Tom's Guide | Tom's Hardware | Tom's Games
 |
 |
 |
Name: rapattack
Hi I have a friends notebook and I am not sure why I can't fully open the lid except that the hinge looks like it has oxidation. When the friend first came over with the machine they wanted me to look at it because nothing shows on the screen but as I found out later the lights do go on. I tried to listen for the sound of a hard drive but my hearing is just not that good with newer machines like this. When I hold the machine where the hd sits I feel no vibration so I took the hard drive out to test in another laptop but unfortunately it is a different type of hd than my laptop. I have been reading through the manual that shows how to dissemble this model and that is how I was able to see the oxidation in the hinge and that I can't seem to fully dissemble the monitor part off the machine. I can't get to the screws to completely get it away because it won't open far enough. I was also able to see inside between the plastic of the monitor part and some of the connector type cables seem to have some oxidation too. What I am really asking is is oxidation going to cause the machine to not boot up? And would there be a way to oil the hinge so I can fully open the lid? I am not a repair person. Just a hobbyist and when the person described the problem I honestly thought that it was software/OS rather than hardware so it is a bit beyond my knowledge. Apparently they did take the machine to a repair shop but I don't know what happened there. I am also concerned that one of their kids has bashed this machine around as it looks realy scruffy and I found some bubble gum on the outside ...sort of stuck into the slider thing that releases the battery.
"The meaning of life is to be happy and useful" Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama
It sounds like the machine was near a lot of moisture or someone spilled something on it. If it went to deep, it could be part of the problem. Also, if children are too rough with it, who knows what else happened?
How old is the laptop?
0 
I think the guy said he bought it last year in America so he is not there to take advantage of any warranty if indeed it is still currant. We are in Australia. They said they stored it for a while and it seems they never really looked after it. It looks terrible.
Can WD40 mess up anything if I don't get it right on the spot though. I am used to using WD40 for things not involving computers but wouldn't know where to start here.The latest is though I have been able to see something on the screen and the notebook is making noises now but the writing on the screen is very light and I have to shine a torch at an angle to see anything at all. It starts by trying to run chkdisk and I think once it stopped at 19% but I am not sure as it is hard to see everything that is written. I plugged in two different monitors to see if I could go down that road but nothing is happening there except there seems to be an electrical attempt by wether it be the monitor or the notebook? I can hear something when I pull the monitor cord out and something when I plug back in.
Also on another attempt to boot the screen showed that it was running some repair utility that I am not familiar with. I presume this machine is running Vista and I have never used Vista so I have no idea what it means. I can't see the results of the utility but it does ask me to restart and I am not sure the KB is making the connection with the system?
I restarted again just now and chkdsk was doing it's thing again and there was maybe an error message and some numbers something like 0000000000004 00000000000000000? and I think something about pressing F8 but i can't see anything to say if it reacted to me pressing F8 or not? There was a lot more on the screen that I couldn't see.
Anyway I think I am going to advise them to take it to a technician because even if WD40 worked and I could open the lid the sides where the plastic mets where that hinge is is not meeting up and I don't have the tools to fix that. I think they will be glad to know it is not dead but maybe it is better that I oversee who repairs it."The meaning of life is to be happy and useful" Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama
0
Look at the PDF for 2000 uses at the link below and decide for yourself.
I have used it on plastic before and have had no problems. However, as you probably know there are many different types of plastic. I would guess the plastic used in laptops would be resistant to most things because of what laptops might be subjected to.
0
But what about if I get it on some elctrical parts and it shorts something? If you know what I mean.
Oh also I do have this stuff http://www.helmarusa.com/products/p...
Do you think it will do the same job as WD40. I happen to have can of this spray because I am a sewer but no WD40 on hand right now."The meaning of life is to be happy and useful" Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama
0
It looks like it may be OK.
If I were spraying anything I would use the straw extension to place the product accurately. In your case I would hold the laptop up in a V shape,like an open book. That way any excess spray liquid will drip out the bottom of the hinge.
As far as WD40 go I THINK one of the uses is to clean electrical contacts. Still not good to get anything inside the laptop.
0
OK I will study the parts more to make sure I get it in the right spot ...the spray I have has that straw extension too.
"The meaning of life is to be happy and useful" Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama
0
Phew I can't tell if I am making any progress. Unfortunately it might be beyond my talents. Trouble is I can't get the plastic cover off so it is hanging and in the way. If I could get at the hinge properly it would be easier. Anyway might give it another try tomorrow.
"The meaning of life is to be happy and useful" Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama
0
in my experience wd 40 is ok on electrical stuff. it certainly does not short anything otherwise it would be useless for sparying on damp spark plug leads on a car to help starting. When used in that way it stops the 'leaking' of the spark to places it should not go. That is the major use of wd40 where I live in the UK.
If the laptop is showing oxidisation around cable connections it may never work reliably again. some of those connections are so small and fiddly that it is so hard to clean them back to good shiny clean metal connections.
It must have had a spillage on it or been stored in an undesirably damp place.
the picture you have painted sounds like it might just be past economic repair
0
rapattack: Silicone spray and WD40 are two totally different things. WD40 main use if for rust and silicone spray is used to make things like windows open a close easier.
I did mechanical work for a long time and before the existence of WD40 there was and still is CRC, which is much better. For some reason, I guess it's advertising, WD40 has gained the #1 spot. I still prefer CRC.
0
Oh OK. I guess growing up WD40 was the thing to use in Australia. I know how with marketing we may not have the best product. It is like with Beta and VHS machines. Well here anyway Beta was only ever owned by teaching organisations and rich people. Us poor buggers were sold vhs. I haven't opened everything in this laptop. Only the lid/screen area and noticed that some of the connections were oxidised. Oh and ofcourse the part of the hinge I can see. If I had the right tools I could get further in but this machine is just too fragile. I think also when my friend tried to open the lid in front of me he was surprised at how he wasn't able to open it and he has detached the screen from the hinge. Even though it is working ...barely. Anyway i don't want to spend money on something I may stuff up and I have no need of a can of WD40. I use the Silicon spray to loosen up zips and a few other metal things so I thought it might work but after the machine sitting with the spray on it...it is still not moving....not even a milimetre.
Thanks anyway everyone."The meaning of life is to be happy and useful" Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama
0
From you description it sounds like the laptop may have been at least partially submerged in water.
0
The couple that owns the laptop have 4 kids and when they first handed the laptop to me I mmediately noticed there was gum in a slider part...undernealth. They shrugged their shoulders when I pointed that out and I think they are in denial about it ....they did ask two of the children that were there about it and the children were in the same denial.
"The meaning of life is to be happy and useful" Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama
0
Yea, I know OtheHill, I just narrowed it down to the exact WD-40 product I would suggest in case the op was not familiar with all the WD-40 products. I did notice that no one even mentioned the WD-40 pen, and my link takes you right to that particular product, not to just the main page.
0
OH, OK then. I should have looked at the link.
The OP stated they didn't want to buy a can for just that use. WD40 is very handy stuff.
I have also used CRC which was mentioned above. I think WD40 is more widely available and the is why it is more popular.
0
And I thought I was "tight", you can buy the WD-40 pen for less than $4.00US, and it is well worth it, as you can put the WD-40 exactly where you want it, versus spraying it where it need not be, thus saving product.
0
Ike
The full size can comes with a straw that you can use to accurately place the product. It goes into the spray nozzle and is quite small in diameter and maybe 5 inches long. Actually easier to get into tight places than the pen.
0
I have to disagree with you, I have both products, and I prefer the pen to get into areas like a hinge that the op is talking about, the hinge on a laptop is right out there, easy to reach, you do not have to have a 5" long straw to reach it.
0
Ike
Either type of dipenser will work OK. Just a matter of preference. I only posted in case you weren't familiar with the straw.
In this case it sounds like there isn't much room due to the laptop not opening very far. That might require appling solvent from the outside, which could result in the solvent entering other portions of the unit.
0
One thing for sure OtheHill, if I ran out of WD-40 in my WD-40 pen on a particular project, I would surely some how make use of my can of WD-40 and straw. A great product, just two different ways of applying.
0
Yeah I preferred to use the straw in this case also i couldn't take the lid apart properly and some of the hinge is covered by a covering(plastic) so the straw was the only way to get underneath. Not that i have been successful in this case ....ah well.
"The meaning of life is to be happy and useful" Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama
0
OK might give it another go as the laptop is still here. Handing it back tomorrow or the day after.
"The meaning of life is to be happy and useful" Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama
0  |
 |
 |
This post is quite old and has been locked from receiving new replies. Please create a new posting instead.
| Ads by Google |
