Random Question Thread: Tech

**Senji** · 2011-03-18 13:12

Originally Posted by xerodok

So, I don't know why but I can't find what I'm looking for after searching for it on tons of cabling sites.

I'm essentially looking for a composite cable extender (AV cords) with male > female ends. These would be used for plugging into the side of my Bravia, running the cords down under the entertainment center, then plugging in retro consoles as desired, without having to move my TV and constantly swap cables.

Any help would be appreciated.

cable
http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

black adapter
http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

colored adapter
http://www.amazon.com/Female-to-3-RC...0471089&sr=8-2

**Chun Liroy** · 2011-03-18 14:31

How long does it take for Dell to send back laptops? Does anyone know some info about what their warranty covers? Pretty much both sides of my laptop's screen have broken and it just... flops over half the time. Held together by duct tape <_< I assume I'd be getting a new computer if it was covered, so how long would I be without a computer? FYI, this occurred from normal use and I haven't dropped it. -.-; Wish I could get a different model instead.

**Isiolia** · 2011-03-18 14:39

Might depend on the warranty you have. For me, that'd be a technician on-site the next day, parts in hand.

It's also possible you could get them to do it parts-only, and have them send you an LCD kit or LCD plastics. Would take you maybe 10-15 minutes to swap your LCD into new casing, assuming you haven't cracked the frame around where the hinges bolt in.

**Chun Liroy** · 2011-03-18 14:52

The whole screen itself is just of poor design. It seems that it's held together just by clicking plastic pieces. That said, the left side is way more fucked up than the right side, although the right side is how it all started. The circular part that came off got stuck while closing it, causing the back red piece (on the left side) to crack, eventually turned into a break. After that was broken the part on the side broke (3rd pic down) just by pushing it back a little bit.

Spoiler: show

**Isiolia** · 2011-03-18 15:20

Hm, not a design I'm familiar with (I have almost all Latitude 600/6000 series). What I've normally seen is that the back portion of the plastics also includes the latch/hinges and any other frame stuff, then the front bezel just kind of snaps on - but structurally is essentially optional.
According to Dell's support side, all that stuff is designated as customer-serviceable. If your warranty covers it, and you're concerned about downtime, then electing to do it yourself would minimize your time without the machine. Not sure which model you have, but this looked similar: http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1179838

In some cases they just do casing, other times they just send the whole LCD as a unit, which is dirt simple to swap most the time.

I doubt the replacement plastics are especially expensive if you're not under warranty as well.

**Chun Liroy** · 2011-03-18 15:31

Thanks a ton. I actually have this model which is probably almost identical. http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1109848

Looking at the instructions, it doesn't look difficult, do you happen to know how difficult it would be to replace everything on the screen? I assume I just go to tech support and tell them I need a replacement part.

**Callisto** · 2011-03-18 15:34

Originally Posted by xerodok

So, I don't know why but I can't find what I'm looking for after searching for it on tons of cabling sites.

I'm essentially looking for a composite cable extender (AV cords) with male > female ends. These would be used for plugging into the side of my Bravia, running the cords down under the entertainment center, then plugging in retro consoles as desired, without having to move my TV and constantly swap cables.

Any help would be appreciated.

Would probably have a much easier time finding something like this and just getting a standard male/male cable, not sure if you meant normal composite or YPbPr though, either way I'd assume these things are around for both and cheap.

**Isiolia** · 2011-03-18 15:55

Originally Posted by Silentleroy

Thanks a ton. I actually have this model which is probably almost identical. http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1109848

Looking at the instructions, it doesn't look difficult, do you happen to know how difficult it would be to replace everything on the screen? I assume I just go to tech support and tell them I need a replacement part.

Difficulty would depend a little on what they elect to send you. Obviously, if its not covered, you'd want to minimize parts, which would mean more disassembly.

If they send you a complete LCD assembly, then that'd be that first couple sections in the page you linked to. It'd probably take 5-10 minutes, and you'd have a brand-new (to you at least) top half of the laptop.

I would assume the other option they'd consider is just sending the casing which usually means everything but the LCD/inverter, so you'd need to transplant those. It'd be a little harder, takes maybe 20-30 minutes.

If you're covered, I would say to just see if they'll send you a full assembly - it's logical on their end because it makes sure you get everything fixed in one service request, and it's an easier install for you as the end user. Otherwise, I believe they should have a "kit" to replace the casing - they can do the individual parts, but it seems a lot more common to just get the full back + front bezel.

**Chun Liroy** · 2011-03-18 16:06

Well, talking to tech support right now, asked which parts I should be expecting and his response was: "All the LCD covers including the hinges and the hinge covers." so I assume that means everything but the LCD/inverter, as you put it. 2-3 business days, not bad, just need to find someone in the dorms with a screw driver lol. Thanks a lot Isiolia.

**Isiolia** · 2011-03-18 16:15

Cool. Make sure you get one that fits the screws well. They can strip very easily if you're not careful (not the faul of Dell or whomever, just the nature of tiny little screws).

**SephYuyX** · 2011-03-18 17:09

Has ehow.com ever been correct?

***Blarg*** · 2011-03-18 18:31

So I hooked up the second monitor and the only problem seems to be the second monitor looks really washed out color wise. I've tried to put the settings in terms of R, G, B and contrast etc settings the same between them but it still looks different. Maybe it's just the monitor itself as I hadn't used it before so maybe it's always been that way but it's a bit annoying.

edit: I tried playing DA2 on one monitor and having the other monitor show the speedfan program to see the strain it is putting on the computer and it went to like 98% CPU usage and the temp went from an idle 43 to about 60 celsius. I have a E5200 dual core at 2.5ghz. 60 celsius seemed pretty hot so I don't know if dual monitors is good if one of them is playing a game.

**Blabj** · 2011-03-18 19:40

60ºc isn't that hot under load. Unless your computer is regularly BSODing whilst in the game I wouldn't worry about the temperature too much. If you truly are that concerned then consider replacing the stock cooling with an after market component. Without going too much into detail look for a larger sized copper heatsink with a beefier fan. Failing that, ensure proper ventilation of the case and room its situated in.

For the colour issue, make sure the screen isn't calibrated in software. Check your drivers for this. It's always a pain in the ass to get monitors of different brands to match, and quite frankly unless you've spent a load of cash on expensive screens and calibrators it's never going to be perfect.

***Blarg*** · 2011-03-18 19:47

Originally Posted by Blabj

For the colour issue, make sure the screen isn't calibrated in software. Check your drivers for this. It's always a pain in the ass to get monitors of different brands to match, and quite frankly unless you've spent a load of cash on expensive screens and calibrators it's never going to be perfect.

what do you mean not calibrated in software?

**Isiolia** · 2011-03-18 20:16

In Windows 7, go to the Display control panel and click on Calibrate Color on the left sidebar. You can adjust the signal that's sent to the monitor in addition to what the monitor has.

As mentioned, it can be hard, if not impossible to match color exactly between different brands or even different models of panels. That's partly why professional level panels that -can- be calibrated extremely well are so expensive.

**Ratatapa** · 2011-03-19 10:08

Are these Couplers good?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

My goal is for the Ipad2 (I have a 6 feet HDMI cable and will buy a 15 feet too)

So my goal is like at my GF house where getting behind the TV is a fight to take the HDMI from the PS3 put it in the coupler and then put the 15 or the 6 feet inside

That would work fine right?

**Chun Liroy** · 2011-03-19 12:38

Ugh, so the day after I get the parts sent to fix my laptop, my screen is now getting fucked up. Depending on how I move it, either the entire thing is a pink tint and lower resolution, kind of like every other pixel is red or something. The other case is horizontal green bars go across my screen with green and white "snow" on the black portions of the screen. If the parts i get don't include a new screen, do you think it would resolve itself while changing the casing? It's almost as if a wire is loose. I can push in the lower right part of my screen and it will change between those two, so I suspect it happened because the right side got loose (like in the pictures above).

Spoiler: show

unsure how clear the top photo is.

**Boyiee** · 2011-03-19 13:43

Is there a way with chrome, via addon or something, to block specific peoples avatars/sigs?

Also, any suggestions on what addons to use with chrome, and where to get?

**Caiyuo** · 2011-03-19 14:48

Originally Posted by Boyiee

Is there a way with chrome, via addon or something, to block specific peoples avatars/sigs?

Also, any suggestions on what addons to use with chrome, and where to get?

Yeah Chrome has Adblock Plus, works mostly the same way as with firefox. No suggestions on general extensions, though.

**Isiolia** · 2011-03-19 15:14

If the parts i get don't include a new screen, do you think it would resolve itself while changing the casing? It's almost as if a wire is loose.

Possibly, or possibly just as part of the process, as it could certainly be a loose cable that you'd reseat when putting everything together.

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