Gazelle Value monitor replacement

[dogofthecourt]

I have a Gazelle Value laptop from System76.
The monitor is broken. I've emailed them and the only
option they give me is to mail it back for them to do he
repairs - cost and time frame unknown.
The idea of mailing my laptop across the country, when
I need a computer, to have a repair done like this is unacceptable.
I've asked them what part to buy (it looks like an Acer)
but they ignore that question.
I would rather just buy the part myself and put it on.
My monitor measures just above 13 inches and is an LCD.
Is there a part that I can buy online so I can just do this myself?

[Skofo]

Sorry to hear that your laptop broke.

Are you sure that it is your screen that is broken? Is it smashed, or does it just not turn on? If it just doesn't turn on, it may very well be your graphics chip that's busted.

If you want to get a replacement screen, I don't know how to help you. There are websites that sell replacement LCD screens for laptops, but it appears as though they're only for mainstream brands. http://www.screentekinc.com/ http://www.lcds4less.com/

If you want to replace your graphics chip, then you're out of luck unless you have welding experience. It is integrated inside the netbook's motherboard.

What's so wrong with sending it to them? I mean, you don't have much use with it being broken...

[schwim]

to have a repair done like this is unacceptable.

Then you should start building your own or dealing local, as it's the way everyone is going. Dell did come out to drop some graphics cards into my new machine, but only because it was less than 21 days old. Since that didn't work, I've been waiting a month for a replacement machine. It sucks, but it seems that Michael Dell doesn't very much care.

[dogofthecourt]

Sorry to hear that your laptop broke.

>Yeah thanks.

Are you sure that it is your screen that is broken? Is it smashed, or does it just not turn on? If it just doesn't turn on, it may very well be your graphics chip that's busted.

>It works fine with an external monitor.
Lines block part of the screen and seem to descend from what looks
like an internal crack in the lcd.


If you want to get a replacement screen, I don't know how to help you. There are websites that sell replacement LCD screens for laptops, but it appears as though they're only for mainstream brands. http://www.screentekinc.com/ http://www.lcds4less.com/

>Do you really think that system76 manufactures their own machines? It looks like an ACER or some other machine and was just rebranded.

If you want to replace your graphics chip, then you're out of luck unless you have welding experience. It is integrated inside the netbook's motherboard.

>Then I would get someone local to deal with it.


What's so wrong with sending it to them? I mean, you don't have much use with it being broken...

>Because I can hook it up to an external monitor and use it as a desktop
and just buy (or build) another laptop from a company that isn't System76.
I thought the idea that you could build things and fix your own problems was a big idea in the Linux community. If I wanted to depend on a company to fix everything for me I would have just bought a MAC.

[jdb]

>Because I can hook it up to an external monitor and use it as a desktop
and just buy (or build) another laptop from a company that isn't System76.
I thought the idea that you could build things and fix your own problems was a big idea in the Linux community. If I wanted to depend on a company to fix everything for me I would have just bought a MAC.

The 76 laptops are built from bare bones manufactured by companies like MSI, Asus, Clevo, etc.
Sony, Dell, Toshiba, IBM, Compaq, Sager & most other laptop companys also build their computers from
bare bones that are designed & manufatured by a few companies in in Taiwan.
There should be a sticker on the bottom identifying it.
That should help you track down the part you need.

jdb

[thomasaaron]

The monitor is broken. I've emailed them and the only
option they give me is to mail it back for them to do he
repairs - cost and time frame unknown.

That is because it is the only option we have in your particular situation, given the information we've been able to gather on it via our email exchange with you.

Your description of the problem was:

My monitor on my Gazelle Value (GAZ-V5) seems to have gone up.
There are vertical color lines on the right side of it.

That doesn't necessarily mean your monitor is bad. So the approach of just purchasing another one and installing it yourself could end up being a waste of money. It could also be a problem with your integrated graphics card, which would require a motherboard replacement. Or, it could be something as simple as an inverter cable. So, unless there is a big crack in your LCD (and when I asked you if there was user-inflicted damage, you didn't claim any), just changing out the LCD may or may not be the correct solution.

The idea of mailing my laptop across the country, when
I need a computer, to have a repair done like this is unacceptable.

That's typically the way LCD replacements are done with any company.

I've asked them what part to buy (it looks like an Acer)
but they ignore that question.

Ignoring someones question would be pretty malicious. And, re-reading our email exchange, it looks to me like service was handled in a very professional way. I did however try to guide you into a more appropriate method of diagnosing the problem and getting it fixed.

I would rather just buy the part myself and put it on.
My monitor measures just above 13 inches and is an LCD.
Is there a part that I can buy online so I can just do this myself?

You can look for an LCD for a Compal FT01.

[dogofthecourt]

That is because it is the only option we have in your particular situation, given the information we've been able to gather on it via our email exchange with you.

Your description of the problem was:


>And when I asked in my first email to System76 "Can you please tell me what type of replacement monitor I should buy and do you have any in stock?" I was completely ignored and asked the question more than once and didn't receive an answer - except send the computer to us. I didn't receive an answer until I brought the issue to this forum. I would have appreciated help trying to figure out what the problem is and solutions on how to fix it, other than just mailing it back to you and being without it for weeks.


That's typically the way LCD replacements are done with any company.

>Which is why I wanted to know the monitor type in case that was the problem.


Ignoring someones question would be pretty malicious. And, re-reading our email exchange, it looks to me like service was handled in a very professional way. I did however try to guide you into a more appropriate method of diagnosing the problem and getting it fixed.

>If the question had been answered in my first email I would have been a bit more trusting, but that my question was never responded to with an answer.

You can look for an LCD for a Compal FT01.

>Thanks.

[thomasaaron]

I would have appreciated help trying to figure out what the problem is and solutions on how to fix it, other than just mailing it back to you and being without it for weeks.

You did receive help in trying to figure it out. However, until the computer is diagnosed further by our repair techs, we have no way of knowing whether it is the LCD, the inverter cable or the graphics card.

If the question had been answered in my first email I would have been a bit more trusting, but that my question was never responded to with an answer.

Sorry. Giving out part numbers for those types of components is something we try to avoid, as we have no way of assessing someones ability to actually change it out. Also, installing it yourself would make the part unwarrantable in the event it went bad within its own warranty period.

My job is not to drop part numbers but to try to guide customers into the most efficient fix that I can. Given the info we have been able to gather form you, the smartest route is to send it in for diagnosis by a qualified technician. If I was unlclear about that, I apologize.

Good luck. If you need further assistance, let me know.