When Fixing A Laptop

DY357LXDY357LX Playing since day 1. Still can't Comm.England Join Date: 2002-10-27 Member: 1651Members, Constellation
edited July 2005 in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Where To Start RE: Screen Problems</div> I've just got home (about 10 minutes ago) and found a note on my desk from my dad telling me that a friend of his is having laptop problems. I've fixed this guy's laptop in the past and it's always been pretty simple (drivers, etc).

But this time it might be difficult. The note says:

"Pete (thats me)
Carbo (thats my dad's friend) has a problem with his laptop. Screen keeps going off. Wants you to phone him in the morning."

Until tomorrow evening I won't know any more details.


If this were a pc, i'd attempt to boot into Safe Mode and check out the msconfig, try onboard VGA/video modes etc etc but seeing as it's a laptop, I don't have a clue where to start.

Can anyone post some idea's about where to start when evalutating a problem like this? I realise the description of the problem is vague but that's all the info I have for now.

I'll post again as soon as I get more info.

Thanks to anyone who can put something forward.

Comments

  • antifreezeantifreeze The guy with the goods&#33; Join Date: 2003-05-12 Member: 16232Members, Constellation
    edited July 2005
    Openit and check connections. No drivers are needed so dont look there. If it still doesn't work it's probably a backlight failure, send it to the manufacturer.

    Edit: Do actually check graphics adapter, and reinstall. Powerplay or something funky like that could be playing up
  • DOOManiacDOOManiac Worst. Critic. Ever. Join Date: 2002-04-17 Member: 462Members, NS1 Playtester
    First thing to do is reinstall the video drivers.

    I had a guy give me a laptop he assumed was broke because it was stuck in 640x480x256 color mode. Reinstalled the video drivers, and bam, perfectly working free laptop. :D
  • CForresterCForrester P0rk(h0p Join Date: 2002-10-05 Member: 1439Members, Constellation
    Standby mode? Maybe the battery is losing its charge and entering power saving mode?
  • Nil_IQNil_IQ Join Date: 2003-04-15 Member: 15520Members
    Unplug the mouse.

    <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=94711&hl=mouse' target='_blank'>This is why.</a>
  • ObstObst Join Date: 2003-03-12 Member: 14436Members, Constellation
    A laptop should have a VGA out, try plugging in a "normal" monitor.

    Read the manual of that certain laptop to find out on which occasions that extra VGA-out is used.

    Either it should work automatically (so if the external monitor doesn't work either, the GPU is dead) or you have to switch something.

    So, if you get an external monitor to work it is either a problem with the TFT or the connection to the GPU (read: the flexible part in the joint between the monitor and the rest of the laptop's hull).
  • antifreezeantifreeze The guy with the goods&#33; Join Date: 2003-05-12 Member: 16232Members, Constellation
    If all else fails use the pelvic thrust method...
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