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Laptop Repair or Replacement

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mvsfan:


--- Quote from: mvsfan on July 31, 2010, 08:27:35 pm ---Don't be afraid to do some google searching to figure out how to disassemble it. Most laptops are the same -- pull off some kind of trim up by the power button, and that reveals some screws, which leads to more screws, which leads to more screws, etc. Just be sure to draw a diagram of your laptop (top and bottom) on a piece of paper so you can keep track of what screws came from where so you can put them all back in the correct place when you're done. Actually TAPE the screws to the paper on the diagram -- it really helps.

Ive always been a firm believer in good diagrams and such. I used to draw the most anal diagrams before i got a digital camera.
ill suggest just using one, printing it out and then sticking your screws through the holes. i do it every time i take anything apart these days and i always take twice as many shots as i think that i will need, whereas in the old days i would spend at least a day drawing out the most detailed diagram that i could.

One more thing. If you ever get the message that your Bios battery is failing, just do the easiest thing possible. Grab your camera, turn the flash off, and start snapping shots of your bios screens before you change the battery. Works every time, unless someone knows of a good utility to install to pack any bios into a printable file. thats the only thing that i know of that would be easier.

just a suggestion.

--- End quote ---


jasonbar:

All--thanks for the very helpful replies--I knew I'd get a lot of help here!   :applaud:


Update: a few of the times I've turned on my laptop now, I've gotten a normal boot sequence, made it to BIOS twice, made it to the Windows loading screen once, & even booted Windows all the way & used it for about 1 minute.  Then, it goes dead again.  Well, mostly dead.  The blue media control buttons are all still lit, as is the power indicator on the front of the laptop.

So, my guess is that there's some component that's loose, loose in its socket, or a bad connection, or something in there that's nominally working but the slightest heat (or vibration?) causes something to expand & lose contact, or to heat up & fail by some other method.  Or maybe a heat sink is off the CPU or other critical component & it gets hot really fast & shuts itself down for self-preservation?


@BobA: nope, when the laptop turns on & is "dead", it doesn't even get as far as spinning the optical drive to boot from my recovery disk.  The hard drive seems to be OK, as I could boot Windows fine once.

@Burn4Evr: I agreee--data's far more precious than the hardware.  I'm on the prowl for a laptop hard drive enclosure or 2.5"-3.5" HD adapter.  Laptop's screen is fine.  I don't know if I can boot on a USB stick, but my later tests show that the OS seems to be OK & that the hardware is mega-flaky.  I'm afraid that I can't do w/out my optical drive--definitely a laptop for me, not a netbook.  I've heard good things about Asus, thanks.

@trevski: thanks for the link--that adapter should work great.  My most successful boot lately (got into Windows for 1-2 minutes) was after the laptop sat overnight, so there might be some component that's susceptible to the slightest amount of heat before it barfs.

@Dr Zero: specs on the laptop--seems to have Intel CPU & Inel Graphics http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00491052&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

@smalltownguy: Thanks!!!  I bet you're right.  Tons of replacement motherboards on eBay, many untested, many advertised as bad...  Hmm, $65 + $20 shipping to repair the laptop--might not make financial sense (as per your edit).  Might be smarter for me to part it out & sell the bits (I need to do a little research & see what a repaired laptop would sell for to see how much $ I want to spend repairing it.).  I'm pretty savvy w/ taking things apart & troubleshooting & swapping components, so I'll set up a saved search on eBay & see what comes up.  Thanks for your offer to help!

@gryhand: Thanks--I hope I fare better than you--it seems that my HD is OK, which is what what truly matters.

@ark_ader: Thanks, but that didn't apply in this case.  When the laptop didn't shut itself down, it got through POST & BIOS & even booted Windows fine.

@smalltownguy: Thanks, I did try pulling the HD & booting.  Same results.  I pulled both 1GB RAM chips & booted.  Same results.  The computer is (usually) barfing before it even looks for those components.  When the computer doesn't barf, those components are working OK.

@mvsfan: Thanks, those are great ideas that I know I should follow, but I usually don't...  *blush*  I'm not afraid to disassemble it, but I'm not going to monkey w/ this machine further until I've got my data backed up--I don't want to risk messing up my HD w/ these abusive partial boots & such.



If you've got any other ideas, keep 'em coming!  I looked @ some laptops @ Best Buy yesterday--how come most of them have fancy cases with engraved designs & swirls & things?  Too groovy for me!


Thanks,
-Jason

PS--most importantly, this isn't my MAME computer.  That computer's doing fine.  Phew!   ;)

smalltownguy:

Looks like my theory's beginning to hold some weight.

To test your 'heat' concern, put the laptop in the freezer for a few hours. Turn it on. If you get further than you've gotten before, then 'BINGO' there's your issue. It doesn't fix it, but it at least helps narrow it down.

The laptop that I repaired had EXACTLY the same issue. Onboard graphics chip was failing/overheating. Had to swap the mobo. In your case, they're not as common, but can be had if you're willing to wait or look around.

My suggestion for a laptop is the HP G60. It's available in all sorts of flavors based on the CPU (intel or AMD) and HDD size, etc. I believe they're all using Dual-core chips ranging from the high 1.x range to the high 2.x at the top end. You can snag one off of eBay for around $300 ($250 if you're sneaky) and they're well worth the $$. My wife bought one last fall, and she liked it so much that I traded in my ACER timeline for it too. I found mine on CL from some guy in North Carolina who was kind enough to ship it for me. I LOVE that laptop -- the mousepad is silky smooth, keyboard is great to type on, and it's got a decent fit & finish. Weight is hefty enough to feel like I won't break it, but it's not a brick on my lap. Get rid of the HP bloatware when you get it, though and install Ubuntu PRONTO (or Win7 if you're a Micro$oft slave) and you're good to go.



RayB:

Could be heat or it could be what I had with an HP Pavilion ZX5000 :  Broken power jack. Do you get the "charging" icon to light up? If so, does it STAY lit up?  At first I thought it was just a dead battery and that that was why the charge light would only light for a second. So I bought a new battery and the problem turned out to be the power jack just not working right (so no power = no battery charging).  The faulty jack also causes arcing and spikes which damage the motherboard. Repairing the jack prolonged the life of the laptop by only a few months.

PS: If it still sounds like the heat issue, crack the thing open and clean out the fans. They accumulate dust.


jasonbar:

Thanks for the extra help, smalltownguy & RayB.  I'm inclined to resist further temptation to monkey w/ the laptop for now--every time I get some partial boot, I fear that I'm endangering my HD data.  I should get a new machine & transfer my data before I succumb to my tinkering/repairing urges!

smalltownguy, I'd be hesistant to put my laptop in the freezer & then boot it up--I'd be risking forming condensation on components & really messing something up!

RayB, my battery's been quite lame for a long time (very short run time on battery), so I generally leave the battery out & leave the AC adapter connected, because I'd often see the "charging" lightning bolt icon lit up, suggesting that I was just wasting current trying to charge a battery that wasn't holding its charge properly.  The charging jack/plug connection feels tight, & the laptop's behavior changes when simply pressing the power button at different times during the day, without budging the laptop or jostling the power jack connection.  (I'm picturing a cracked solder joint from repeated plugging/unplugging of power, finally fatiguing to have a hairline crack that opens when you put pressure on it just right...but I guess such a problem joint could also become open from heat & no contact/motion/pressure.)  Thanks for the fan cleaning idea--I'm sure it's filthy in there!

-Jason

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