Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)
To any and all parties interested in having a laptop serviced:
I did previously post a note to this NG about his incident, but I
recently got a good bunch of more specific information that I though I
would pass along. The prior posting was in January this year.
Last September my Compaq 1700 took a hit that disabled the 10/100 port.
This was just at the time that the HP-Compaq merger was going on and I
could not raise anybody at Compaq to inquire about service. So I found
a place on the web, and made arrangements for them to repair the unit.
This required three months and took a return shipment as it was not
fully functional (the port that was the problem still didn’t work) when
returned.
When it was shipped back to us the second time, it all sort of worked.
Unfortunately the unit could no longer be used in public and the
esthetics of the unit has been hit with a mortal blow. What had been
pristine, now looked like it had been a garage doorstop. The screen
face even had been gouged just about dead center. I contacted that shop
about this issue and received no response at all. Not even an envelope
containing some screws or a replacement for the now cracked hinge cover.
The unit was also not reliable as it kept doing the “blue screen with
writing crash”, and often locked up so hard it required a battery pull.
This required that the unit be replaced a year ahead of schedule and
before it was depreciated. The unit was put aside and used only for
non-critical tasks.
My friend Greg borrowed it, and then called me up to ask what had
happened to this poor thing to make it into such a POS. (He knew this
line well and had be the hardware service provider for a company that
had a number of unit of the same family.) I told him it had been
serviced by and independent shop. While we were on the phone, he
identified four problems and asked if I would mind if he cracked it
open. He sent me back this e-note.
Matt,
I do not know who opened this unit last but if the screws that were
missing had been left loose inside, it would have sounded like a rain
stick (a stick thing he has that makes rain-like noise when
inverted)whenever you moved it. Fortunately, the tech that assembled it
last put in enough screws to keep the case closed. (My note: He did
not, I had to go out to a specialty fastener supplier and buy screws to
stop the case from rattling when I tried to use the unit.)
This many screws missing would easily have caused the problems you have
experienced. With heat sinks not attached and shielding parts not
connected or occasionally connected, it is anybodies’ guess what could
happen.
The Compaq Evo N160 case has about a dozen internal screws, your unit
was missing ten. We cleaned out our reserve stock of 2mm screws.
It would be good to know where you sent this for service. So we can
warn others.
Greg
The company that was contacted to service this unit was:
PcPartFinders
P. O. Box 220
613 West Hwy 11E
New Market, TN 37820
The aforementioned incident is very completely documented in our files.
Matthew Colie <www.southpointechandler.com>
To any and all parties interested in having a laptop serviced:
I did previously post a note to this NG about his incident, but I
recently got a good bunch of more specific information that I though I
would pass along. The prior posting was in January this year.
Last September my Compaq 1700 took a hit that disabled the 10/100 port.
This was just at the time that the HP-Compaq merger was going on and I
could not raise anybody at Compaq to inquire about service. So I found
a place on the web, and made arrangements for them to repair the unit.
This required three months and took a return shipment as it was not
fully functional (the port that was the problem still didn’t work) when
returned.
When it was shipped back to us the second time, it all sort of worked.
Unfortunately the unit could no longer be used in public and the
esthetics of the unit has been hit with a mortal blow. What had been
pristine, now looked like it had been a garage doorstop. The screen
face even had been gouged just about dead center. I contacted that shop
about this issue and received no response at all. Not even an envelope
containing some screws or a replacement for the now cracked hinge cover.
The unit was also not reliable as it kept doing the “blue screen with
writing crash”, and often locked up so hard it required a battery pull.
This required that the unit be replaced a year ahead of schedule and
before it was depreciated. The unit was put aside and used only for
non-critical tasks.
My friend Greg borrowed it, and then called me up to ask what had
happened to this poor thing to make it into such a POS. (He knew this
line well and had be the hardware service provider for a company that
had a number of unit of the same family.) I told him it had been
serviced by and independent shop. While we were on the phone, he
identified four problems and asked if I would mind if he cracked it
open. He sent me back this e-note.
Matt,
I do not know who opened this unit last but if the screws that were
missing had been left loose inside, it would have sounded like a rain
stick (a stick thing he has that makes rain-like noise when
inverted)whenever you moved it. Fortunately, the tech that assembled it
last put in enough screws to keep the case closed. (My note: He did
not, I had to go out to a specialty fastener supplier and buy screws to
stop the case from rattling when I tried to use the unit.)
This many screws missing would easily have caused the problems you have
experienced. With heat sinks not attached and shielding parts not
connected or occasionally connected, it is anybodies’ guess what could
happen.
The Compaq Evo N160 case has about a dozen internal screws, your unit
was missing ten. We cleaned out our reserve stock of 2mm screws.
It would be good to know where you sent this for service. So we can
warn others.
Greg
The company that was contacted to service this unit was:
PcPartFinders
P. O. Box 220
613 West Hwy 11E
New Market, TN 37820
The aforementioned incident is very completely documented in our files.
Matthew Colie <www.southpointechandler.com>
/home.mchsi.com/~ikenfixit/
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