Random bad news

[Shyriath]

The laptop on which I conduct most of my computer-related activities, both on- and offline... indeed, the same one that some of you saw at the New York convention... has received a wound. My dear Deus Ex Machina (for so I named it) has a cracked screen, caused when an unwitting family member accidentally stepped on top of the laptop.This goes to show several things:1) One should never sit their laptop on the ground, even in a place where no one has business stepping (it was a two-foot-wide space between my bed and the wall, no one but me should be doing stuff there!).2) When one still lives with one's family, one should make it exceptionally clear that the "Do Not Enter" signs on the door to one's room are meant seriously and that violators will, in fact, be prosecuted.3) Laptop screens are friggin' expensive to replace.The good news is, I can still use Deus Ex Machina with relatively little problem... although several small portions of the screen are taken up by black blotches along the cracks, most of the screen is still visible. While I can't play my usual games without the missing portions of screen driving me nuts, I can still write and post easily enough.The bad news, of course, is that the screen STILL needs replacing. Originally, it looked like this process would be so expensive that getting a new laptop would be cheaper, but we're looking for a replacement screen on eBay, and my dad knows someone at work who he thinks might be able to do the replacement. And, having not been the one who caused the damage, it appears that I'm not going to be the one paying for it (not that I could anyway, at this point).Let us hope that D.E.M. comes through this okay. 'Cause if it doesn't, you're going to be hearing much howling on my part.

[Hypatia Agnesi]

Actually, I had a similar problem with my old laptop (which is messed up in many ways still), where the hinges that hold the screen in place broke and broke the case that holds the screen up. I had to replace them, and it was rather complicated.I remember having to disconnect the screen as well, so if there had been a crack in it, I could have replaced it then. It really wasn't hard at all to take it apart and put it back together, except for making sure to keep track of the pieces and to put the screws in place in the right order. Since your case is not damaged (or so I interpret your post), it should not be such a big deal to replace the screen alone. The worst case scenario is that it is plugged in deep within the guts of D.E.M., so you will have to disassemble and reassemble half of the computer. You really don't need to understand much of what you're doing, except for keeping the pieces in order.I found it to be a rather fun exercise replacing my screen case and hinges, made even better by the knowledge that I was sort of "healing" my computer with my own two hands, and minimal help from my dad. It was really satisfying.So, good luck getting your poor D.E.M fixed, and soon. Broken screens are hideous to behold. (Deus Ex Machina is an awesome name for a computer, by the way.) *throws grenade for the hell of it*BO0O0O0O0/\/\!!!!!!

[osmose1000]

DEM's da breaks. They call it a signature, but no one ever signs their posts...

[stevenAntica]

That happened to me too. My dad stepped on my lap top. Except in my case...it wasn't even on the floor, it was on my bed in my room. My father noticed that a light bulb was out and went to fix it and he stepped on it. My laptop wasn't camoflauged or something...so I don't know.My laptop, an Inspiron 8100, nicknamed, "Ol' Ironsides" for obvious reasons, is about 4-5 years old, has had it's motherboard replaced three times, it's videocard twice, and it's video card twice. It has gotten three viruses in it's five year career so I've had to revamp it altogether, thrice. It still works fine, it's missing the up and down key, but I can deal...it still has the rubber things. My dad says that I will get a new one when I go to college.

[Hypatia Agnesi]

You still have the rubber feet?! *is jealous* *throws grenade for the hell of it*BO0O0O0O0/\/\!!!!!!

[Shyriath]

Quote:DEM's da breaks.Had I a worse sense of humor, you would be smacked for that.

[osmose1000]

Eh, the old family laptop got friend by our cat and a vase of water, so I feel your pain. But puns > j00. They call it a signature, but no one ever signs their posts...

[AngelGuardian93]

That was great.. There are no flowers, no not this time. There will be no angels gracing the lines, just these stark words I find.

[OctaviusMe]

Ugh! I hate when that happens, man. I had a really really old laptop that my dad gave me (it was a Window 95 around... 1997-1998 or so I'd guess... yeah... hey it worked good for me...), and I had in my bedroom. When my dad grounded me, he took it and put it in the master bedroom...a few weeks later he took a look at it and someone (we all think it was my mom because it was put next to her side of the bed) must've stepped on it. I was willing to keep using it, but my dad just plain threw it out. What's really unfortunate is that the drive went with it and he never gave me a chance to get what I had off of it.