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    Why is my laptop dead?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Garnito, Mar 27, 2010.

  1. Garnito

    Garnito Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have an old Dell laptop, where the wireless internet just stopped working. I tried to fix it but I couldn't. So I was going to look at the wifi card to see if it was damaged or something. It looked fine, but I accidentally touched the chip with my screwdriver in the process of re-assembling it. This caused the computer to just die. I can't see any visible damage on the wifi card. What could have happened? Theories?
     
    Garnito, Mar 27, 2010
    #1
  2. naton

    naton Notebook Virtuoso

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    you might have shorted out something in your laptop.
    Have you tried removing the wifi and see if you start your computer. Do the same with the ram, I'm mean try to replaced with one from another computer.
    Also try to reset your BIOS. There is few way to do it:
    1- might work: remove the charger, and remove the battery, and then hold the power button for at least 30 seconds.
    2- always works: locate the CMOS battery and remove it for 30 seconds. The only problem is you might have to dismental the laptop to get acess to it.
     
    naton, Mar 27, 2010
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  3. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    Don't tell me that you were disassembling and reassembling a machine that was running? That's how your OP reads....

    Chips can't be fixed with a screwdriver, but they can be broken.

    Live and learn.
     
    newsposter, Mar 27, 2010
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  4. Garnito

    Garnito Notebook Enthusiast

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    Holding the power button solved it...

    It wasn't running but it was plugged in...
     
    Garnito, Mar 27, 2010
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  5. naton

    naton Notebook Virtuoso

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    Good that your laptop is fixed. For the wifi you should just replace it, They are not that expensive. One thing though, if you buy a replacement make sure it is compatible with your laptop as not all of them works with dell.
     
    naton, Mar 27, 2010
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  6. deeastman

    deeastman Notebook Deity

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    You my friend are VERY lucky. Never take a laptop apart with the battery installed or with the laptop plugged in. You are just asking for a bricked PC.
     
    deeastman, Mar 28, 2010
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  7. computerstriker

    computerstriker Notebook Evangelist

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    lol....
    extremely lucky!!!!
     
    computerstriker, Mar 28, 2010
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  8. sean473

    sean473 Notebook Prophet

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    too true! And ur also asking for a electric shock or death...
     
    sean473, Mar 28, 2010
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  9. naton

    naton Notebook Virtuoso

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    What with a max of 20V and 4.5A? That's too low....
     
    naton, Mar 28, 2010
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  10. sean473

    sean473 Notebook Prophet

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    well from what i know , 4.5A is dangerous.... even 0.1A is...or something like that...
     
    sean473, Mar 28, 2010
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  11. Sonicjet

    Sonicjet Notebook Evangelist

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    At 110AC.....in DC it is harmless.
     
    Sonicjet, Mar 28, 2010
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  12. ramgen

    ramgen -- Morgan Stanley --

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    20V does not do anything to you.

    The worst thing that could happen from a laptop is that you may touch the outputs of the LCD screen inverter which will give you a strong BUZZ. Though due to the very low amp value, that won't be lethal either.


    --
     
    ramgen, Mar 28, 2010
    #12