John, they are not rocket science; they use off the shelf components for the
most part like desk tops do. They don't work could be as simple as the power
cord connection, which dies often on them because people drag them around
the kitchen table, hook the power cord on things and generally bugger up the
connector. Thus, you can't charge it, and the battery can't get charged, so
"it doesn't work". If you surf the web, you'll usually find pdf format
repair manuals on many of them; especially HP. If you know of someone with a
laptop that takes the same battery, see if putting their fully charged
battery in your laptop wakes it up. The other thing could be a HD which as
you know can be replaced, as can memory and the LCD display screen. The only
thing that you throw them away for is the motherboard; when it goes, too
expensive to fix unless you get an old one for parts. EBAY always has tons
of these laptop parts and complete laptops for parts.
HTH,
Courtney
(Who is currently putting a power connector into an Acer Aspire laptop
because stupid son-in-laws drag them all over the friggin' house while their
plugged in) :-/

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Always be yourself, because the people that matter don't mind,
and the ones who mind, don't matter.

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 12:03 PM
Subject: Refurbishing a dead laptop

>  I've got an HP and a Gateway - both bought new by a lady friend who
> simply gave them to me. Says she - "They don't work". I suspect not much
> is wrong with them, and I need something to use in my ol' '88GL when
> camping or otherwise on the road for e-mail and a little browsing, so
> I'm wondering about whether it's possible for ME to refurbish these
> things. I've never torn into one of these things.
>
> Any ideas and comments are appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> John
>
> --
> John Rodgers
> Clayartist and Moldmaker
> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
> Chelsea, AL
> Http://www.moldhaus.com