Good Chance to Fix this Laptop?

[Paul678]

A guy has this one:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...roduct=3795238

Claims he "got it wet", and since then, the unit powers
on, and the COMPAQ logo will show briefly on the screen,
and then it will begin to make a loud beeping sound.

It sounds like a difficult motherboard problem to me, because
if it was just the hard drive, it would simply show the drive
is not bootable.

If it's the motherboard, I don't think it would be worth fixing it,
but how much do you think I should offer him for it?

Maybe just to buy it for the memory and hard drive?

[Koda]

Re: Good Chance to Fix this Laptop?

IF you can resell the good parts I would say 60-80$. The thing can be worth a lot more but without knowing exactly what the problem is I would advise against spending more then 80$. This way just reselling the display should earn your money back. Anyhow, what kind of beeps are they? Three short ones, continuous long ones...? Might be a memory problem or something else altogether. Since the unit turns on and shows the compaq logo I would think the motherboard is ok and this is a memory problem but I can't be sure at all.

[tom66]

Re: Good Chance to Fix this Laptop?

Hmm. My guess would be an issue with the keyboard in some way - stuck keys etc causing beeping.

[Paul678]

Re: Good Chance to Fix this Laptop?

IF you can resell the good parts I would say 60-80$. The thing can be worth a lot more but without knowing exactly what the problem is I would advise against spending more then 80$. This way just reselling the display should earn your money back. Anyhow, what kind of beeps are they? Three short ones, continuous long ones...? Might be a memory problem or something else altogether. Since the unit turns on and shows the compaq logo I would think the motherboard is ok and this is a memory problem but I can't be sure at all.

He wrote,

"It makes a constant beeping noise that is really loud and once I turned it on and it went to the screen that says a bunch of things and at the bottom says press f1 to continue and did nothing more, nothing less. It holds a charge and I believe I have an extra charger for it."

Ok, that makes 2 of you guys who think the motherboard is ok.

I'll start him at $15 and work my way up......haha......yes, I'm
cheap!

[Paul678]

Re: Good Chance to Fix this Laptop?

Hmm. My guess would be an issue with the keyboard in some way - stuck keys etc causing beeping.

Damn good guess Tom.

I bought it for $18, and when I removed the keyboard,
it booted normally! haha!

I figured you were right, because I remember many a times
when I had something heavy pressing on the keyboard
when the computer was booting, and hearing that annoying
beeping sound.

ok, next problem: how to fix the keyboard? He said he got
it wet...with what, I don't know.....perhaps an alcohol bath
of some sort? I'll have to research how to properly clean
a laptop keyboard.....

Edit: shit, it's only $14:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-For-HP-C...item2c64599c12


Still, it would be fun to try to fix it anyways! How about soaking
it in water, to hopefully dissolve any sugars from sodas. Then
letting it dry completely, then trying it again?

[tom66]

Re: Good Chance to Fix this Laptop?

Buying a new keyboard is often the best option.

Failing that put the keyboard in the dishwasher on a low temperature wash for an hour; leave it to dry for 24 hours.

[Paul678]

Re: Good Chance to Fix this Laptop?

Buying a new keyboard is often the best option.

Failing that put the keyboard in the dishwasher on a low temperature wash for an hour; leave it to dry for 24 hours.

Yeah, in Linux live mode, only some
of the buttons worked.

So while I may have un-stuck whatever key was
preventing the computer from booting, some of the
other keys don't even work. Yeah, I'll have to buy
a new one....

Also, the touch-pad and buttons don't work! DAMN!

Oh well, it's like another $13 or so.

But Jesus, I hope that's all that is wrong.....

[Koda]

Re: Good Chance to Fix this Laptop?

If I were you I'd get a new keyboard, cleaning it with water increases the chances of corrosion and shorts in the contacts and can cause major headaches. Anyway nice catch, you got a lappy for 40-50$ congratz.