Good news and bad

seinman · 01-30-2005

So I bought a new car. 94 Chrysler LeBaron convertible.

http://www.seinman.net/board/attatchments/04.jpg

Then about two days later (before I even went on a single wardriving run with the new car), my laptop breaks. Since I just bought the car, I won't be able to afford a new laptop until at least June or July, if not the end of the year.

Would have been the ultimate wardriving machine, too... I had just finished installing my radar detector, power inverter, CD player, and iPod when I went to get my laptop to see if my antenna cable was long enough to mount it on the trunk. Plugged it into the inverter and couldn't get it to boot. Bummer.

wrzwaldo · 01-30-2005

FYI + some more text to meet the minimum length (sorry couldnt stop at 5).

seinman · 01-30-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrzwaldo

FYI + some more text to meet the minimum length (sorry couldnt stop at 5).

Ah, my bad. I haven't posted here since like October because I hadn't been wardriving much, being busy with school and all. Hadn't seen that update to the rules.

wrzwaldo · 01-30-2005

Sorry to hear about your laptop. Any ideas as to what went wrong? Does the power light come on? What laptop is it?

P.S. The link in your sig is broken also..

Quote:

Cannot find document
Last updated on 5/13/03 at 3:55 pm by seinman

Uh oh, something fucked up. Either you typed a URL wrong, or a link on the site was wrong, or we deleted the file you want... whatever caused it, the fact of the matter is that this file is not here. Sucks to be you, doesn't it?

seinman · 01-30-2005

I know exactly what's wrong and tried to fix it, but I think i'm just screwed. If the battery has power (I tested it later with a spare battery that only holds a 15 minute charge) it'll boot. If I wiggle the power cable around in the socket for about 30 minutes, I can get it to charge. Something in the power socket is loose or broken or something, so just plugging it in doesn't do anything. My friends and I opened the case to try to find what was wrong, hoping we could just solder back on a broken connection, or tighten a broken connector, but all looks good inside the case and nothing we tried would fix it.

It's a really old laptop (1997 or so), so it's hard to find replacement parts for. A motherboard replacement would work, but for the price they're going for (and the fact that there were like five different mobo's used in my model so finding the right one is a major pain) it's just not worth it. I'm just gonna start saving my cash for a new one, hopefully before summertime so I can do some wardriving with the top down.

wrzwaldo · 01-30-2005

My Thinkpad 560x had the same problem. Had to put it under the magnifying glass at work to find it. It pulled loose from the trace so it was intermittent with the power plug in. Re-soldered and been working like a champ ever since.

SignalSeeker · 01-30-2005

Don't forget to check the power cable right at the plug. Alot of laptop power supplies develope an open right at the strain relief to the laptop side plug.

I have bandaided a few power supplies by folding the cable over itself and zip tieing it back to itslef tightly.

Justin

seinman · 01-30-2005

Ah yes, I did try that. My friend has the same model laptop, so I tested it with his power supply, and had the same problem. Oh well, to tell you the truth, this just gives me a good excuse to ask my parents to help pay for a new one. "But my laptop broke and spring semester just started..." /me plots

streaker69 · 01-30-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by seinman

Ah yes, I did try that. My friend has the same model laptop, so I tested it with his power supply, and had the same problem. Oh well, to tell you the truth, this just gives me a good excuse to ask my parents to help pay for a new one. "But my laptop broke and spring semester just started..." /me plots

Yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip
Shaaa, na-naa-na, shaaa, na-naa-na-na
(Baa-doo)
Shaaa, na-naa-na, shaaa, na-naa-na-na
(Baa-doo)
Shaaa, na-naa-na, shaaa, na-naa-na-na
(Baa-doo)
Shaaa, na-naa-na, shaaa, na-naa-na-na
Aaah, yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip
Mum-mum-mum-mum-mum-mum
Get a job
Shaaa, na-naa-na, shaaa, na-naa-na-na

Monitr7 · 01-30-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by streaker69

Yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip
Shaaa, na-naa-na, shaaa, na-naa-na-na
Mum-mum-mum-mum-mum-mum
Get a job
Shaaa, na-naa-na, shaaa, na-naa-na-na

Bowzer would be proud. Anyone remember him?

The Others · 01-30-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monitr7

Bowzer would be proud. Anyone remember him?

Thank fuck, no.

I just spilt a kebab down me posting this. Bugger (to say the least).

Monitr7 · 01-30-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Others

Thank fuck, no.

I just spilt a kebab down me posting this. Bugger (to say the least).

Huh. Must've just been a U.S. thing from the early 80's. Beg pardon.

The Others · 01-30-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monitr7

Huh. Must've just been a U.S. thing from the early 80's. Beg pardon.

/Others is drunk, so hugs M7. That must make it all better...

Monitr7 · 01-30-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Others

/Others is drunk, so hugs M7. That must make it all better...

Makes what better? There was something wrong? I wasn't aware. Go sleep it off, ya crazy!

wrzwaldo · 01-30-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monitr7

Huh. Must've just been a U.S. thing from the early 80's. Beg pardon.

No, I'm quite sure I remember seeing it on the teley over there. Or possibly reruns. I was there 82 to 86.

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01-30-2005	#1 (permalink)
seinman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 73	Good news and bad So I bought a new car. 94 Chrysler LeBaron convertible. http://www.seinman.net/board/attatchments/04.jpg Then about two days later (before I even went on a single wardriving run with the new car), my laptop breaks. Since I just bought the car, I won't be able to afford a new laptop until at least June or July, if not the end of the year. Would have been the ultimate wardriving machine, too... I had just finished installing my radar detector, power inverter, CD player, and iPod when I went to get my laptop to see if my antenna cable was long enough to mount it on the trunk. Plugged it into the inverter and couldn't get it to boot. Bummer. __________________ http://www.seinman.net Last edited by seinman : 01-30-2005 at 02:53 PM.

01-30-2005	#5 (permalink)
seinman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 73	I know exactly what's wrong and tried to fix it, but I think i'm just screwed. If the battery has power (I tested it later with a spare battery that only holds a 15 minute charge) it'll boot. If I wiggle the power cable around in the socket for about 30 minutes, I can get it to charge. Something in the power socket is loose or broken or something, so just plugging it in doesn't do anything. My friends and I opened the case to try to find what was wrong, hoping we could just solder back on a broken connection, or tighten a broken connector, but all looks good inside the case and nothing we tried would fix it. It's a really old laptop (1997 or so), so it's hard to find replacement parts for. A motherboard replacement would work, but for the price they're going for (and the fact that there were like five different mobo's used in my model so finding the right one is a major pain) it's just not worth it. I'm just gonna start saving my cash for a new one, hopefully before summertime so I can do some wardriving with the top down. __________________ http://www.seinman.net

01-30-2005	#8 (permalink)
seinman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 73	Ah yes, I did try that. My friend has the same model laptop, so I tested it with his power supply, and had the same problem. Oh well, to tell you the truth, this just gives me a good excuse to ask my parents to help pay for a new one. "But my laptop broke and spring semester just started..." /me plots __________________ http://www.seinman.net

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01-30-2005	#2 (permalink)
wrzwaldo I amuse you? Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 9,127	FYI + some more text to meet the minimum length (sorry couldnt stop at 5).

01-30-2005	#6 (permalink)
wrzwaldo I amuse you? Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 9,127	My Thinkpad 560x had the same problem. Had to put it under the magnifying glass at work to find it. It pulled loose from the trace so it was intermittent with the power plug in. Re-soldered and been working like a champ ever since.

01-30-2005	#7 (permalink)
SignalSeeker Badger in heat Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 414	Don't forget to check the power cable right at the plug. Alot of laptop power supplies develope an open right at the strain relief to the laptop side plug. I have bandaided a few power supplies by folding the cable over itself and zip tieing it back to itslef tightly. Justin