Any computer repair experts out there ?

[Smallfry]

I have an Acer laptop, which was working fine, except that it randomly drops off internet, due to alleged issues with the network adaptor, or just freezes, or cuts out altogether.
The hard drive packed up a couple of years ago, and it went in to a local repairer, and I had a solid state one fitted. Difference in startup and speed was amazing, but now the cutting out has started. It seems worse when first started up, but gets slightly better once is has been on a while. Being knocked causes it too.
These symptoms to me, are rather similar to having a "dry joint" in older equipment, so I took the bottom off to see if I could see anything loose. There are two ribbon type connections to the keyboard, one of which came off way too easily, so I thin this may be the problem.
Unfortunately though, along with poor eyesight, there is not enough slack to get ones hands in to reconnect them. I also cant see how the connections lock in position, as they surely must do.
Question really is are there special tools for this, and where would I get any ? I don't really want to spend much on it, but I need to get photos and apps off of it somehow, and it would be handy to have working for diagnostic software for vehicles.

 

[Craig-SM]

Check for firmware and driver updates first before pulling out the soldering iron.

 

[daedalusminos]

I also cant see how the connections lock in position, as they surely must do.

We've got even less chance - how about a photo?

They are most likely FPC connectors which usually have a plastic latch that needs lifting to unlock.

 

[mike 109444]

At the very least get a usb keyboard and copy off your data !! Then go back to sorting internal kb.

 

[Jack_K]

You likely need to remove the keyboard first to be able to plug it back in. There are no special tools needed.

For the internet are you using WIFI or is it a wired connection?

 

[carbonarc]

Have a look on the Internet for acer community. There may be member posts concerning the problem with your laptop.

 

[sako243]

The keyboards usually you just have to release the locking pins from either side of the connector. Push the ribbon cable fully home and whilst holding it in tight push the locking tabs back in from either side.

No special tools but fiddly and small so maybe a small screwdriver or tweezers to help.

 

[sako243]

Is the whole laptop freezing? It may be that the thermal paste on the processor has dried up and it's shutting off due to overheating.

 

[Morris]

Is the whole laptop freezing? It may be that the thermal paste on the processor has dried up and it's shutting off due to overheating.

That's exactly what mine did when the fan failed. I'm useless with computers but even I managed to replace it.

 

[Steve50]

I've been having this problem with the Acer I have. I bought it in 2014 and up till just lately its been really good but it now just drops off the web, then comes back some minutes later but only after I've closed everything and reinstated it again. Bit of a pain when I'm half way doing something. A couple of years ago I changed the keyboard due to a couple of keys were playing up, one of which came off altogether.
It wasn't straight forward either. The whole board comes out in one and has small pegs that go through the board and are then heated to melting point to secure it. I had to snip the ends off before it would release. The new board goes in ok and doesn't move even without having the peg-ends.

 

[ajlelectronics]

but it now just drops off the web, then comes back some minutes later

Check to see if power saving is enabled. It sometimes turns off the wireless adapter if so.

 

[Smallfry]

I've been having this problem with the Acer I have. I bought it in 2014 and up till just lately its been really good but it now just drops off the web, then comes back some minutes later but only after I've closed everything and reinstated it again. Bit of a pain when I'm half way doing something. A couple of years ago I changed the keyboard due to a couple of keys were playing up, one of which came off altogether.
It wasn't straight forward either. The whole board comes out in one and has small pegs that go through the board and are then heated to melting point to secure it. I had to snip the ends off before it would release. The new board goes in ok and doesn't move even without having the peg-ends.

Sorry guys, I forgot all about this. Been using SWMBOs Dell for the time being.
This is more of less what mine does. Plus the freezing. The space bar has never worked properly, and I spend a lot of time having to go back adding spaces too. I looked at replacing the keyboard, but the melted retaining pegs put me off, in case the is not enough left to reinstate it.
Really its these ribbon connections that have stymied me, but I think I can get round it by making some tools out of rigid plastic. If fact, I will get on it right away !

 

[Steve50]

Thank for that. Just checked it and its off. May need to take it apart!
The new keyboard went in ok and works well in spite of the absence of the melted retaining pegs.

 

[ukracer]

Thank for that. Just checked it and its off. May need to take it apart!
The new keyboard went in ok and works well in spite of the absence of the melted retaining pegs.

Did you check the keyboard has the same layout? My HP Pavillion keyboard replacement was different.
I could of just used alternative keys BUT one of the characters was just not available in the keyboard. Lol

 

[Steve50]

Hi, no, the new kewboard is an exact product and apart from a different "feel" if you like to the key-press, its been spot-on.
It is a bit strange that it suddenly will drop it connection with the web, and it will disply a meassage in a box saying that, and then some munutes later put another meassage in a box saying that the web connection has been restored. Also that I can shut whatever I have down, and then open the same, and its fine and on the web.

 

[angellonewolf]

is this in facebook or messanger they seam to have this now and again ?

 

[Nomad]

If you give up trying top get it working you can remove the hard drive easily on most laptops and use an external caddy - connect that to a working laptop and it appears as a usb drive so you can copy photos etc.

laptop usb disk caddye at DuckDuckGo

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