hi.
Yesterday i dropped my son's laptop on the floor whilst i was cleaning his room. I haven't told him because now the screen isn't working properly and i think i may have broken it. But it did work for a few hours initially after it was dropped, so it might not be related.
when he switches it on, the start up stuff comes up but when its time to log on, the screen is just black and stays black. it doesn't change no matter what you press or anything.
Does anybody know what could be wrong, or where is a good place to take it to be fixed, how much it would cost? I have no idea 
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laptop advice needed
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Posted 11 months ago #
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Might well have been like that for a while and he hasn't told you.
What's the last thing you see onscreen before it goes black?
Posted 11 months ago # -
when you switch it on sone white writing comes across the bottom of the screen, i dont know what it says. it would then normally go to the blue screen with his name on it and he types his password to log on, but it wont get that far now.
i know it wasnt broken before because he uses it everyday after school.Posted 11 months ago # -
If you shine a light on the screen or hold it up to a window can you see a faint image of what should be there?
Posted 11 months ago # -
Is the start up stuff a little dim? Are you sure the screen is black and not just very very dim afterwards (take in a dark cupboard and shine a torch as the screen).
Could be the LCD backlighting inverter has gone. Just done this on my sons, £10 part, DIY fix.
Posted 11 months ago # -
no there is nothing on the screen at all.
the rest of it is still working though because you can hear it, just cant see anything.Posted 11 months ago # -
What's the last thing you see onscreen before it goes black? Don't guess, check. Information has to flow this way before it can flow back to you.
Posted 11 months ago # -
graphics card problem
the graphics are handled by the computers own processor until the operating system loads and enables the graphics card. you should be able to start the computer in safe mode (hold the f8 key whilst the computer starts up) which will not enable the graphics card i think. this may allow you to get files off it. dropping it could have broken a connection on the card or something similar
this is mostly speculation after a similar thing happened to me, i'm no expert
Posted 11 months ago # -
i just switched it on again and the writing only flashes up for a second or so, it says windows error recovery, then a list of stuff underneath, then it disappears.
i think i broke it Posted 11 months ago # -
Can you plug it into an external monitor?
Posted 11 months ago # -
dont have one, i only have a netbook
Posted 11 months ago # -
does your TV have a PC input?
Posted 11 months ago # -
it says windows error recovery, then a list of stuff underneath,
You should be able to select "startup repair" at this point. Try that?
Posted 11 months ago # -
my tv has a usb socket, is that the same thing?
Posted 11 months ago # -
Hold on.
After the screen goes black, does it reboot, or are you switching it off and on again?
Posted 11 months ago # -
Its likely to be the cable connecting the screen to the motherboard has come lose, can you confirm the brand of laptop as I maybe able to help.
Posted 11 months ago # -
my tv has a usb socket, is that the same thing?
With respect,
How old's your son? Is he of "daddy, my computer is broken" age, or "for god's sake dad, leave it alone" years old?
Posted 11 months ago # -
i have been switching it off, lots of times trying to get it to work, sometimes you dont get to see any writing, sometimes it is there.
it is a Compaq.Posted 11 months ago # -
How old's your son? Is he of "daddy, my computer is broken" age, or "for god's sake dad, leave it alone" years old?
I was thinking the very same.....!
No, it's OK, Dad, I'll look after this....
"Posted 11 months ago # -
my son is 14, he knows more about computers than me.
Posted 11 months ago # -
but i'm not his daddy, i'm his mummy, so humour me.
Posted 11 months ago # -
In that case he won't be at all embarrassed about what you find in his internet history!
Posted 11 months ago # -
That's your answer right there. At age 14, if my dad had tried to fix my computer I'd have had a Kevin The Teenager grade meltdown.
Where are you geographically?
but i'm not his daddy, i'm his mummy, so humour me
Whoops, mia culpa.
Posted 11 months ago # -
thats his tough luck, if he wants it fixing then i may well have a good old snoop whilst i'm at it.
Posted 11 months ago # -
if you want to send it to me (I am in Stafford Nr Cannock Chase) I will take a look.
Posted 11 months ago # -
if he wants it fixing then i may well have a good old snoop whilst i'm at it.
Nothing Good Will Come Of This.
Posted 11 months ago # -
i'm in South Notts
Posted 11 months ago # -
Somewhere, in South Nottinghamshire, a 14 year old boy is quietly sobbing in to his hands muttering to himself. It sounds like, "Oh, no, she's going to find it....oh no, she's going to find it...."
Life was so much simpler when all we had was hard copy gentertainment!
Posted 11 months ago # -
i know a PC repair chappy near Ratcliffe. He's a sarcastic git with a lack of social skills, these are the kind of people that you need to fix PCs.
[EDIT] or ride mtbs for that matter
Posted 11 months ago # -
if you want to send it to me (I am in Stafford Nr Cannock Chase) I will take a look.
you're not far from me then. Posted 11 months ago # -
If I had a 14-year old son and I found a huge stash of filth on his laptop, he'd be in big trouble and I'd be bitterly disappointed. "Son, have I taught you nothing about encryption?"
Posted 11 months ago # -
ha ha , but my son is a quiet boy. i'm sure there won't be rude things on there.
Posted 11 months ago # -
ha ha , but my son is a quiet boy. i'm sure there won't be rude things on there.
Woooo Hooooo!
Posted 11 months ago # -
Again, with all due respect, he's fourteen. The only way there won't be anything you'd disapprove of on there is if he's found somewhere else to hide it.
Posted 11 months ago # -
no, he'd have to be a fool to save it to his hard drive
Posted 11 months ago #
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