Anyone know laptops well?(Dell)

[Mosephus]

My wife has a dell 1525 Laptop that she let slip off a chair in the closed position. The laptop now sounds like it is booting up but the screen does not even flicker, it's just dead.

Unfortunately I was converting it to run XP and had not installed all the correct drivers (for VGA and HDMI) since it was running Vista so I'm not sure if plugging an external monitor into is really telling me anything (It doesn't work FYI), I've taken the computer apart as far as my comfort level would let me. So far I've checked the cable connecting the screen to the computer it self, and removed the keyboard to check other connections.

Any ideas on what could be wrong with it or someone afforable I could take it to?

[drgibson]

When you connected the monitor did you hit the FN + F* to toggle the output? Hitting them together one time should swapp it to the external monitor, hitting them twice will switch both of them on, the third time takes it back to it's default state of just the display.

The next question is did you buy the extended waranty 'cause you're gonna need it.

Typically if you don't get video out of the display or external monitor then the video card or mainboard has been damaged. If you get it out of the external monitor only then it is the display that will need replaced.

And so you don't think I'm talkin' out of my hat I manage hardware & software support for the company I work for and I'm a D.C.S.E. (Dell Certified System Engineer)

[Mosephus]

It was a gift for my wife so I can't remember if they bought her a extended warranty too, it is a possibility though. But since I don't know let's assume there isn't one. If it is the video card or the main board is it worth the repair? (I'm pretty sure I know the answer) If it isn't worth the repair, do you think I can get any money for the computer as it is?

Sorry for the loaded questions

[james hickox]

Just a suggestion: Contact the vendor that the computer was purchaced from, explain that it was a gift, and you would like to place a service contract on it. If you can purchace the contract, then all well and good. Next, wait a day for it to activate, then take it in for repair.

Please don't get me wrong. This is exactly what a Geek at the store told me to do when I took my laptop in for repairs 6 months after buying it as a Christmas gift. The computer was boughtin November!

[drgibson]

Not a bad idea, and as for the broken laptop, not worth fixing and of no real value unless it is the display that is broken, at that less the $100.

[srwatters]

Originally Posted by james hickox

Just a suggestion: Contact the vendor that the computer was purchaced from, explain that it was a gift, and you would like to place a service contract on it. If you can purchace the contract, then all well and good. Next, wait a day for it to activate, then take it in for repair.

Please don't get me wrong. This is exactly what a Geek at the store told me to do when I took my laptop in for repairs 6 months after buying it as a Christmas gift. The computer was boughtin November!

If you lie about when the device was broken, you are committing fraud. I wouldn't suggest that, but that's just my personal opinion. Of course YMMV...

[Mosephus]

Thanks for the tips guys, Sad to see a good(useful) computer die.

[Rson]

Not dead, lemme have a crack at it.

[Rson]

My guess is that you blew the tube that lights the screen.

[Mosephus]

Go for it, let me know what I need to do. I hope that is the case.

[Rson]

I am next to the Galleria Mall in Dallas....can you come up?

[Mosephus]

Yea, I've got to finish up some work here but yes I should be able to after 2 I think.

[Rson]

Call the office 469 293 9710

I am actually at 5050 Quorum which is a few blocks north of Galleria.

[Mosephus]

Thanks for your help Rich!

[mathia]

One other tip. If you go to the dell website and type in the service tag, you can find out whether you have any warranty left (look for the warranty status link) as well as finding drivers and knowing what it originally came with.