Hardware Posts
Routers, mesh systems, laptops and the cables between them: this section covers the kit itself. The buying guides only recommend products that have been verified as available and fit for the specific job, and the troubleshooting guides work through hardware faults symptom first, the way you actually meet them. Laptop power problems are a speciality here, from machines that die the moment the charger comes out to sudden shutdowns under load. Start with the best routers to replace a Virgin Media hub if you are upgrading, or laptop turns off when unplugged if a battery problem brought you here.
Best Mesh WiFi for Thick Walls and Older Houses: UK Buying Guide
Stone walls, double-brick chimney breasts and the lath-and-plaster of an older UK house eat WiFi for breakfast. A single router in the hallway leaves the far bedroom and the kitchen extension on one b...
Surface Plugged In But Not Charging: Causes and Fixes
A Microsoft Surface that shows the plug icon yet refuses to charge is one of the more confusing power faults to diagnose, because Surface devices charge in two completely different ways depending on t...
An MSI Laptop That Turns Off When Unplugged: Causes and Fixes
An MSI laptop that switches off the instant you pull the charger is almost always running on mains power because the battery cannot carry the load alone. On a gaming MSI that load is unusually high: a...
Mesh, Extender or New Router: A 60-Second Decider
Fixing patchy home WiFi usually means picking one of four paths: optimise the hub you already have, add an extender, add a mesh system, or replace the hub with your own router. Spending on the wrong o...
Laptop Will Not Charge Past 80 Percent Is a Battery Feature, Not a Fault
A laptop that charges to 80 percent and then sits there showing "plugged in, not charging" looks like a fault, but it almost never is one. On nearly every modern Lenovo, ASUS, Dell, HP and M...
Laptop Power and Charging Problems: The Complete Diagnosis Hub
Laptop power and charging problems feel alarming, but nearly all of them trace back to one of three families of cause: battery or charger hardware, power-management software, or overheating. A machine...
Laptop Battery Drains While Plugged In: Causes and the Fix Ladder
A laptop that loses charge while it is plugged in feels like a contradiction, yet it points to one simple imbalance: the system is drawing more power than the charger can supply, so the battery quietl...
Acer Laptop Turns Off When Unplugged: Causes and the Fix Ladder
An Acer laptop that runs happily on the mains but dies the second the charger leaves the socket is sending a clear signal: the battery is no longer carrying the load on its own. On the wall adapter th...
Best AI PCs & Copilot+ Laptops 2025: Complete Buyer's Guide
The AI revolution has finally come to personal computers. In 2025, AI PCs and Copilot+ laptops are transforming how we work, create, and interact with technology. But with so many options and confusin...
How to make the perfect Ethernet Cable (11 Step Guide)
If you have ever had an issue with making your own network or Ethernet cables before, then we have got a surprise for you. We went ahead and made our own guide to help you with the task of crimping an...
Sky Broadband Hub Lights Meaning: Every Colour and Fix
Sky Broadband Hub Lights Explained. We have put together this article to get the lights on your Sky hub explained. If your internet is not working then we can help. Follow our light guide below and fi...
My Laptop Switches To Battery While Gaming
Gaming laptops good! Interruption to gaming bad! If your laptop Switches To Battery While Gaming and you are reading this, then you are probably experiencing a very irritating problem while gaming on ...
Asus Laptop Turns Off When Unplugged: Causes and Fixes
An Asus laptop that switches off the moment you unplug it almost always has a power-delivery fault: a flat or failing battery, a worn charger, or a dirty charging port. These checks isolate the cause,...
NETGEAR Router Lights on But No Internet
We have all had those nights when our home internet is not working, and we are clueless as to what is wrong. We 've all had issues where the router's lights (LEDs) are on but no internet. The LEDs on ...
Lenovo Laptop Switches Off When Unplugged: Causes and Fixes
A Lenovo laptop that runs perfectly on mains power but dies the instant the charger comes out is one of the most common laptop faults there is. The cause is nearly always something you can identify at...
Laptop Shuts Down When Unplugged? 5-Minute Fix (2026)
Quick Fix Summary: If your laptop shuts down when unplugged, 90% of cases are caused by: 1) Dead battery (needs replacement), 2) Faulty charger, 3) Power settings misconfiguration, 4) Overheating issu...
Why Does My Laptop Keep Asking for A BitLocker Key
Why Does My Laptop Keep Asking for A BitLocker Key? Even if you never had a problem with BitLocker before, you might be asking yourself what went wrong. or why does my laptop keep asking me for a BitL...
Why Laptops Run Slow When Not Plugged In and When It Is Actually a Problem
Pull the charger out and the laptop drops a gear almost immediately. That slowdown feels like a fault, yet in almost every case it is deliberate: Windows and the processor firmware throttle clock spee...
Why Does My Laptop Sound Like a Tractor Engine
Why Does My Laptop Sound Like a Tractor Engine? It's 11 PM, you are trying to finish up some work before you crash for the night, but your laptop sounds like it is about to clear the runway and takeof...
What do my AT&T NVG599 Router Lights Mean?
What do your AT&T Router Lights Mean? LED lights on your AT&T router show you the current state of the device. For quick diagnostics, we have compiled a list of all the most common routers and...
How to Reset an EE Smart Hub or Smart Hub Plus (Factory & Reboot) 2026
If you have ever wanted to Reset EE Broadband Router Quickly and Easily then this is the article for you. Here's a quick guide on how to reset EE Broadband routers, also known as EE Bright Boxes. Even...
EE Router Lights Meaning: Every Colour and Flashing Fix
This guide explains what the lights on an EE router mean, what the colours on an EE router signify, and how to fix the EE internet problems behind each warning state. These are both questions that we ...
Xfinity XB6 vs XB7 modem: Which One Is The Best?
Xfinity XB6 vs. XB7 modem. Have you ever wondered if you must use the equipment provided by your internet provider (ISP)? There are many options for modems- in fact, we think of the XB7 modem as a ste...
Can you use a long Ethernet cable? (Plus Common FAQs)
Can you use a long Ethernet cable? In the modern world, virtually every broadband user connects to the internet. This makes it essential for you to know about Ethernet cables and how they work. The on...
Best Virgin Media Router - NETGEAR R6260: A Closer Look
Best Virgin Media Router: NETGEAR R6260 – best alternative Virgin Media router for your home. Using Virgin Media with the R6260 is a great experience, thousands of people have had great things to say ...
How to Fix Xfinity Ethernet Problems. (Easily)
How to Fix Xfinity Ethernet Problems? It can be frustrating when your internet connection is down, but there are many ways that you could potentially fix this problem! You should first start by checki...
Laptop Turns Off When Unplugged: Causes and Quick Fixes
A laptop that turns off the moment you unplug it has a power-delivery fault rather than a software one in most cases. These checks narrow down whether the battery, the charger, or the power settings a...