HELP!! Is it possible to....

Slimbert

Slimbert

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Damien
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My wifes laptop has finally given up....it's the power supply socket on the rear that's come loose and so the battery can't be charged up or be run off the mains....:shake:

My question is, is there any way to get the documents/files/photos etc off the hard drive, or is the only way to access it to get the laptop repaired?? :thinking: It ain't worth repairing tbh as it's a bit long in the tooth now, but since she doesn't back things up like I do, she's worried that she's lost some important files and photos....:'(

All and any help, very gratefully received!! :thumbs:
 
Pull the hardrive out and put it in an external caddy and plug it into another pc or laptop.
 
TinaC said:
Just take out hard drive and can use that on another machine...have you a local IT bod who can do this for you. there must be someone. Many one man bands are good at and do a lot of this sort of thing
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I'm not sure it's worth the cost.....it's a fairly old laptop, however if it's a cheap repair, I might get it done! :thumbs:
 
are you ok using a soldering iron and taking a laptop to bits ? usually its just a quick resolder on the socket pins.

otherwise ebay sell lots of 2.5" hard drive to 3.5" adapters for £5 or less.
 
Slim,

If you tell me the model I can probably get a power socket for under a fiver and replacing the power socket is not usually too difficult a job. I did the same to Wheels' laptop a few months ago and it cost about £3
 
Slimbert said:
I did think if that was possible....and you're saying it's that easy??!! :thinking:
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easier than you think :)

small philips head, undo screws from HDD cover on the bottom of laptop, take hdd out ( no cables attached to it ) and stick it in the caddy :)
 
bastic said:
easier than you think :)

small philips head, undo screws from HDD cover on the bottom of laptop, take hdd out ( no cables attached to it ) and stick it in the caddy :)
Click to expand...

yep its really easy to do :thumbs:
 
What Operating system is the laptop? It may not be as simple as navigating to the new "d drive"
 
cowasaki said:
or I can probably fix it for the price of a caddy :thinking:
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did mean to quote that bit as well but forgot, and you get the added bonus of your laptop back and working again!!
 
GoNz0 said:
are you ok using a soldering iron and taking a laptop to bits ? usually its just a quick resolder on the socket pins.

otherwise ebay sell lots of 2.5" hard drive to 3.5" adapters for £5 or less.
Click to expand...

I used to be ok with a soldering iron, but haven't used one for years, and I don't currently own one! :shake:

bastic said:
:plusone:

get yourself one of those http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-000-AK&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=72 or something simillar....

it is really easy to get the hdd out from a laptop :)
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Cheers Lukas! :thumbs:

cowasaki said:
Slim,

If you tell me the model I can probably get a power socket for under a fiver and replacing the power socket is not usually too difficult a job. I did the same to Wheels' laptop a few months ago and it cost about £3
Click to expand...

It's a well used Acer Aspire 5920, a decent spec but it's been used to death....however, for a fiver and a bit of soldering, it's definitely worth fixing!! ;)

Dogfish_magnet said:
Tis simple one of these and plug your drive in - just get the correct one SATA or IDE -
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Thank you Paul, very helpful!! :thumbs:

bastic said:
easier than you think :)

small philips head, undo screws from HDD cover on the bottom of laptop, take hdd out ( no cables attached to it ) and stick it in the caddy :)
Click to expand...

Thanks again Lukas!!
 
Euan said:
yep its really easy to do :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Sounds good to me! Cheers Euan!! :thumbs:

Richard King said:
What Operating system is the laptop? It may not be as simple as navigating to the new "d drive"
Click to expand...

Definitely Vista, but not sure which version....:thinking:

cowasaki said:
or I can probably fix it for the price of a caddy :thinking:
Click to expand...

It would be nice to have a caddy anyway tbh, but fixing for that price would be awesome....:thumbs:

Euan said:
did mean to quote that bit as well but forgot, and you get the added bonus of your laptop back and working again!!
Click to expand...

Do you realise how many brownie points that would get me???!!! :love:
 
Damien, it will be the same power socket as Wheels' laptop which was £3.45 if I remember. If you want to do the repair yourself follow the instructions for disassembling laptops on my website

ie

get a fishing tackle box and number each hole

draw the bottom and remove the first screw then put (1) next to that screw on the diagram then remove the next screw. If it is the same as the first then put a (1) next to that one on the diagram and stick the screw in the first pot again. Then the next screw and again check if it is the same. If it is different then stick it in pot 2 and label that screw on the diagram as (2).

Keep doing this front and back drawing diagrams as you go and taking pictures as you go.

If you do that you will have no problems putting it back together and no spare screws.

I did this when repairing stuff as you often took it apart and then ordered parts and had to put it back together a week or so later!


IF you want me to fix it then send it me and cover the postage both ways and I'll sort it.
 
cowasaki said:
Damien, it will be the same power socket as Wheels' laptop which was £3.45 if I remember. If you want to do the repair yourself follow the instructions for disassembling laptops on my website
Click to expand...

Just for reference it's one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Acer-Aspire-5...t=UK_Computing_Laptops_EH&hash=item414db3b086

cowasaki said:
IF you want me to fix it then send it me and cover the postage both ways and I'll sort it.
Click to expand...

Very kind offer Darren, thank you for that! However I think I'd like to have a go myself....any idea where I can order the part from??! :thinking:
 
its worth checking if the solder is loose as it is a bit of a pig to remove one the 1st time, but a quick resolder is an easy start before going all in for a new socket.

the laptop im on has had one new socket and at least 5 resolders as i keep tripping over the cable and pulling it off :s
 
GoNz0 said:
its worth checking if the solder is loose as it is a bit of a pig to remove one the 1st time, but a quick resolder is an easy start before going all in for a new socket.

the laptop im on has had one new socket and at least 5 resolders as i keep tripping over the cable and pulling it off :s
Click to expand...

Nice tip, but I've already ordered one.....however it's got to be worth a shot while I'm waiting for delivery!! :thumbs:
 
I would always order one THEN when it arrives take it apart to fix. If the fix can be done by simply reflowing then great £3 wasted but if you take it apart THEN check you have it in bits for a week with bits going astray and forgetting how it went together.
 
if you do have to swap the socket its handy to use solder braid to remove as much of the old solder as possible.
 
google the model, theres often screws hidden under the keyboard and pop off panels.
 
Damien

PM me your email and I'll send you a service manual.

I might be crap at photography but I know how to solder, let me know if you get stuck ;)

Cheers,
Steve
 
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