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HP laptop with bad Video Card

post #1 of 5
6/18/10 at 2:46pm
Thread Starter 
I've got an HP laptop that was only bought about four years ago. It powers up but the screen stays dark. I've been told that the video card is shot (or something similar). It doesn't output any signal when hooked up to an external monitor.

It also doesn't register when I try to hook it up in a USB-to-USB cable to another computer for a file transfer. Not sure what the deal is there if it's only the video card. I'd really like to try to save this thing because otherwise it's in good shape. Diagnostics at Fry's Electronics would run about $90 and then possible parts / labor could bring it to about $350 - $400 total. I've got no critical files on it.

I'm somewhat handy with a soldering iron, is this something that I could fix myself?
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post #2 of 5
6/18/10 at 2:50pm
Forget about saving it, sadly. Fixing a busted mainboard (most probably) or video card on an out of warranty laptop is ridiculously expensive. If your laptop is four years old you'll probably find a new one at about the same price you'll pay to fix it. Unless the situation with spare parts in the US is so different than it is here.
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post #3 of 5
6/18/10 at 3:18pm
Agreed, it will probably be more trouble and cost than the laptop is worth to fix it. The only good thing is that you can probably get all of your files and pictures off of it easily, and transfer it to your new system.

Do not pay $400 for a four year old laptop. You can get one fully loaded with Win 7, lightening fast, and an extended warranty for that much, or for a little bit more (or less, depending on how much of a bargain shopper you are).
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post #4 of 5
6/18/10 at 3:24pm
I'd pick up an IDE/SATA USB converter and pull the drive out of the laptop. One of these devices can be had for 15/20 bucks.

Then, go and get a new laptop. Plug in your old drive and transfer the data you want off of it.
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post #5 of 5
6/26/10 at 9:50pm
On a related note, I just bought my wife a Toshiba laptop that includes the new Intel Wireless Display technology. It's pretty cool. You buy an adapter that you plug into a TV via HDMI or component, then you can send your display to that TV to watch videos, Netflix, DVDs, etc.
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