If you have a broken laptop, you need to know that you do not always have to buy a new one. Contrary to what most people think, fixing your laptop can often be a fairly easy task. You may want to consider getting a cheap laptop to use while you are properly fixing your own. There are many usable choices of laptops under 400, dollars.
Diagnose the laptop
First you will want to find out exactly what is wrong with the laptop. Some of the most common problem areas include; your screen, power source, the hard drive, the memory, or the video card.
Hard Drive
If you have a problem with your hard drive your notebook will still power on, but the operating system might not load. You may also experience screen freezing and losses of data. Because the hard drive does not have to be any particular brand or speed these are typically easy to replace. The only tool that you may need is a screwdriver; hard drives are replaced by opening a hatch on the bottom of the laptop.
Memory
Because RAM is sensitive you may experience problems across the board if it is your memory. If when you try to power up you get a blue screen or the notebook freezes you may have a memory problem. Typically a laptop requires a certain brand and/or speed so you will need to refer to your owner’s manual to be certain.
Video Card
Unless you are running a newer gaming laptop, your video card is most likely in the motherboard. this means that a video card problem is a tougher fix, your best bet is to replace the main board or take it to a shop and see if they can weld a new card in for you.
Power Source
If your laptop does not turn on at all you may have a power source issue. Disconnect your computer right away if you think that it could be your power source, because you run a risk of frying the motherboard. You should also disconnect all devices that are hooked up to it.
The laptop screen
Exposing your laptop screen to large amounts of weight can cause it break easily. If your broken laptop, is still under warranty then the manufacture will most likely be able to provide you with a replacement screen, so check with them first. If you do not have a lot of experience in this area it is recommended that you have a professional replace the screen for you.
HP G62-340us 15.6-Inch Laptop PC – Up to 4 Hours of Battery Life (Charcoal)
- AMD Athlon II Dual-Core Processor for Notebook PCs P340 (2.20GHz, 1MB L2 Cache); 3GB DDR3 SDRAM memory (1 x 2GB & 1 x 1GB) (expandable to 8GB); 320GB (5400 RPM) Serial ATA hard drive; Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
- 15.6 Inch diagonal High-Definition HP BrightView LED Display (1366 x 768), ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 Graphics with up to 1405MB total graphics memory
- External Ports: 5-in-1 memory card reader; 3 USB 2.0; 1 HDMI; 1 VGA (15-pin); 1 RJ -45 (LAN); 1 Headphone-out; 1 Microphone-in
- LightScribe Technology SuperMulti DVD Burner; Altec Lansing speakers; Integrated 10/100Base-T Ethernet LAN; Wireless LAN 802.11b/g/n WLAN
- 101-key compatible with full-size keyboard with One touch launch keys and Action; Touch Pad with integrated On/Off button and 2-way scroll pad support; HP Webcam with integrated microphone
An affordable notebook can be stylish, too. The HP G62-340US Notebook PC delivers productivity, reliability and fun at a great value. Watch DVDs and view photos easily on the 15.6-inch diagonal High-Definition LED display. Browse the Web from any room and on the go using built-in Wi-Fi, plus chat face-to-face over the Internet using the integrated HP webcam. 3GB of memory help you work in multiple applications at the same time. This HP laptop looks great with the fingerprint-resistant, textured HP Imprint finish with the prism design in charcoal. The HP G62-340US Notebook PC is an all-around performer that keeps up with everything you do. Manage everyday tasks using the full-size keyboard and get fast access to email and other common applications. Burn custom labels onto CDs and DVDs using LightScribe Technology, plus store thousands of photos right on the hard drive. Just transfer photos directly from a memory card to your HP laptop. You can also enjoy online games in crisp detail usi
List Price: $ 524.99
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Apple MacBook Pro MC374LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop
- 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
- 250 GB Hard Drive, 8x DVD/CD SuperDrive, 4GB DDR3 RAM
- 13.3 inch LED-backlit display, 1280-by-800 resolution
- NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor with 256 MB of shared memory
- Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard Operating System
Carved from a single block of aluminum, the MacBook Pro is a true engineering achievement. Its patented unibody enclosure is the product of precise machining. The new energy-efficient architecture in the MacBook Pro, gives you dramatically longer battery life. On a single charge, the battery in the new 13-inch MacBook Pro lasts up to 10 hours, and you’ll get up to 1000 full charge and discharge cycles — that’s nearly three times the lifespan of typical notebook batteries. MacBook Pro gives you more options for high-performance graphics, starting with the new NVIDIA GeForce 320M integrated graphics processor in the 13-inch model. It’s up to 80 percent faster than the previous generation and is even more energy-efficient for everyday tasks like writing email and surfing the web. Every MacBook Pro has a pristine LED-backlit display with wide-angle viewing and a color gamut usually seen only on a desktop display. So whether you’re watching a movie or making one, you’ve got
List Price: $ 1,199.00
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eMachines eME527-2537 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black)
- Intel Celeron processor
- Intel GMA graphics and Windows 7 Home Premium
- 15.6-inch HD widescreen display
- Integrated 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi certified wireless
- 160 GB Hard Drive
eMachines eME527-2537 Notebook comes with these specs: Intel Celeron Processor 900, Windows 7 Home Premium, 15.6-Inch HD Widescreen LCD Display, Intel GL40 Express Chipset, 2048MB DDR3 1066MHz Memory, Intel Graphics media Accelerator 4500M, 160 GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive, 5-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader, Audio Support, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED, 2 – USB 2.0 Ports, 6-cell Li-ion Battery (4400 mAh), Up to 3 hours of battery life, 6.0 lbs. |2.7 kg (system unit only), AC Power Adapter, AC Power Cord, Wireless Setup Card, Registration/ Limited Warranty Card, Norton Internet Security Trial (60-day insert)Stay productive and have fun with the eMachines eME527-2537 Notebook featuring reliable Intel Celeron processing, 15.6-inch HD widescreen display, Intel GMA graphics and Windows 7 Home Premium. It is everything you need to easily accomplish deadlines, browse the Internet, keep up with your social networks, have fun with digital media and more, on-the-go. Everyday Mobility eME527-253
List Price: $ 399.99
Price: $ 364.79
Dell Latitude D600 14.1-Inch Laptop – 512MB RAM, 30GB Hard Drive
- Intel Pentium M 1.6 GHz Processor
- 30GB Hard Drive
- 512 MB RAM
- 24X CD-RW / DVD-ROM
- 14.1 in TFT active matrix, ATI Mobility Radeon 9000
Dell Latitude D600 Pentium M Centrino 1.4 Ghz 512 MB 40GB CD-RW 14.1″ Radeon 9000 Integrated 10/100 56K Built-in WIFI Windows XP Pro (NO COA or Restore CDs) AC Adapter Battery (not tested). 30 Day SATISFACTION GUARANTEED warranty. PERFORMANCE: This laptop is very fast having a full 1.4 Ghz of processing speed and plenty of power to run most any programs. With a Pentium M Centrino processor you’ll be on the cutting edge with the latest in Laptop Processing power. EXPANDABILITY: The Latitude D600 has a modular bay located conveniently on the front that can hold an optical drive (CD/DVD/CD-RW/COMBO/DVD-RW see specs for which drive is included with this option), floppy drive, an extra battery or second hard drive.
Price:
Apple MacBook MC516LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop
- Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging
- 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, NVIDIA Graphics
- 250GB Hard Drive, 8x Double-layer SuperDrive, 2GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM
- 10-hour Battery Life, Glass Multi-Touch Trackpad
- 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen display with support for millions of colors
Meet the fastest, most powerful MacBook yet. It now features next-generation NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics, a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, and 2GB of memory. That means MacBook can handle everything from surfing the web to the most graphically intense 3D games with ease. It also features up to 10 hours of battery life and a glass Multi-Touch trackpad that supports inertial scrolling, right-clicking, and Multi-Touch gestures. All in a streamlined, durable unibody enclosure. Meet the fastest, most powerful MacBook yet. It now features next-generation NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics, a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, and 2 GB of memory. That means MacBook can handle everything from surfing the web to the most graphically intense 3D games with ease. It also features up to 10 hours of battery life and a glass Multi-Touch trackpad that supports inertial scrolling, right-clicking, and Multi-Touch gestures. All in a streamlined, durable unibody enclosure. The 13-inch MacBook with LED-
List Price: $ 999.99
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