Refurbing a dell inspiron 400 laptop - GoFuckYourself.com

Sharky · 07-28-2004, 08:03 PM

Have any of you ever refurbished your own laptop?

I have an inspiron 4100 that has treated me good for the last 2 years. Now the case has finally cracked and I would like to fix it/upgrade it myself.

I have done this to my own computers before, but know nothing about doing this to laptops.

any advice?

warlock5 · 07-28-2004, 09:08 PM

All I know about laptops is that it is very difficult/expensive to work on them yourself. Unless you can find an empty case somewhere, I'd recommend just buying a new laptop. I suspect it will cost about the same.

By the way, I love your grilling board!

robfantasy · 07-28-2004, 09:11 PM

ya dont you have to go with the manufacturer and the parts arent innerchangeable like regular desktop systems

wesbob2k4 · 07-28-2004, 09:24 PM

belive it or not its not to hard to find empty cases for laptops. 2 local computer places in town actualy offer a laptop builing class where you build one, you pay for the parts but they supply them. Go to your local comp stores and check it out.

Sharky · 07-28-2004, 10:11 PM

Since posting this I found a little more info.

Dell provides all the info I need to do it:

http://support.jp.dell.com/docs/syst..._en/remove.htm

I have found plenty of parts avail on ebay and other parts sites online. It doesn't seem like too tough of work.

I'm still debating whether to do it myself or bring it to the local fixit shop.

Marcus Aurelius · 07-28-2004, 10:14 PM

Ive got a friend doing this on the side making a little extra cash.

Sharky · 08-06-2004, 10:40 PM

I ended up buying all new plastic covers/case for this laptop on ebay. I got it in today and have restored the case to new. It looks brand new.

I'll probably buy the CPU upgrade, more memory and a larger HD in the future.

I got a quote from a local shop to fix it for $250. I did it myself for $57. not bad.

Ice · 08-06-2004, 10:42 PM

nice sharky..... glad it worked out

07-28-2004, 08:03 PM	#1
Sharky Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 4,938	Refurbing a dell inspiron 400 laptop Have any of you ever refurbished your own laptop? I have an inspiron 4100 that has treated me good for the last 2 years. Now the case has finally cracked and I would like to fix it/upgrade it myself. I have done this to my own computers before, but know nothing about doing this to laptops. any advice? __________________ Sharky

07-28-2004, 09:11 PM	#3
robfantasy Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Medellin, Colombia Posts: 6,445	ya dont you have to go with the manufacturer and the parts arent innerchangeable like regular desktop systems __________________ Looking to speak w/ high volume nutra CPA affiliates or networks... msg me

07-28-2004, 10:11 PM	#5
Sharky Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 4,938	Since posting this I found a little more info. Dell provides all the info I need to do it: http://support.jp.dell.com/docs/syst..._en/remove.htm I have found plenty of parts avail on ebay and other parts sites online. It doesn't seem like too tough of work. I'm still debating whether to do it myself or bring it to the local fixit shop. __________________ Sharky

08-06-2004, 10:40 PM	#7
Sharky Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 4,938	I ended up buying all new plastic covers/case for this laptop on ebay. I got it in today and have restored the case to new. It looks brand new. I'll probably buy the CPU upgrade, more memory and a larger HD in the future. I got a quote from a local shop to fix it for $250. I did it myself for $57. not bad. __________________ Sharky

08-06-2004, 10:42 PM	#8
Ice Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Sunny California Posts: 26,053	nice sharky..... glad it worked out __________________ icq 1904905

07-28-2004, 09:08 PM	#2
warlock5 Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Uranus Posts: 2,808	All I know about laptops is that it is very difficult/expensive to work on them yourself. Unless you can find an empty case somewhere, I'd recommend just buying a new laptop. I suspect it will cost about the same. By the way, I love your grilling board!

07-28-2004, 09:24 PM	#4
wesbob2k4 Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 122	belive it or not its not to hard to find empty cases for laptops. 2 local computer places in town actualy offer a laptop builing class where you build one, you pay for the parts but they supply them. Go to your local comp stores and check it out.

07-28-2004, 10:14 PM	#6
Marcus Aurelius No Refunds Issued. Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 14,809	Ive got a friend doing this on the side making a little extra cash.