Comments on: Notebook Computer Buying Tips

By: Jessy S.

Jessy S. — Mon, 18 May 2009 06:10:23 +0000

I feel the same way about HP Grace. I had trouble with my screen in October 2007 with a laptop brought in March of 06 and HP wanted $500 to replace the screen and this estimate didn’t include shipping or labor costs. I got the laptop repaired locally for $300 including labor.

By: cj2600

cj2600 — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:34:25 +0000

Grace,

I never thought about the importance of buying an extended warranty.

If I have to buy a new laptop today, I would pay for the extended warranty again.

By: Grace

Grace — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:43:58 +0000

I never thought about the importance of buying an extended warranty. but my recent experience with HP really make me thinking it hard. Your article just made it even more clear.

Thanks

By: Javier

Javier — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:34:35 +0000

Hello great guide on every aspect.I would like to thank you and to get your e-mail if possible. I want to buy a new keyboard for my vaio, but i dont have the model nor want to dissasemble the notebook before i get it. Would you have any info on the part number of a keyboard for a AR520?. More info on the hardware (meaning part numbers for all of them) would be highly apreciated also.

By: Koray

Koray — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:43:29 +0000

This guide makes lots of sense, I’ve been telling the same to everybody else now, but my last laptop purchase (Sony Vaio SZ1M/B) is a disaster. It is a blind decision, my colleague thought it was a great machine and we ordered two for the work without actually seeing the actual machine. Then I ended up with problems like:

- huge and heavy power adapter (yup, I counted grams when comparing the actual laptop weights with competitors when I looked up the market)
- horrible keyboard, it flexes a lot and by design spacebar doesn’t work on right end (I have to use external keyboards most of the time).
- no hardware volume control (lots of embarrassments at must-be-quiet situations, awful windows log-in sound inevitable since I can’t mute it without logging in first)
- 1 year warranty (if this one fails, I don’t think I’ll be able to find parts for it on ebay, it is a rare machine)

I miss my Thinkpad, it had none of the above.

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 26 May 2008 06:19:31 +0000

At Toshiba there is several listings for “Blank Screen” I think there is more reasons than they have listed. There is several reasons for this to happen, bad components – LCD, Invertor, Motherboard, or Power Settings(when to turn off), Software Problem, BIOS Settings, Virus, and etc. I assume my Motherboard is good, that my LCD is good, Invertor is good, Memory tested good, DirectX tested good. I guess my problem is my BIOS Setting or BIOS Bug or a Software Bug or Virus. If I check everything it tests as no problem found, I noticed in the BIOS Setting if LCD is set to Auto, it will prefer the monitor and not the notebook LCD, if the Monitor is connected, or the other setting, LCD + RGB in this setting it allows both – I have now set it too this, maybe the problem will go away and the screen will not go blank at random or whilel typing,.because everything has been tested.and checked.

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 15:43:40 +0000

Hi Reena,
Did you ever find a solution for your Toshiba? I have the exact same model and the exact same problem. I have not tried “chilling” the laptop in the fridge though. I have however explored power supply, memory, hard drive, dvd drive and external monitors to no avail. Mine will power into music mode, but the dvd will not work in that mode either. Hopefully you found a solution other then using it as a door stop. Thanks in advance.

By: cj2600

cj2600 — Tue, 29 May 2007 06:56:10 +0000

Reena,
I wouldn’t put the laptop in the fridge because you can damage the LCD screen. Just in case if you want to try your experiment again.
I’m pretty sure it’s not a heat related issue. Even if you have a 100% clogged heatsink or a failed cooling fan, the laptop still should start, at least for a short time.
I think your laptop might have a memory related issue. Try reseating the memory module, I believe you can access both memory slots from the bottom. Try installing the memory module into a different slot. If you have two modules installed, remove them one by one and test the laptop with each RAM module in each slot. If reseating or installing the memory module into a different slot doesn’t help, find a known good memory and test the laptop again.

By: Reena

Reena — Fri, 25 May 2007 17:34:39 +0000

Dear Laptop Repair guy,
Thanks for your very informative website. I actually stumbled upon your website because just the day before my 4.5 years old Toshiba Satellite 5205-S503 broke down suddenly out of blue. Until now I had been very lucky with my laptop that this is the first time I have encountered any problem with me. Unfortunately warrantly on my notebook is way past due (Dec 2003). I am looking for some suggestion from you regarding the diagnosis for my notebook.
When I try to turn on the power, theh LCD lights up and the battery, power switch, power symbol and the CD/hard-drive symbols light up. But I don’t hear the buzzing sound of the fan. And no “welcome” sign comes on the LCD. So I guessed it might be of heat related problem. Hence I wondered what would happen if I cooled down the notebook. I left the computer in the fridge for 2 hours and tried powering it up again. This time the welcome sign came on, and the usual Toshiba sign on the screen, but soon the screen again went blank. All this time, no buzzing sound from the fan. Do you have any suggestion?
Thanks.

By: GFC

GFC — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 00:50:27 +0000

Thanks for the advice. The value of extended warranties is a hotly debated issue. There is an argument that hardware defects usually show up within the first year. If you’ve got a “defect only” extended warranty, the question of defect or damage becomes an issue. There is a greater probability of a problem being seen as a result of conditions of use as the unit becomes older. This has led to a lot of frustration on the part of people trying to redeem their extended warranties. It’s not necessarily a matter of the manufacturer dodging the warranty, it’s a really gray area. Bottom line is, you’re not really covered with an extended warranty unless it includes damage protection. And hey, accidents happen, even to the best of us! Unfortunately, not all manufacturers offer damage protection under their extended care plans. That would be a deal breaker for me.

If the extended warranty clock starts on the date you purchase the extended warranty, it might be best to delay purchasing it until near the end of the standard warranty period (unless you are operating your equipment in a hazardous environment).