Advice needed: Old HP Compaq nw8240 Mobile Workstation restore or dump?

Smiley_lauf

Smiley_lauf

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Here are specs.

Problem: The motherboard has a hairline fracture just underneath the touchpad; I have been told by techies (authorized dealer and University workshop people) that it needs to be replaced. It will probably cost more than a new midrange notebook so rather just dump it now. I added another stick of 1GB RAM and also upgraded the HDD to 7200RPM (160GB) IDE. Date of purchase March 2005. Date died on me Aug 2009.

Dilemma: I like the machine because it has one of the best screen I have ever owned on a notebook. Its resolution was ahead of its time: 15.4-inch TFT WUXGA wide-viewing angle (1920 x 1200 resolution and 16 M colors). Everything else works fine. With the RAM and HDD upgrade I was running Windows 7 on it quite well. Ubuntu was just at home with it, even with its ATI graphics card.

Way forward:
(1) I want to rehab this computer. Do you know anyone in the Durban area that would be able to replace this motherboard with something close to original? or another model?? What else can I do with this hardware? I could actually use it as a desktop permanently and run a home network through it?? Do you think this option is even possible? How much will it set me back ($$)?
(2) Should I just dump it and forget about it? It is sitting in my home office cupboard and collecting dust.

be honest and let me hear it. I am very attached to this machine for sentimental reasons.:confused:
 
If you're lucky enough to find a replacement board for your machine, It'll still set you back
at least R1500 including installation. So IMHO, I would say, sell the laptop for spares, and
the 160GB IDE hard drive seaparately (Since they're quite sought after and rare.)

If it's a SATA drive, you may as well just leave it in the machine.

So I'd have to say, sell it while you can still get something back for it.
 
Totempole said:
If you're lucky enough to find a replacement board for your machine, It'll still set you back
at least R1500 including installation. So IMHO, I would say, sell the laptop for spares, and
the 160GB IDE hard drive seaparately (Since they're quite sought after and rare.)

If it's a SATA drive, you may as well just leave it in the machine.

So I'd have to say, sell it while you can still get something back for it.
Click to expand...

Actually I do not mind spending that much money on this machine--where can I do this? (in Durban area).

Where to sell these parts? Who will buy this?
 
Not sure where you can go in Durban, sorry, I'm in CT. :(

I would sell the parts on Gumtree, you could get around R600 for it As-is for spares.
The hard drive alone is worth R300, so maybe sell it separately for R300 and sell the
rest for maybe R300-R400.

Then keep scouting classifieds websites like Gumtree, Carbonite and Junkmail for a
working used one, I've seen this particular model selling for around R1800.

Hope this helps.
 
Hey Hey

I too had a nostalgic soft-spot for my ooooold Hp Compaqs... they were kept on life-support for me many, many years after they had been declared beyond economical to repair. The thing is... it was always something a few months down the line.

There came a time when I had to decide that any money being spent on reviving the old laptop would be better off being spent on new. Laptops with great specs, although not as nice screen as your current HP, are around R3K. You can even find better 2nd hand deals for what it will cost to replace the motherboard... and in a few months time, probably the LCD inverter and whatever else becomes problematic.

A replacement motherboard for my (now long deceased) old HP was quoted at R3300 from Letmerepair... I eventually found a 2nd hand one for R1800 but that had USB issues.

I would advise either looking for a complete 2nd hand HP 8220, 8230, 8240 laptop, and then you can just replace the screen with your current one, for around R1800 or put that money towards a new replacement.

It all depends on what you want to do with it.
 
It all depends on what you want to do with it.
Click to expand...

I can feel the passion in your 'voice' there.
I just want to look at that screen, stare at it and enjoy some good HD movies on it. Crisp fonts and exquisitely bright LCD. I will proly just park it off as a desktop replacement in home office and run a few peripherals and maybe a NAS hard drive.
 
Smiley_lauf said:
I can feel the passion in your 'voice' there.
I just want to look at that screen, stare at it and enjoy some good HD movies on it. Crisp fonts and exquisitely bright LCD. I will proly just park it off as a desktop replacement in home office and run a few peripherals and maybe a NAS hard drive.
Click to expand...

Heheh... those screens are wonderful. Actually, if I remember correctly, the nw8240 has a FireGL workstation graphics thingy... really really good performers. The nw range was really solid and expensive back in the days. If you are not going to do anything requiring workstation graphics... look around for an nc / nx 8220/8230... virtually the same except for the graphics and screen res... and the screens should be interchangeable. I will need to check this before putting my head on the block.

What is actually wonky on yours at the moment... I read about the hairline crack... but what exactly is this causing ? Trackpad issues ?

EDIT: Oh, and whatever you do... DO NOT mention how reliable it has been to Pooky here on the forums. As SOON as you do this, it will die.

EDIT2:

Also ... you can try PMing Venomous here, maybe can help with spares - worth a try.
 
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What is actually wonky on yours at the moment... I read about the hairline crack... but what exactly is this causing ? Trackpad issues ?
Click to expand...

The machine just freezes; sometimes it just shuts down on its own. To switch it on, I have to press firmly on the top right hand corner of the touchpad and then press the power button. it will come on and then just freeze--requiring a hard shut down. whether this is a motherboard issue or just another problem (because it close to the wireless adapter thingy) Now I am not sure if this is true (so I have been told)--the guy (from authorized Acer/HP/Lenovo dealer) who looked at it could not find a problem, so just said it is a "hair line fracture" on the motherboard. I believed him.

I would love to rehabilitate this machine--if someone with good knowledge of this laptop could just have a look and give me a diagnosis, it will be great. You know, back in the days, I paid ZAR25,000 for this machine.

PS: Pooky proly already knows...
 
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From what you have described, it does indeed sound like motherboard... having to press hard on the top corner of a trackpad to turn it on. My old things began to do the freezing thing... then refuse to switch on without coaxing... then the USB died... it was the motherboard in both cases.

Actually, in one of the laptops it was an overtightened screw that at first pinched a cable & then pressured the motherboard... thanks to HP's onsite technician.

Freezing and powering down could be an overheating problem or VGA issue... but if you have to put pressure on the thing to switch on, it is probably the motherboard.

R25K is what the NWs sold for. Mine cost R15K at the time then too... see them now on Gumtree for around R1500.

/sigh
 
Freezing and powering down could be an overheating problem or VGA issue
Click to expand...

Yes, spot on...it actually started with overheating problem--fan would blaze on and on, then just shut down on its own.

So I guess I must just forget about it and send to the museum...
 
Smiley_lauf said:
Yes, spot on...it actually started with overheating problem--fan would blaze on and on, then just shut down on its own.

So I guess I must just forget about it and send to the museum...
Click to expand...

It is always sad when this happens.

What you could do... is strip the thing and reapply fresh thermal paste to the CPU and VGA chips... clean the fans and the exhausts. It is a finicky task but not impossible to do. This will then help negate any overheating issues. I have done this to my 8710p yearly now (a little OCD of me perhaps) and it runs cool and quiet still... 4 years old and perfect.

Pity you are in Durbs...
 
let me hear from the repairs guys I sent email today. if they can do something for me then good, otherwise, Gumtree. or just use it as a door stopper for now.
 
Smiley_lauf said:
let me hear from the repairs guys I sent email today. if they can do something for me then good, otherwise, Gumtree. or just use it as a door stopper for now.
Click to expand...

Good luck... if you are ever in Cape Town... bring it with... I would not object to giving it an oooogle-eye.
 
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