You know, it's funny that in this day and age where information runs free (in at least two senses of the word), there are still computer users who panic at the slightest hint of a computer malfunction.

Okay: First, it is funny, yet factual; somehow, all that free information breeds even more laziness in many people. They know that it's always there, so they really don't feel they have to know about something until the very minute that they need to. You know, that time when panic clouds most of their judgment.

Secondly, these laptop problems are more often than not solved by laptop replacement parts; and sometimes, even requiring no purchases of any sort at all. Just a basic know-how of how laptop parts work and how to fix them will do the job.

Below are some of the most common laptop component breakdowns, and how to cure them.

A Battery Problem Prevents System Start-Up
Before hastily concluding that the whole computer is damaged (just the motherboard, actually, but many people might not know the distinction, nor would they care) because the damned thing won't turn on, you may want to do a few tests first to see if it's really just the battery that's at fault.

The first thing you need to do is check if the battery's power indicator is lighting up. If it isn't, chances are that it isn't in place properly, or else the AC adapter isn't plugged in well.

If the light is red, this usually means that the battery hasn't been charged. Set aside a few of hours to charge it. Remember to let it charge fully lest more complications arise.

If those still don't work, then you may want to consider buying a new AC adapter or battery. While you will be resorting to spending your hard-earned dollars, at least both laptop parts are cheaper than a motherboard repair.

Hard Drive Problems Bog Down the Speed
Many people have surely noticed their laptops' speeds slowing down from how they were at initial use. One common cause if this is fragmented disk space due to the huge volume of data accrued over time.

Fragmented disk space is akin to a warehouse whose contents are heavily disarranged so that finding anything inside becomes significantly harder. To counter this, a user must defrag his hard drive.

A disk defragmenting program is standard for laptops. If you are using Windows, this can be accessed by clicking on the Programs tab in your Start Menu, going to Accessories, then System Tools, and finally clicking on the Disk Defragmenter program.

If defragging doesn't solve it, there's a possibility that malware may have invaded your computer. This is curable by installing an anti-malware program on your computer and running it.

An Online Connection is Hard to Establish
If you are going by wireless connection, make sure that the software you use to connect is up-to-date. Also, double check your SSID numbers, wireless channels, WEPs, and WPAs. And of course, check to see if the username and password that you used are correct, and if the signal you are getting is strong enough.

If you are using dial-up, make sure that everything is plugged in correctly, from your laptop to your modem to the wall.

Think: Occam's Razor
As you have probably discerned, these common problems are solved rather easily through very obvious rudimentary checks. Indeed, often it is the simplest explanation that is the key to the solution.