Tuesday, August 7, 2012

What to do when you break your computer

As we were leaving the Moose Lodge in Grand Rapids, MN, my computer slid off the printer and hit the floor.  It didn’t seem like a big fall, but the battery did pop out.

We drove to Duluth, MN, and stopped to pick up a new fan at Bed Bath and Beyond, check out a parts department at a local RV dealer and have lunch in the Wall-mart parking lot.  We drove the gauntlet through the Duluth/Superior cities (who designed those streets anyhow?).  I don’t know how we would have made it without a GPS. We are using the NUVI as our Magellan stopped working last week. We can trade it in for $110 for the upgraded model.  LATER!

We finally were on a smooth, non-construction road when our 12-volt battery cutout switch broke. Tom did a quick temp fix by bolting the 2 legs of the power together bypassing the cutout switch.  On the road again.  Does it sound like we are jinxed?

We saw some beautiful scenery along Lake Superior.

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We checked into the Bad River Casino in Odanah, Wisconsin, got hooked up and that was when I discovered my broken computer. 

We were all prepared to drive the 80 miles back to Duluth in DA TOAD to buy a $899 computer from BestBuy.  I was sick.  Having to transfer all my files, emails, and reinstall programs was not something I wanted to do at this time.  I decided not before I tried to fix whatever was broken in my computer.

This is the saga:

Removed the battery, the hard drive and the memory cards.

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Turned it over and removed the keyboard. I was careful to release the clips holding the keyboard ribbon.

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I removed all screws, 2 from the top and all the rest from the bottom, keeping track of screws.

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Removed the motherboard cover after carefully releasing the 3 cables attached to the top.

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I then discovered the problem.  The power plug was broken. I held it back in place and dowsed it with Loctite Super Glue. It dried in seconds and is a very strong hold.

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I then reversed all the processes to put the computer back together.  Pansy was definitely feeling neglected. 

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When I got it all buttoned up and plugged it in, IT WORKED!!!!  I just saved $899 and hours and hours of new computer setup.  Woo Hoo.  Pansy was even relaxed and happy again.

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And that’s how I handled this disaster.  If only the GPS, the 12 volt cutout switch, the drawer under the refrigerator and the Jeep tail lights could be so easy.  So we can be back caching on the road again.

2 comments:

  1. Barb,
    You are so talented and a true genius with a computer, GPS, Droid, printer, etc.......!! And how did you manage that chaos of Duluth/Superior?? Our GPS could not keep up, but fortunately, we were in the Explorer and every time we got turned around or dead-ended by construction, we somehow managed to get ourselves in a position for the GPS to muddle through, though it kept chanting "recalculating" over and over and over......{~; Can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks!!
    Hugs,
    Terry

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  2. Great job on the repair!! As you know, I am reluctant to tackle opening the case (and you haven't been in the neighborhood when I needed your skills). I recently decided to tackle a broken power button that was depressed below the keyboard surface. As hard as I tried, I could not keep those tiny case screws in 4 or 5 different sizes straight!!! Never did get the back off to reach the keyboard. :-( This was not my current Toshiba, but the one I paid a neighbor geek to replace the screen on. That laptop is now my youngest grandson's. Maybe I will bring it to ABQ in October.

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