Dual Laptop DEATH! HELP!

HBN · Post by **HBN** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:33 pm

I've tried. She **CANNOT** be wrong.

Hell, I got in a shouting-match with her over kitchen knives. Long story short: They cost $250 EACH. And they aren't worth a damn. I was simply trying to save her money by using my learned skill of what certain metals look like.

In this case, its Damascus Steel versus Steel thats been pattern welded to "look" like Damascus. Frankly, I don't think it looks all that similar. But to somebody who doesn't know what they are looking at...I guess it could be confusing.

Post by **bicostp** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:36 am

HBN wrote:EDIT: And shes my mom. I can't exactly tell her "Tough crap".

I know that. That's what I'd say.

Seriously, a heavy duty steel case will take all kinds of punishment. Just mount the hard drive on some rubber tubing in the 5" bays (like they do for minimizing noise) to protect it from hard shocks.

I've tried. She **CANNOT** be wrong.

Then stop yelling and show her some facts. You can build an AMAZING desktop for 4 grand, and it will stand up to the abuse she obviously puts her machines through better than a laptop made out of thin plastic. If she's at all computer-savvy, she'll see that desktops will run circles around any laptop in the same price range.

Here's a selection of components that will get you off on a good start.

ntel DX38BT Motherboard & Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 3.0GHz Processor (You'll have to add a CPU cooler.)

2 gigs of DDR3 RAM in a matched pair of 1 gig sticks (Buy two sets.)

Radeon HD 3850

500 gig Western Digital SATA HD

Acer AL2216WBD 22" Widescreen LCD, 1680x1050 resolution (The video card can handle two of these. Introduce her to dual monitors for a good chance of building this rig. My cousin got a monitor like this and it kicks so much butt...)

2x monitor mount

Total so far (assuming 2 monitors and 2 sets of RAM): $2333.92
Half of that is for the motherboard and processor, but that's still considerably less than a laptop. And look what you're getting! A much better processor, two 1680x1050 LCD monitors and a mount to put them side by side, 4 gigs of brand-new memory, and half a terabyte of hard drive space. If that's not a bargain compared to a top-of-the-line laptop, especially since she goes through them so quickly, I don't know what is.

The only things that are left are a CPU cooler and a steel case. You might also want to think about a remote power button, just to give the case a little extra room. I suggest a Radio Shack project enclosure mounted under the monitors on the vertical stand arm with a momentary pushbutton in it. But even after you get all the parts together, it should be less than three grand.

The other option is a Toughbook, but I'm not sure if they've got the grapes to handle high-end work. (Actually, if she needs to do high-end stuff, there's no reason to have a laptop.) If she needs a mobile system for bringing to clients or something, try resurrecting one of her more recent kills.

But seriously, if you can somehow introduce her to a dual monitor setup, you'll make a lot of headway.

HBN · Post by **HBN** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:55 am

I just want to get these working. The rest isn't really my problem. And I don't feel like fighting with her about it.

Dr. KillGood · Post by **Dr. KillGood** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:35 am

I like Corsair, lifetime warranty FTW!

(thats you're life, not the life of the product)

Post by **Sparkfist** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:44 am

This could get you in more trouble, but if she insists that she can not be wrong, or is always right. When she asks for your option or for you to fix her problems, tell her she should know how to fix it, she knows better.

Again not the best, but I tend to leave people who talk crap to me about computers in the winds. My brother for example like to get all hot headed when I told him hitting the laptop's screen (when it didn't go up easily) was a great idea. So really I don't help him any more. You need to show a little respect if you expect people to help you.

tom61 · Post by **tom61** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 1:03 pm

HBN wrote:I just want to get these working. The rest isn't really my problem. And I don't feel like fighting with her about it.

If you have full access to the laptops, take them apart, see what damage there really is, as this seems to be physical damage. Start with the completely dead one first, as laptops aren't the easiest to disassemble and reassemble, and killing a dead laptop is a net loss of zero. Look for loose and damaged connectors, particularly going to the LCD, damaged power switch, broken battery contacts, etc..

thehackerinside · Post by **thehackerinside** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 5:22 pm

Dr. KillGood wrote:
thehackerinside wrote:Try cleaning out the heatsink, unplugging the harddrive and re plugging it in. Also try switching it on with out the battery,ram, HD and any thing else like that when connected to external power, Just remember to keep the CPU in.

Joe
It wont boot if it has no RAM in it.

I was saying how to test it to diagnose any problems with anything first, Not to run it. Anyway Have you tried any thing yet, for what tom said go for the keyboard first look for clips or latches or the strip where the power button is and the lights and such this slides off giving you access to the screws to remove the keyboard and from there on its easy. Just spend plenty of time working out how to dissemble it first to avoid damage or do a google search for "Brand modelXXXX disassembly guide" or something along those lines.