Fixing Broken DELL gaming laptop

LouP25

Hello guys,

I never fixed laptop before. I am in London and have a very broken DELL laptop. Now I need to find this part:

SSDR,256,S3,80S3,TOSHIBA,SG5C // SSD, 256 GB, Non Encrypted, SATA3, M.2, 22mm/80mm/2.38mm, 512MB, Toshiba, (SG5C)

Then need to find place where technician can install this SSDR, together with extra memory that I will buy.

Then I need to replace my keyboard as the laptop is more than 5 years old, and many keyboard letters are not working properly as they are too dirty. I tried to clean them, but broke 1 letter already.

Do you know where in UK genuine parts seller, and in London genuine laptop repairer? Would you trust these London's corner shops that say laptop repair?

Thank you in advance so much!

Rodders53

A M2 SSD 'hard drive' and extra memory can almost certainly be self-installed :  check out You Tube videos of how to?  Keyboard also likely to be possible to self-replace with suitable care.  Getting the correct keyboard spare part may be the biggest hurdle to overcome.

If the current SSD is corrupt/dead you may need a backup systems image?

https://www.dell.com/en-uk/lp/fixyourpc offers a fix service as well as some support for self-repairers (i.e. parts). 

TOP_CAT

I wouldnt as two in the past I used were terrible .

Its probably better to buy another backup laptop until you find the right repair person .

Rodders53

LouP25 said:

Then I need to replace my keyboard as the laptop is more than 5 years old, and many keyboard letters are not working properly as they are too dirty.

As this gaming laptop is over five years old it is probably (over) due for replacement with a better processor, modern faster memory and graphics card rather than trying to replace / upgrade the stuff inside if used for gaming?

Then sell the Dell for spares/repair.

LouP25

Rodders53 As this gaming laptop is over five years old it is probably (over) due for replacement with a better processor, modern faster memory and graphics card rather than trying to replace / upgrade the stuff inside if used for gaming?

Then sell the Dell for spares/repair.

I use this laptop for creating video art. It was still perfect quality before it died, I'm sure it can last me another 2-3 years at least for my profession when fixed 

LouP25

Rodders53 said:

If the current SSD is corrupt/dead you may need a backup systems image?

https://www.dell.com/en-uk/lp/fixyourpc offers a fix service as well as some support for self-repairers (i.e. parts). 

I'm a video artist and I work completely from Dropbox. I don't think I need backup mirrow, just reinstall Cinema 4D and Adobe software again. The hard drive was giving me alerts for 3 years before it died, so I was kinda expecting this day to come. But thankfully haven't really lost anything.

Thank you for that Dell support link! 

redped

You'll need to re-install more than just Cinema 4D and any Adobe software again, which is what @Rodders53 was getting at - if you buy a new SSD, then it won't have any operating system installed on it.  Have you got any backups of your current hard drive (which can be copied on to the new SSD)?  If not, you'll also need to get someone to install the OS for you.

I know you say the laptop will be good for another few years when fixed, but I'd seriously consider buying a new machine and selling the existing one for parts.

LouP25

redped said:

I know you say the laptop will be good for another few years when fixed, but I'd seriously consider buying a new machine and selling the existing one for parts.

So many people are suggesting this, so I think I'll buy a new machine. Selling my phone was easy - I just went to Cex or whatever that store is called. Selling laptop parts ... Is there a reliable buyer that everyone is using that I should know about? Or it it a matter of googling different companies and see who offers most money? I think I just want to sell the whole broken laptop rather than uploading individual parts on ebay. Is this possible? Thank you!!!

redped

Just put the laptop up for sale on ebay - list all the the specs, state clearly it's not working, and be honest with what doesn't work.  If the price is right, someone will buy it as a project to get it up and running again.