Has laptop broken?

bargainaddict

Last night I caught the little rubber thing under the screen on the laptop which turns the screen off. The screen went off, then back on for a few seconds, then off again, and since then there is nothing on the screen. The computer switches off and on, but nothing else. I am so fed up, yesterday was horrible, something fell off a shelf in Homebase onto my foot, my daughters boyfriends bike was stolen from outside our house, and now the computer!! :eek:

We think it may be just inside its warranty but can't find the receipt. Acer tech support only open 9-6 mon-fri. Is there any suggestions or help, could it be something simple or have I blown up the screen or something? Luckily gotson's to use at the mo but really can't afford any expensive repairs. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks

smcicr

one way of checking to see if the screen has problems or if it's something more serious is to plug a normal pc monitor into the laptop - you may have to press a combination of keys once that has been done to make the laptop display show on the external monitor. it varies for different manufacturers but it's usually the Function (Fn) key (often on the bottom row of keys to the left of the spacebar) and one of the F number keys - look for one that has a rectangle on it (ie a monitor) in the same colour as the text on the function key.

It may of course work automatically

If the display appears on the external monitor then it would suggest that there is indeed something not right with the laptop screen - i'm confused by your description though - the little rubber thing under the screen?

bargainaddict

It's the tiny thing that sticks up and when you close the screen down it turns the screen off. Looks like a little nipple just under the bottom of the screen. Thanks for your suggestions, when hubby gets in he can try the technical stuff. I was really hoping it would be something simple, cos he just gone back to work after being off ill and I don't want him getting too stressed.

smcicr

ah - is it like this (on the left hand side just in front of the hinge in this pic) http://www.daltoncomputer.com/images/acerlptpl.jpg

never seen it done like that before - you may have just nudged it into a position where it thinks the lid is permanently shut and so the display is always off - could be as simple as giving it a wiggle!

bargainaddict

Thats it. have tried wiggling and pulling gently but no luck. Can't believe there's no-one at acer till Monday. Thanks for your help

bargainaddict

Has anyone had experience of Acer repair centre? We phoned them monday morning and they sent DHL to collect it that afternoon (and also son's one that was faulty). We were really impressed, even though we had to phone an 0870 no. Got 3 emails on Tuesday, both machines arrived and sons one fixed and on way back to us. We were really impressed. I hasten to add sons machine has the acer extended warranty, ours hasn't but is only 10 months old so still under its warranty.

Wednesday sons laptop comes home, still impressed! No news about ours. Anyway, to cut a very long and boring story short, Acer have had ours for 4 weeks, keep being told waiting for parts. Told yesterday that motherboard and keyboard fitted but machine failed its testing so its now waiting for more parts. Hubby very frustrated and no supervisor available to speak to but promised a phone call back by 6pm No call came.

Lady on phone told ua there is a time limit for repairs after which they can authorise a new machine but she didn't know how long it would be. OH forgot to transfer data from hard drive so we are lost at the mo. He has just been made redundant (voluntary) and is starting his own business in the new year and was going to buy another acer because up till now we have been really impressed. This is no longer the case and he told them yesterday. They don't answer their e-mails and the alternative number on saynoto0870 cannot put you through. There is no alternative number and so far we have sent aboyt £12 on calls.

Even if they phoned or e-mailed regularly and kept us up to date it would help, b ut no-one seems bothered.

Sorry to rant on but we're really fed up with them.