anyone work on laptops that will be at space tonight?

[Divinity Rose]

My usb card inside just moved away from the ports :/

Also I have a laptop that overheats or something..just shuts off and won't come back on...I've had problem with it for years since I bought it

I'd like to know if it's worth paying to fix the one and how much I'll have to pay to fix the usb card

[Ben Hibben]

I've done laptop work; it's mostly a lot of intensive and delicate labor.

It's likely the USB is separated from the mainboard (i.e. not repairable) but I'd have to open it up to be sure (most likely).

The overheating machine may just have too much dirt in it.  I've yanked great big gobs of lint out of heat sinks before.  It could also be a failing power regulator on the mainboard (less repairable).

Blenster

[Marc FEYZEAU]

For the laptop that overheats, does the fans are spinning ? if not they might have some dust/hair that stop them.

I'll not be here tonight, but tomorrow around 6:15pm

[Divinity Rose]

I'd have to power it up again to figure out if the fans are spinning or not. I'll bring them both with me tonight.

[Richard Strothman]

With the broken USB, that CAN be repaired. It's just a pain in the ass and there's no guarantee. I used to re-attach a lot of them. They just come loose after so much time with pressure being put against them. But really, it's quite a lot to do. 

Tearing the laptop completely apart, and taking more risks than you would probably care to. Would only really reccomend trying to repair that if you are also fine with the idea that something else may go wrong in the process. Laptops are built less uniformly than desktops, so it's hard to find someone who knows all of the little pains of each model and brand.

As mentioned, on the other one. The heatsink is probably backed up. Happens often for anyone. But especially for people who own animals. If you have a cat, there is probably a huge chunk of cat in your heatsink. Sometimes just blowing air into it won't be enough.

Most of the heatsinks can be pulled out with  ease, and usually have small screws to allow opening up the casing. The cat, sheep, or whatever other animal can be removed.

[Divinity Rose]

heh. Thanks. I actually did get the USB repaired. It was a matter of a missing screw. Yes. A friend's cat did use to think it was a personal heated bed, but I thought it had been completely cleaned out since then. Maybe not...or maybe the last person that worked on it for me, replaced the battery, etc had a pet.

[Pat McCarthy]

Figure out what the air flow path is… where in, where out.

…With the computer OFF…

First, try a vacuum cleaner… directed at the intake (Trying to such the dirt out the way it went in)

Then, try short puffs from a can of air directed in the exhaust port & a little more vacuuming (Trying to push reluctant fur back out)

Then, reverse the directions and repeat (For stuff that made it mostly past the components)

 

If you still have overheat & shutdown issues, you may need to (have someone) open her up.

1.       Make sure the heat sinks/heat pipes are installed and screwed down correctly

2.       Brushes & tweezers can be applied directly to Ye Olde Dust Bunnies

 

 

Patrick McCarthy

 

T 502.476.9878

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