Death to SnapboxMobile1...

[Smithnweson]

Laptop died... idk what happened... I came home to a windows update... I clicked it... clicked restart it started installing and then BWAM.... just a black screen. Tried every which way to turn it back on. Battery in, battery out, plug in plug out.

now at the end of the day, the laptop can eventually get replaced..however the pictures on there that ironically I was going to burn by this weekend are not. These images are the only ones I have and will ever get of my daughters. Since the laptop won't turn on I was wondering if upon opening it if the harddrive would easily work with my old as XP desktop as a slave drive so I can copy the images over or if more drastic measures have to happen. Money is no object to get these images... I'd give the blood from my veins (without trying to sound overly dramatic... just too important to me). Please hit me back when you can and I apologise now for the scattered chatter... just very upset atm.



-Rob

[Baldecaran]

No worries. This is not nearly as bad as it would have been years ago (providing the harddrive is still good). Try this device (or something similar):

Newegg.com - CABLES UNLIMITED USB-2110 USB 2.0 to IDE/SATA Adapter Cable w/ Power - Adapters & Gender Changers

[Tim]

Hey buddy,

I have 2 of these: Micro Center - BlacX 2.5"/3.5" SATA Hard Drive USB Docking Station

They work exceptionally well. I can connect any external laptop or normal desktop hard drive to my PC, either via USB or via ESATA (far, far, faaaaar faster than USB).

Most new PCs these days have ESATA connections on the back, and if you use that above device to connect via ESATA, the hard drive will be the SAME speed as if it was actually installed in your PC. So you could play WoW, games, whatever off it.

[Smithnweson]

I spent $30 yesterday on a theory that maybe my electrical plug is broken and that is the cause of my laptop being crapped out...so as I await a new plug to show up I am stuck with Oldsys5. However even if I do get my laptop to work again, I am buying a new desktop and transferring all gaming data to it. And will use the laptop for browsing the internet, downloading files and scanning then thumb driving it to my main desktop. My desktop will be 100% wow only. I will be removing all other unnecessary software. Only will use iexplore to install the newest drivers. I want to keep my gaming computer about as clean as I can for as long as I can.

[Tim]

What if you were to back up all your files to USB or CD, then just completely format your HD and reinstall windows?

Also, if you are adventurous enough, take apart your laptop and clean and re-apply cpu thermal compound to the heat sink for the CPU and the graphics card. That always helps out on all my laptops.

[Smithnweson]

Snapboxmobile1's rebirth

It appears having the laptop on 24/7 for the past 8months had taken its toll on the old charger/plug. I opened the new one and it works fine

Still buying the desktop though.

[Tim]

Interesting, I was thinking of using some of the laptops I have laying around as servers, I wonder if they would have the same problem since they would be online 24/7?

[Smithnweson]

With your expertise, I am sure you would be able to allocate the proper power usage parameters. I keep my laptop's power settings on max, no powersaver, no screensaver... just never ending chugalug :P Oh and the battery doesn't work thanks to the known issue of Vista Laptops made from when they released until mid 2009 whereas you get the wonderful "Plugged In Not Charging". I've read all the fixes... however in the end the best route is to buy a new battery and hope for the best.... I just don't see myself spending that kind of money... might as well buy a new desktop :P