Laptop Woes

[v2rac]

Saturday morning reading Mel & Kiwifraiser's interesting posts about getting on the internet in the caravan when suddenly, without warning my screen went all crazed and nothing would work. Tried a restart, battery out, etc to no avail.
Took it to a couple of local computer repair shops who all said the mother board had failed and would not be cost effective to repair. So basically bin it. One of these repairers even added that the average life of a laptop is two to three years. It is definitely the MB as daughter was able to bring up on a website the exact same symptons with the diagnosis that, the graphics chip in the MB had failed. (If that makes sense)
The machine is a Sony Vaio, model VGN-A517M. In view of the fact that this piece of kit cost just over a grand three years ago and has had extremely light use I think it has been appalling value for money.
Would appreciate comments any of you techies out there can supply.
By the way I'm a definite non techy.("Oh really", I hear you say)

Edited by v2rac on Monday 9th March 11:51

[madmunky]

If it deffently is 100% the motherboard then I would say the same its not cost effective to repair your pay around £100+ for the motherboard I expect and you could buy a laptop which is prob 5x better for £300-400, If you really wanted you could look up on something like ebay and see how much a replacement motherboard is to buy. As long as your memory is good or you order the screws they are not hard to replace would take about an hour.

What is the laptop doing at the moment, do you get power? any display?

[Bonnie and Clyde]

God that's crap, i'd be lost without my laptop and now thanks to Fraser i'm now not limited to an hour a day at lunchtime. I feel a bit responsible. Sorry mate Hope you get it sorted.

[ringram]

10 Data is easily saved, just whip out the disk and get a usb external caddy.
20 Forget paying a grand for a laptop, its pointless when you can get them for around £300 with good spec's these days.
30 Just buy a new one around that price and bin it when it dies
40 GOTO 10

[v2rac]

madmunky said:

If it deffently is 100% the motherboard then I would say the same its not cost effective to repair your pay around £100+ for the motherboard I expect and you could buy a laptop which is prob 5x better for £300-400, If you really wanted you could look up on something like ebay and see how much a replacement motherboard is to buy. As long as your memory is good or you order the screws they are not hard to replace would take about an hour.

What is the laptop doing at the moment, do you get power? any display?

Yup there is power but it looks like there is a totally distorted image of the Windows logo as it tries to load for a couple of minutes, then screen goes blank.

[essexhsv]

All laptops have a monitor output on the side or at the back somewhere, Get a nornal pc monitor and plug it in there then turn it on.If its the same it sounds like the gfx chip has overheated and will need the motherboard replaced. But if its ok the its the screen and thats all that needs replacing.
As im a computer engineer you could send it to me if you like and ill check it out for you.
If i find in ready for the bin i will be able to remove your hard drive and save you data to a dvd and send it back to you.
Let me know.
Andy

[madmunky]

Try as above, you also might be lucky as laptops share there video memory with the system memory so it could be a faulty RAM stick otherwise it sounds like the Motherboard

[nitrosman1]

if you do decide to throw the old laptop away make sure you remove and smash the old hard drive up to protect your data

[ads_green]

Worth checking to make sure the ribbon cable feed to the LCD hasn't come undone.

[MyM8V8]

nitrosman1 said:

if you do decide to throw the old laptop away make sure you remove and smash the old hard drive up to protect your data

Hi mate. I've been trying to PM you through PH without luck it would seem. Could you PM me with your details for the Drag day. Surname, Reg No., Hometown, and any mods'. Thanks.

[stevemj]

think that a laptop should last more than 3 years. Return it to the retailer for repair or replacement - if they complain about a limited guarantee period then refer it to trading standards. Just because something has a limited guarantee this cannot undermine your rights in law.

[the_ferret82]

just to add to say laptops do last for more then 3 years. i have one that is currently over 6 years old and still going strong. all though now used as a OBD Diags computer.

from what has been written i would say graphics chip has gone. repairable with the aid or fleebay. but its not really worth it.

oh yeah IT is my living and has been for many years.

[v2rac]

Thanks folks for all the offers and suggestions, much appreciated.
Think I'll have a pop at the supplying retailer. Due to the age, which isn't much I can still see it ending up in the electronic graveyard in the sky.
Won't look at a Sony Vaio again, 1000 squid for three years use, pah!!!

[essexhsv]

v2rac said:

Thanks folks for all the offers and suggestions, much appreciated.
Think I'll have a pop at the supplying retailer. Due to the age, which isn't much I can still see it ending up in the electronic graveyard in the sky.
Won't look at a Sony Vaio again, 1000 squid for three years use, pah!!!

3 years is good, maybe its been overheating in the past if its been left turned on and put on a bed or sofa etc and the fan at the bottem cant suck any cold air in.
Sony Vaio's are some of the best quality systems out there. I repair lots of laptops that are just over 1 year old and dont even turn on needing new motherboards etc and are not worth repairing.

So i would buy another Sony vaio over all the other makes out there anyday.

[v2rac]

Point taken mate.