I recently dropped my laptop. Everything hardware wise still works, cosmetically a bit scratched. But the screen won't light up. I can see an image of everthing just it dosn't have the backlight anymore. The cost to buy a new screen is $500 more than what I pain for the laptop. The laptop is slow and has only a 11GB hard drive so its not that important to me.
138259
Take it to your local recycling center to have it recycled or have the parts reused to make refurbished computers.  I just wrote an article for someone about this.  (I'm a freelance writer)  Just don't throw it in the trash!
662462
It is a relatively "normal" problem for all LCD screens to have minor defects. I would suggest that you take it back while you still can, because it will drive you crazy otherwise. I had a stuck pixel on my LCD television, and we had to talk the guy at the store into exchanging it, because their policy (which BestBuy also told me was the policy of most computer manufacturers) is that there have to be something like 6 seperate bad pixels for them to take it back. It's considered a "normal" thing for one or two of them to be bad. Pffft I say!
585426
Look in your yellow pages for a computer technician, or send the laptop to dell for repair. It may not be the moniter, it could be a video card also.  Places like Best Buy or CompUSA seem reluctant to work on laptops.
27309
I've replaced a keyboard on a Dell Latitude laptop before.  I got the replacement part of ebay for about $15.\n\nIt was actually VERY easy to replace.\n\n1.  Remove screws from the base of the laptop\n2.  Pop up the top (the part surrounding the keyboard)\n3.  The keyboard usually sits above the motherboard (the main big board that is your 'computer') and is attached by some screws and one data ribbon that connects to the mother board. \n4.  Remove the keyboard screws\n5.  CAREFULLY pull the ribbon out of the socket it is attached too (if you aren't sure at this point, put it back together and pay someone to do this.  If you break the attachment, you will cost yourself a lot more in repair costs).  It is pretty sturdy though, and you should be okay.\n\n6. Take the new keyboard and attach the ribbon first. \n7. Screw down the new keyboard\n8. Place the top casing back on\n\nYou should be careful of being in a fairly static free environment (don't rub a ballon on your head, for example).  However, the replacement is really not too difficult.  It's meant to be pretty simple because keyboards receive a lot of abuse and eventually need replacing anyway.\n\nNOTE:  The work may be considered a violation of your warranty (if you still have one).  If you do have a warranty, contact the manufacturer.  Likely you don't still.  If you don't, you can do it yourself, or you can contact Best Buy (I think they have the "Geek Squad") or any Engineer that you know.\n\nGood luck!
420010
don't waste your time with it. Sorry but it is true. There are going to be a lot of laptop deals soon with the holidays and all. It would not be worth fixing.\n\n(What is the model number?)/how old is it?
511456
G'day,\n\nUnfortunately because it is a laptop, that has to be done by DELL's authorised repair centre (not just any other repair shop) and will cost you quite alot.  A desktop hardware problems can be done by yourself or just any other computer repair shop.\n\nWhat I would suggest is as follows:\n1. Call Dell, describe the problem and ask for a quote or an estimate on repair cost (inc. labor)\n2. Check the price of a new laptop with the options that suitable for your use.\n3. Compare the cost.  If your current laptop is about 2-3 years old, it may be worth fixing.  However considering the comments that I've read about your laptop model (follow the links below), I think it may be just the tip of the iceberg.\n\nHope this helps you in making a decision.  Good luck.
666448
At worst, it sounds like the system board has been damaged.  there is usually no fixing them.  They have to be replaced.  The price for a board would probably be in the $100-$150, plus labor charges.  Depending on the age of your computer, it may not be worth putting money into it.  Since you can get a low end Dell desktop starting in the $300-$350 range.  About what a system board would run you.  Also you may be able to find a local computer shop that can build one reusing your current hard drive, CD drive and possible other components in the same range or less (fewer parts).
309118
If it's that new, it could still be under warranty.  Call tech support again and be firm with them.  These companies usually won't do anything for you until you get nasty with them. Like insurance, the idea is that most people will give up and then they don't have to fix it.  If it's not warrantied, CD / DVD drives are pretty cheap these days.  You can get a decent DVD burner for $75.  I used to do PC repair and we only charged $35 to install those kinds of drives.  So the bill won't be terrible.  Before you take it in, try going to start -> run ->  type "msconfig" and click OK.  Uncheck the box that says load startup group items.  Restart. It may be that there is a software conflict and this will disable all unnecessary software.  See if that helps.\n\nGood luck.
173089
If it is a new laptop, bring it back to the store, contact the manufacturer site for help.\nIf it is old, bring it to the store for repair, cause it is a hardware problem, more fix on your end only cause more trouble.\nKeyboard is a very robust device, so if it doesnt function as expected, it got to be hardware.
217501
It might be something simple.  Depends upon how old the laptop is.  Most laptop service centers charge $60 to $70 to diagnose what is wrong.  If they can fix it and it's a reasonable price you can repair it and they usually will apply the diagnosis fee towards the repair costs.  Worth getting it check out to find out.
514518
Take it to your local high street computer shop, that is if they do repairs.. they will charge you a small fee for diagnosing the problem but this will usually be refunded if you let them do the repairs, once you know what's wrong and how much it will cost to put right you will be in a much better position to work out whether you'll be better off scrapping it and getting a new one or having your old one repaired
44750
swears she never had problems with it? theres your answer. you got scammed buddy. i suggest you throw it out tha window. theres no hope. you could buy a brand new one for cheaper than what it will cost you for the computer nerds to fix.
145652
The backlight of a laptop is a fluorescent panel driven by a power supply that takes battery power and generates a higher voltage suitable to make the panel light up and vary the light output.\n\nA rough guess is you damaged the fluorescent panel, it's power supply has blown up and since a lot of manufacturers have the power supply up in the lid of the laptop the flexible cable has flexed once too often and broken a wire to the power supply.
295402
Ugh, the monitors are the number one reason I'll never buy a laptop unless I absolutely have to have a portable computer.  Those screens break all the time and all you can do is replace them, and worse yet the factory or an authorized repair shop is the only place to have it repaired at.  And it's pricey depending on how big or new your screen is.  When you buy an extended warranty for your laptop at Circuit City or whatever they charge you extra to protect your screen because of the cost involved.  IT SUCKS!  You can ususally plug your laptop into a regular monitor as well as a normal keyboard and mouse and use your laptop as a "tower" like a regular computer.  You can do that to make the most of your laptop, but when you do get your screen replaced, do it to keep your screen use to a minimum to avoid replacing it again any time soon.
143861
You aren't an economics major, are you?  People don't give away $375 worth of software (what is costs those of us who are no longer in school) on laptops they're selling for $500.\n\nBTW, laptops are so expensive, people usually don't sell them until they are broken, or sorely outdated.  I'd look around in the sale papers on Sundays until you find one that's got at least a 1.5ghz Celeron M or faster processor.  You probably should go to/call your college bookstore, they may very well have a good deal or two.\n\nAlso, you'll want to add a 512MB So-DIMM (notebook memory) to whatever you buy, because 256MB is just enough to boot into Windows these days.  Newegg has them at really good prices: http://www.newegg.com/ProductSort/SubCategory.asp?SubCategory=381  Just make sure that the laptop you pick out has all of the features you are looking for, because it's not possible to add anything other than memory to a laptop.
25919
I would say you contact DELL, coz it could be a safety hazard issue here. They might even offer you a replacement in this case. Just try ur luck.
383052
You could try Overstock.com, try a refurbished laptop they cost way less and its basically better than brand new ones