Laptop Repair

How to reinstall factory operating system on different laptops

2012-03-24T02:38:00.002-07:00

In this post I explain how to reinstall factory operating system on different laptops. This should work for most laptops running Windows Vista or Windows 7 operating systems.

This could be useful if your operating system stopped working properly, got corrupted or infected with a virus.

WARNING! Running system restore utility will erase all personal data on the hard drive and re-image it back to factory defaults. Make sure all personal data is backed up before reinstalling the operating system. Also, make sure the laptop is running on AC adapter power during the recovery process.

These days most laptops are sold without recovery discs. Instead they have a hidden (or visible) recovery partition with the factory image. In order to re-image the hard drive back to factory defaults it’s necessary to initiate the recovery wizard and it’s very similar for many different laptop brands.

As an example I’ll show step-by-step operating system re-installation process on HP laptops.

Again, it will be the same or very similar for other laptop brands.

How to start Recovery Manager on HP laptops.

STEP 1.

Turn on the laptop and press the F8 key when HP (or any other brand) logo appears on the screen.

STEP 2.

On the next screen you should see Advanced Boot Options.

If for some reason you don’t get this screen, restart the laptop and press on the F8 key again.

From all available options select the very first line: Repair Your Computer and press on the Enter key.

STEP 3.

This should take you to the System Recovery Options.

Select available language and keyboard layout. Press on the next button.

STEP 4.

On the next screen select your user name (must be user with administrative rights) from the drop down menu.

Enter the user password and press the OK button.

STEP 5.

This will take you to the next System Recovery Options window.

The last option will be HP Recovery Manager. Click on it.

STEP 6.

This will take you to the next window: HP Recovery Manager.

There are many different options here and one of them – System Recovery (Restore your computer to its original factory conditions).

Select this option and follow the instructions on the screen.

How to start Recovery Wizard on Toshiba laptops.

In order to start Toshiba Recovery Wizard you follow STEPS 1-5.

This will bring you to the same System Recovery Options with Toshiba Recovery Wizard at the end.

Click on the Toshiba Recovery Wizard button.

On the next scree you’ll see Toshiba warning about data deletion. Click the next button.

In the next Toshiba Recovery Wizard window you can select Recover to out-of-box state option.

Click on the next button and follow instructions.

How to start Backup and Recovery Manager on Dell laptops.

Here’s another example. Now it’s for Dell laptops.

Again, follow steps 1-5 and on the System Recovery Options select the very last option: Dell Backup and Recovery Managers.

This will take you to the next window where you can start the operating system re-installation process. Follow the instructions.

How to repair broken touchpad connector on laptop motherboard

2012-03-24T01:00:00.003-07:00

In this post I explain how to repair broken touchpad cable connector on laptop motherboard.

Let’s say you were fixing a laptop yourself and accidentally damaged the touchpad connector or any other similar connector. The problem is the touchpad connector soldered to the motherboard and it’s impossible to replace it with regular soldering tools. Also, these connectors are not sold separately which makes the replacement even more impossible.

Well, the connector is broken and cannot be replaced. Let’s try to repair it. We’ll do it using the same technique as for fixing the broken keyboard connector.

On the following picture you see a typical laptop touchpad connector. The connector has а white base (permanently attached to the motherboard) and locking tab (moving part).

In order to unlock the connector you lift up the left side of the locking tab. The locking tap opens up at a 90 degree angle and releases the touchpad cable. After that you pull the cable from the connector.

On the following picture you see a broken touchpad connector. I wasn’t careful enough and separated the locking tab from the connector base.

Unfortunately there is no way to attached broken tab back to the base.

Here’s how I fixed the broken connector.

Insert the touchpad cable back into the connector. The touchpad cable has contacts on the bottom side – the side which is facing the motherboard.

In order to work properly the cable contacts have to touch contacts inside the connector but it’s not happening when the locking tab is missing.

Find a small piece of plastic. It has to fit inside the connector and be thick enough to fit tightly between the four metal hinges and touchpad cable.

Insert this piece of plastic into the connector. At the same time make sure the touchpad cable also inserted into the connector.

On the following picture you see the touchpad cable seated tightly inside the connector.

The piece of plastic applies pressure on the touchpad cable and it makes good connection with contacts inside the connector. The touchpad works again!

Now you can secure the connection with sticky electrical tape.

This simple trick fixed my touchpad.

Here’s another type of touchpad connector.

The locking tab is broken and also separated from the connector base.

Position the broken tab the way it was plugged in before but do not push it into the connector yet.

Now insert the touchpad cable. In most cases it goes under the locking tab.

Push the cable all the way into the connector.

While holding the cable, push the locking tab into the connector.

Even though the locking tab is broken, it should secure the tochpad cable.

Again, apply some sticky electrical tape over the connection to secure it.

by laptoprepair101.com

How to disassemble Acer Aspire 5745 laptop

2011-05-09T20:38:00.003-07:00

In this guide I explain how to disassemble an Acer Aspire 5745 series laptop (I’m taking apart Acer Aspire 5745G-6726).

The guide might work for some other Acer Aspire models. If it works for you, please mention the laptop model number in the comments.

I’ll go though the following major disassembly steps:

STEP1-4: Removing hard drive, memory. Accessing CMOS battery and wireless card.
STEP 5-11: Disconnecting and removing keyboard.
STEP 12-15: Removing top cover assembly.
STEP 16-21: Disconnecting and removing laptop display panel.
STEP 22-25: Removing laptop motherboard.
STEP 26-27: Accessing laptop cooling fan and DC jack harness.

Before you start, make sure the laptop is turned off and battery removed.

STEP 1.

Remove eight screws securing the hard drive and memory cover.

One of the screws (green) securing the DVD drive.

Lift up and remove the cover.

STEP 2.

Under the cover you’ll find the following components:

- Hard drive.
- Memory modules.
- CMOS battery
- Wireless card.

For the purpose of my guide it’s not necessary to remove memory modules, CMOS battery and wireless card. You can leave them connected to the motherboard.

By the way, Acer Aspire 5745 laptop has FOUR memory slots. This laptop can handle up to 16GB RAM total (4GB RAM module in each slot).

Acer Aspire 5745 laptop takes PC3-8500 DDR3-1066 memory. In order to take advantage of all 16GB RAM you’ll have to run a 64-bit OS.

STEP 3.

Remove the hard drive.

Simply slide it to the left to disconnect from the motherboard and lift up.

This is a regular 2.5″ SATA hard drive.

STEP 4.

Pull the DVD drive and remove it from the laptop.

The DVD drive was secured with one screws (green) which we removed in the step 1.

STEP 5.

The keyboard is secured by six spring loaded latches.

STEP 6.

In order to remove the keyboard you’ll have to push in all six latches.

Push on the latch with a small flat head screwdriver. When the latch pushed in, the keyboard will lift up a little bit.

STEP 7.

Lift up the top side of the keyboard and place it upside down on the palm rest.

STEP 8.

Now you can access the keyboard cable connector. You’ll have to unlock the connector and release the cable before you can remove the keyboard.

STEP 9.

On the following picture the keyboard connector shown in the locked position.

In order to unlock the connector, lift up the right side of the brown locking tab. It will open up at a 90 degree angle.

STEP 10.

On the following picture the connector shown in the unlocked position.

Now you can pull the keyboard cable from the connector.

STEP 11.

Remove the keyboard.

If you are looking for a new replacement keyboard for Acer Aspire 5745 laptop, you can find it here.

STEP 12.

Remove all screws securing laptop case on the bottom.

STEP 13.

Remove nine screws securing the top cover assembly.

Disconnect four cables.

STEP 14.

Start separating the top cover assembly from the bottom case as it shown on the following picture.

STEP 15.

Remove the top cover assembly.

STEP 16.

In the following part of the guide I’ll be removing the display assembly.

The wireless card antenna cables are mounted inside the display panel.

In order to separate the display panel from the laptop base it’s necessary to disconnect the wireless card antenna cables.

STEP 17.

Carefully disconnect both wireless card antenna cables (white and black) from the wireless card.

Unroute both antenna cables on the bottom of the laptop.

STEP 18.

Release both antenna cables.

STEP 19.

Disconnect the video cable connector from the motherboard.

Unplug the web camera cable.

Both cables are glued to the cooling fan assembly. Carefully lift up and unglue both cables.

STEP 20.

Remove two screws securing display hinges.

STEP 21.

Lift up and remove the display panel.

In one of the next guides I’ll explain how to replace the LCD screen.

STEP 22.

Remove one screws securing the motherboard.

Disconnect the USB board cable from the motherboard.

STEP 23.

Before you can remove the motherboard you’ll have to unplug the DC jack cable. This cable located under the cover we removed in the step 1.

STEP 24.

Lift up the left side of the motherboard and start removing it from the bottom case.

STEP 25.

The motherboard removed.

STEP 26.

You can remove the cooling fan assembly following these steps:

- Remove/loosen seven screws securing the heat sink.
- Disconnect fan cable from the motherboard.
- Carefully lift up and remove the cooling fan assembly.

STEP 27.

In Acer Aspire 5745 laptop the DC jack is not soldered directly to the motherboard.

The DC jack attached to the harness.

How to fix hardware problems without taking apart the laptop

2011-04-16T18:31:00.001-07:00

Here’s how you can fix, or to be precise, work around some hardware problem without taking apart the laptop.

1. Network port failure.

In most laptops the network port (aka RJ-45 port) is soldered directly to the motherboard. If for some reason the network port fails (I’m talking about hardware, not software failure), the whole motherboard has to be replaced.

Instead of replacing the motherboard, you can use a PCMCIA network card (aka LAN PC card). You plug this card into the available PC slot in your laptop and get a network port instead.

2. USB ports failure.

Most laptops have a few USB ports available and if one of them stops working, usually it’s not a big deal because you still have two or three working USB ports left. But what if all of them stopped working at once. Let’s say the USB controller on the motherboard went bad and the laptop stopped recognizing any USB device plugged in any USB port. Again, I’m talking about hardware, not software failure. In order to fix this problem you’ll have to replace the motherboard.

Alternatively, you can use a PCMCIA USB card. You plug this card into the PC slot and get two or four USB ports instead. It depends on the type of your PCMCIA card.

3. Internal wireless (Wi-Fi) card failure.

Most newer laptops come with an internal wireless card installed. In some models the wireless card could be easily access through the door on the bottom of the laptop. In other models, the wireless card is buried deep inside the case. What can you do if the internal wireless card fails? You can replace the internal wireless card with another one or use a PCMCIA wireless card instead.

4. Internal flash memory card reader failure.

Most newer laptops come with an internal memory card reader installed. You can plug most known flash memory cards into the slot and access the content right away. Usually the card reader is soldered directly to the motherboard and if it fails, you have to replace the whole motherboard or use it as is.

If you don’t want to replace the motherboard you can use an external USB flash memory card reader. All you have to do is plug the card reader into the available USB port in your laptop and it’s ready to go.

5. Internal CD/DVD drive failure.

You’ll find an internal CD/DVD optical drive in most laptops. If the optical drive fails and stops reading CDs and DVDs, it has to be replaced with a new one. Internal laptop optical drives are not cheap.

Instead of replacing the internal drive, you can use an external USB optical drive. Simply plug this drive into the USB port, let your laptop detect and install the drive and it’s ready for you. Also, you can use this optical drive with any other computer which is very convenient.

by laptoprepair101

How to recover files from computer with crashed operating system

2011-04-16T18:30:00.000-07:00

In this guide I explain how to recover files from a laptop (or desktop PC) with crashed, failed, damaged operating system.

WHEN CAN YOU USE THIS RECOVERY GUIDE?

1. The guide will work if your operating system damaged but the laptop (or desktop PC) hardware still works fine.
2. The guide might work if the hard drive has some minor damage, like a few bad sectors.

PREPARING FOR RECOVERY

You’ll need another working computer to download and create a bootable Ubundu CD or USB stick.

1. Download the latest version of Ubuntu OS here. When you click on the download button you’ll start downloading an ISO image.

2. Burn this ISO image on a CD or create a bootable USB stick. It’s explained on the same Ubuntu download page, just scroll a little bit down.

3. Find the target drive where you going to save recovered files. You can use an external USB hard drive or USB memory stick. The target drive can be formatted with any common Windows file system: FAT, FAT32, NTFS.

DATA RECOVERY PROCESS

STEP 1.
Boot your laptop from the Ubuntu CD or USB stick. Simply insert the CD or USB stick and restart the computer.
If the laptop (of desktop PC) keeps trying to boot from the internal hard drive, you’ll have to enter the BIOS setup menu and change the boot order. Set your CD/DVD drive or USB stick as first device in the boot order. Safe changes and restart the computer.

From my experience, Ubuntu OS works fine with most laptop and desktop PC hardware and you shouldn’t have any problem booting it to the desktop. It may not work if your computer hardware is too new.

STEP 3.
Ubuntu OS will continue loading and after a while you’ll boot to the desktop, as it shown on the following picture.

STEP 4.
In order to access the internal hard drive, you click on Places in the top toolbar. You should see your internal hard drive in the drop down menu under the Computer.

STEP 5.
When you click on the internal hard drive a new window will open up. In this window you’ll see all files located on the hard drive.

STEP 6.
Now plug in your target drive: external USB hard drive or USB flash drive.
Another window will pop up. In this window you’ll see files located on the external drive. In my case I have no files on the external drive, that’s why the window is empty.
You can move windows same way you do it in Windows OS. Arrange both windows as you like.

STEP 7.
Finally, drag and drop needed files from the internal hard drive to the external drive.
After the transfer is done, you can unplug the external drive and use it on any other computer.

IF YOU HAVE FAILED HARDWARE

In case if your laptop (or desktop PC) has faulty hardware, you should tryrecovery with external USB enclosure.

by laptoprepair101

How to replace LCD screen on HP G62 or Compaq Presario CQ62 laptop

2011-04-01T00:02:00.000-07:00

In this guide I show how to remove and replace LCD screen on HP G62 or Compaq Presario CQ62 laptop.

You can use these instructions for the following repairs: replacing failed or broken LCD screen, replacing bad video cable, replacing damaged hinges, etc…

The display panel has to be separated from the laptop base. You can follow steps 1-21 in thisHP G62 or Compaq Presario CQ62 disassembly guide.

STEP 1.

There are only two screws securing the screen bezel to the display cover.

These screws hidden under two screw seals in lower left and right corners of the display panel.

STEP 2.
Remove both screw seals with a sharp object. Glue them somewhere on the screen bezel so you don’t lose them.
Remove both screws.

STEP 3.
Start separating the screen bezel from the display cover.
I’m using the guitar pick as a case cracker. You can use any other piece of plastic.

STEP 4.
Continue separating screen bezel on the top of the assembly.

STEP 5.
Now separate screen bezel on the bottom part of the display assembly.
The screen bezel might be glued to the screen. Work slowly and carefully.

STEP 6.
Remove the screen bezel.

STEP 7.
Remove two screws securing hinge covers.
Lift up and remove both hinge covers.

STEP 8.
Remove eight screws securing the LCD screen assembly to the display cover.

STEP 9.
Carefully lift up the LCD screen assembly, separate it from the cover and place face down on the desk.

STEP 10.
Now you can access the video cable connector on the back side of the LCD screen.

STEP 11.
Unplug/disconnect video cable from the LCD screen connector.
Remove LCD screen.
Looking for a new scree? You can find them here: HP G62 screens or Compaq Presario CQ62 screens.

STEP 12.
Finally remove two screws securing the right hinge to the LCD screen. Remove the hinge and transfer it to the new screen.
Do the same with the left hinge.
New hinges for HP G62 or Compaq Presario CQ62 laptops available here.

Assemble display panel following from step 12 to step 1.

by indidemylaptop

How to Repair a Laptop Screen

2011-03-22T00:35:00.000-07:00

For those that own a laptop, one of the most common problems users experience hardware-wise is a broken or malfunctioning laptop screen. Laptop screens are essential to anyone using their laptop computer.Laptop screens can be incredibly delicate pieces of hardware,however, they are surprisingly very easy to fix- even if you are not a technical person.

Troubleshoot Your Laptop Screen Problem

Before you decide to go ahead and outright replace your laptop screen, it is wise to troubleshoot the problem. While obvious damage to a screen will usually require full replacement, other types of damage that are visible on the laptop screen may not be due to the screen itself. This is why before you replace the screen, definitely troubleshoot the problem.

Pixel Problems

Many times pixels will be damaged on your laptop making your screen very difficult to read and use. Your laptop uses LCD (liquid crystal display) to show images, these images are made from thousands of pixels (little dots). If a few pixels in one area are damaged, this can ruin your entire computing experience. In most cases, it is best to remove the entire laptop screen and replace it with a new one.

Laptop Screens with Faint Images

Laptop screens are back lit to improve visibility of your screen. However, sometimes the back light does not work making your screen extremely difficult to read. A common problem might be as simple as one of the latches is stuck in the closed position. For instance, if you opened your laptop, but the switch stayed stuck in the closed position, the computer will usually be on, but the backlight will remain off. First find the back light switch. These switches are usually very tiny and located near the laptop hinges. First try to open and close your laptop a few times, if this doesn't work, usually a gentle tap or using a small pin to try to gently un-stick the latch will do the trick.

Your laptop Screen Flickers or is a Solid White Color

If your laptop screen flickers on and off, the cause is probably due to an inverter problem. The inverter supplies power to the screen's backlight. Inverters are easy to replace and usually cost about $100. If your laptop screen is a solid white color, then the problem is possibly a bad cable connection between the monitor and the system board. Open up your laptop and make sure that the cables and connections are set correctly and undamaged.

Images on Screen are Jumbled

Many times laptop users will see images that are all jumbled. In most cases this is not due to the screen itself, but possibly the video card. One quick way to determine whether or not it is your monitor that is causing the screen to be jumbled is to connect another monitor to your laptop using the VGA port. If the other monitor shows jumbled images, then it is probably your computer's video card and not the monitor.

Replacing Your Laptop Screen

If your image problem is due to a broken or malfunctioning laptop screen replacing it is fairly easy. It should be noted that laptop screens are extremely expensive and can sometimes cost 50% or more of the total price of the computer, for instance more than $500 for a $1,000 computer. While you can purchase a new screen from your computer manufacturer, most people either decide to purchase a used laptop screen or buy a new computer. For those that decide to replace their computer screen, the only tool you will need is a screwdriver; here are some easy steps to follow.

Step 1. First off note which type of screen your laptop has and purchase one that is guaranteed to fit. While some model laptops from the same manufacture may fit, ensure it fits before your go out and purchase it. Once you are ready to replace the screen, shut down the computer, remove the battery and unplug it.
Step 2. Locate the screw covers on the plastic frame (usually rubber or plastic) to gain access to the screws that hold the screen to the bezel in pace. In most cases, your screen will have from 4 to 6 total screw covers. You will probably need a small flat head or Phillips screw driver; however some laptops might have their own screw heads which will require special screw drivers or Allen wrenches to remove the screws. Screw covers will usually be located on the bottom of the plastic frame, however every computer model is different, so you will have to search for the screw covers to gain access to the screen.
Step 3. Once you have removed the screw covers, remove all the screws, holding the screen in place. Once all the screws are removed, gently pull away the screen from the plastic bezel. Usually the best way to accomplish this is to use your fingers to gently roll around the entire bezel loosening the screen. Once you rolled your fingers all around the bezel slightly separating the screen, pull the screen away from the bezel using a light to moderate amount of force. If the screen is still not budging, check to make sure if there are any other screws still attached.
Step 4. Now that the bezel has been removed, you should see the screen surrounded by its metal frame. At this point, you can tilt the screen forward, exposing the metal back of the LCD frame. The screen should gently pop out of its back shell. You should be able to see the wires running from the screen to the laptop. There should be two main wires; the first is a ribbon which is the video cable. The video cable is usually taped in place. Remove the tape and then gently disconnect the ribbon from the LCD screen. The other wire is the power cable for the inverter. In most cases, if you are just replacing the LCD screen, you will continue to use the inverter, leaving it as is. However, if you are replacing the inverter as well, disconnect the power cable and unscrew the inverter from its mount.
Step 5. Once your old screen has been removed, plug in the new screen and set it in the shell. However, before you screw in the bezels, you should test the screen to make sure it is working properly. In order to test the screen, you will need to power up your computer. If when you power up your computer, the screen is working properly, you can shut down the computer and continue to screw in the screen to the bezel and cover the screws with the plastic or rubber caps.

The replacement of your screen is complete. Your computer should work like new. Replacing your laptop screen on your own is a great way to save lots of money not only on the cost of the laptop screen, but the cost of labor as well

by tech-faq.com

Replace Your Laptop Screen

2011-03-22T00:28:00.000-07:00

Broken notebook display? Popping in a new one is easier than you might think.What's more distressing than the sound of your laptop's screen cracking as it hits the floor? The voice of a tech-support rep telling you it will cost close to $1,000 to replace it. With little more than a screwdriver, however, you can replace the screen yourself and save a bundle. Read on to see if a new LCD will fix your ailing laptop, and if so, how to find and install a new screen.

Step 1: Determine if you need a new screen

If you've dropped your laptop—or dropped something on it—and the screen has fractured, the diagnosis is easy. Connect an external monitor to your notebook via its VGA-out port to verify that the notebook's other components still work. If the laptop functions properly in all other respects, it's time to start hunting for the parts to fix the screen.

If your display problems aren't the result of visible physical damage, however, the problem may not be the LCD. If your screen's backlight flickers, shuts down after a few minutes of usage, or doesn't come on at all, but you can still see a faint screen image, your problem may be the inverter, a small board that supplies power to the backlight. The good news is that these boards are available for well under $100. (We'll show you how to locate and replace the inverter.) If replacing the inverter doesn't solve the problem, the backlight itself may be faulty. If that's the case, replacing the LCD should fix your problem.

If you see gibberish, lines, or a solid color on the screen, connect an external monitor and switch to that display (if you can). If the problem is evident on the external monitor, the issue is likely with your laptop's motherboard or video circuitry, not the display. If the external display works properly, the LCD or the cables leading to it are the likely problem.

Step 2: Find and remove the bezel screws

Carefully pry back the small rubber covers on the bezel to reveal the screws holding it in place.

Before buying a new LCD, you'll want to examine, and possibly remove, the current one. Doing so will give you a chance to spot other possible causes for your display problem, and to gather the necessary part numbers to ensure that you get the right replacement screen.

Before you begin, remove the laptop's battery and disconnect the power brick. For most laptops, you'll need only a couple of tools to remove the screen: a small Philips screwdriver, and a very small flat-head screwdriver or a knife.

First, you'll need to locate the screw covers. These small rubber covers are generally found on the front of the display's bezel (surrounding frame), though on some notebooks you might find some of the covers along the side of the screen. (Note that these instructions will work for most laptop models, but occasionally you'll encounter unusual designs such as Apple's iBook G4, which uses Allen screws, or Apple's MacBook, which has no screws holding its bezel in place.)

Use the tip of a small flat-head screwdriver or knife to carefully pry back the corner of each rubber cover around the screen until you can see if a screw lies underneath. If you locate a screw, remove the cover and place it in a small plastic bag or other safe location. Typically, you'll find at least four, and perhaps six, screws on the bezel. After you've located them all, remove them and store them with the covers.

Once you've removed all of the bezel's securing screws, gently pull the bezel away from the LCD.

Step 3: Remove the bezel

At the bottom center of the LCD screen, carefully work your fingers between the bezel and the screen, and gently pull the bezel. Usually, it will easily snap loose; if not, gently pull it in different directions until it does. Carefully work your way around the rest of the bezel, pulling it away from the rear plastic of the screen cover.

Once the bezel is off, you'll see the LCD in its metal frame. On most notebooks, the inverter board is directly below the screen. You may now be able to tilt the LCD forward, away from the plastic shell behind it. If not, check for additional screws securing the frame to the shell.

If you're troubleshooting a problem that doesn't involve physical damage such as a cracked screen, check the cable connecting the screen to the motherboard and inverter for loose connections or broken wires. If you're lucky, the solution to your problem may be as simple as reseating a loose cable or replacing an obviously broken one.

Tip: If at any point the bezel doesn't pop free with a moderate amount of force, check to make sure you didn't overlook any screws.

Step 4: Find the right replacement parts

exposing the rear of the LCD panel lets you see its manufacturer part-number info, as well as reach its cable connections.

Now that you've exposed the screen, look for a label on the back showing the manufacturer's part number. This typically consists of one or more letters, followed by a series of numbers. Manufacturers sometimes use different screens for variants of the same laptop model, so having this number will ensure that you get the proper replacement screen for your laptop.

Armed with this information, you're ready to secure a replacement screen. Chances are you can purchase the screen from your notebook's manufacturer, but you'll probably pay a steep premium. Your best bet is to search elsewhere online. Enter the part number for the LCD (or the laptop's model number and terms like "replacement LCD") in a search engine to find a variety of online resellers for laptop parts. eBay is another good source—you'll find new screens, functioning used screens pulled from broken notebooks, and replacement inverters.

A company specializing in replacement LCDs for most major laptop brands, ScreenTek is another great place to start. It also offers improved high-gloss screens for some laptop models, as well as an assortment of illustrated installation guides.

Step 5: Replace the broken screen

after you position the new LCD, screw it into place in the metal frame.

Before removing the broken LCD, you'll need to disconnect the cables connecting it to your notebook. The video cable is typically a long ribbon cable taped to the back of the screen. Remove the tape, then carefully unplug the connector from the back of the LCD. Also be sure to disconnect the power cable between the LCD and inverter. If you need to remove the inverter to replace it or to access its power connector, simply remove the screws holding the inverter in place, then unplug the power connectors from each side of the inverter board. Once the cables are disconnected, remove the screws holding the LCD to the metal frame, and slip the old LCD out. Installing the new LCD is simply a matter of reversing the process: Screw the new LCD into the metal frame, then connect the video cable and inverter.

Step 6: Power it up

Before replacing the bezel and its screws, put the new screen to the test. Attach your power brick or reinstall the battery, and power up the laptop. If the screen doesn't work properly, power down, then double-check the inverter and video-cable connections.

Once you're sure everything's working, snap the bezel in place, replace the screws, and press on the screw covers. (You might want to add a dab of mild glue, such as Elmer's, to the back of the screw covers to secure them.) Your laptop is now back in action, at a fraction of the cost you'd pay to have the screen replaced by the manufacturer.

by computershopper.com

Laptop Computer Repair Tips

2011-03-14T03:04:00.001-07:00

Guys, don’t undertake laptop computer repair without reading this first. I’ll guide you away from making costly mistakes that could render your laptop computer useless.

First of all have a good understanding of what it is you need to do and what you might need in the way of tools. A big mistake people make is to sit down with a part and their laptop and use whatever they have around to open up the laptop and replace the part.

What you should try and have before you start..

1 x Philips Head Screwdriver type 0
1 x Philips Head Screwdriver type 1
Tweezers ( long nose )
ESD mat or grounded ESD wrist strap (ElectroStatic Discharge)
Needle nose pliers
A Teflon wedge or splade

Also take a look at the environment you are going to do your laptop computer repair in, static electricity can ruin your day and you won’t even know it..

Back up your laptop's hard drive just in case you do something you shouldn’t have. Avoid doing your laptop computer repair in a carpeted room, use the kitchen or garage.

Keep in mind that if you are playing with the LCD the backlight inverter can give you a nasty shock if the unit is powered, switch the laptop off and unplug it, you should also remove the laptop's battery and hard drive.

I understand that most people won’t have any anti-static gear like wrist straps and so on but if you are going to be doing some laptop computer repair on a regular basis, it may be worth while getting some, although the laptop you have may be a cheap one there is no point killing it off and dumping it in the trash.

Some points to remember when undertaking laptop computer repairs..

Don’t disassemble a machine if it doesn’t need it.
Use the right tools.
Try to do it in a clean environment.
Test the machine properly beforehand
Keep any parts you remove in a safe place.
Keep the screws with the parts they have been taken from.
Put the right size screws back into parts when it's time to reassemble it.
Observe how connectors work before disconnecting them.
Make notes for yourself if you need to as you pull apart the machine.
Check all cables and connectors are fastened as you go along.
Try not to use screwdrivers to lever or remove plastic parts.
If a part won't budge look for hidden screws or a screw you may have missed.
TAKE YOUR TIME.

Note: Some laptops have the screw holes marked with screw types and sizes. Some use symbols to indicate screw types. Take notice of what screws come out of where.

The laptop computer repair tips page is subject to many variations for different laptops and it is hard to be very specific. We have put this page together taking best and most common practices in mind.
by laptop-repair.info

Laptop Keyboard Repair

2011-03-14T03:03:00.000-07:00

Laptop keyboard repair is one of the more common jobs performed on laptops, it's also one of the easier repairs to carry out providing the following hasn't happened.

A spill of anything but water on a keyboard will 9 times out of 10 leave you in a situation that involves replacing the keyboard all together.

Keyboards are manufactured in such a way that leaves little to no room to clean out messy spills.

Basically any liquid containing sugar (soft drinks, beer, wine, coffee or tea) are bad news...

A couple of laptop keyboard repair do’s and don’ts in the event of a spill..

DON’T panic. Panic makes us do stupid things, think before you react.

DON’T use a hairdryer to dry out a spill...melted keys are hard to type with.

DON’T tilt the machine upside down or on its side (if you do feel the need it's better to tilt it to the side that houses the CDROM as the CDROM area inside the machine has less components on it than the mainboard).

DO switch the machine off immediately and resist switching it back on until you're certain the spill has dried. Survey the damage after you've dried it out. At this point you could remove the keyboard and try the machine using an external keyboard to see if anything else has been affected.

This diagram shows what a basic keyboard looks like, the ribbon cable which connects the keyboard to the motherboard is indicated by the red arrow.

The ribbon cable can also be located on the front edge of the keyboard depending on the age and model of the laptop you have.
Note the keyboard holder (thin strip of plastic) that sits on the top edge of the laptop keyboard needs to be removed to get access to the screws holding the keyboard down.
Most of the current laptop keyboards are like the diagram below.

Traditionally a spill will kill a keyboard or at best at least some function will be lost. I have only ever been successful with a laptop keyboard repair that involved a water spill, anything else normally results in a tragic loss and putting your old faithful keyboard to rest.. RIP.

How to replace a laptop keyboard

Keyboard removal is relatively simple, most keyboards are held in place with a couple of screws, and in some models, also a couple of screws that may need to be removed from the base of the unit. A quick call to your local authorized laptop computer repairer should help to determine what screws need to be removed (if they know their stuff).

The keyboard connector is something that needs a little care when unplugging, if you are too heavy handed and damage the connector in any way you may even damage the mainboard also which can cause a world of pain.. be careful.

See below for the most commonly used connector.

In order to release the keyboard ribbon cable ease the connector edge upwards only about 2 or 3 millimetres, the ribbon should now slip out with ease. The refitting of the keyboard once cleaned or replaced is just done in reverse.

Broken off some keys??

Whoops, these are a difficult one to fix and once again often end in having to replace the keyboard entirely. Some very small plastic mounting arms hold the keys in place and are often broken, either that or the little clips that the mounting arms click into break. It's handy to have or get a hold of an old keyboard of the same type in order to poach the parts you need.

You may need some tweezers and a steady hand to fix these. The best thing I can suggest is to gently remove one of the other keys to see exactly how the mounting arms sit, once you have an idea of how it should look grab those tweezers and be patient, it may take some time.

We will soon have some detailed photos showing how these are assembled, until then remember to be patient and gentle.

If you seek professional advice regarding your laptop keyboard repair, the repairer will probably try to sell you a new keyboard complete with hefty labour charge to fix this for you. With the tips we have given you here, you can do your own laptop keyboard repair, fit it yourself and pocket the savings.
by laptop-repair.info

Accessing notebook hard drive using USB enclosure

2011-03-08T02:17:00.000-08:00

If for some reason your notebook fails to boot and you need to access data on the hard drive (I assume there is nothing wrong with the hard drive itself), you can use an external USB enclosure. This method is very simple and could be very useful when you need an emergency access to your data on the hard drive.
First of all you’ll have to buy an external USB enclosure for notebook hard drives. These enclosures are inexpensive and usually you can buy them in any local computer store. You also can find a wide variety of external enclosures on the Internet. Make sure to buy a correct one, enclosures for ATA and SATA hard drives are different (the connector inside the case will be different). Usually the enclosure includes the case and the USB cables.

Now remove the hard drive from the laptop. For this example I’m using an ATA hard drive.

Open up the enclosure case and connect the hard drive to the connector inside. After that insert the hard drive into the case.

After everything is assembled, you are ready to connect this device to any working computer (notebook or PC). The enclosure cable usually has two USB connectors on one end, make sure both of them are connected to the computer. You don’t need any external power supply for the enclosure because the hard drive gets power through USB ports. If the computer you are connecting the enclosure to runs Windows 2000 or higher, you will not need any device drivers. As soon as you connect the enclosure to the computer, the external hard drive should be detected and recognized automatically. After that the external hard drive will appear in My Computer and you can access it as any other hard drive in the computer.

If you are getting “Access denied” message when you are trying to access your files on the hard drive, you’ll have to take ownership of a file or folder.
My previous post explains how to connect a notebook hard drive to a desktop PC via IDE hard drive adapter.

by laptoprepair101

How to recover files from computer with crashed operating system

2011-03-08T02:13:00.000-08:00

In this guide I explain how to recover files from a laptop (or desktop PC) with crashed, failed, damaged operating system.

WHEN CAN YOU USE THIS RECOVERY GUIDE?

PREPARING FOR RECOVERY

For this recovery I’ll be using a Ubuntu CD (Linux OS). Also, you can create a bootable Ubuntu USB stick and use that instead of the CD. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a Linux guru for that. The interface will be very similar to Windows OS.
You’ll need another working computer to download and create a bootable Ubundu CD or USB stick.
1. Download the latest version of Ubuntu OS here. When you click on the download button you’ll start downloading an ISO image.
2. Burn this ISO image on a CD or create a bootable USB stick. It’s explained on the same Ubuntu download page, just scroll a little bit down.
3. Find the target drive where you going to save recovered files. You can use an external USB hard drive or USB memory stick. The target drive can be formatted with any common Windows file system: FAT, FAT32, NTFS.

DATA RECOVERY PROCESS

From my experience, Ubuntu OS works fine with most laptop and desktop PC hardware and you shouldn’t have any problem booting it to the desktop. It may not work if your computer hardware is too new.

STEP 2.
The computer will start booting from the CD or USB stick.
Now read carefully!
After some time a welcome screen will pop up. On this screen you can choose your language and choose between two options: Try Ubuntu and Install Ubuntu.
Select Try Ubuntu. In this case Linux OS will run directly from the CD or USB stick without changing any files on the hard drive.
STEP 3.
Ubuntu OS will continue loading and after a while you’ll boot to the desktop, as it shown on the following picture.

STEP 4.
In order to access the internal hard drive, you click on Places in the top toolbar. You should see your internal hard drive in the drop down menu under the Computer.

STEP 5.
When you click on the internal hard drive a new window will open up. In this window you’ll see all files located on the hard drive.

STEP 6.
Now plug in your target drive: external USB hard drive or USB flash drive.
Another window will pop up. In this window you’ll see files located on the external drive. In my case I have no files on the external drive, that’s why the window is empty.
You can move windows same way you do it in Windows OS. Arrange both windows as you like.

STEP 7.
Finally, drag and drop needed files from the internal hard drive to the external drive.
After the transfer is done, you can unplug the external drive and use it on any other computer.

IF YOU HAVE FAILED HARDWARE

In case if your laptop (or desktop PC) has faulty hardware, you should try recovery with external USB enclosure.

by laptoprepair101

How to disassemble HP Pavilion tx2000 Tablet PC

2011-02-25T23:43:00.000-08:00

In this guide I explain how to disassemble a HP Pavilion tx2000 Tablet PC and remove the motherboard. I’m removing the motherboard in order to repair failed NVIDIA chip.
Before you start, make sure the laptop is turned off and battery removed.
STEP 1.
Loosen five screws securing hard drive, memory and wireless card covers.
Remove all three covers.

STEP 2.
Lift up one side of the hard drive by the black tab to disconnect it from the motherboard.

STEP 3.
Remove the hard drive assembly.
By the way, it’s a regular 2.5″ notebook SATA hard drive. There is an adapter connected to the hard drive. That’s why the hard drive connector doesn’t look like a regular SATA connector.

STEP 4.
Both memory modules can be accessed though a door on the bottom of the laptop.
Remove both memory modules.

STEP 5.
Disconnect two antenna cables from the wireless card.
Remove two screws securing the wireless card.

STEP 6.
Pull the wireless card from the slot.

STEP 7.
Unlock the DVD drive and remove it from the laptop.

STEP 8.
Remove four screws securing laptop keyboard on the bottom.

STEP 9.
Carefully lift up the keyboard from the laptop case.

STEP 10.
Now you can access the keyboard cable connector which is located underneath the keyboard.

STEP 11.
Before you can remove the keyboard cable, you’ll have to unlock the connector.
On the following picture the connector shown in the locked position.
In order to unlock the connector, lift up the right side of the brown clip at a 90 degree angle.

STEP 12.
On the following picture the connector is shown in the unlocked position.
Now you can pull the keyboard cable from the connector.

STEP 13.
Remove the keyboard.
New replacement keyboard for HP Pavilion tx2000 laptops available here.

STEP 14.
Remove four (red) screws securing the hinge cover.
Remove three (yellow) screws securing the display hinge and cable cover.

STEP 15.
Under the cover you’ll find two display cables.
Disconnect both cables from the motherboard.

STEP 16.
Turn the laptop display and start removing the hinge cover.

STEP 17.
The hinge cover removed.

STEP 18.
Disconnect LCD cable from the motherboard.

STEP 19.
Remove two screws securing the display hinge.

STEP 20.
Lift up and remove the display assembly.

STEP 22.
Remove screws from the bottom of the laptop.

STEP 23.
Remove two screws securing the top cover.
Disconnect two cables from the motherboard.

STEP 24.
Remove the top cover assembly.

STEP 25.
Disconnect two cables from the motherboard.

STEP 26.
Make sure the Express Card slot cover removed.

STEP 27.
Carefully lift up the left side of the motherboard.

STEP 28.
Remove motherboard from the laptop base.

STEP 29.
The motherboard has been removed.
On this side of the motherboard you can access the CMOS battery.

STEP 30.
On the other side of the motherboard you can access and remove the cooling module (heatsink with fan).

STEP 31.
Remove four screws securing the heatsink assembly.
Disconnect fan cable from the motherboard.

STEP 32.
Carefully lift up and remove the cooling module.
New fans for HP Pavilion tx2000 laptops available here.

If the heatsink is clogged with dust, you can blow it off using compressed air.

STEP 33.
After the cooling module is removed, you can access and remove the CPU (processor).

by insidemylaptop

How to fix laptop motherboard with failed NVIDIA graphics chip

2011-02-25T23:41:00.000-08:00

In this post I explain how you can fix a laptop motherboard with failed NVIDIA graphics chip. This repair might apply to some HP/Compaq laptops and probably some other laptop brands. If this repair works for your laptop, please mention the brand and model number in comments after the post. This will help other readers with similar laptops.
By the way, I just fixed my son’s Xbox 360 with red ring of death (error 74) using exactly same technique.

MOST COMMON PROBLEM SYMPTOMS

1. Laptop turns on with garbled video on the internal laptop screen and external monitor.
2. Laptop turns on as normal but there is no video on the internal laptop screen or external monitor.

MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEM

The NVIDIA graphics chip soldered to the motherboard. When the laptop gets very hot, the NVIDIA chip separates from the motherboard and laptop video fails.

HOW TO FIX FAILED NVIDIA CHIP

I have previous posts explaining how I fixed same problem by baking the motherboard in an oven or bubble-wrapping the laptop. But today I’m going to fix the motherboard using a heat gun. Basically, I’m going to heat up the NVIDIA chip with a heat gun to solder it back to the motherboard (reflow). I think this method is more reliable and the repair should last for a while.

WARNING!

There is no guaranty this method works all the time. While doing this repair you may damage the motherboard and make it unrepairable. Also, you may damage the laptop while taking it apart.
Proceed at your own risk and don’t blame me if you turned your laptop into a very expensive door stop.
If you don’t feel comfortable doing this repair, take your laptop to the repair shop.

HOW I FIXED THE MOTHERBOARD

First of all, you’ll have to disassemble the laptop and remove the motherboard. You can find laptop disassembly procedure in the service manual. If you having trouble finding the manual, leave a comment and maybe I can point you to the right direction.
In my example I’m using a motherboard removed from HP Pavilion tx2000 laptop.
In most laptops the graphics chip located under the CPU heatsink (and it has NVIDIA logo on it), so there shouldn’t be a problem locating the chip. The chip has a glossy top surface.

For this repair I’m going to use an Ecoheat heat gun EC-100.

In order to figure out how to position the heat gun and for how long, I tested it on a penny with a small piece of solder on the top.
The Ecoheat heat gun has a switch on the handle. There are two positions for the switch. Position 1 – slow. Position 2 – fast.
I used position 1 – slow.
I positioned the heat gun about 1 inch away from the penny and turned it on.

After about 40-45 second the solder started melting. After 50 seconds the solder melted completely.

To protect the motherboard from the heat I used a regular cooking aluminum foil. I cut off a piece of aluminum foil and folded it a few times to make my protection shield thicker. After that I cut off a square opening right in the middle, same size as the NVIDIA chip.
After I removed the heat sink, I had some old thermal grease stuck on the NVIDIA graphics chip. You can remove old thermal grease using alcohol swabs. It’s not necessary to make it perfectly clean. Just make sure there are no large chunks of thermal grease on the chip.

UPDATE: Some people mentioned that I should have applied some liquid flux underneath the NVIDIA chip for better results. I didn’t do it this time. I’ll definitely do it next time if the motherboard fails again. I found this video explaining how to apply liquid flux under the GPU chip. This video was made for Xbox 360 motherboard but should apply to any laptop motherboard too.
Liquid flux for GPU reflow available on eBay.
Finally, I positioned the heat gun above the NVIDIA chip about 1 inch away and turned the heat gun into the position 1.

After 50 seconds I turned it off and let the motherboard cool down for about 20 minutes.
Don’t forget to apply new thermal grease on the NVIDIA chip when you install the heat sink.
Some laptops use thermal pads instead of grease. If that’s the case with your laptop, make sure the thermal pad positioned correctly.
After I assembled the laptop back together, the video started properly!
The NVIDIA graphics chip problem fixed!
Will it last for a long time? I don’t know. Still testing.

READ THIS BEFORE REPAIR

Make sure to visit The NVIDIA GPU Litigation site.
It’s possible that your HP/Compaq laptop qualifies for a free replacement. Here’s a quoted from the site:

If you have an HP or Compaq notebook computer, you may be eligible to receive a replacement computer. A repair remedy is not available for HP/Compaq computers because replacement parts are not available. Replacement computers will be shipped 6 to 8 weeks after a claim is approved.

by laptoprepair101

Toshiba Satellite A75 failed power jack workaround

2011-02-21T02:16:00.000-08:00

Today I received an email from Tony Sakariya (tsakariyaATyahooDOTcom) who was experiencing a problem with the power jack on his Toshiba Satellite A75 laptop. He’s been able to fix the problem by relocating the power jack outside the laptop case away from the system board.

I would like to share with others a tip for repairing their Toshiba A75 laptop for the DC Jack and battery charge problem.

I have a Toshiba A75-S209 for a year now. After the first 3 months it developed the exact same problem. Battery would not charge and I had to twist and turn the power jack to make the connection. Since it was in warranty, I returned it and they repaired and sent it back to me. The problem recurred again after about 4 months and I sent it again and they repaired it and worked fine for 5 more months and it failed. This is a design flaw with Toshiba. Now that I am out of warranty, I decided to repair it myself. Your guide for dismantling A75 was awesome. Thanks for the info. Now here is what I want to share with others. Resoldering the power jack with a new one does solve the problem for a while but it will reoccur. Hence I decided to bring out a wire with the Jack outside. Of course it looks dirty but it is a permanent solution. I am attaching the photo of the repair I did. I got the DC jack from ebay and insulated it with a electrical insulation tape. Now it is working fine, I do the connection and disconnection on the dangling power jack outside the laptop and hence no chance of breaking the soldering outside.

• Coil the pair of wire one round through the ventilation grill before taking it out as shown in the picture above. This is to prevent any external shock or force being directly transmitted to the soldering joints.
• Now we need to connect a new DC Jack to other end of the wire. I purchased the new DC jack from here for a price of $6. Shown in the picture above the white wire is the positive terminal (+) and hence must connect to the inner ring of the DC Jack. Similarly the blue wire being the negative terminal (-) should connect to the outer ring of the DC jack. Refer the picture below on how the wires are soldered to the DC Jack. Be careful not to short the leads as they are very close.

• Now neatly wind a round of insulation tape over the wire and especially on the exposed DC Jack exterior. This will prevent any short-circuit and also give a better appearance.

Toshiba Satellite A70/A75. Disassembly guide with pictures.
Valued Comments.
Submitted by Binney:

The workaround relocates the jack externally. When I did this, a short occurred between the metal casing on the top cover (the one removed with the guitar pick). This happens if the solder repair is too tall. I covered my repair with electrical insulation tape and that fixed the problem. It took me quite some time to figure out where the short was and would like to save others the headache.

Comments #282, 286 submitted by Jake and John:

Size N: DC Power Jack #274-1576 from radioshack works perfect and looks great. Costs $2.99, easier to solder, snugger fit, 5.5mm O.D. x 2.5mm I.D.
Here are some pictures of the end result of the repair with
the Radio Shack type jack. I added one of those quick release
key holder that I had lying around as a retention holder.
Here is what it looks like unplugged: Power tip unplugged.
Here is what it looks like with the adapter plugged in and
the key holder reattached: Power tip plugged.

by laptoprepair101

Laptop turns on for a few seconds and then shuts down. No video appears on the screen.

2011-02-21T02:14:00.002-08:00

Today I was able to fix a “dead” notebook simply by reseating connectors. The customer brought in Compaq nx5000 notebook with the following complaint:

“Laptop shuts down on power up. When the power button is pushed, the laptop flashes green lights for several seconds and then powers down. Unit will not stay on with battery or when plugged in”.

I plugged the AC adapter and tried to turn on the laptop. After I pushed on the power button, fans started spinning and were active for a few seconds and laptop just turned itself off. The video never came on. I tried to power it on for a few times with the same result.
Here is how I fixed it.
First of all I tried simple stuff: remove the battery and start the laptop with AC adapter plugged in, reseat and swap the memory module, remove the hard drive, the DVD drive, the wireless card. Nothing helped to start the laptop normally. After that I went a little bit further. I opened up the laptop case, removed the LCD screen assembly and reseated the video card and… Surprise, surprise, the laptop started fine with an external monitor attached. Just in case I restarted it 3-4 times and each time I got video on the screen. After I assembled everything back, one more surprise was waiting for me. The laptop failed to boot again with the same symptoms. So, the only part that I added before it failed was the LCD screen assembly. I unplugged the video cable from the system board and the laptop started fine again with the external monitor. Now I know that the problem is somewhere inside the display assembly (of course, if the video connector on the system board is fine). The next logical step would be opening up the LCD display assembly and check if all connectors are seated properly. Bingo!!! I wasn’t very surprised, but I was very happy. The video cable was half-way out from the connector on the back of the LCD screen. The laptop started perfectly fine as soon as I plugged the video cable back in place. Fixed!
That was my first experience when improperly plugged video cable prevented entire system from booting.

Very strange hard drive failure symptoms

2011-02-21T02:14:00.000-08:00

A few days ago I had to repair a notebook with symptoms that didn’t look like a hard drive failure at all. But the problem was fixed after I replace the hard drive.

It was Toshiba Satellite A70-S249 notebook with the following problem.
When I press on the power button, the laptop starts up as usual and a red Toshiba logo appears on the screen. After a moment the logo disappears and the screen turns black without any faint image and flashing cursor. The blue light around the power button stays on and fans continue to spin normal but nothing appears on the screen. I noticed that the hard drive LED blinks green on the startup and after that shows no activity at all. After a closer inspection I noticed that the screen is not completely black (like dead black), it didn’t have any image on it but it had a very faint backlight (I would say about 3-5% of normal brightness). I was able to see that there is some backlight after I pressed on the lid close switch and the screen turned to completely black.

Here are my troubleshooting steps that I went through to find the problem.
First of all, I replaced the memory module and didn’t get any changes. Removed the wireless card, still had the same problem.
After that I removed the hard drive and started the computer. This time I got something. The notebook successfully passed the Toshiba screen and started looking for a boot device. I got some activity on the screen. To make sure that the notebook itself works fine, I booted it from Knoppix (live Linux CD) and successfully loaded the Linux operating system to the desktop. So, that’s the hard drive problem!
I installed the hard drive back in the laptop and tried to boot it again. The same failure occurred again; I got a black screen with a very faint backlight and no hard drive activity at all. I tested the hard drive with Hitachi DFT test and failed an advanced test. The problem is detected!
Finally I installed a new hard drive, reimaged the drive with a recovery DVD and got the laptop back up and running.

By the way, even though the customer’s hard drive failed the DFT test, I still was able to access it from another computer. The customer had important personal files on the failed drive. I connected it to our recovery desktop computer using IDE adapter. The “failed” hard drive was detected without any problem and I was able to recover the data.

by laptoprepair101

Fix Laptop Screen By Yourself

2011-02-17T23:01:00.001-08:00

We can certainly refer laptop repair manual guide to fix laptop screen.In case your laptop LCD screen is not displaying anything and is blank or that the screen is probably shattered, don’t worry as there is still some hope for you.It is not that difficult to repair lap top screen, it is much easier than you thought. If it is possible for you to handle a mini screw driver and read an easy diagram then you’ve gotten all the mandatory skills to fix your own laptop screen. A substitute or a replacement screen is necessary if your screen is shattered completely. A few things you might have considered trying to test when there isn’t any picture are the level of brightness in the laptops and whether the image displays when linked to an external monitor. The level of brightness is generally adjusted by a key combination in the keyboard, dedicated buttons or on the BIOS. If ever the notebook shows video on being connected by an external monitor then almost definitely the LCD or perhaps a component within the LCD might be dead or faulty. So from will you get the parts? the best place to buy the parts is from ebay.
Certainly one of the easy and simple replacement screen options is to search for an entire laptop lid that features a functioning LCD screen. Now you take off your laptop lid, by taking off the plastic cover , and then removing the screws, and now you disconnect the cable out of your motherboard as well as in some cases the built-in wireless card antenna wire. Now you put the replacement lid. Another option that i see is to exchange only the LCD screen with the lid. This choice is a little more harder and involves dismantling within the lids LCD screen housing components. It normally involves removing the stickers that conceals the screw holes, after that you have to remove the screws and finally the plastic casing that covers the LCD screen. In case you are uncertain about dismantling your laptop many of the prime laptop companies provide, the servicing manuals along with diagrams easy method to dismantle the laptop.You can download it through the Internet.
When you make an ebay purchase don’t forget to read the listing details and make certain that the model of the laptop matches what the vendor is selling. If you want to buy from other place instead of ebay, then you certainly can but it will be very expensive, and only the parts of new models will be available. It is very difficult to get parts of the older models.You can also refer some Laptop repair manual for further instructions to fix laptop screen.

Laptop Monitor Repair – A Few Guidelines And Tips !

2011-02-17T22:59:00.001-08:00

Laptop monitor repair can be done at home by simply referring a good laptop repair manual. Do you feel like there is something wrong with your monitor and there is no visual displaying on the LCD screen. Will you be able to imagine a worse circumstance than this? And suppose if your monitor screen is totally shattered? It sounds like a dooms day kind of situation for your laptop, doesn’t it? But don’t worry; it is probably not as hopeless as it may sounds. The answer is likely to be as simple as a tiny-screwdriver.
Get hold of a tiny-screwdriver as well as a diagram of the laptop. That’s it you are a self proclaimed laptop monitor repair technician. You ought to be able to repair your own personal laptop monitor. Needless to say, for the above mentioned shattered screen situation, replacing your notebook screen is the only alternative situation for you.
Laptop Monitor Repair Suggestions.
Let us take a look at the blank screen situation of your laptop monitor repair. You initially have to test the brightness adjustments of your notebook, just to make sure. In addition to that, examine the image by attaching your laptop to another monitor, to check if you receive any pictures. To check out your brightness degree of your laptop, you have to type a combination of keyboard keys, or a fixed button that you simply have to press to adjust the brightness levels. An alternative choice that I see is the settings from the BIOS. At this moment, in case your laptop gets an image when attached externally to an outside monitor, in that case your laptop’s LCD or an integral part of your LCD is gone or is working correctly. If that is so, then you have to visit the e bay store and then get the best deal on laptop parts.
The best deal will be to stumble upon a laptop lid with an LCD screen all ready to be installed. In that case you only have to take off your own personal faulty laptop lid with the hinge screws. Pull out the video cable out of your motherboard. A few laptop models will have to take some extra steps of removing the built-in wireless card antenna cable. After that comes the simple part. Take the laptop lid which you bought from e bay or any other store and assemble it in the precise opposite steps that you choose to took to detached the initial one.
For all those of you who prefer to complicate things a bit, you can actually just take out the LCD from the lid. You will have to remove the LCD screen out of the lid on both units. To get further details you have to visit the laptop manufacturer’s website and then download the service manual. Usually these kinds of service manuals have all the required diagrams to guide you.
In conclusion, I’d like to warn you that whenever you happen to be looking for parts to interchange, either on e bay or in a different place, at all times make certain that the part you are searching for matches the brand and model of the laptop, because many parts are not compatible with all kinds of laptops with each other, so t his will cause you more additional problems. Furthermore, if the model of your laptop is new you will get the parts directly from the manufacturer, but you will have to spend some money on it.
I personally repair my laptop without hiring a technician. I accidentally stumble upon a great laptop repair manual course. It’s an easy step by step guide with videos to help you repair you own laptop as well as you can start you own laptop repairing business with this. And on top of that it comes with a money back guarantee. You can check out the site here

by laptoprepairmanual

Laptop Battery Mod - Adding a Secondary Battery

2011-02-17T22:55:00.000-08:00

From 1h 45m of battery life to 6 hours of battery life using some junk from my basement and a used Dell laptop battery.

This mod was done on an Asus Z7100 series laptop (Z71V to be exact). But the theory behind this mod should work on pretty much any laptop, notebook or netbook out there. It worked out better than I ever expected.

Step 1: Open the Laptop Battery.

Open Asus Z71V Battery Pack (Model No. A42-M7)

Opening the battery pack is probably one of the more challenging parts of the project as most battery packs are sealed/glued/welded shut.
I started mine by cutting into the seam at the corners of the battery pack with a utility knife. I managed to get a flat screw driver into the incisions I made with the knife and started to pry the case open. Be very careful to not push the knife or screw driver too far into the pack as you could damage the batteries or battery controller PCB. I pushed my screw driver in too far and knocked a tiny resistor off my PCB. Took me half an hour to get it soldered back on.

Once you have the battery pack open, inspect how the batteries are wired up.

There are Eight 18650 Cells. A red wire for the + end of the series and a black wire for the - end of the series. white, yellow and orange wires for the intermediary charging points.

It is an 8 cell battery that has 2 rows of 4 cells. The batteries inside are Samsung Lithium-Ion 18650 sized cells with an output of 3.7v at 2200 mAh each. They are wired in 2 parallel series' of 4. The specs on my battery state 14.8v with 4400 mAh. Since the batteries are 3.7v each and there are 4 batteries in each series, 4 * 3.7v = 14.8v. There are 2 of these 14.8v series wired parallel to each other. This gives us 2 * 2200 mAh for a total of 4400 mAh at 14.8v.

14.8v and 4400 mAh (milliampere-hours)

After around 3 years of use, this battery had degraded to around 28000 mWh according to Notebook Hardware Control (NHC). It only lasted 100 minutes or less; compared to 3 hours+ of runtime I used to get.

You need to acquire more batteries. Most people will probably have to purchase new batteries but I had some used Dell laptop battery packs lying around that I could cannibalize. I thought I would try one of them out first before buying new batteries.

A Dell Battery; Model# BAT3151L8. Note The "Do not disassemble" Warning :)

I chose one that appeared to be in good condition, it was for a Dell Inspiron 2650 series laptop. It happened to have very similar specs to my Asus battery - 8 cells rated for 14.8v. I opened it up and verified that it was in good shape. More on this battery later.

Most people probably don't have spare laptop batteries lying around, and you will get best results from new cells anyway. However 18650 cells are going to be hard to find at most stores and you will probably have to purchase these online. You can actually buy them for a very reasonable cost online from dealextreme.com, which is a huge online store with free worldwide shipping.

I personally like the Blue TrustFire 2500mAh 18650 cells and was tempted to try out the Red UltraFire 3000mAh 18650 cells.

    The amount of batteries you will need depends on your current battery. Always add additional batteries in an even multiple of the original amount of cells. If you have a 3 cell battery, you can add 3 more, 6 more, 9 more .... if it is a 4 cell, add 4 more, 8 more, 12 more, etc.
    Make sure the cells you buy provide the same voltage as the original cells in your battery pack are (usually 3.7v). You may go as high or low as you like for the mAh rating. The higher the rating, the longer the battery will last (theoretically). Some manufacturers exaggerate a bit on the mAh rating. Trustfire seems to be a safe choice.
    Also, stay away from "protected" cells, as your laptop battery controller already provides protection. The cells with additional built-in protection can cause the whole battery pack to stop working early if the protection on one of the cells gets tripped.

If you are going to be using your newly purchased cells as a secondary external battery, you may also want a protective case to enclose them in.

Pretty much anything should work but DealExtreme.com has specially made 18650 battery cases for cheap.

For future expansion and portability reasons, I wanted the second battery to be removable.

I though it would be a good idea to make the secondary battery removable instead of hard-wiring it in. There is a total of 5 wires connect to the second battery, but I couldn't find any 5 pin connectors around so I used two 4-pin molex connectors and just removed the 3 spare wires from one connector. I salvaged these connectors from some old computer fans. These are the 'male' ends of the connector.

To bring the wiring out from the main battery I melted a small hole in the battery case with a soldering iron.

I inserted the wires and cut them to length so that each wire could reach its intended soldering point.

The wires should be inserted before you start soldering them to the battery.

Carefully solder the wires to the existing solder points on the battery. I first attempted to solder the wires directly to the battery cells but the solder would not stick so I made use of the existing solder points and it is working fine.

This is the + end of the battery series, I labeled this solder point #1. The - end was #5. The intermediary points were 2, 3 and 4.

I placed the cells back in the battery case partway through the soldering process so I could keep the wiring as tight as possible. My battery case has very little room to work in so I needed to keep the wires as short as possible. Be sure to keep track of what wires you connect where, and mark the corresponding pins on the molex connectors.

All 5 wires soldered on. I labeled the molex connectors to correspond with which solder point they were connected to (You can't see this, they were labeled on the other side).

It is a really tight fit.

The soldering points were originally covered by tape to prevent any accidental shorts with the PCB.

Before I closed the case I reapplied tape over these solder points.

I taped the battery shut instead of gluing it, mainly because this is much faster and easier.

Now would probably be a good time to make sure it still works. My laptop powered up fine, so now I am ready to work on the second battery.

As previously mentioned, I will be using an old Dell laptop battery. You will probably get much better results if new cells are used, but I already had spare laptop batteries lying around so I thought I would try them first.

The battery controller will not be used. It should be removed.

There is a total of 8 Cells; you can't tell from the picture but they are arranged in 2 parallel series' of 4 cells each. Exactly like the Asus battery. There are 5 wires a red +, a black - and 3 intermediary wires for charging purposes, blue, white and yellow.

The existing wiring removed and the 'female' end of the molex connectors soldered on.

I salvaged some more molex connectors from an old computer power supply. I cut these wires to length and soldered them to the solder points on the battery. I made sure to keep the wiring the same as I had done on the asus battery. Positive going to Positive, negative to negative, and each intermediary charging wire going to their corresponding locations. If the wiring is messed up in any way, bad things will happen. The best case scenario would be that it simply doesn't work. Worst case scenario - there will likely be fires and/or explosions. Do it right, I am not responsible for any damage caused.

To be safe I taped over the contact points like I did with the Asus battery.

This battery had much more room to work in compared to the Asus one. The project is almost complete, all that needs to be done is to close up the secondary battery and connect it.

I taped up the secondary battery and attached it with some stick-on velcro strips I picked up for $1.25 (which is actually the only money I spent on this project). It holds the battery on very strongly, almost too strong ..... I almost couldn't get it off again!

The finished product.

At first there seemed to be no change in battery life, but after the 2nd rundown and recharge, NHC showed that the full battery capacity had increased to 36000 mWh. After the 4th rundown and recharge it had increased to 46000 mWh, after the 5th, 54000 mWh, the 6th, 61000 mWh, 7th, 69000 mWh. The battery sensor is still calibrating but I am now getting a consistent 6 hours of battery life! This is almost double what I got with a single battery when it was brand new.

6 hours of battery life from two old laptop batteries.

I believe the reason the battery life has increased beyond what I though possible is due to how some Lithium-Ion batteries work. The higher the resistance (amps), the lower the battery life (mAh). According to NHC, my laptop draws an average of about 17 watts from the battery. Watts = Amps * Volts. So 17w / 14.8v = 1.15a. With the original battery, The 1.15 amp load was divided into two 14.8v series (four 3.7v cells per series). This gave a load of 0.575 amps per series. Now the load is divided into 4 series of 4 cells each (16 cells total). This brings the load down to 0.2875 amps per series. I'm guessing that higher amp requirements caused these batteries to lose their mAh rating much faster than a lower amp requirement. With the amps now spread out between 16 batteries (0.072 amps per battery), this is allowing the cells to produce optimal performance. This idea comes from a chart posted in this thread (page 2). Note the results for the two 3000mAh cells.

I could be totally off on my theory, but whatever the reason is for the great battery life, I am very happy to have such great results.

Next project..... adding a third battery!

How will 24 cells work? 28 cells? I'm hoping to find out.

by sites.google.com

MacBook Air battery replacements take only minutes

2011-02-17T22:47:00.000-08:00

Due to its ultra-thin profile, Apple's new MacBook Air was designed with an integrated 37-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery that is not user-replaceable. Though this has caused some initial concern amongst potential adopters, AppleInsider has learned that the replacement process is quite trivial.
According to people familiar with the new-generation notebook, there are no special tools or knowledge required to swap out the MacBook Air's battery, which Apple has billed its "thinnest ever" in a product. Instead, the process requires a single size-0 type phillips screwdriver and some diligence.

Once flipped upside down, the MacBook Air's bottom cover is easily unscrewed and removed, providing immediate access to the battery cavity. From there, the battery can be unscrewed from the chassis with the same screwdriver and unplugged from the circuit board with a simple tug -- it's not soldered to the board.

The entire process, according to those in the known, can be completed by any service technician in as little as three minutes.

For its part, Apple has announced its intent to offer a MacBook Air Out-of-Warranty Battery Replacement Program, which promises authorized replacements for US $129. The mail-in repair process normally takes 5 business days, the company says.

Given the simplicity of the upgrade, however, it's possible that Apple will in time offer the service on-demand at its retail stores. Similarly, third parties could also offer in-home do-it-yourself kits should they be able to acquire battery cells that meet Apple's standard for the MacBook Air.

More high-quality photos (1, 2) of the new MacBook Air.

There's no word, however, whether the latter process would void the notebook's warranty in Apple's eyes. In the meantime, the company recommends MacBook Air users follow these instructions for optimizing life span and battery life.
by appleinsider

How to troubleshoot and fix laptop video problems

2011-02-16T22:30:00.000-08:00

Here are some tips and tricks for troubleshooting and fixing laptop video problems. Video issues are very common within portable computers and with the following tips you should be able to detect and eliminate basic laptop video problems.

Laptop LCD screen has a faint image.

Look at the LCD screen very closely and check if you can see a faint image on the screen. It’s possible that the LCD lid close switch stuck in the “closed” position and the backlight stays off even when you open the LCD screen or turn on the laptop. The switch turns off the backlight when you close the LCD display to save the laptop battery power. Check the LCD lid close switch. Usually it is a small plastic pin located close to the LCD hinges. Try to tap on the switch a few times to turn on the backlight. If after tapping on the LCD lid close switch the backlight stays on, you fixed the problem.
It is also possible that after tapping on the LCD lid close switch the backlight works fine, you see a normal video on the screen for some time and then the backlight turns itself off again. In this case I would blame the FL inverter board. Try to reseat cables on both end of the FL inverter to make a better contact between the cables and the FL inverter board. If it doesn’t help I would try to replace the FL inverter board.

Laptop LCD screen is solid white color.

Most likely it is just a bad connection between the LCD display and the system board. I would try reseating the video cable connector on the back of the LCD screen first and check if it fixes the problem. After that I would try reseating the video cable connector on the system board. I would also try reseating cables if there is no video on the LCD screen at all.

The video on the LCD screen is garbled.

Try to connect the LCD screen to an external monitor. If the external video is fine, you have a problem with the LCD screen or the LCD video cable. You can try to fix the problem by reseating the video cable on the back of the LCD and on the system board.
If you see the same garbled video output on the external monitor most likely it is not the LCD screen problem. In this case the system board (with onboard video) is bad or the video card is bad.

I understand that these tips will not cover all video problems with portable computers. If you have a different problem, you are welcome to leave a comment and I will try to help you if I can.

Are you looking for a new LCD screen for you laptop? Try searching here.

Here’s a notebook display assembly diagram and tips for finding spare notebook parts.

by laptoprepair101

Laptop screen shows strange colors. What could be wrong?

2011-02-16T22:28:00.000-08:00

Laptop screen started showing strange or wrong colors. What could be wrong? I’ve been asked this question many times and today I’m addressing the issue.

In this post I explain some basic troubleshooting techniques in case if your laptop screen started showing strange or incorrect colors.
You have to know how to disassemble the laptop in order to use following troubleshooting techniques.

TEST LAPTOP WITH EXTERNAL MONITOR.

The main step is testing how laptop outputs video on an external monitor (or TV).
You can connect your laptop to an external monitor using VGA cable, DVI cable, HDMI cable or S-Video cable, it depends on a type of connector you have on the laptop. Most laptops have VGA connector, so it would be the most common way to connect.
In my example I’m connecting to an external monitor via VGA connector.

Some laptops detect external monitor automatically and start showing image on both screens right from startup.
Other laptops can detect the monitor but display image only on one screen (internal or external). In this case you’ll have to switch video between internal and external using the Fn key and one of the F* keys in the top row of the keyboard. This combination varies for different laptop brands, for example it’s Fn+F5 for Toshiba, Fn+F4 for HP, Fn+F8 for Dell, Fn+F7 Lenovo etc…

WHAT VIDEO ON EXTERNAL MONITOR CAN TELL?

If both, the internal screen and external monitor (or TV) show strange or incorrect colors or any other image distortion, this is the graphics card failure.
If only the laptop screen shows strange colors or any other distortion but external image appears to be normal (as in my example), the problem is somewhere inside the laptop display. It could be bad connection, bad LCD cable or bad LCD screen.
Let’s narrow down the problem one by one.

TRY RESEATING LCD CABLE CONNECTOR ON MOTHERBOARD.

The laptop screen receives data signal from the motherboard via LCD cable. If the LCD cable not making good connection with the motherboard, it might cause image or color distortion on the screen. Try reseating the LCD cable connector and see if it fixes the problem. Make sure the LCD cable connector plugged correctly.
In most laptops the LCD cable connector located under the keyboard bezel (aka keyboard cover). If it’s not there, most likely you’ll find it somewhere under the keyboard.

WIGGLE THE LCD CABLE.

The LCD cable runs inside the laptop display, under the LCD screen. For this test it’s necessary to disassemble the display, so you can access the cable.
A pinched or damaged wire inside the LCD cable also can cause color distortion.

Try wiggling the LCD cable while the laptop is running. If wiggling the LCD cable affects image on the screen in any way (it starts shown different colors, lines, or image clears to normal, etc…) most likely the LCD cable is defective and has to be replaced. Try replacing the cable.
On the other hand, if wiggling the cable doesn’t affect image on the screen at all, most likely the cable is good and your problem related to the LCD screen failure. In this case you’ll have to replace the LCD screen.

APPLY SOME PRESSURE TO THE DISPLAY.

Try applying some reasonable pressure to the top part of the display assembly. Squeeze it with your fingers.

If the screen starts showing different colors, lines, or clears to normal when you squeeze the top part of the display panel, most likely this is LCD screen failure. In this case you’ll have to replace the LCD screen.

Why laptop runs hot and turns off or freezes?

2011-02-16T22:25:00.000-08:00

My laptop runs very hot and eventually turns off or freezes – this is one of the most common complaints I have been receiving from my customer for many years. Why it’s happening? Is there an easy fix for that?
Most likely this problem is heat related. Take a look at the following picture.

Any laptop has a cooling module which consists of heatsink and cooling fan. When laptop is working, the processor (CPU) heats up and because of that the heatsink is getting hot too. At some temperature level, the fan kicks in and cools down the heatsink.
The problem starts when the laptop cooling module collects too much dust inside. Usually dust collects between the fan and heatsink. Dust clogs the heatsink and kills normal airflow inside the cooling module. Eventually, the processor gets very hot and the laptop turns off unexpectedly or freezes. This problem can be fixed by cleaning the laptop cooling module.

Cleaning laptop cooling module.

Some laptops give you an easy access to the heatsink and fan. In laptops like that you can access the cooling module through the bottom cover.

In my example I had to remove the cooling module. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to remove the fan and access the heatsink. In some laptops you can remove the fan without separating the heatsink from the CPU.
After I removed the fan, I found a thick layer of dust inside the heatsink. Cleaning the heatsink should fix any heat related problems.

Apply thermal paste on the processor.

If thermal paste on the processor dried out, you should replace it with fresh thermal paste.

Remove old thermal paste from the processor and heatsink using alcohol swab.
WARNING: In some laptops the heatsink also covers the graphics chip. The part of the heatsink which covers the graphics chip might have thermal pad on it instead of regular thermal paste. Do not replace thermal pad with thermal paste! Do not apply thermal paste on the thermal pad! Just leave thermal pad alone and apply thermal paste only on the processor.
I usually use Shin-Etsu thermal paste which is relatively cheap and performs well.

After applying new thermal paste, install the heatsink and fan back into the laptop. Do not forget to connect the fan cable to the motherboard!

What if cooling module cannot be accessed easily?

In some laptops the cooling module is buried deep inside the case and cannot be easily accessed and removed. In order to remove the cooling module it’s necessary to disassemble the whole laptop but it’s only for experienced users.
In laptops like that you can use the following technique:

Buy a can of computer compressed air.
1. Blow air into the fan grill on the bottom of the laptop.
2. Blow air into the grill on the side of the laptop.
Switch direction a few times until all dust is gone. Most likely this quick cleaning will fix your laptop overheating problem.

Laptop Repair Video Collection - 10 hours of high quality video explaining how to troubleshoot and repair most common laptop problems. Only $54.95. 60 day money back guarantee.

If you find this article useful, please consider making a donation to the author. Thank you!

by laptoprepair

How to replace LCD screen in LG XNote laptop

2011-02-13T20:13:00.001-08:00

In this post I explain how to remove and replace damaged LCD screen in a LG XNote laptop.
Also, this guide can help you to access and replace the screen inverter board.
I’m taking apart a LG XNote S210 laptop but I think this guide will fit many other models in the XNote line.
Please mention the laptop model number in comments below if it works for you.

Make sure the laptop is turned off and the battery removed.
STEP 1.
You’ll find four screw covers on the LCD screen bezel.
There are two black covers in the top left and right corners and two silver covers in the bottom left and right corners.

You can remove all covers with a sharp object.
On the following picture I’m removing one of the top covers.

On the next picture I’m removing one of the bottom covers.

You can glue screw covers somewhere on the bezel so they don’t get lost.
When all covers removed, remove four screws securing the screen bezel.
STEP 2.
Insert your fingers between the bezel and LCD screen and start separating the bezel.

STEP 3.
Continue removing the bezel.

STEP 4.
The screen bezel has been removed.

STEP 5.
Now you can access the screen inverter board located below the screen.
The inverter board works as a power supply for the backlight lamp inside the LCD screen.
If your LCD screen suddenly has become very dark but you still can see a very faint image, most likely the problem is related to the inverter board.

There are two cables connected to the inverter board.
On the left side the inverter board connected to the video cable.
On the right side the inverter board connected to the screen backlight lamp.

STEP 6.
Separate inverter board from the display cover and disconnect the left cable (LCD backlight lamp).

STEP 7.
There are four screws securing the LCD screen to the hinge brackets. Two screws on the left side and two more on the right.
Remove screws from both sides of the screen.

STEP 8.
Disconnect the webcam cable.

STEP 9.
Now you should be able to separate the LCD screen assembly from the display cover.
Place LCD screen face down on the keyboard.

STEP 10.
Remove sticky tape securing the video cable to the LCD screen.

STEP 11.
Disconnect video cable from the LCD screen.

STEP 12.
Now you can remove and replace the LCD screen.
If you need a new screen for your LG XNote laptop you can find it here. Just search by the laptop model number or screen model number.
In my laptop the LCD screen has the following model number: LTD121EXVV.

by insidemylaptop