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Laptop Repair--How hard is it? [Monitor]
Synthesis
Honda Today!Registered User regular
Honda Today!Registered User regular
I've been using a HP Pavillion dv2945se I bought 3-4 years ago when my previous laptop died abruptly, and for the last few years, it's actually served me pretty well for what was a sporadic purchase.
As it happens, the screen is recently kaput. Bringing it to a recommended computer repair shop seemed to suggest it was the monitor, not the wires to the motherboard, that cause it to freeze out and "drag lines". It got progressive worse over a few weeks.
The repair fee would be $179 before tax. As it happens, dv2945se screens can be found online for $40 to $60. I've built a few desktops myself (I don't enjoy it, but I can do it), but I've never worked with laptops. How hard would replacing a monitor be, for those experienced with laptop repair? Assuming nothing else is wrong. And would I need any special tools?
EDIT: If you've got any laptop part distributors you'd recommend, please, please post them.
As it happens, the screen is recently kaput. Bringing it to a recommended computer repair shop seemed to suggest it was the monitor, not the wires to the motherboard, that cause it to freeze out and "drag lines". It got progressive worse over a few weeks.
The repair fee would be $179 before tax. As it happens, dv2945se screens can be found online for $40 to $60. I've built a few desktops myself (I don't enjoy it, but I can do it), but I've never worked with laptops. How hard would replacing a monitor be, for those experienced with laptop repair? Assuming nothing else is wrong. And would I need any special tools?
EDIT: If you've got any laptop part distributors you'd recommend, please, please post them.
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Totally worth saving $100 though.
Is there a place you'd recommend?
the hardest part is figuring out how to open the effing case, as @bowen and @Foomy have said. it's generally not intuitive/easy, and requires magic knowledge to find out which hinge is fake and know to popthat off, or some other obscure bit that you would never guess, like under the rubber feet or something...
Joe's Stream.
I already pulled off the case, so I've got that covered. The rest should be harder, I expect.
the only other hard part would be attaching the ribbon cable, just be really gentle and don't kink it.
Anyone recommend where to shop for the actual screen? Otherwise I'm just grabbing one off Amazon.
EDIT: You guys were right--actually removing the screen took all of 4 minutes with a manual screwdriver and looking at photographs of replacement screens to see what to unplug. Granted, I'd removed the lid (about another four minutes). Unless there' something else to do, that was diabolically easy.
You probably had a much nicer one than I had. There was a lot of variety of costs for these, this was towards the lower end (though not the cheapest).
Try them. They also usually have videos on how to remove the screen.
Also for the most part all you need is a small philips screwdriver to do laptop repair. The screens are typically attached by small screws underneath the rubber/plastic round nobs you see on your front bezel. To remove the bezel pry it from the inside and it will click off, always a chance of breaking some of the plastic, but usually that isn't a big deal. You can take it off by using a screwdriver and start near the hinge and just pry it off slowly undoing a plastic clip one at at time as you go around the screen.
Ive done maybe 50 screen replacements so far, for the most part its not that difficult, just remember which screw goes where when you put it back together.
HP dv2500/dv2700 Maintenance and Service Guide
HP tends to make the majority of their service information public, our field techs use their manuals extensively .
It wasn't hard at all. If you can put together something from IKEA, you can replace an LCD screen. There weren't any wierd screws, either.
Now I just have to figure out what to do with the old screen. Seems like a waste just to toss it at some recycling place.
From the outside, the screen seems fine.
It doesnt work, and generally you will lack the specialized equipment to repair it, even if it can be repaired.
Whatever you do, dont throw it in the trash.