skip to main content

Another ? about my dying laptop

15 years ago

I posted a couple of weeks ago about my dying laptop. I am getting a new laptop today, but would like to transfer a few things from my old laptop to a flash drive. When I turn on my old laptop the lights come on but the screen stays black. I can go through the normal process of logging on and I can tell it did log me on because the windows music plays as usual. If I play around with the little plastic thing than is depressed when the computer is closed, the screen will come on for a split second and then it's black again. My question is.....is there a connection or something inside the laptop that might be loose or something that would cause this? What would you computer repair guys do first? If I can get the screen to come on for a couple of minutes, that's all I would need to transfer my files to the flash drive.

I can't open up the computer right now because I don't have a screwdriver that tiny. I plan to go into town to buy one later today.

I appreciate any advice.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

PKponder TX Z7B
15 years ago
Have you tried connecting it to an external monitor? I'm working on one right now with a broken LCD and that's how I see what I'm doing. Please turn off both the computer and monitor before connecting it, if you go this route.
bpgreen
15 years ago
Another option is to get a drive enclosure and put the drive from the old laptop in the enclosure. Then you can connect that to the new laptop and get anything you want from it. After some time, you can format the old drive and use it for backups.
Related Discussions
spanish lavender dying one after another
Q
Comments (13)
Know this is an old thread, but wanted to chime in, anyway :-) Lavandulas (except for a hybrid L. angustifolia "Lady") typically won't full bloom the first year either from seed or cutting, just as you wouldn't expect any baby shrub to bloom. I don't think your problem is the soil unless you've added "good garden" amendments like compost or manure to your sandy mix. Usually if Lavs die the first year in the ground, it is because you are taking too good care of them. Remember -- benign neglect except for light watering ONLY to encourage root establishment is what they like. A really dilute fish emulsion in the Spring is all mine get for fertilizer, and that is just to enhance new growth before pruning. And -- just as important -- don't mulch to the trunk. The best lav I ever had was a self-sown in a rock wall crevice. Martie
...See More
Wireless Printing from my laptop??
Q
Comments (1)
From the specifications I looked at, the C5180 has an ethernet card, not wireless, so a wireless router could be used. I am assuming that the laptop is wireless ready? To install for this use, you will need to either connect the printer directly to the laptop for the installation, then plug it into the wireless router for it's permanent location or assign the printer an IP address, default gateway and subnet mask and install it as an IP printer. Wireless routers usually have an ethernet port or so to use in addition to the wireless signal. Pam
...See More
Do I want a notebook, an Ipad or another laptop
Q
Comments (44)
Yes, Google Chrome is a browser. No, you do not have to make it your default browser to use it. Just click on the icon for Chrome to open it, same as you do for IE. But you can have whichever one you want as your default and still use either one.
...See More
Another quilting question about my turtle
Q
Comments (14)
Thanks, Chisue! I'll bet you were a good Camp Fire Girl. I wasn't in any group as a kid, but I became a Girl Scout leader when my girls were in middle school. We had fun. The turtle rug is the hooking I'm most proud of. Certainly it meant the most to me as I worked on it. I dyed all the blues and greens, as well as the peach background for the lettering. I held my breath a lot doing the lettering, but I was happy with the way it turned out. Quilters, I probably mentioned this before, but the turtle pattern came from FourTwinSisters.com, a nice source for free quilt patterns run by.....four twin sisters. :-) They're also on Facebook.
...See More
randy_ca
15 years ago
Have you tried starting in Safe Mode by tapping the F8 Key on boot up.
maryanntx
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you, thank you!!! I connected the laptop to my desktop monitor and it worked!
Now....since I can sometimes see the laptop screen for a split second at a time, does that mean that the connection to the laptop monitor is bad? Would that be something that might be fairly easy and inexpensive to fix?
mikie_gw
15 years ago
You said something about playing with the close screen switch and it blinks on .... that sounds like either the close screen switch is bad or dirty ,,, or the little starter in the display is bad and when you blink power to the lamps it tries to start but doesnt hold the extra little starting surge it gets is long enough to fully light the lamp(s).
bpgreen
15 years ago
I did this recently and it's not too bad. I had a laptop with a black screen. My wife has the same model, and she had a problem with sticky keys (I think a spilled soda may have been involved, but I didn't want her to feel bad, so I didn't ask).

I found the same model with a bad motherboard on ebay. I was able to get a spare power cord and battery, display, keyboard and memory chip for less than the cost of any one of those items would normally be.

Replacing it wasn't too bad. I basically had to take out a few screws, lay it flat and remove the display from the base, then put it back together. Replacing the keyboard was almost the same. I think I googled the model number and "replace display" to find some pictures of how to get it all disconnected.
susanjn
15 years ago
bpgreen,

You are a very nice husband!

Related Stories

HOUSEKEEPING Don't Touch Another Stain Before You Read This

By Mitchell Parker

Even an innocent swipe with water may cause permanent damage. Here's what to know about how rugs and fabrics react

LIFE The Beautiful Thing About Dad's Chair

By Mitchell Parker

My father had his own spot in the house. His father had his own spot. Now I have mine

EVENTS Don't Throw Away Another Household Item Before Reading This

By Mitchell Parker

Repair Cafe events around the world enlist savvy volunteers to fix broken lamps, bicycles, electronics, small appliances, clothing and more

INDUSTRIAL STYLE Trends That Won't Die: Industrial Elements

By Becky Harris

PETS So You're Thinking About Getting a Dog

By Alison Hodgson

Prepare yourself for the realities of training, cost and the impact that lovable pooch might have on your house

PETS What Chihuahuas Can Teach Us About Interior Design

By Mitchell Parker

Who knew these tiny dogs could be such a huge fount of design tips? Houzzers did

LIGHTING What to Know About Switching to LED Lightbulbs

By Karen Egly-Thompson

If you’ve been thinking about changing over to LEDs but aren't sure how to do it and which to buy, this story is for you

FUN HOUZZ Guessing Game: What Might Our Living Rooms Say About Us?

By Samantha Schoech

Take a shot on your own or go straight to just-for-fun speculations about whose homes these could be

KITCHEN DESIGN Houzz Call: Tell Us About Your First Kitchen

By Becky Harris

Great or godforsaken? Ragtag or refined? We want to hear about your younger self’s cooking space

WORKING WITH PROS What Do Landscape Architects Do?

By Falon Mihalic

There are many misconceptions about what landscape architects do. Learn what they bring to a project

Sponsored

A.I.S. Renovations Ltd.

15 Reviews

Custom Craftsmanship & Construction Solutions in Franklin County

More Discussions

UPS needed - which ones?

9

sound missing on Dell

3

Problems with Outlook 2013

0

Upgrading Windows 11 from Home to Pro

2

Any suggestions for a very secure non-web-based email?

3