10-page6.asp as to extending the life of a Lithium-based battery.

Swappable means that the laptop will come with a CD-ROM drive module and a floppy disk drive module. However, only one of the drives can be used in the Internal Drive Bay at a time. In order to change drives, the drive currently using the drive bay must be physically removed and the other drive installed, while the unit is turned off.

"Hot swapping" means swapping various drive modules (e.g. floppy disk drive, CD/DVD ROM drive) without having to turn the laptop off. This capability is not available with all laptop computers. To determine if your drives are hot swappable you will need to read the laptops specifications.

We provide a detailed list of ports and other expansion for each laptop. If you have specific questions you are welcome to call or email us.

If you already have a printer, make sure it's connector is available on the laptop by checking the specs pages as outlined just above. If you haven't purchased a printer, depending on the laptop's specifications you have some choices including a Universal Serial Bus (USB) or 25-pin (industry standard).

Simultaneously press the function key "Fn" and the other function keys on which there is a small display graphics.

If you laptop goes into hibernation, standby, suspend or sleep mode you will need to change your Power Management Properties. Click on the 'Start' button, -> Settings -> Control Panels -> and double-click on the Power Management icon. This utility will give you control over which devices are disabled after a certain time period. Other power management properties might reside in your system BIOS.

RW drives were not available when these older laptops were manufactured. If this option is required, external PCMCIA or parallel drives are available through many local retailers.

Active Matrix (also known as "TFT") is the best type of display that is made. HPA (High Performance Addressing) is the next best,  designed by IBM. Dual Scan is the third and least expensive best option. The quality of Dual Scan varies greatly. Some are acceptable, and some are not. An Active-Matrix display is considered better than a Dual Scan because it is brighter, easier to view at side angles and minimizes the so-called "ghosting effect" when the cursor moves across the screen. 

When not installed in your laptop an XJack PCMCIA card looks like this:

It has been preinstalled in your laptops PCMCIA slots which are usually loc dated on the right or left side of the laptop.   Here is an example of what the card should look like installed in your laptop.

Using your finger push lightly as in the photo above and the connection for your telephone or network line will pop out and is inserted as shown below.