My “old” laptop. I actually fixed it. I’m very proud of myself.
I’m going to post a step-by-step because I searched quite a bit on google for instructions on fixing a Gateway and only found instructions to send the laptop on an independent dealer not how to do it myself. I did find other instructions for a different type of laptop and while they helped at the outset the rest I just had to muddle through.
The computer works though, and I’m very pleased with myself. I do however need to get a new battery because the CMOS and BIOS are having issues. In English it means the computer is having issues recognizing the date/time settings because the battery is dead so it realizes that the time is wrong but doesn’t want to finish booting up because it won’t be able to store the new settings without having a battery. I’d thought about getting a battery when I got the screen replacement but I decided against it. Ah, well.
But yay! I am a tech goddess! I just wish I’d thought of doing this a year ago when the screen died. I’ve fixed the screen for $75 when Gateway told us that it would be $150 for the consult of the laptop and then at least $400 to fix it if not more. Other quotes were more than that. Of course the battery is probably going to be another $50 but even with that it’s cheaper than the consult for Gateway to tell me “Your screen is dead,” they did volunteer to waive that the third time I called them, but I would have still had to pay for the fix.
Local shops that I asked about the laptop recoiled in horror. It is fiddly.
