problem with laptop

I have a gateway laptop, next month going on three years. Its a
4027.
It was purchased at bestbuy, with a three year warranty, which will
expire in early June.
After the first month or so, of ownership, the bulb that lights up the
lcd screen, must of blown. I sent it to gateway and they did a quick
repair(or replace or bulb) and everythings been good.
Two days ago, I starting to notice some occassional flickering with
the light on screen, as I would type, and then yesterday there was no
illumination all of a sudden.
I needed to use a strong flashlight to see the screen.
I called up best buy, who referred to the geek squad, who does their
repair.
They set up a case number, and told me to bring it in under full
warranty.
But I guess, after disconnecting all the wires, turning upside down to
get serial numbers, the light started to work again.
So I am assuming, the bulb is either loose, or on its way out.
What I am concerned about, is that they will see it on, and say
nothings wrong with it.
I dont want to have to tackle this after warranty, and get a 200 bill
for this, or worse.
Any suggestions on how should I handle this, or should I just bring it
in, and tell them its a sporadic problem and please take a look.
Is it possible for a person to open a laptop, and see if bulb is in
tight?
I am comfortable, working on any desktop computer from start to
finish, but have never messed with a laptop?

Much regards Jerry

In news:%UmTj.25352$Bb3.13141@trnddc01,
J.Lef typed on Sun, 04 May 2008 18:04:43 GMT:
> I have a gateway laptop, next month going on three years. Its a
> 4027.
> It was purchased at bestbuy, with a three year warranty, which will
> expire in early June.
> After the first month or so, of ownership, the bulb that lights up
> the lcd screen, must of blown. I sent it to gateway and they did a
> quick repair(or replace or bulb) and everythings been good.
> Two days ago, I starting to notice some occassional flickering
> with the light on screen, as I would type, and then yesterday there
> was no illumination all of a sudden.
> I needed to use a strong flashlight to see the screen.
> I called up best buy, who referred to the geek squad, who does
> their repair.
> They set up a case number, and told me to bring it in under full
> warranty.
> But I guess, after disconnecting all the wires, turning upside
> down to get serial numbers, the light started to work again.
> So I am assuming, the bulb is either loose, or on its way out.
> What I am concerned about, is that they will see it on, and say
> nothings wrong with it.
> I dont want to have to tackle this after warranty, and get a 200
> bill for this, or worse.
> Any suggestions on how should I handle this, or should I just
> bring it in, and tell them its a sporadic problem and please take a
> look. Is it possible for a person to open a laptop, and see if
> bulb is in tight?
> I am comfortable, working on any desktop computer from start to
> finish, but have never messed with a laptop?
>
> Much regards Jerry

I wouldn't mess with it personally (and I am an electronic engineer).
Rather I would let them take a look at it. I have a Gateway MX6124 (2006
era) which does the same thing. I bought it used on eBay (I have another
one I bought from TigerDirect) and it does the same thing as you have
described.

This problem we both have are usually caused by either the inverter
(which supplies high voltage to the lamp) or the lamp itself. I bought
an used inverter on eBay and it worked for about 2 months and most of
the time now the lamp won't light. So I either have an inverter that is
going bad or the lamp that is failing. The lamp is a real pain to
replace in most models. Service centers almost always change the screen
and the lamp as one unit. Outside of warrantee, this can cost $300 to
$500 or more. So I think I would take it in. At least have it
documented.

By the way, That laptop I bought on eBay, the owner also bought at
BestBuy. And they had taken it to Geek Squad and they said it would cost
more than the laptop was worth (at BestBuy it sold for $1200 or more).
Which IMHO is pure boloney if you ask me. As a lamp costs about $25 and
a new inverter cost about $90 tops (I bought a used one for 10 bucks).
That isn't bad to bring a laptop (2006 era) back to life if you ask me.

--
Bill

Thanks to all who responded on group and by email. I went
to the geek squad at best buy, to see what they would say.
They said they would have to send it away, with a minimum
of at least 3 weeks. Since its working sporadically, and I have a lot of
personal information on computer, I figure, Its time (the lap is 3 years
old), to back up everything onto another harddrive, leaving the laptop
pretty clean, and then when I get it back, to do a complete restore of hard
drive.
I asked the geek guy, if its working when they get it, will they
bench test it, because its turning sporadic. He said he didnt know, but what
he can tell me, if they determine nothing is wrong, by the time I get it
back, the warranty is expired and the cost of repair at that point, would be
more then the price of the laptop these days.
So I plan to do the reinstall, but bring it in, a few days before
warranty ends. Perhaps it will go completely bad, withing the next two or
three weeks before I bring it back.
Much regards Jerry

Since it is under warranty, ask them to provide you with a written and dated
test report, not just a verbal say-so. Better yet, before the warranty
expiration date, can you take digital photos or even a short video showing what
is wrong? Provide same to the geeky ones, and you can still claim the need for
repair under warranty, even if those incompetents screw around with it and find
nothing wrong... Ben Myers

On Mon, 05 May 2008 17:35:41 GMT, "J.Lef" <j.lef@verizon.net> wrote:

> Thanks to all who responded on group and by email. I went
>to the geek squad at best buy, to see what they would say.
> They said they would have to send it away, with a minimum
>of at least 3 weeks. Since its working sporadically, and I have a lot of
>personal information on computer, I figure, Its time (the lap is 3 years
>old), to back up everything onto another harddrive, leaving the laptop
>pretty clean, and then when I get it back, to do a complete restore of hard
>drive.
> I asked the geek guy, if its working when they get it, will they
>bench test it, because its turning sporadic. He said he didnt know, but what
>he can tell me, if they determine nothing is wrong, by the time I get it
>back, the warranty is expired and the cost of repair at that point, would be
>more then the price of the laptop these days.
> So I plan to do the reinstall, but bring it in, a few days before
>warranty ends. Perhaps it will go completely bad, withing the next two or
>three weeks before I bring it back.
> Much regards Jerry
>

Thanks Ben,
As alway, an informative response. I will
just do that.
Also, since I dont trust them, I am going to transfer the hard drive
info, reinstall just basic windows, so there could be no personal info,
available to anyone.
After three years, seriously, the system is running fine(and
this is my main computer for the last three years), and the first computer,
I have owned, that has never slowed down, got mired in problems and other
stuff, that required an reinstall.
Perhaps, because this is the first computer I have had, that
no one else in the family would be using also.

Much regards Jerry
"Ben Myers" <ben_myers_spam_me_not@charter.net> wrote in message
news:uafv14t5hhka4smj06d7g5ueipji16a0uc@4ax.com...
> Since it is under warranty, ask them to provide you with a written and
> dated
> test report, not just a verbal say-so. Better yet, before the warranty
> expiration date, can you take digital photos or even a short video showing
> what
> is wrong? Provide same to the geeky ones, and you can still claim the
> need for
> repair under warranty, even if those incompetents screw around with it and
> find
> nothing wrong... Ben Myers
>
> On Mon, 05 May 2008 17:35:41 GMT, "J.Lef" <j.lef@verizon.net> wrote:
>
>> Thanks to all who responded on group and by email. I
>> went
>>to the geek squad at best buy, to see what they would say.
>> They said they would have to send it away, with a minimum
>>of at least 3 weeks. Since its working sporadically, and I have a lot of
>>personal information on computer, I figure, Its time (the lap is 3 years
>>old), to back up everything onto another harddrive, leaving the laptop
>>pretty clean, and then when I get it back, to do a complete restore of
>>hard
>>drive.
>> I asked the geek guy, if its working when they get it, will
>> they
>>bench test it, because its turning sporadic. He said he didnt know, but
>>what
>>he can tell me, if they determine nothing is wrong, by the time I get it
>>back, the warranty is expired and the cost of repair at that point, would
>>be
>>more then the price of the laptop these days.
>> So I plan to do the reinstall, but bring it in, a few days
>> before
>>warranty ends. Perhaps it will go completely bad, withing the next two or
>>three weeks before I bring it back.
>> Much regards Jerry
>>

Trust is one element of a business relationship. Even more important is the
competence of the other party. Geek Squad does not have a stellar reputation in
this regard, despite the premium prices they charge. Hey, they even charge
more than I do, and some people think I am expensive... Ben

On Tue, 06 May 2008 14:07:00 GMT, "J.Lef" <j.lef@verizon.net> wrote:

> Thanks Ben,
> As alway, an informative response. I will
>just do that.
> Also, since I dont trust them, I am going to transfer the hard drive
>info, reinstall just basic windows, so there could be no personal info,
>available to anyone.
> After three years, seriously, the system is running fine(and
>this is my main computer for the last three years), and the first computer,
>I have owned, that has never slowed down, got mired in problems and other
>stuff, that required an reinstall.
> Perhaps, because this is the first computer I have had, that
>no one else in the family would be using also.
>
> Much regards Jerry
>"Ben Myers" <ben_myers_spam_me_not@charter.net> wrote in message
>news:uafv14t5hhka4smj06d7g5ueipji16a0uc@4ax.com.. .
>> Since it is under warranty, ask them to provide you with a written and
>> dated
>> test report, not just a verbal say-so. Better yet, before the warranty
>> expiration date, can you take digital photos or even a short video showing
>> what
>> is wrong? Provide same to the geeky ones, and you can still claim the
>> need for
>> repair under warranty, even if those incompetents screw around with it and
>> find
>> nothing wrong... Ben Myers
>>
>> On Mon, 05 May 2008 17:35:41 GMT, "J.Lef" <j.lef@verizon.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks to all who responded on group and by email. I
>>> went
>>>to the geek squad at best buy, to see what they would say.
>>> They said they would have to send it away, with a minimum
>>>of at least 3 weeks. Since its working sporadically, and I have a lot of
>>>personal information on computer, I figure, Its time (the lap is 3 years
>>>old), to back up everything onto another harddrive, leaving the laptop
>>>pretty clean, and then when I get it back, to do a complete restore of
>>>hard
>>>drive.
>>> I asked the geek guy, if its working when they get it, will
>>> they
>>>bench test it, because its turning sporadic. He said he didnt know, but
>>>what
>>>he can tell me, if they determine nothing is wrong, by the time I get it
>>>back, the warranty is expired and the cost of repair at that point, would
>>>be
>>>more then the price of the laptop these days.
>>> So I plan to do the reinstall, but bring it in, a few days
>>> before
>>>warranty ends. Perhaps it will go completely bad, withing the next two or
>>>three weeks before I bring it back.
>>> Much regards Jerry
>>>
>

Did a quick search on geek squad, and talking about trust.
Numerous instances of files being stolen from peoples computers. They
even say the techs set up a separate communal computer, in order for the
techs to transfer all files they find interesting, such as video files,
music files, photos, bank statements, ****, etc.
Then at the end of the day, the techs go thru the communal drive, and
take what they want for their own amusement.
There have even been law suits on that matter.
Thus I will do a harddrive transfer to another harddrive,0 and 1 the
drive, and then just do a reinstall of windows, thus they will have nothing,
and I wont be so worried.
I try very hard protecting my identity with all this nonsense going
around these days.
Maybee, I am going to rethink the whole laptop as my main computer and
build a very small basic unit for this. I dont require much. Time to see
what parts I have around, and go to newegg site, and look at whats around.
Much regards Jerry