Repair advice?

[Chickenballzz]

My Alienware m14x R2 was knocked off a desk by my dog who tripped on the charger's wire. The screen has been slightly damaged at the bottom, the plastic rim aroud it has a slight crack. There is also scratches and I can hear something moving inside the laptop. If I want to get this fixed is going through dell the only thing I can do to restore the condition? Would a general laptop repair shop be able to fix the scratches or screen? I know sending it away to dell will cost loads and I can't afford it. Any advice on whats best to do?

 

[bigshootr8]

I would find a reputable laptop repair place near you that could service your laptop. Sending it to Dell may take weeks possibly months to get back to you. Just be sure to get a quote so they can give you an idea of what the cost will result into and be sure to also keep tabs on exactly what they are doing so you can sign off on it.

 

[Chickenballzz]

But could a standard repair shop fix the cosmetic damage? I assume they would nee the specific parts required to replace the damaged Alienware ones...

 

[bigshootr8]

I'm unsure its possible that they would have a way of replacing the screen unless you wanted to go through dell which could easily do it I'm sure.

 

[Saga Lout]

I replace faulty laptop screens and damaged bezels as part of my business and I often recommend to my customers that second hand parts are more appropriate for machines of a certain age. A new screen can cost, say, £75 but sometimes I can but a whole laptop of the same make and model for less. The customer saves money and I fetch up with a whole lot of laptop spares.

Have a look on your local e-Bay site for your model and see what you might pick up. In the case of a valuable laptop like yours, "spares or repairs" items are a lot less likely but there will also be new items - you could buy there and take the parts to a fixer to do the work.

 

[bigshootr8]

Who, you only supplied a advertisement?

 

[Saga Lout]

If you men me, I supplied a suggestion based on what I do daily. Tom's serves a big world - most of it, actually - and I operate within a fifteen mile radius of my home. Which part of that would be a very effective advertisement?

Click on Report - I'm happy to let the Mods be the judges.

 

[bigshootr8]

You supplied very poor information if you are offering a service. You didn't list a company you didn't list a location you didn't list anything really. Which ebay site is he supposed to look at you haven't really told him much other than you are able to fix peoples screens with spare parts as well as to check ebay.

 

[Chickenballzz]

Any idead how much a repair from dell would cost? Just cosmetic damage basically. Plastic cover on screen is cracked but they told me they need to replace the entire screen as they don't make separate parts... Other small scratches and broken plastic. If anyone has ever got some similar damage fixed could you tell me if it will come make in perfect nic? All scratches gone ect? I at least want to know that im getting a perfect laptop back if im paying big money for it.

 

[bigshootr8]

I would suspect a arm and a leg. The screen probably costs more with them then most of the components within your laptop. I honestly would find a local shop that does laptop repair and kind of get an idea of what they can do. As well as talk to Dell its always beneficial for the consumer to gather information on cost and what can be done on both ends and at what cost.

 

[Saga Lout]

you haven't really told him much other than you are able to fix peoples screens with spare parts as well as to check ebay.

That was quite sufficient in the circumstances but to be clear since bigshootr8 seems to misunderstand, I am not offering any service other than giving advice and casually mentioning what I do for a living does not constitute an advert.

That said, it seems a new screen could set you back - in Britain anyway - £140 and the bezel - the shiny surround bit - a further £30. Replacement is probably one chargeable hour but fishing around inside the laptop to find what's loose would be a separate job and many repairers would charge an extra hour just for that. Yours is a valuable machine and it has to be worth getting some quotes.

One more thought - do you have accidental damage home insurance?

 

[bigshootr8]

I gotcha my misunderstanding. Also, insurance who has that I kid I think I know where you are going with that. I work in insurance.

 

[Saga Lout]

Over here, they accept claims for fluid damage even if caused by young children so a dog mishap has half a fighting chance - I hope. So long as claimants are straight with them I've found them quite helpful.

 

[bigshootr8]

If you can put your insurance to work why not right?

 

[Chickenballzz]

Well I didn't bother getting the insurance to keep costs down when purchasing, so thats not an option. The guy on the phone said if it wasn't Dell's fault then I have to pay. Im going to bring it into a laptop repair place I went into today that said they could fix "anything", although I am doubtfull as I can't see any way around this without the specific parts from Dell. I told him that and he said he could order them, but dell told me they don't sell separate parts so I dunno what will happen. I guess I should make clear exactly what I want, which is bascially my laptop restored to mint condition.

 

[bigshootr8]

Right which is kind of what you need to do. You need to get quotes and gather information as to what would be done and what you would get from Dell and how long that would take. I have a feeling that these people will buy screens and place them into your screens place. SO I would also check at the resolution they choose to place in. Like a defensive driver be a defensive repair shopper.

 

[Brett928S2]

Hi

I totally agree with SAGA LOUT...

I also own a UK laptop repair company and most repair shops like ours will give a quote on repair costs (usually for free, unless it entails a strip down)

Plastics (the surround) are not normally a problem to get...

BUT... if its been dropped, the hard drive may well be history as well, plus other internal parts....

Which COULD make it too expensive to bother with....

I do not advertise here and will not take work from here as it would bias my advice...

In the UK , this sort of dropped laptop is covered by normal HOUSE CONTENTS INSURANCE....

May be different in other countries...

All the best Brett