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My laptop jumped off the counter onto the floor (me stepping on the power cord had nothing to do with it. Honest!! ) the 'puter works fine, the screen is really ugly. For less that a "Benjiman" I can buy a new screen from EBay.

Anyone done a laptop screen replacement? Any words of wisdom?

 - Dorothy

How many guesses do I get?   :200-  :72-
Depends on your brand and model of laptop...


Joking aside...some are easier than others to replace.
If your model is an older one - might be cheaper and
less headaches to just go out a buy a new laptop? :129-

HI Dorthy:

I actually had the warden's laptop jump right in front of me and commit suicide when i walked on it. Was a tragedy :58-. Hers was an HP pavillion and I was able to get a generic screen from Fleabay and the directions for replacement, step by step from the HP website. You'll need the small screwdrivers and prolly a magnifying glass by the time your done but it is pretty straight forward if you can find the directions on line for your make/model. It took me about a half an hour from start to finish. It is  now handcuffed  to the table to prevent any future acts of destruction!  :89- :96- :200- :5-

 Bunker

 I just returned from a sojourn to Best Buy and looked at their laptops. The least expensive laptop was near $400 and of course went to astronomical in the blink of an eye. I am a poor retired lady, living on a pittance of a fixed income. One day a week for breakfast I have kibble (not bad with some sugar) and for dinner canned Alpo (I tell myself it's corned beef hash). I have to sell my plasma to afford the slot machines I have and a new laptop .... well that is just too much. Besides I copuld use my netbook or one of the two desktop computers that are here to access NLG. I am mostly looking at it as something new to try. (FYI - I hope you realize most of the above was a lie)

 - If it was easy, it wouldn't be any fun -

 Gloflover

  I've looked online at the process for changing the screen on this Compaq and it looks pretty straight forward. Lots of screws and reading glasses involved but nothing too drastic. Any problems that you recall from the install? It sounds like your screen change went smoothly.

 - Dorothy.

It went very smoothly. I have worked on desktops for years and frankly stayed away from laptops because of the micro architecture, small parts etc. But since I broke it, well I had nothing to loose and everything to gain..lol.. It got the warden off my back, not that she is a big woman, but she was getting heavy :89- :58- :79-  I believe that since HP now owns Compaq the replacement should be a walk in the park. As I mentioned 1/2 hour from start to finish, didn't loose any screws and it fired right up and works like it is brand new. If I remember correctly it was 60 bucks for the LCD replacement and 10 bucks shipping which was far more then the cost of the funeral for the laptop!!!!!  :30- :89-

It sounds like Golflover's idea is the way to go Dorothy!
Make sure you get the right size screen!
I don't know how they measure these things anymore... :5-

 ooohhhhh... Bunker ........ I am sooooooooooooo tempted to send you a line back about measurements.   :58-

 -  Dorothy

Go ahead but don't get off topic      :30- :30- :30- :30-

OMG!!  :127-




    ***                    !!! ATTENTION EVERYONE !!!                          ***


THIS TOPIC HAS THE MAKINGS OF GOING DOWNHILL REALLY QUICK!!!

Dorothy, you should post your line. :89- You fit right in with this crowd.  :126- :208- :208- :208-

Bunker, I've got my skis all waxed and ready!  :219-

I just hope the jokes measure  up! :200-

SF :31-

Just be sure you put the screws in a cup, don't want to lose any. :89- :89- :71- :5-















If there's a lot of screws, you might need a C cup or even a D cup.  >:D  :79- :192- :190- :125- :127- :182-

Bill!!! Bad boy!!! :190- :190- :190- :190-

I knew there was a good reason to keep abreast of this thread.  :208- :208- :208-
Bill, your K cup runneth over. :47- as does everyone's on here.  :79-
:31-

Dorothy, I have stripped two laptops down to the frames, put them back together, and actually had them work after the parts replacements and a lot of anguish.  But laptops are brutal because there are a lot of little parts and a lot of tiny screws.  If you can find a service manual online, it might not be too bad, but honestly, for the $, you could find a nice laptop with an Intel Core 2 Duo, plenty or RAM and HDD space for around 200 bucks on Craigslist or eBay.  I recently bought an HP NC6400 with an Intel Centrino C2D T7200, 3 gig RAM, 80gig HDD for $175 on my local Craigslist.  Great workhorse machine.

Jason

Post a Model number.

We'll find a replacement, and a set of destructions to go along with it.

Free help from all the members.

Someone may even tell you where to stick all the extra parts.

when ever I take a lap top apart --take piles of pictures in process !!

but have one of those mini 6" pencil size magnets >>>>>to pull the screws after your done unscrewing !!--no pun intended  :72- :72-
those tiny little screws in my fingers --I cant even feel at times .

I use the magnet to pull them out of the plastic or tin housings --or a tiny set of needle nose pliers work well.

just notice which screws go where and what screws are self tapers vs--a common screw !!--a sef taper put in the wrong hole on relpacement
can ruin the hole for good --or go in to far and hit things not intended !!..

I hope nobody counts the x's  I said screw ?? if you can work on a slot !! you can work on a laptop ..

just dont bring it someplace and have them screw you over for $$ to fix it .

Thanks guys

Hmmmm.. 2 do it, 1 don;t and 12 talk naughty replies. I'm glad I didn't put this topic up to a vote.

I found a PDF service manual for my Compaq Presario C700. It is well documented even with pictures. I know that I can get a nice laptop for a few dollars greater than the cost of a replacement screen and the money is really no big deal. I'll probably try and tackle the screen replacement myself for two reasons. One for the experience and two because of the total PITA moving the files and programs to the new laptop. I don't have the original disks to many of my programs (they got lost or misplaced along the way - wink - wink) or the serials and then 50 gb of music and travel pictures. Besides if I mess it up I can always buy a new shinny laptop.

Yoeddy1 - I respect your experience and really appreciate your thoughts.

 - Dorothy

If I remember correctly, wasn't  it Bunker in another post that said size doesn't matter?  :200- :72- :97- :208- :30- :58- :79-

I'd better not commit, NLG's cops will get me !!!!!!!!!!!   :104- :104- :104- :31- :31- :31-

Yup, I figure I'm walking that  thin blue line too...  :89- :81-

curious what does a picture of a printer ?? have to do with lap top screen r&r ??


AHH IT GOT MODFIED LOL PICTURE GONE POOF BUZZ !!LOL

Donnie I got rid of it. I was posting in another thread about a printer brain, and Skinny ass Blueridge beat me to it. I just hit the back arrow and I thought everything was gone.  Why the pic went into the next post I don't know. I'm sure David will explane it.  :25- :25-

I figured you made a picture mix up lol

Unless that's a new type of lap top with toilet paper ha ! 

I think I have that t shirt... :97-

If you buy the same model of laptop - presumeably from Fleabay you can easily move the hard drive between units.
If its a different brand or model the hard drive will move easy enough but the drivers and such for the machine will be all messed.

I had an old Ford. I got broadsided and no one would give me more than $50 for the car. I parted it out and got $300 for the engine, $30 per rim, $50 for the studded snowtires.
Just a thought you might find a replacement laptop for less than the cost of the screen....

Jay

 Now there's a thought !!! And a good one too !!

 Let me go exploring.
 
 Thanks !!

 - Dorothy

??

:212-

Excellent advice when disassembling anything! :3- Digital pictures are free, and could save you some major headaches.

Dorothy, if you're looking for a vote, then I would say it depends on one's own confidence level in handling very small, fragile parts and connectors. If one has gentle steady hands, then I'd vote yes. If one has more thumbs than fingers then I'd pass.

Based on your posts, I'd say go for it.

Another option is, box it up and ship it to one of the experts on this site and let him/her repair it for Dorothy.  BUT NOT ME 

I just lay the screws out on a dish towel in the order they came out...

 :133-  I basically do the same thing. I try to lay them out in the same pattern as the holes if possible so I can match each screw to it's original location.

For some reason, over the years -
I now possess quite a few small plastic Glad bags of assorted screws.  :72-  :208-

 Whew !! It's done. And the second time I did it was much easier than the first. I didn't get the screen's ribbon cable seated well enough the first time and had a totally white screen. Of course it was located at step 28 or 30 steps in the process. :)

 Thanks for the confidence building and the help.

 - Dorothy

Congratulations Dorothy!  :3- :3- :3-

I presume that picture B is the replacement.  :200- :72- :72- :72-

K+

Stat :31-

You're doing well, Bunker. My loose screws :127-  turn up on counter tops, under tables, and generally anywhere they don't belong. :25- :52- :30- :30-

You might say I lose my loose screws, and that's lousy. :208- :208-

Stat

 Errr... yes the secend photo is the repaired picture. Gawd you are sharp !! Sharp as a beach ball.

 As far as the parts I didn't end up with any extras or empty holes. I always try to remember to cup the nuts.

 - Dorothy

:127- Does that mean I'm blunt?  :72- :72- :72-


Me too, especially when jousting. :5-  :96-  :24- :24- :24-  :97-


Seriously, it looks like you did a great job.  :131- :3- :3-

Stat :31-

Stat

 Whoops !! that didn't come out quite right.

 Thanks for the pat on back.

 - Dorothy

Sorry.  :88-   I just can't resist a well fed "straight" line. :71-     :97- :97-   Bad Stat :190- :190-


I don't think I'd try to operate on my laptop unless I was planning to toss it out anyway. When it comes to delicate work, I'm in the "more thumbs than fingers" category. Desktops are more my speed. I've built many of them.

I haven't really actively "cupped my nuts" in years - at least since I used to play soccer... :96-

Ok ok that's too much information.... :97-

I do not get why everyone is making such a big deal about cupping their nuts? :103-

I cupped my nuts and took a quick pic on my cell to share with anyone who cares to see them! :89-
 :209- :209- :209-
I am sure our CSI's will TRY to have a field day with this picture!

VIEW MY NUTS AT YOUR OWN RISK!
 :200- :208- :200-

CH :95-

As promised in previous post.......

A little suspence!

You didn't cup them, you mugged them!

 :208- :208- :208-

Cupped or mugged, they still liked the attention!  :97- :97- :97-

CH :95-

Dorthy.. Glad you completed the llaptop screen replacement.  :3- I too had to do mine twice. Those ribbon cables are so small.. Again congrats!!!!

GolfLover

 Thank you !!