Laptop woes

[annwfyn]

I've been told there is no good time for a laptop to break.

I know there isn't.

But two days before the deadline of my final project is a pretty bad time.

Last night my laptop fell off the sofa. This is my fault for leaving it sitting there. It fell from the sofa to the floor, and the screen broke. I now can't see a damn thing. I don't know whether the laptop itself was damaged. This morning will be spent trying to get the laptop hooked up to my main computer screen to find out. If the laptop itself is not broken, then I just need to get my university work, and assorted pictures off the laptop and onto my main computer. If the laptop itself is broken, then I've got a problem. I do have back up files, but I've spent the last two days writing up notes for my final project. I hadn't backed those up, so will have lost two days work at a really inconvenient time.

I'm also going to go into Currys today to find out whether or not my warranty covers accidental damage. I know I have a twelve month warranty, and my laptop is still covered by that. I'm just not convinced that it will cover my own stupidity. If it doesn't, then I have another problem.

I don't think I'm going to be making it up to Birmingham tonight.

I'm not a very happy Sally this morning.

EDIT 1: OK. This is getting worse. I can't get my laptop to work with my computer screen. I don't think it's the laptop itself which isn't working - when I first hook it up to the monitor and restart the monitor, everything shows up. I see the 'Windows XP' sign, and then the main screen goes black. Through the 2 inch strip of working laptop screen on the lefthand side, I can see the blue of the windows start up screen that would show mine and jez's little profile icons, but nothing is showing on the main screen. I think I'm doing something wrong.

I shall not panic. I shall not panic. I shall not panic.

EDIT 2: The situation has now been downgraded from 'cataclysmic' to 'not good'. anonymous_james was a hero, and helped me get the monitor and the laptop talking. I've now got my uni work and pictures onto a data stick and can work on the main PC today. I've been into Currys, and my laptop is still under warranty, but I need to phone a number to get anything more out of them.

I shall make the relevent phone calls in a bit. If the warranty does cover accidental damage, we're all good. If not, then my finances may be about to suffer, more than a bit. But at least I've got my work.

Comments

[jade-faith.livejournal.com]

I think it's time to switch over to another blogging service.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

I'm not convinced that the other blogging services are that different - I know deadjournal have pretty much the same policies.

I think the world is just slowly becoming a more depressingly conformist and controlled place...

[anonymous-james.livejournal.com]

There is often a set of key presses in order to send the signal to the external monitor. Something like Function F8. Or similar. It should be represented by a little icon on the keyboard. Alternatively... dig out the manual.

What you're seeing sounds good, not bad - the screen may be broken but the signal not so.

~fingers crossed~

[adze.livejournal.com]

I really hope you get some luck on this soon.

[anonymous-james.livejournal.com]

Actually reading your description again it may be that you need to log in for it to automatically display on the main screen. If you have a password, type that in when you see the blue screen. If not just try pressing return or spacebar or tab and return or spacebar. Failing that trying clicking randomly with the mouse in the hopes of hitting the login button that you cannot see.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

OK. Thank you! I'll go have another poke.

I think I'll be OK if I can just get the laptop to work with the external monitor. If I can get all my info off my laptop, then replacing it is just a matter of finance, which can be sorted in due course. It's only a crisis if I can't get my work off the laptop.

[anonymous-james.livejournal.com]

If you can't get the information off through the laptop and a main screen you can always get someone technical to jack open the case and hook up the laptop's harddisk to another computer. These things are possible...

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Right now, it looks like you were right - I needed to tell the laptop to talk to the monitor. Randomly hitting 'return' until it logged in as someone, and then f5 got it to work with the monitor, and I've now managed to get my uni work and pictures onto a data key, so the situation has now shifted from 'cataclysmic' to just 'not good', which is a vast improvement.

Thank you very very much!

[molez.livejournal.com]

Glad that you've managed to get the data of the laptop.

Currys should be able to tell you about you warrenty over the phone? Also, if that doesn't work, your household conents insurance should cover it?

[wildrogue.livejournal.com]

Yikes. Sympathy. Good luck getting it sorted out.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

I shall enquire. I'm hoping I can blag Currys into sorting it, mostly as the screen now seems to be so screwed that you can't really see the cracks anymore - just a great big grey blur.

I know little of household insurance. I think that is something jez deals with. I shall poke cautiously and hopefully. I think it'll be sorted. I've got the data, and that's the really important thing right now.

[anonymous-james.livejournal.com]

No probs. Clearly 6 years of tech support has served me well.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Your tech-fu is strong!

It also calmed me down no end at the point I was beginning to hyperventilate this morning, and for that I am very grateful.

[windzswept.livejournal.com]

Sally. Bring laptop here. We get your work onto another computer. We then shut you in study. :o)

Plus... BPAL... you know you want to :o)

*sends persuasive vibes*

We have a hostage situation to resolve!

;o)

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

I do want to! I do! But right now I'm scrabbling to catch up with what I've done, and I don't know if I can spare the hours driving.

I really would like to. Just don't know if I can!

[windzswept.livejournal.com]

I promise you that I will shut you into the study and make you work when you are here.

You can... it is possible. Really.

:o)

Plus you'll have the added joy of my insane cat who is currently turning somersaults on my lap. :o)

[purpleheather.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping to do a BPALly/crafty foody night when I have my house sorted in Autumn, and I'm sure we can invade Steph again over summer, if you can't make it :p

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

I would very much like that!

[purpleheather.livejournal.com]

I was contemplating having some sort of crafty weekend - had one with becky_spence, purplepooka, motodraconis among others in Liverpool and it was great fun.