> 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
>>
>

    You might consider your 'local'  Geeks.   Most cities have a bunch of
Computer Service  businesses and they can do the same things that the big
companies will do to make your free laptops "Refurbished".  Probably  for
not much money.  You will have to endure the...."Yes, we can fix it, but why
don't just get one of these________" and their sales pitches...

  They will know where to source all the needed parts and exactly what to
look for...whereas you will have to probably "learn" a lot.  Don't you know
that Laptops are passe this week?  Tablets, dude!  Or a real
PDA.."Laptops"...how 2010!