I'm aware that this may be unrelated/a stupid question, however, I have been recently given a laptop, whose only fault is that the display has died, although it is apparently a hardware fault. It is a laptop bought from a company that is now bust (tiny, a uk computer place), and I was wondering how if it was worth the effort to fix/get fixed the laptop. (i know, i know, the grammar is appalling...)
any help/advice much appreciated
civ (professional noob)
Laptop display is broken
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- civint
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- Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:56 am
- Location: A long time ago, yet somehow in the future...
Laptop display is broken
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- civint
- Level 3
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- Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:56 am
- Location: A long time ago, yet somehow in the future...
well, according to the person who is giving it to me (knowing I'm a computer type) tells me that the local pc reapir shop says that the graphics card/module in the laptop is broken, and it does have a vga connector, however, if the graphics bit of the motherboard is kaput...sureley that would mean that I wouldnt be able to use it, even with a seperate monitor (even though it is all functioning....)
Also, this is related to my hunt for a low spec, small-ish laptop-in the vein of the toshiba portege 7100/7020 series, which is in turn linked to an ebay horror story...lol
Also, this is related to my hunt for a low spec, small-ish laptop-in the vein of the toshiba portege 7100/7020 series, which is in turn linked to an ebay horror story...lol
I am still the "proud owner" of a Sony Vaio C1-VFK laptop ... 600 MHz Transmeta Crusoe CPU, 192 MB RAM, 15 GB disk, Sony MemoryStick reader, 1 x FireWire connector, 1 x USB connector. And best of all: It has a UK keyboard layout. Downside: No working batteries, it needs AC power. And I once had to change the internal harddisk, but friggin' Sony used "max. Security" non-standard screws on the innards of the laptop so I had to get rid of those screws by force, damaging some of the internal plastic parts in the process. But those damages are not visible on the outside and it's just the plastic ... all the electronics are undamaged and fully functional.civint wrote: Also, this is related to my hunt for a low spec, small-ish laptop
Make a reasonable offer and we have a deal.
Right now I use the laptop as MP3 jukebox ... e.g. I turn it on and first thing it does is to activate the 'Music Player Daemon' to play the locally stored MP3's
- civint
- Level 3
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- Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:56 am
- Location: A long time ago, yet somehow in the future...
I'm ok, thanks, lol but I appreciate the offer...
naw, I want a small laptop for school wordprocessing/internet browsing/music-ing/playing defcon.....which is why i was interested whn my mate was getting rid of his laptop for a pinch, which wass why i was wondering about the repair of the graphics card (is that what its called in a laptop? I have little in the way of knowledge here), which is apprently what is the issue (i was uinsure because my mate in this instance is a completeley uneducated computer user, so i as wondering if my local pc sahop was attempting to fleece him, which i wouyld try to do if i was in their shoes tbh however, I still want to know if its possible to replace/fix it...........
naw, I want a small laptop for school wordprocessing/internet browsing/music-ing/playing defcon.....which is why i was interested whn my mate was getting rid of his laptop for a pinch, which wass why i was wondering about the repair of the graphics card (is that what its called in a laptop? I have little in the way of knowledge here), which is apprently what is the issue (i was uinsure because my mate in this instance is a completeley uneducated computer user, so i as wondering if my local pc sahop was attempting to fleece him, which i wouyld try to do if i was in their shoes tbh however, I still want to know if its possible to replace/fix it...........
- civint
- Level 3
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- Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:56 am
- Location: A long time ago, yet somehow in the future...
maybe....but, I dont stand to gain from that... my capitalist tendancies tell me no, but my lulz sense says...~DO IT!
I lol'd. I pick up the laptop tomoz, so I can check it out over the weekend (when not at unis, visiting, etc etc) then report back to el forum in the new week. I will be a happy bunny if fixed. If not,
I lol'd. I pick up the laptop tomoz, so I can check it out over the weekend (when not at unis, visiting, etc etc) then report back to el forum in the new week. I will be a happy bunny if fixed. If not,
Search e-Bay for Sony VAIO C1 "PictureBook" laptops (there are various models; mine is the made-for-UK 2001 model "C1 VFK" with a 600 MHz Transmeta CPU; other models may have slower or way better CPU's) or Toshiba "Libretto" micro-laptops (the newer U-xxx series built in 2005 have 1.x GHz "Centrino" Pentium-M CPU's ... way fast enough for Linux!) ... These machines are ultra-ultra small and are awesome geek toys. One of my buddies uses his Libretto U100 as "on-the-go file server and network sniffer" ... and he sure gets tons of jealous lookscivint wrote: I want a small laptop for school wordprocessing/internet browsing/music-ing/playing defcon.....
Most laptops have their graphics chip directly on the motherboard, so you'd probably need to exchange the entire motherboard. But depending on the age and the model of the laptop this could turn out to be rather expensive ... Did you check what the spare parts cost? There are web sites which are specialised in finding spare parts for all sorts of (old) computers. It may be worth to take a look. e.g. here: http://www.impactcomputers.com/civint wrote: why i was wondering about the repair of the graphics card
There are various reviews about that web site circulating in the web ... My own experience is this: If you know precisely what you need and what you want and if you precisely know what exactly the name and serial number of the spare part is: They will ship it within 5 days. Just don't expect any support from them that goes beyond shipping your order (that's not their task anyway) or any help troubleshooting your problems (not their job) ... You have to know what you need from them. That kinda sucks, especially if you're not exactly sure what part you need to exchange. I was in the same situation with my Sony laptop. So lots of Googling and hanging around in the right hardware forums (e.g. Tom's Hardware Guides!) can help a lot. Once you're sure about the spare parts you should probably find it in Impact's online-store ... So far they always shipped my stuff within 5 days (from USA to Switzerland ... not bad!). You could try your luck with them; maybe you will find what you need.
- civint
- Level 3
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:56 am
- Location: A long time ago, yet somehow in the future...
wow, I really want one of those sony ones now.......only 5 in uk ebay, the going rate being 3 figures, not inc. p&p.........most upsetting...
Oh well.
Here is my not so well informed diagnostic.
1. It IS the gpu in the laptop...plugged it into the monitor and hit fn-f5 (its the output to external monitor button on this model) and nothing happened.
2. There may well be more than one issue with this laptop. I can't hear any hard drive noise, or see a hard drive access led lighting up upon booting.
3. I have no idea about the insides because the local pc fixers has (i assume) made all the screws on the panel that hides the last screw and some internal removable bits so that i cannot unscrew them (you know when you use a slightly too small screwdriver and it just makes the screw head too worn away so that you can't get a hold of the crew with the screwdriver.....) most unhappy.
HOwever due to the number of possible faults, I may just ebay the "$^%ing thing and hope i get a reasonable return. Like, say more than £20....but since the rest of the laptop is in good condition, I might just get that.
*edit* I was considering looking for one (old laptop) on us ebay..is it worth it (ie. safe/worth the shipping costs) to order one to the UK? not that i think it will be, but hey, worth a shot.
Oh well.
Here is my not so well informed diagnostic.
1. It IS the gpu in the laptop...plugged it into the monitor and hit fn-f5 (its the output to external monitor button on this model) and nothing happened.
2. There may well be more than one issue with this laptop. I can't hear any hard drive noise, or see a hard drive access led lighting up upon booting.
3. I have no idea about the insides because the local pc fixers has (i assume) made all the screws on the panel that hides the last screw and some internal removable bits so that i cannot unscrew them (you know when you use a slightly too small screwdriver and it just makes the screw head too worn away so that you can't get a hold of the crew with the screwdriver.....) most unhappy.
HOwever due to the number of possible faults, I may just ebay the "$^%ing thing and hope i get a reasonable return. Like, say more than £20....but since the rest of the laptop is in good condition, I might just get that.
*edit* I was considering looking for one (old laptop) on us ebay..is it worth it (ie. safe/worth the shipping costs) to order one to the UK? not that i think it will be, but hey, worth a shot.