Help with a faulty laptop

[hilariousandco]

So my laptop just fucked up. I lightly dropped it a few months ago and everything was fine apart from the screen which became dislodged. I took the screen casing apart and re-connected it and it was fine apart from occasionally a small vertical bar of the screen where the connector was kept intermittently cutting out. After tapping it with my finger a few times it usually sorted itself out, but it kept happening more and more to the point where I was having to tap it every few minutes. Every now and again I would prise the cover off and try reconnect it to make it better. I just did this again but as I was trying to fix it I noticed the laptop had switched off. I tried powering it back on but nothing - completely dead. I don't know whether I shorted it trying to fix it whilst it was powered on - is that even possible? - or whether it just randomly and coincidentally decided to cut out. Any idea what could be wrong with it?

Oh, it might be worth noting that the battery on it is pretty much fucked and only lasts about a minute even though it's been on charge and the power adapter is pretty lose and comes out easily enough, so it could just be a problem with the battery, but is there anyway to test this?

Thanks.

[beetcoin]

so your screen is fucked? it's either your video card of the screen, and if it's the screen.. that's an easy fix for about $50 off ebay.

if it's not turning on, it's probably not worth fixing.

[hilariousandco]

No, the screen was dodgy, but it's the rest of the laptop that's now not working. I doubt simply replacing the screen will magically make it boot up. What makes you think it's the video card?

[beetcoin]

No, the screen was dodgy, but it's the rest of the laptop that's now not working. I doubt simply replacing the screen will magically make it boot up. What makes you think it's the video card?

i don't think it's the video card. i think most likely your laptop is fried. it could be your power supply that's faulty, especially if your battery is showing signs of wear. if you plug it in and leave the laptop off, do you see any LED lights that turn on? too bad you're in europe, where latops cost more  

might as well open the thing up.. probably not very difficult.

[hilariousandco]

No, the screen was dodgy, but it's the rest of the laptop that's now not working. I doubt simply replacing the screen will magically make it boot up. What makes you think it's the video card?

i don't think it's the video card. i think most likely your laptop is fried. it could be your power supply that's faulty, especially if your battery is showing signs of wear. if you plug it in and leave the laptop off, do you see any LED lights that turn on? too bad you're in europe, where latops cost more  

might as well open the thing up.. probably not very difficult.

There was one light that occasionally blinked when it's off and not plugged in (not now though). I don't know what good opening it up will do. I've opened plenty up before but it's not like I could visually spot the problem, and everytime I take them apart something else seems to break haha. Got two other faulty laptops that are currently in worse condition than when I opened them up to get the harddrives out haha.

[beetcoin]

No, the screen was dodgy, but it's the rest of the laptop that's now not working. I doubt simply replacing the screen will magically make it boot up. What makes you think it's the video card?

i don't think it's the video card. i think most likely your laptop is fried. it could be your power supply that's faulty, especially if your battery is showing signs of wear. if you plug it in and leave the laptop off, do you see any LED lights that turn on? too bad you're in europe, where latops cost more  

might as well open the thing up.. probably not very difficult.

There was one light that occasionally blinked when it's off and not plugged in (not now though). I don't know what good opening it up will do. I've opened plenty up before but it's not like I could visually spot the problem, and everytime I take them apart something else seems to break haha. Got two other faulty laptops that are currently in worse condition than when I opened them up to get the harddrives out haha.

well the thing is that your battery is probably no longer working, so it's either your power supply/adapter, or something on your circuit board is fried. if it's a cheap laptop then it's probably not worth messing with.

[hilariousandco]

Yeah, they're all pretty old and are usually not worth fixing especially with the rapebastard rates people charge to fix them. I'll probably take it to a couple of shops soon and if it's not cheap to fix just sell them as faulty/ spares and repairs and buy a new one.

[beetcoin]

i kind of like having my desktop.. i can pretty much diagnose and fix any issue if a component breaks. on a laptop, it's really hard to change the parts and all. 24" screen is cool too.

in the U.S., you can buy an i5 loaded laptop for $400-$500 though.

[hilariousandco]

I prefer desktops too but there's not really much space in my room for one the way it's laid out at the moment. Might need to make some space, but I do like having a laptop so I can work in bed haha and take it with me. Could do with both really. Laptops aren't ideal for heavy usage.

[rhino34567]

If it's not the power supply/adapter, then it must be fried. If you had any sort of energy or electricity when you touched the inner part of the screen, it can damage all other components of the computer.

[aysha9822]

I think it is time to buy a new laptop. With the money you earn from signature, I think it would take you less than a week of posting. 

[hilariousandco]

If it's not the power supply/adapter, then it must be fried. If you had any sort of energy or electricity when you touched the inner part of the screen, it can damage all other components of the computer.

The light on the charger still works. You sure this is true about shorting everything else? Hopefully it's just the battery.

I think it is time to buy a new laptop. With the money you earn from signature, I think it would take you less than a week of posting.  

More like a month of posting, although maybe a fortnight with these new upcoming rates  .

[b!z]

If it's not the power supply/adapter, then it must be fried. If you had any sort of energy or electricity when you touched the inner part of the screen, it can damage all other components of the computer.

The light on the charger still works. You sure this is true about shorting everything else? Hopefully it's just the battery.

I think it is time to buy a new laptop. With the money you earn from signature, I think it would take you less than a week of posting. 

More like a month of posting, although maybe a fortnight with these new upcoming rates  .

You guys take posting too seriously.

[beetcoin]

If it's not the power supply/adapter, then it must be fried. If you had any sort of energy or electricity when you touched the inner part of the screen, it can damage all other components of the computer.

The light on the charger still works. You sure this is true about shorting everything else? Hopefully it's just the battery.

I think it is time to buy a new laptop. With the money you earn from signature, I think it would take you less than a week of posting.  

More like a month of posting, although maybe a fortnight with these new upcoming rates  .

probably not the matter.. you could just remove it and plug the charger in to see.

[rhino34567]

If it's not the power supply/adapter, then it must be fried. If you had any sort of energy or electricity when you touched the inner part of the screen, it can damage all other components of the computer.

The light on the charger still works. You sure this is true about shorting everything else? Hopefully it's just the battery.

Most laptops work even without a battery as long as they are plugged in. In fact, even if you have a battery, if it is fully charged, it will usually circumvent it and the power will go straight to the laptop itself. This makes me think that the problem is with the laptop. Try booting it while plugged in without the battery and see if it works. If it doesn't, then something is definitely fried. Does absolutely anything happen when you try to boot it up? Also, make sure it is not just a simply issue. Maybe open it back up and make sure that the power button cable is correctly plugged in to the motherboard (yes, it happens). These cables are usually quite short and can unplug with ease.

If you live in a dry area where you get those small electric shock regularly (when touching door knobs or light switches) then chances are good that it's fried.

[hilariousandco]

Thanks. I just tried it without the battery and it started to power up but I took the harddrive out. I put it back in and it seems to be booting up but the screen obviously isn't in right as it's completely black. Is there any way I can fuck it up by trying to fit the screen whilst it's powered on because otherwise I can't see if it's connected properly or not? I think it's the actual cable that connects the laptop to the screen that's lose/dodgy so that should be pretty cheap and easy to fix I imagine. At least I hope so.

[beetcoin]

Thanks. I just tried it without the battery and it started to power up but I took the harddrive out. I put it back in and it seems to be booting up but the screen obviously isn't in right as it's completely black. Is there any way I can fuck it up by trying to fit the screen whilst it's powered on because otherwise I can't see if it's connected properly or not? I think it's the actual cable that connects the laptop to the screen that's lose/dodgy so that should be pretty cheap and easy to fix I imagine. At least I hope so.

did you remove any ribbons/cables? yeah, sounds like that's the issue.. i actually read up on some guides, and it seems like those cables are often the defective part. if that cable is soldered on, then that would suck 

[rhino34567]

Thanks. I just tried it without the battery and it started to power up but I took the harddrive out. I put it back in and it seems to be booting up but the screen obviously isn't in right as it's completely black. Is there any way I can fuck it up by trying to fit the screen whilst it's powered on because otherwise I can't see if it's connected properly or not? I think it's the actual cable that connects the laptop to the screen that's lose/dodgy so that should be pretty cheap and easy to fix I imagine. At least I hope so.

did you remove any ribbons/cables? yeah, sounds like that's the issue.. i actually read up on some guides, and it seems like those cables are often the defective part. if that cable is soldered on, then that would suck 

Yep, this sounds about right. Chances are a cable isn't plugged right. Make sure all cables are fully plugged in. Some may seem to be, but they can often go in further. If you were handling mostly ribbon cables, I doubt you fried anything. Try and check the pugs and if you can, connect to an external screen to see if anything appsars there.

[hilariousandco]

I think it's the connector that is fucked now. One of the tiny little prongs or whatever they're called is bent and I cant get anything to come up on the screen. Hope the screen isn't fucked as if it is there'll be no point fixing it.

[beetcoin]

I think it's the connector that is fucked now. One of the tiny little prongs or whatever they're called is bent and I cant get anything to come up on the screen. Hope the screen isn't fucked as if it is there'll be no point fixing it.

if the screen is fucked, you could easily buy a new panel.. easy to replace. or you could take the screen out of a broken laptop and see if that works.