is it worth repairing ? advice required

[biggs682]

hi all after some advice/help , we have a 5 yr old lap top cant remember model or make but the screen is smashed and we think it has unknown virus's etc etc , can any body offer advice if its worth replacing screen and poss hard drive or not ?

will try and find out model and make etc etc for 2 moro

 

[rusky]

Really depends on the spec of the laptop but you may find a screen on ebay for £20? reinstall Windows (or linux!) & job's a good 'un!

 

[delport]

Better to think in terms of a brand new screen.

Getting a £20 screen for your make and model of laptop would be hopeful in my view, every brand of laptop screen isn't £20 2nd hand.

What is the model name of the laptop?

Was the laptop thrown to the ground?
It's just you mention may'be needing a hard drive too, if all you have is a virus there is no need for a new hard drive, if it's been dropped or thrown then i can see your point.

Laptops can cost anything from £200 to £2000 so it depends on the model as to what to do.

A new screen may be £60 upwards, they've became cheaper in the last 3 years.
New laptop hard drive £30 upwards.

If the laptop cost £300 or under some people may say just buy new, if it cost £500 to £1000 then it's obviously worth fixing.

Finally, what is your diy knowledge like when it comes to pcs?
Screens are a reasonable job to replace, not the very easiest.

Fitting a new hard drive is the simpler of the 2 jobs.

Fortunately there are a huge amount of laptops manuals available freely on the net so we could see how it's done.

 

[ian turner]

Personally I'd say no.

Replace it.

If you're comfortable with replacing the screen on a laptop then you wouldn't be on here asking about it let alone
casually mentioning it might have viruses on it.
Doesn't matter how much the laptop cost 5 years ago it will still have reached the end of it's realistic working
life as I wouldn't trust a hard drive to last much beyond that in general without lucky rabbits feet and crossed fingers being involved.As to replacing the hard drive at 5 years old it may or may not be SATA and if it's not and is IDE instead then they are rapidly disappearing. One major online store has only 10 models listed and 5 of those listed as currently unavailable.

 

[biggs682]

my knowledge is limited on computers so tending to go for new option just cant justify spending more than £300 then not sure what to go for , only used for socialising not gaming or music downloads etc etc .

any ideas what is best in that region

 

[ian turner]

Define socializing.
Does that include storing photographs or are you talking IM. facebook and twitter in which case a netbook could do that
or even a tablet.

 

[biggs682]

cycling forums , e bay , e mails and facebook , no storage of music or photos , tried net book no good to small a screen with my old eyes , never tried tablet

 

[ian turner]

Hmm in that case a Tablet will be too small too.
You can usually pick up a laptop for £279 without having to resort to the more obscure brands if you go for the clearance models.

 

[Alan Whicker]

Is a 10" screen tablet too small for you?

I've got an MSI Wind u130 netbook for just the tasks you specify. £189 from Argos. Perfect for interweb, Skype, iplayer and itunes. Very portable too.

 

[biggs682]

never even looked or thought of a tablet will have a look at argos for details

 

[ian turner]

Try PCWorld for a cheap tablet as their Advent vega got good reviews. Note though that 10" is the same size as a netbook and there's no keyboard so you're touch screen typing. Plus no android app store without a hack it seems.

 

[biggs682]

mmm tablets ok will do the shops at weekend and try some and go from there

 

[ian turner]

Scratch my suggestion about the vega.
I decided to buy one. I went into PCworld and their demo vega wasn't working. Neither was one of the ipads and likewise a number of the other tablets. I left.
Currys were two doors down. Their Vega worked but there is nothing on the shelves. I found the assistant who looked up something on the computer then wandered off. After a bit I wandered off too No wonder they have issued a profits warning.

 

[biggs682]

ok went to local pc world tried a couple of tablets very easy to use but couldnt get use to no keyboard and mouse and after 10 mins of playing got frustrated and tried a lap top , so would find tablets annoying to use without keyboard and mouse so going to keep an eye out on laptop offers .

thanks for help

next question which one for sub 300 ?

 

[ian turner]

Sub £300 tend to be older models being sold cheap so it depends when you buy it and who from as to what's available.