Laptop issues

Devhux · 11-16-2005, 08:27 PM

Well, it looks like my brother's AOpen 1557GLS barebones laptop is slowly dying (and this is only after 1.5 years of service.

Originally, the CD-ROM drive started being flaky. It would work fine one minute, then the next, it would disappear from "My Computer." Removing / reinstalling the drive made no difference.

Now, whenever the machine boots up from suspend or from a powered-off state, the display is pink for about 30 seconds -- then fades into the proper colors. The backlighting is also very uneven (there's a darker patch near the bottom middle of the LCD).

Luckily the machine was purchased with a VISA card that doubles the warranty, so VISA will cover it -- but I don't even know who to contact to get this thing repaired (let alone how long it will take).

Here's a pic of what the LCD does:

_=DeltaForce=_ · 11-16-2005, 09:23 PM

Call VISA and see how they cover the warranty... You can may be send it to Aopen for out of warranty repair and I guess VISA will cover it.. Or they might ask you to send it somewhere and refund the money you paid to buy another laptop...

Devhux · 11-16-2005, 10:33 PM

Now to figure out how to get a hold of Aopen (their site is not the best to glean such info).

Jeffbx · 11-17-2005, 05:48 AM

I had the same LCD issue with a Thinkpad (started pink but then displayed normal colors when it 'warmed up'). You probably need a new backlight for it. If you can't get it covered under warranty, you should be able to find parts to do it yourself pretty easily.

spigidygak · 11-17-2005, 07:10 AM

definitely looks like a backlight issue, have a few friends with similar issues.

http://usa.aopen.com/tech/

Devhux · 11-17-2005, 10:51 AM

Well I'm going to the place I bought it for them to do a full diagnostic run on it (complete with burn-in testing). That way I can rule out any future problems developing before I send the barebones unit to AOpen (looking at the site linked above, barebones laptops like this should be sent back without the CPU/memory/HDD).

Grimm · 11-17-2005, 01:26 PM

I'm betting it will die on benchmark testing.

My guess is that the problem is power related. The CD, a very power hungry component, dying off is a big indicator.

11-16-2005, 08:27 PM	#1
Devhux Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Calgary Alberta Canada Posts: 2,511	Laptop issues Well, it looks like my brother's AOpen 1557GLS barebones laptop is slowly dying (and this is only after 1.5 years of service. Originally, the CD-ROM drive started being flaky. It would work fine one minute, then the next, it would disappear from "My Computer." Removing / reinstalling the drive made no difference. Now, whenever the machine boots up from suspend or from a powered-off state, the display is pink for about 30 seconds -- then fades into the proper colors. The backlighting is also very uneven (there's a darker patch near the bottom middle of the LCD). Luckily the machine was purchased with a VISA card that doubles the warranty, so VISA will cover it -- but I don't even know who to contact to get this thing repaired (let alone how long it will take). Here's a pic of what the LCD does: Last edited by Devhux : 11-16-2005 at 08:37 PM.

11-17-2005, 07:10 AM	#5
spigidygak Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Location: Redlands & San Diego, CA. Posts: 5,882	definitely looks like a backlight issue, have a few friends with similar issues. http://usa.aopen.com/tech/ __________________

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11-16-2005, 09:23 PM	#2
_=DeltaForce=_ Captain Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Planet Mars Posts: 1,699	Call VISA and see how they cover the warranty... You can may be send it to Aopen for out of warranty repair and I guess VISA will cover it.. Or they might ask you to send it somewhere and refund the money you paid to buy another laptop...

11-16-2005, 10:33 PM	#3
Devhux Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Calgary Alberta Canada Posts: 2,511	Now to figure out how to get a hold of Aopen (their site is not the best to glean such info).

11-17-2005, 05:48 AM	#4
Jeffbx Fleet Admiral Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,390	I had the same LCD issue with a Thinkpad (started pink but then displayed normal colors when it 'warmed up'). You probably need a new backlight for it. If you can't get it covered under warranty, you should be able to find parts to do it yourself pretty easily.

11-17-2005, 10:51 AM	#6
Devhux Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Calgary Alberta Canada Posts: 2,511	Well I'm going to the place I bought it for them to do a full diagnostic run on it (complete with burn-in testing). That way I can rule out any future problems developing before I send the barebones unit to AOpen (looking at the site linked above, barebones laptops like this should be sent back without the CPU/memory/HDD).

11-17-2005, 01:26 PM	#7
Grimm 100% Pure Evil Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 7,861	I'm betting it will die on benchmark testing. My guess is that the problem is power related. The CD, a very power hungry component, dying off is a big indicator.

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