Broken notebook - I want my photos!

NiamhEile · 20-01-2011 9:29pm #1

Hi, I have a 'Compaq Mini' notebook laptop, and all of a sudden it stopped working. I turned it on as per usual one day and the screen went black and now it does not appear to turn on. The light on the 'on' button comes on along with the bluetooth light thing, so you think it's about to turn on, but the screen remains completely black. Nothing happened to it to my knowledge. I only use it to access the net, put my photos on, and do a bit of typing on. I am raging because I have thousands of beautiful family photos on it which I (STUPIDLY!!!) did not back up (that was something I meant to do but of course never got around to on time!). I came on to Boards.ie to see if I could find out a way of saving/retrieving my stuff without having to fork out a fortune to fix it (we just can't afford it at the mo at all). I've read up about some sort of cable I can get to attach directly to the hard-drive in order to retrieve data; can anyone tell me more about this? Or has anyone any idea what might be wrong with the computer or what I could do to fix it? I am rubbish with computers so I am really clueless as to what to do. I don't really care about the computer itself, mainly just my photos and a few typed documents and that's it. Thanks in advance for any replies.

spcw · 20-01-2011 9:31pm

It could be the back light, plug the laptop into a regular pc monitor and see what happens.

Alanstrainor · 20-01-2011 9:32pm

It could just be that the screen has gone on it. Plug in an external monitor and see how you get on.

Even if that doesn't work you can get your photos back, the above is the easiest option for now though. No need to panic just yet:)

NiamhEile · 20-01-2011 9:39pm

Wow thanks for such prompt replies! Really appreciate it. Ok so how to I plug it into a pc monitor?! Sorry but I really am clueless! What do I need in order to do this? Thanks again! I'm delighted to have replies so quickly, it's very helpful

spcw · 20-01-2011 9:42pm

you need nothing a standard monitor cable(already connected to the monitor) will plug directly into your laptop.

Alanstrainor · 20-01-2011 9:42pm

If you have a computer screen, look for this cable on the back of the computer it's plugged into. Take it out and plug it into your laptop, it has a blue port on the side(I'm guessing where it is!).

This is what it looks like:

NiamhEile · 20-01-2011 9:43pm

wow that's great thanks a mill! Will see how I get on. It does seem to be turning on but the screen remains black, so hopefully it is just the screen is broken. Thanks a lot again

NiamhEile · 20-01-2011 9:49pm

my partner is telling me I can't do that; my notebook hasn't got the corresponding port - just a USB port and an ethernet.... hmmm.... ?!

syklops · 20-01-2011 10:50pm

Sounds like a netbook.

NiamhEile, can you give us the model and make of the laptop to help us better help you.

Its getting late now. Can I suggest you plug the laptop in over night and try it again in the morning. I know it sounds daft, and a keyboard warrier will likely tell me its a waste of time, but I have seen various devices from ebook readers, tablets, sub-notebook to large laptops etc act weirdly if the battery is almost out, and often a full charge fixes it.

Come bck to us with a full charge and the make and model and we will try to help further.

Alanstrainor · 20-01-2011 11:09pm

Is it this one OP? LINK

If so it appears to have a vga port.

phill106 · 21-01-2011 12:00pm

Theres also ones with no vga port like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_Mini_1000

Not sure where in country you are, but if its clare/limerick I can get all the stuff off for you for a cup of coffee

Im sure if you post where you are someone can help.

Broken notebook - I want my photos!

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