HP Pavillion dv2120us Laptop Repair
I have a lot of pending work to do on some old laptops that I have. The first of which is an HP Pavillion dv2120us Entertainment Notebook PC (dv2000).
The unit had a liquid spilled on it a few months ago. It was donated to our company. The computer presents with power but no apparent POST. Keyboard is sticky and I replaced it after cleaning up under it. I had previously ordered another keyboard for this series laptop and had just one left in stock. After replacing the faulty keyboard and performing some sticky mess cleanup on the motherboard I attempted to boot the unit. The unit POST, however the image on the screen was very faded. This is, in most likelihood either a bad inverter or a blown CCFL. I have also sen this when one of various cables was unhooked or damaged and even when there was a motherboard issue which prevented an electrical current from reaching the inverter/backlight header on the motherboard. In a situation like this, the I replaced the inverter and there is an image. Note: be sure to hook up the video cable when testing this repair. In some situations, the inverter will not power the backlight unless there is video data going to the LCD panel! The computer has POSTed and now I will install a new motherboard after reassembling the LCD assembly. Quick digression: The Husky Micro-screwdriver with the red top and the grey body is the best screwdriver for laptop repair hands-down.
Since the unit now POSTs with a functional LCD display, I have installed a new hard drive, since the old hard drive was given to the client as a part of the data recovery that I did for him back in January 2010. This leaves us with a problem. There is No Operating System on the computer, it is an HP and the COA is for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. The recovery discs could be ordered from the company, or I could install an OS with another PREVIOUSLY UNUSED COA, or I could install Ubuntu Linux or SuSE etc. But I want MCE 2005 and I want it now!
Since I am doing this for completely educational purposes and have absolutely no need nor intent to resell this to a client and will likely not even use this for personal use, I am comfortable enough to divulge a small amount of information. Dell OEM Operating System Reinstallation Discs are basically universal in nature. Besides the branding in the oobe folder of system32 they are basically clean OEM discs. They can be used with this HP and then activated using the COA on the bottom of the computer. The only downside is that most of the devices will need drivers installed and none of HP’s software will be present on the computer.
I installed the Operating system, Installed all drivers and installed windows updates. I just have to order a new battery and this computer will be perfect. I am thinking of using this computer to test out new distros of Linux and some virus sandbox testing.
-[Marc]-
Test Facebook Integration
Using this post to test my Facebook blog integration. See my post here for details.
Now on Facebook!
Using the developer platform from Facebook to create a new application and the very easy to use WPBook, This blog is now an application of facebook! The procedure took about 20 minutes total. Follow the link to install the Overview Computer Services, LLC blog as an application on your facebook! If you would like to integrate your WordPress blog with Facebook, follow the simple instructions here. It is recommended that you have basic knowledge of web apps and WordPress.
Your blog can also post to your personal profile page, this is done by granting access to the WPBook application to your profile page by “allow”ing it, thus generating an infinite session key which is then put in your WPBook settings as demonstrated here.
Tale of the Headless Macbook A1181
What happens when the power header for the inverter goes dead on the logic board of an Apple Macbook A1181? Replace the Logic Board? Client thought it too expensive. You could use the laptop hooked up to an external screen, but wouldn’t that pesky screen get in the way?
My Solution: Permanently behead the Macbook! Basically it involved removing the LCD, brackets and hinges. In order to remove the wiring to the logic board, the SuperDrive also had to be temporarily removed. This procedure obviously renders the built in webcam and microphone useless and disconnected (which was not a problem with the client) but what of the wireless? By simply using a dremel to shorten the LCD brackets where the wireless antennae terminate, the antennae can both be placed where the hinges used to mount to the laptop chassis. Although there is a slight decrease in the wireless signal reception strength, it is minimal.
With this solution, the client can simply place the base of the Macbook in front of any standard LCD screen and use the laptop as they normally would.
iPhone WordPress Integration
It is very simple to update your blog from your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad using the wordpress app. Easy, simple and free!
Sent from my iPhone
First Post
New to the blogging world but I already like it. The WordPress setup was a breeze through Godaddy’s Application Setup. It was very straight forward and all settings were auto-configured. Why Blog? Well, I had a meeting with Seth Meyerowitz from UBE-Inc today at Piccolo Pizza and Pasta in Bellmore, NY. Delicious food; but I digress. Seth has given my company some very valuable information and likely the most thought provoking hour since my company first opened. I met Seth at my first Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores meeting on a couple of Wednesdays ago. Lauren Martindale, Operations Manager for Overview Computer Services, LLC was in attendance as well for both events.
Together, Seth and I have decided that I should dump Yext.com and not be so controlled by some bad business decisions that I have made with larger companies and that I should use Google and Yahoo etc. for more valuable advertising. This blog was also his idea, and I will use it to spread a wealth of information to the virtual world. From a new fix to an old problem to the daily activities of my company.