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LWD Staff Joined: 15 Feb 2002 Posts: 1300 Location: USA

have my daughter's old Dell Inspirion laptop. The cd-drive doesn't work, and the keyboard has some keys that don't work, like r, t, y, u. Are these things fixable? I hate throwing it out, it would be nice to fix it so it can be used for surfing the net or something. It has a yukky graphics card, but it's processor speed is decent enough for browsing.

I'm not afraid to open it up and tinker, because it is not very usable now. But if it can't easily and cheaply be fixed, then i won't even bother.

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 12:34 pm Post subject:

the keyboard is a pretty easy fix on most laptops (pull a snap on panel off the top edge of the keyboard and then remove some screws) some you have to remove the screws from the backside of the hinges and fold the screen as far back as it will go to remove that panel... but anyhoo... I replaced the keyboard on the dell I rebuilt for about $17 shipped direct from dell. the cd drive will be decidedly more expensive though, but if you just replace it, you should be able to get at least a dvd-rom cd-rw combo drive for under $100... what's the model number... I'm sure the bargain hunters around here can help locate good deals on parts... or better yet, since it's a dell... what's the service tag number?

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 5:15 pm Post subject:

I recently replaced the cd-rom in my Compaq Armada 1750 with a DVD-rom drive. It was really easy and I got it for under $50. Keyboard is an even easier replacement.

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 5:35 pm Post subject: Re: Lap top recycling

Linda wrote:
have my daughter's old Dell Inspirion laptop. The cd-drive doesn't work, and the keyboard has some keys that don't work, like r, t, y, u. Are these things fixable? I hate throwing it out, it would be nice to fix it so it can be used for surfing the net or something. It has a yukky graphics card, but it's processor speed is decent enough for browsing.

I'm not afraid to open it up and tinker, because it is not very usable now. But if it can't easily and cheaply be fixed, then i won't even bother.

You'll be wanting ye olde Service Manual, which should - if it's been properly written - tell you how to change every single component in the laptop, complete with step-by-step illustrations and instructions down to the level of individual screws and clips. Chances are you can download it from the Support area of Dell's website. Other manufacturers provide them; it would be odd if Dell didn't.

EEps · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 6:50 pm Post subject:

What model do you have? I have some Dell parts I can send you... Wink Smile

LWD Staff Joined: 15 Feb 2002 Posts: 1300 Location: USA

It's a Dell Inspiron 1150, Celeron 2.4 ghz, 14.1 so it is rather dinosaurish, but it would be nice to get some more life out of it.

I am pretty sure I could replace the cd drive well enough: that looks easy. I was worried about the keyboard, but not after reading these replies, thanks!

Bam, do you have either of those parts? PM me, and we can work something out... I appreciate the help, guys!

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 4:12 am Post subject:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1150/sm/keyboard.htm#1084976

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:44 am Post subject:

Linda wrote:
It's a Dell Inspiron 1150, Celeron 2.4 ghz, 14.1 so it is rather dinosaurish, but it would be nice to get some more life out of it.

I am pretty sure I could replace the cd drive well enough: that looks easy. I was worried about the keyboard, but not after reading these replies, thanks!

Bam, do you have either of those parts? PM me, and we can work something out... I appreciate the help, guys!

Do something fun like make a picture frame. Probably a little overkill for that... beside 2.4 is not old Rolling Eyes

LWD Staff Joined: 15 Feb 2002 Posts: 1300 Location: USA

Thanks for finding this for me T, I sometimes find Dell's website hard to navigate and find what I need. Now to find the parts Smile

T wrote:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1150/sm/keyboard.htm#1084976

EEps · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 9:38 am Post subject:

Looks like the keyboard I have won't work on yer laptop...although they all look the same. Sad Smile

However....I should be able to dig up a CD drive and send that. They are all the same...just a sometimes a different color or where the lights/buttons line up. Wink Smile

Although a piccie of yer current drive would help some... Big Smile

Keyboard fer about $11 shipped with a Buy It Now (BIN) of about $11 shipped. Seems to be the best deal out there so far! Big Smile

Keyboard fer about $10 shipped but ends in about 5 days.
Keyboard fer about $14 shipped but ends in about an hour...seller has more listed that ends in a few days.
Keyboard with a BIN price of about $14 shipped. Big Smile

They have more as well. Just be aware of the conditions of sale though... Sad Smile

You could also try reseating yer keyboard connector once you open it up and see if that resolves yer issue. Are you sure there isn't any food items stuck in between the keys? Just a thought... Wink Smile

LWD Staff Joined: 15 Feb 2002 Posts: 1300 Location: USA

BamZipPow wrote:
Looks like the keyboard I have won't work on yer laptop...although they all look the same.

However....I should be able to dig up a CD drive and send that. They are all the same...just a sometimes a different color or where the lights/buttons line up. Although a piccie of yer current drive would help some...

Keyboard fer about $11 shipped with a Buy It Now (BIN) of about $11 shipped. Seems to be the best deal out there so far!
Keyboard fer about $10 shipped but ends in about 5 days.
Keyboard fer about $14 shipped but ends in about an hour...seller has more listed that ends in a few days.
Keyboard with a BIN price of about $14 shipped. They have more as well. Just be aware of the conditions of sale though...

You could also try reseating yer keyboard connector once you open it up and see if that resolves yer issue. Are you sure there isn't any food items stuck in between the keys? Just a thought...

Thanks, Bam, I just bid on the second one. We will see if I get it, as you said, it ends in 5 days. The first one already ended, oh well. I'm also going to see if I can reseat the one I have, and see if that works. the keyboard is more important than the cd drive, so let's see how this goes before you go to any trouble about it. Smile

The only reason I want one is I want to be able to replace the Operating Sustem, and install some games. I tried other methods, and they didn't work out. It has no floppy disk drive, but it does have usb. But I couldn't get it to install a game by using it. And I wasn't able to install Ubuntu either, but I really didn't try very hard. That was before the keyboard stopped working properly.

EEps · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:18 pm Post subject:

Couldn't you hook up and external keyboard via the ps/2 port? Wink Smile

LWD Staff Joined: 15 Feb 2002 Posts: 1300 Location: USA

BamZipPow wrote:
Couldn't you hook up and external keyboard via the ps/2 port?

Nope, tried that. I don't have a ps/2 port, so I tried a usb adapter on my ps2 keyboard, but it was male or female or whatever, the wrong way. Does that make sense?

Besides, that is way too cumbersome to have a seperate keyboard. I got my email to work by copying the appropriate letters of my username and password and pasting into a text document, then pasting into the password box. Ingenious, huh! But rather silly. It was a mountain I wanted to climb that day Smile

I took out the old keyboard, and you were right, it was easy. Now I just have to wait for the one on ebay.

I don't suppose there is a way to upgrade my video card? It is an integrated card Sad

.

EEps · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 1:52 pm Post subject:

Linda wrote:
I don't suppose there is a way to upgrade my video card? It is an integrated card .

Most Inspirons have a modular or add-on video card. Do you know if you have any daughter cards in there now? Wink Smile

Double check before you buy/bid on any cards... Big Smile

32MB 9U768 ATI 7500 fer about $11 shipped... Wink Smile

This probably has the biggest bang fer yer buck.

32MB 9U741 fer about $9 shipped... It seems that some people are reporting this as a 32MB daughter card. Most other sites report this model number as a 16MB daughter card. Wink Smile

Since you have the keyboard out...you should be able to see if you have one already or not. Wink Smile

Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2007 6:02 pm Post subject:

I recently replaced the entire motherboard/video board in my Insiprion 4000... $29 Smile

your "dinosaur" is nothing like my 700mhz beauty!