hey my fellow boardsies....need your help

Thwip!

hey i was wonderin if any of you boardsies have a second hand laptop you would be willing to sell....preferably under the 200 range.

mine recently broke and need a subsitute badly

all help will be appreciated

Rozabeez

You could probably get the old one fixed for cheaper!

Thwip!

Rozabeez wrote: »

You could probably get the old one fixed for cheaper!

went to click.....the dc inlay needs to be replaced.... said they couldnt source the part....unless someone on here knows their laptop repairs

masherella88

you know that ink refill shop...can't recall the name but it's opposite the coffee mill kinda and near that bedshop me thinks. well i think they sell second hand laptops so you could try there!

funky penguin

*Shudder* Click. Stay away from there man, best to try the ink shop as masherella says!

Effluo

I actually fix computers part-time,

DC inlay? The guys in Click unfortunately don't have a clue when it comes to most things and although it's possible that you mis heard what they said to you. For instance if you type "laptop dc inlay" into google this is one of the first results lol :eek:


Does it just not power on at all?
Did you drop it or did it just happen randomly?

Post up any details you have.

If you want more than just my opinion then post on the Computer + Tech forum here, http://boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=9

Rozabeez

What about the new place? 'PC Doctor and More'.

Duddy

PC Doctor are pretty good, nicely priced too, just make sure they dont try to sell you their virus software (best there is apparently, and conveniently sponsors the shop too)

Norrdeth

Effluo wrote: »

Does it just not power on at all?
Did you drop it or did it just happen randomly?

Post up any details you have.

That happened to me before (It randomly wouldn't turn on)
and the fixer dude said that the Motherboard was Kaput, had to get it replaced, Works fine now.

Effluo

Well,
I'm not sure if this constitutes as advertising or not,(plz remove if you think so) but i do it on a "no fix, no fee" basis. Maximum(usually less) labour charge is €50 for students and then it's just the cost price of whatever components you may need.
I put an anti-virus program on the pc for free and do lots of extra regular clean up stuff. Oh and I give you the use of a laptop (without battery) for a €50 deposit.

Pretty sure they won't beat that

Effluo

Norrdeth wrote: »

That happened to me before (It randomly wouldn't turn on)
and the fixer dude said that the Motherboard was Kaput, had to get it replaced, Works fine now.

Ouch i'd say that was expensive
If you are talking about a laptop i'd actually be suspicious if he changed the laptop motherboard. Very very niggly to put in, not the easiest things to get hold of and very expensive.
People say that being working with IT is the new "mechanic", cause people don't have a clue what's wrong with them and if the mechanic says something the customer will just accept he's telling the truth.
Loads of articles online about fraud.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npqm2VeYQ3o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npqm2VeYQ3o

You see what I mean!

Rozabeez

I'll leave your post, but any further discussion by PM please Effluo.

Norrdeth

Well this was in the Czech Republic when it happened so it wasn't that expensive (around 80 Euro). What I think happened was that the capacitors were fried from leaving it on too much with low battery without the power in, they could have been some of the faulty ones but I'm not sure.

Effluo

Norrdeth wrote: »

Well this was in the Czech Republic when it happened so it wasn't that expensive (around 80 Euro).

It's highly unlikely at that price.
Even though the labour in Czechi would be cheaper than here, there would not be that much of a difference in the price of the motherboard. Which would be costing at least around the €100 mark and it is a nasty job installing the motherboard.
He might have just had the exact same mobo in a scrap machine and gave it to you for free? Unlikely though
If you go to the same place the next time make sure you get a second and even third opinion

Don't just take my word for it
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070928130220AA5HC4p

Thwip!

effluo, it's not that it wont turn on...its that everytime iplug inmy charger it wont charge the battery, and i've tried other chargers so i know its not the charger thats broken.

laptop is acer travlemate 5520

serial number LXTKT0X1307480BAEC2000

Effluo

oh right.
Take the battery out, leave it out and see if it works then.

On some laptops if the battery doesn't work then it won't power anything at all, but if you take the battery out then on most laptops it will power the pc direct.

Thwip!

Effluo wrote: »

oh right.
Take the battery out, leave it out and see if it works then.

On some laptops if the battery doesn't work then it won't power anything at all, but if you take the battery out then on most laptops it will power the pc direct.

will try that...here's hoping *fingerscrossed

Effluo

On another note, You definitely shouldn't be looking for a new laptop though!

The one you have now is ok, although it could be better. Vista and 1 gig of ram and a graphics card that takes from your ram is not a good mix

Thwip!

Effluo wrote: »

On another note, You definitely shouldn't be looking for a new laptop though!

The one you have now is ok, although it could be better. Vista and 1 gig of ram and a graphics card that takes from your ram is not a good mix

you're telling me....graphics are crap on it....explains why im always gettin killed in call of duty matches

Effluo

jpcarlow wrote: »

you're telling me....graphics are crap on it....explains why im always gettin killed in call of duty matches

Well If the ram wasn't upgraded b4 you bought it, COD or any game wouldn't run very well on it.

I just was thinking there and was wondering if you can remember if there should be any charge left in the battery?

Did you just go to switch it on one day and it wouldn't work or Did you notice battery stop charging b4 the laptop wouldn't switch on?

It's fine if you can't remember

Thwip!

Effluo wrote: »

Well If the ram wasn't upgraded b4 you bought it, COD or any game wouldn't run very well on it.

I just was thinking there and was wondering if you can remember if there should be any charge left in the battery?

Did you just go to switch it on one day and it wouldn't work or Did you notice battery stop charging b4 the laptop wouldn't switch on?

It's fine if you can't remember

i was using it and the battery was dying so i plugged in the charger and it wouldnt charge...got my friends charger for the same laptop and it wouldnt work either...think there's like 10 min left in the battery

Ian Beale

jpcarlow wrote: »

i was using it and the battery was dying so i plugged in the charger and it wouldnt charge...got my friends charger for the same laptop and it wouldnt work either...think there's like 10 min left in the battery

Swap out the battery in to your friends laptop and plug it in, if it charges then it sounds like the power jack is the fault as Click diagnosed.
Does your input look like this?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Acer-Aspire-5315-5520-DC-DC-IN-Laptop-Power-Jack-TESTED_W0QQitemZ280439995054QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item414b86baae
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Acer-Aspire-5520-Laptop-DC-Power-Jack-with-Cable_W0QQitemZ120444887762QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_Laptop_Accessories_LaptopCables_Connectors?hash=item1c0b1322d2

Thwip!

honestly i couldnt say if it looks like either of those

Rozabeez

Effluo, take it to the PM. You've already been asked.

Effluo

Rozabeez wrote: »

Effluo, take it to the PM. You've already been asked.

soz

Ian Beale

jpcarlow wrote: »

honestly i couldnt say if it looks like either of those

I had a bit of a look again and I'd be 99.9% sure that what I listed would be suitable for your laptop, good news is it's a straight forward job as you wouldn't have to solder anything, it would be literally stripping it, plugging out the old one and pushing in the new one. You'd be able to do it yourself no problem.

Thwip!

Ian Beale wrote: »

I had a bit of a look again and I'd be 99.9% sure that what I listed would be suitable for your laptop, good news is it's a straight forward job as you wouldn't have to solder anything, it would be literally stripping it, plugging out the old one and pushing in the new one. You'd be able to do it yourself no problem.

which part? or both?

Effluo

Ian Beale wrote: »

Does your input look like this?

It's the travelmate one he needs.

http://cgi.ebay.ie/Acer-Travelmate-5310-5520-5320-5610-DC-Power-Jack_W0QQitemZ120447216542QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_Laptop_Accessories_LaptopCables_Connectors?hash=item1c0b36ab9e#ht_500wt_956

Effluo

Ian Beale wrote: »

it would be literally stripping it, plugging out the old one and pushing in the new one. You'd be able to do it yourself no problem.

There's quite a bit more in it than that!

Sure he can go ahead and try it, but at the same time I don't many/any of my mates could do it.

Ian Beale

Effluo wrote: »

It's the travelmate one he needs.

http://cgi.ebay.ie/Acer-Travelmate-5310-5520-5320-5610-DC-Power-Jack_W0QQitemZ120447216542QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_Laptop_Accessories_LaptopCables_Connectors?hash=item1c0b36ab9e#ht_500wt_956

For those particular models there all the same, they re-use parts to cut down on manufacturing costs, jp buy the one that effluo linked, it's cheap and has a good length on the cable, if you get stuck with anything send me a pm otherwise this'll be thread of the day :pac:

Effluo wrote: »

There's quite a bit more in it than that!

No there's not, if he takes his time he'll do fine.

Effluo

Ian Beale wrote: »

No there's not, if he takes his time he'll do fine.

Well, yes there is!
Have you ever done it?

It's not just like sticking in some ram, you have to take the laptop apart for this.


Well go ahead and try it if you like.

But, all i'm saying is fixing computers is not for everyone and although there may not be great expertise in changing the jack and cable, almost everyone I know would not be able to do it.
You have to be very technically inclined(if you know what I mean)

Ian Beale

Effluo wrote: »

Well, yes there is!
Have you ever done it?

It's not just like sticking in some ram, you have to take the laptop apart for this.


Well go ahead and try it if you like.

But, all i'm saying is fixing computers is not for everyone and although there may not be great expertise in changing the jack and cable, almost everyone I know would not be able to do it.
You have to be very technically inclined(if you know what I mean)

Yes actually I have done the same job on a dell inspiron and that required soldering, all this job needs is patience and some small screwdrivers, stop trying to make out that it's brain surgery.

Effluo

Ian Beale wrote: »

stop trying to make out that it's brain surgery.

I'm not trying to make it sound like anything other than what it is.

Ok so you can do it, heck you can even solder parts, but not everyone can. Go to the Comp & Tech forums everyone will agree with me! Go to the Building & upgrading forum everyone will agree with me!

Some people can't put pc parts together, some people can(that's why it's a profession). I don't think anyone knows if JpCarlow can, only himself.


P.S. Just also something to note, you could try and really give the power thing a "bit of a wiggle".
All power jacks on all laptops are dodgey and you might just wiggle it in the right way! Although this would only be temporary.

XxMCRxBabyxX

considering we're talking about broken laptops let me ask for some advice....

I was given my dad's old office laptop at the beginning of term for college. I think he first got it around 2004 makiing the laptop 6 years old. It's a fujitsu siemens lifebook of some description.

Recently it's been full of problems. It had already had to be fixed before I got it due to viruses and other problems.

Then after I got it:
Firstly the hinges broke so the screen is either open all the way or closed. there's no way of it standing on its own if you get me.

Then the keyboard stopped working. half the keys obn the right side just don't work.

I bought a new keyboard to fix that when something started acting up and the lifebook panel kept appearing and 's kept getting typed. I couldn't do anything as that kept appearing.

Finally the laptop gave out one day and wouldn't even open windows it got as far as booting up and then just kept beeping incessantly.

I left the laptop over the exams and when I turned it on yesterday all of a sudden Windows opened as normal. However all the other problems are still there.

Basically my q is is the laptop worth getting fixed or is it time to say bye bye laptop and get a new one?!

P.S. Jpcarlow can't say I didn't warn u that Click aren't the most reliable! :P

banquo

You want to get a new laptop. I'll take a look at it if you like but a new one might be a good investment

Effluo

XxMCRxBabyxX wrote: »

Then after I got it:
Firstly the hinges broke so the screen is either open all the way or closed. there's no way of it standing on its own if you get me.

Then the keyboard stopped working. half the keys on the right side just don't work.

I bought a new keyboard to fix that when something started acting up and the lifebook panel kept appearing and 's kept getting typed. I couldn't do anything as that kept appearing.

Finally the laptop gave out one day and wouldn't even open windows it got as far as booting up and then just kept beeping incessantly.

I left the laptop over the exams and when I turned it on yesterday all of a sudden Windows opened as normal. However all the other problems are still there.

Well that's a doozy! :eek:

I hate to say it but I think your laptop may be haunted, get the exorcist quick! Ahhhhhhhhhh lol


So when you say the "lifebook" logo kept on appearing when exactly did that happen? Like were you surfing the net, then it would appear. Would it take up the whole screen?

Secondly the new keyboard you got, did you replace the old one with it or is just being used from a usb port, "with a cable".


The beeping could be from lots of things, When you say it was beeping "incessantly" do you mean it would beep very quickly for a sustained period of time? Or was it beeping kinda like the morse code, where the beeps had different lengths. Or was there a specific number of beeps?


Unfortunately I can't answer your question until you answer mine

XxMCRxBabyxX

Effluo wrote: »

So when you say the "lifebook" logo kept on appearing when exactly did that happen? Like were you surfing the net, then it would appear. Would it take up the whole screen?

It was like some lifebook application panel thing. It was just a small pop up menu thing. I think it was looking for details to set up an email account or something like that

Effluo wrote: »

Secondly the new keyboard you got, did you replace the old one with it or is just being used from a usb port, "with a cable".

I bought a new keyboard that plugged into the usb port which worked just fine.

Effluo wrote: »

The beeping could be from lots of things, When you say it was beeping "incessantly" do you mean it would beep very quickly for a sustained period of time? Or was it beeping kinda like the morse code, where the beeps had different lengths.

It just kept beeping and wouldn't stop. None of the ''F'' options worked either i.e. the boot menu

Effluo

XxMCRxBabyxX wrote: »

It was like some lifebook application panel thing. It was just a small pop up menu thing. I think it was looking for details to set up an email account or something like that

Well that can be stopped easily, it's strange though as you wouldn't expect that kind of problem from anything but a virus. And that's highly unlikely considering it's one of your pc's apps.

XxMCRxBabyxX wrote: »

I bought a new keyboard that plugged into the usb port which worked just fine.

Ok, well that means the that the rogue keyboard which is half broken is prob causing the "ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss" problem. That can be disconnected.

XxMCRxBabyxX wrote: »

It just kept beeping and wouldn't stop. None of the ''F'' options worked either i.e. the boot menu

Well it's probably the biggest of your problems. Faulty ram, ram out of place, System fan not working, these could all be your problem although it's only ever going to be one of them(well it's only ever going to be one thing, surely). If it's the motherboard then, I'd say "bye bye" laptop.

If you're going to keep the laptop, then i'd get this looked at first as this is what is really stopping your laptop from working for you, it's really the only big job.

banquo

The beeping sounds like the RAM to me.

New ram can be obtained here: http://www.crucial.com/

However, you probably want a new laptop.

Ian Beale

Save yourself the cost and trouble and buy a netbook, much cheaper in the long run then maintaining a 6 year old laptop

banquo

He's right!

XxMCRxBabyxX

Ian Beale wrote: »

Save yourself the cost and trouble and buy a netbook, much cheaper in the long run then maintaining a 6 year old laptop

I think thats prob what I'm gonna end up doin! Thanks for all the advice everyone!