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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Del Boy on 24 November 2009, 17:32:46

Title: Laptop problem
Post by: Del Boy on 24 November 2009, 17:32:46
Got a problem with my laptop it's a Dell and the dog decided to jump up and knock coffee all over it Sunday, tipped it up and hairdried it  >:( Anyway it now beeps when you turn it on (never did before).

Any ideas what he's done?
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 24 November 2009, 17:34:39
Something to do with the Coffee I reckon  ;D :P
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: Del Boy on 24 November 2009, 17:39:33
It's a possibility  ;D
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: tunnie on 24 November 2009, 17:39:43
fckked it  ;D

How many beeps does it do?
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: Del Boy on 24 November 2009, 17:43:10
Quite a few until actually turns on, as if you were holding down a button or something. It does turn on and works fine though.
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 24 November 2009, 17:43:53
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Quite a few until actually turns on, as if you were holding down a button or something. It does turn on and works fine though.


Steam clean it mate that will get rid of the coffee ;)
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: tunnie on 24 November 2009, 17:48:23
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Quite a few until actually turns on, as if you were holding down a button or something. It does turn on and works fine though.

Count them, that will tell you what its complaining about. Post up how many beeps it does  :)
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 24 November 2009, 17:55:00
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Quite a few until actually turns on, as if you were holding down a button or something. It does turn on and works fine though.

Count them, that will tell you what its complaining about. Post up how many beeps it does  :)


I would have thought it would be like Morse Code Tunnie, with computers being clever it will be telling him what is wrong ;)
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: tunnie on 24 November 2009, 17:59:07
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Quite a few until actually turns on, as if you were holding down a button or something. It does turn on and works fine though.

Count them, that will tell you what its complaining about. Post up how many beeps it does  :)


I would have thought it would be like Morse Code Tunnie, with computers being clever it will be telling him what is wrong ;)

Close....  ;)
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: tunnie on 24 November 2009, 18:00:14
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Quite a few until actually turns on, as if you were holding down a button or something. It does turn on and works fine though.

Count them, that will tell you what its complaining about. Post up how many beeps it does  :)

Also, check what types of beeps some are short, some are long
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: Del Boy on 24 November 2009, 18:01:05
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Quite a few until actually turns on, as if you were holding down a button or something. It does turn on and works fine though.

Count them, that will tell you what its complaining about. Post up how many beeps it does  :)

Also, check what types of beeps some are short, some are long
Ok will check in a bit  :)
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: STMO999 on 24 November 2009, 18:19:28
If it's going bip bip bip beep beep beep bip bip bip, that's computer for SOS ;D ::)
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: dad1uk on 24 November 2009, 18:23:19
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If it's going bip bip bip beep beep beep bip bip bip, that's computer for SOS ;D ::)


 ::)

Are you sure it's not saying "I said Milk but NO sugar!" . . . . :D ;D
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: Chris_H on 24 November 2009, 19:03:40
Sadly coffee is quite conductive and corrosive.  Drying it is not good enough.  It really needs to be removed with distilled water or meths and fast.  The batteries would be best removed too as the voltage will accelerate corrosion.
Hopefully the keyboard has caught it all.  These can often be removed from the outside by sliding a latch-bar accessible between the front of the keyboard and the case.  Having said that, I haven't dismantled one for some time!
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: KillerWatt on 24 November 2009, 19:12:38
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Quite a few until actually turns on, as if you were holding down a button or something. It does turn on and works fine though.
As it starts up normally (other than the repetitive bleep), it's probably just a case that a new keyboard will fix it (count yourself lucky).
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: TheBoy on 24 November 2009, 19:15:45
Do the bleeps stop? If not, try a replacement keyboard (egay).  If its a POST beep(s), bin the laptop.
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: KillerWatt on 24 November 2009, 19:17:09
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Do the bleeps stop? If not, try a replacement keyboard (egay).  If its a POST beep(s), bin the laptop.
If there was a POST error, I wouldn't expect the laptop to start successfully.
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: Del Boy on 24 November 2009, 20:05:13
Right beeps are really fast, too fast to count them all, high pitched they stop when it gets to the green vista bar going across, start just after bios screen is it knackered?
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: TheBoy on 24 November 2009, 20:08:17
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Do the bleeps stop? If not, try a replacement keyboard (egay).  If its a POST beep(s), bin the laptop.
If there was a POST error, I wouldn't expect the laptop to start successfully.
If it was a keyboard error, I'd expect the POST to report it. But then it is a Dell ;D
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: Del Boy on 24 November 2009, 20:14:54
It's an Inspiron 1525 if that makes any odds?
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: Entwood on 24 November 2009, 20:23:30
Can you get it to enter the BIOS setup ??

1. Press the F2 key when the Laptop starts up.
2. Enter the system setup program.

If you can .. then try the "beep on errors" setting ... turn it to OFF !!! Then the "Halt on errors" ... turn off the "keyboard error" see if that allows it to boot.

If it does boot, and the keyboard then doesn't work .... pretty conclusive the keyboard is knacked.. :(
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: Del Boy on 24 November 2009, 20:32:05
Tapped the keys around and it didn't do it, must be a sticky key somewhere from the coffee  :y
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: Chris_H on 24 November 2009, 20:37:01
Check to see if all the keys are 'up'.  If one appears 'down' then tap it a few times to see if it will return.  They often pass through holes in a plastic tray and can seize to that.  Behind the tray are probably at least two polythene membranes and if it has got between those it's fun.  Dexterous cleaning or a replacement keyboard depending on your skill set!
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: Del Boy on 24 November 2009, 20:39:41
How would I go about getting the keyboard out would like to clean under there, also whats the best stuff to clean it with?
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: KillerWatt on 24 November 2009, 21:03:27
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How would I go about getting the keyboard out would like to clean under there, also whats the best stuff to clean it with?
The keyboard is pretty much a sealed unit on a lappy, look at paying around £40 or so for a replacement.
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: tunnie on 24 November 2009, 21:06:18
Keyboard will come out as a complete unit, the older Dells where easy to take apart, with letters underneath next to screws not sure if the more recent ones are as good
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: RichardH on 24 November 2009, 21:18:54
To remove the keyboard, take out the battery and remove the two screws underneath. Then prise off the plastic cover around the power button. Start from the right hand side (You will see an indentation where you can get a screwdriver under it). It is just clipped in but might take a decent tug to get off.

This will reveal the two screws that hold the keyboard in.
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: Del Boy on 24 November 2009, 21:19:07
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Keyboard will come out as a complete unit, the older Dells where easy to take apart, with letters underneath next to screws not sure if the more recent ones are as good

Cant see any screws, don't really want to pay 40 quid either  :(
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: KillerWatt on 25 November 2009, 08:12:57
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Cant see any screws, don't really want to pay 40 quid either  :(
You would have been paying considerably more if the liquid had made it past the keyboard  ;)

Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: Harison213 on 25 November 2009, 12:13:04
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Keyboard will come out as a complete unit, the older Dells where easy to take apart, with letters underneath next to screws not sure if the more recent ones are as good

Cant see any screws, don't really want to pay 40 quid either  :(

The screws might be in different locations. Best to check Dell website to see if they have any how-to guide in their support site for your laptop. Many motherboards have a memory slot under the keyboard, so if there's a guide on adding/upgrading memory it will most probably describe how to take the keybaord off.

--- updated: here's the link: http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1525/en/SM/keyboard.htm#wp1180346  :y
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: Harison213 on 25 November 2009, 12:21:54
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How would I go about getting the keyboard out would like to clean under there, also whats the best stuff to clean it with?
The keyboard is pretty much a sealed unit on a lappy, look at paying around £40 or so for a replacement.

electrical contact cleaner maybe? you can use compressed air cans to get rid of dirt as well. you can take the covers of the keys off by carefully levering your nails and pulling it upwards. bigger keys might have a metal bracket behind. be careful as they're easily damaged.

if you're going to take keys off, try it on a rarely used key first, e.g. print screen or context menu, just in case you damage it  ;)
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: Chris_H on 25 November 2009, 15:58:33
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Keyboard will come out as a complete unit, the older Dells where easy to take apart, with letters underneath next to screws not sure if the more recent ones are as good

Cant see any screws, don't really want to pay 40 quid either  :(

The screws might be in different locations. Best to check Dell website to see if they have any how-to guide in their support site for your laptop. Many motherboards have a memory slot under the keyboard, so if there's a guide on adding/upgrading memory it will most probably describe how to take the keybaord off.

--- updated: here's the link: http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1525/en/SM/keyboard.htm#wp1180346  :y
Dell have come a long way!  Good on them for providing that level of support. :y
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: PhilRich on 25 November 2009, 18:50:14
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Quite a few until actually turns on, as if you were holding down a button or something. It does turn on and works fine though.


Steam clean it mate that will get rid of the coffee ;)
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It should certainly get rid of any lingering doubts about it being knackered!!! ;D ;D ;D :y
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: Del Boy on 25 November 2009, 19:35:08
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Keyboard will come out as a complete unit, the older Dells where easy to take apart, with letters underneath next to screws not sure if the more recent ones are as good

Cant see any screws, don't really want to pay 40 quid either  :(

The screws might be in different locations. Best to check Dell website to see if they have any how-to guide in their support site for your laptop. Many motherboards have a memory slot under the keyboard, so if there's a guide on adding/upgrading memory it will most probably describe how to take the keybaord off.

--- updated: here's the link: http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1525/en/SM/keyboard.htm#wp1180346  :y
Dell have come a long way!  Good on them for providing that level of support. :y
Sure looks like that, thanks very much for the link Harison and thanks to everyone else that posted  :y
Title: Re: Laptop problem
Post by: sparkler on 28 November 2009, 21:02:36
Do you know the brand of Coffee some laptops prefer one brand over another.