AbsoluteRaleigh Laptop Repair Blog

Open Saturdays starting July 11, 2009

2009-07-03T12:06:00.000-07:00

Starting July 11, 2009 we'll be open on Saturday from 9:00AM to 2:00PM.

These new hours will be a trial run but we think the changes will be permanent.

July 4, 2009

2009-07-03T11:59:00.000-07:00

Happy Fourth of July!!

Melissa Foster Apex, NC writes bad checks

2009-07-03T11:43:00.000-07:00

Melissa Foster of Apex, NC has written a bad check to Absolute Computers. Over the last few months she had contacted us and told us she would make good on the check but failed to do so. She also refused to return the stolen merchandise.

Do not accept her checks as they are worthless and an attempt to defraud you. The bank account is not even open. She is a criminal with an arrest record and a probation officer.

We located and informed her current probation officer that she is still defrauding local businesses.

She is currently in hiding but if you have a current address or phone number we can reach Melissa Foster at please contact us with it so that we can turn her over to the proper authorities and proceed with legal actions. (We will keep your information anonymous if you wish.)

Dell Inspiron 1526 Motherboard P/N GY997

2009-06-30T06:38:00.000-07:00

We've noticed on some occasions the Dell Inspiron 1526 (AMD based) laptops do not have a p/n on their motherboard. The P/N is GY997.

Laptops: New from $379, Used from $149!

2009-06-14T20:04:00.000-07:00

We were working hard all last week to bring you these deals, this week only, while supplies last.

$379: NEW Lenovo 3000, 1Year Warranty, 15" screen, Intel Celeron M 430, Vista Home Basic, 2GB RAM, Ethernet, Wireless, DVD/CDRW.

$649: NEW ThinkPad T61, 3Year Warranty, Core 2 Duo T7100 CPU, XP Pro, 14" Widescreen, DVD, 2GB RAM, 80GB HD, Gigabit Ethernet, ABG Wireless. These are rock solid machines & at $649 these will be gone in the next day or two. Call Monday if you want one!

$449: Refurb ThinkPad R60, 1Year Warranty, Core2Duo, 14", DVD/CDRW, 3GB RAM, 100GB HD, Ethernet, ABG Wireless, XP Pro. Call for the rest of the specs.

$299: Used ThinkPad T30, P4M 1.8ghz, 1GB RAM, Ethernet, Wireless, DVD, XP Pro.

$479: Used Dell Inspiron 9300, Pentium M 1.6Ghz, Nvidia Graphics, New 17" LCD.

$299: Used Toshiba Celeron 2.6Ghz, 1GB RAM, 60GB HD, 15", DVDRW, Wireless.

$199: Used ThinkPad T20, P3 800Mhz, 256MB, 20GB, DVD, XP, Basic, reliable units.

$149: Used Dell 8000 laptops, P3, 512MB, 20GB, XP. Basic.

Absolute Computers
2436 SW Cary Pkwy
Cary NC 27513
919-468-3999
www.AbsoluteRaleigh.com

ALERT: Lenovo Warehouse Sale UPDATE

2009-06-12T20:34:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago we blogged about the Lenovo warehouse sale near Greensboro, NC.

If the below price sheet is correct, this will be a WICKED SALE! Let's put it this way, we've bought and sold thousands of ThinkPad laptops, and this price list made our jaws hit the floor. These are priced way too cheap, some machine 80% current retail prices.

Price List.

Please note, the price list below may or may not be legit, we just bumped into it online. But the warehouse sale IS legit and there will be deals there.

Intel® Core™2 Extreme Mobile Processor X9000

2009-06-11T15:08:00.000-07:00

Above is a pic of an X9000 processor. We recently pulled this out of a dead Alienware Area 51 M15x laptop. Little did we know this would be in there. This rare processor goes for $400 on eBay. The X9000 is the fastest CPU for mobile 965 chipset. It features a 2.8Ghz clock speed and a 6MB cache. It is a 45nm Micro-FCPGA.

We sold this to someone who will drop it into a Dell XPS M1730 & OC it.

Fujitsu P1610 2GB DDR2 Micro DIMM?

2009-06-11T14:33:00.000-07:00

A question we're rarely asked is: how much memory can a Fujitsu P1610 hold? The P1610 and P1620 accept a rare, 2GB stick. We have one in at the moment but it will be gone soon. The RAM currently sells for around $250/chip. That is $125/GB! The RAM is a rare MicroDIMM for Fujitsu laptops. If you're looking around online for the memory we recommend the actual Fujitsu memory which is PC2-4200 DDR2 533MHz 2Rx8 CL4.

To aid your search look for the following part numbers:

D2P533-2GMEJFJ6
PC2-4200-444-10-Z1 2Rx8 CL=4 Micro DIMM Laptop Memory

Lenovo Warehouse Sale June 13 2009

2009-06-09T14:44:00.000-07:00

Lenovo warehouse sale:

8AM - 4PM

Lenovo U.S. Fulfillment Center
6540 Franz Warner Parkway
Whitsett, NC 27377

An announcement on craigslist says "Laptops, desktops and more will be available at deeply discounted prices. Cash and credit cards accepted (no checks)."

Flash Switcher for FireFox

2009-05-28T20:30:00.000-07:00

Here is a neat utility. On some occasions some people need a different version of flash. Flash Switcher will allow Firefox to run Flash9 instead of Flash10. Useless to many but an extremely useful tool for people that need it!

HP Laptop Battery Recall May 14 2009

2009-05-26T20:08:00.000-07:00

HP has another battery recall. In rare cases the recalled lithium-ion batteries can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers. (CPSC Link).

To see if your laptop battery has been recalled, visit HP's battery replacement page here. To just see the newly recalled models go here.

Gateway P Series Laptop Keyboard Part Number

2009-05-11T06:46:00.000-07:00

On some of the P series laptops, such as the Gateway P-6825, P-6215, etc. the part# for the keyboard can be hard to find. Below is a small list of cross compatible keyboards. The keyboards from the M685 & MX8000 Gateway laptops work in the P series laptops.

904V607S01814A72CD2200
904V607S01812006BCVCA1
90.4V607.S01
8016828R
7010905R
AEPA6TAU120
AEPA6TAU020

HP DV9000 Hinge Problem Defect & Recall

2009-05-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

It is well known that many of the HP DV9000 laptops suffer a problem where the left hinge falls apart rendering the laptop unusable. The lid assembly then needs to be replaced. After X amount of opening and closing it will break. There is a recall, or as HP calls it, a "limited service enhancement", out for this specific problem.

Most DV9000 laptops came with a 1yr warranty. The HP warranty service enhancement only covers this factory defect until May 31, 2009, and some customers have already been told their machine will not be covered. That is nice that they are covering it, but, if you have used your laptop sparingly should you be punished? Getting this fixed by a third party is costly ($200-$300 here, or $400 at HP). HP is in the media's spotlight right now after releasing several problematic models and not standing behind them. They aren't even manufactured by HP, one would think they'd save face with their customers and go after Quanta (the real manufacturer) for coverage but that doesn't seem to be happening for whatever reason.

HP's web page regarding the hinge defect is here.

If your DV9000 is out of warranty and you need the hinge fixed, we'll be happy to fix it here. Please email us here for current pricing. We'll give you a discounted price and beat HP's price.

According to HP's site, models affected and covered are some dv9000/dv9100/dv9200/dv9400 including:

DV90**:

ES716AV GG551EA RE373EA RR110EA RU972UA
EW680AV GG552EA RE374EA RR111EA RU974UA
EZ452UA GG553EA RE375EA RR112EA RU975UA
EZ453UA GG555EA RE376EA RR113EA RV112UA
EZ456UA GG556EA RE377EA RR114EA RV116UA
EZ457UA GH766EA RE379EA RR115EA RV118UA
EZ458UA GH767EA RE380EA RR116EA RV119UA
EZ459UA GH768EA RE381EA RR117EA RV121UA
EZ460UA GH769EA RE382EA RR118EA RV767AS
EZ461UA GH770EA RE383EA RR186AV RW753EA
EZ462UA GH771EA RF079AV RR323EA RW754EA
EZ468UA GH836EA RF080AV RR324EA RW755EA
EZ470UA GH837EA RF081AV RR327EA RW756EA
GA074UA GH838EA RF082AV RR328EA RW757EA
GA075UA GH839EA RG139AS RR329EA RW758EA
GA076UA GH840EA RG335UA RR330EA RW759EA
GA077UA GH841EA RG339UA RR331EA RX568LA
GA078UA GH842EA RG340UA RR332EA RY285PA
GA182UA GH843EA RG341UA RR333EA RY527EA
GA183UA GH844EA RG343UA RR335EA RY528EA
GA184UA GH845EA RG346UA RR336EA RY529EA
GA354UA GH846EA RH283AS RR337EA RY530EA
GA355UA GH847EA RL765PA RR338EA RY531EA
GA356UA GH848EA RL766PA RR342EA RY541EA
GA358UA GH849EA RM675LA RR343EA RY542EA
GA359UA GH850EA RP114UA RR345EA RY543EA
GA361UA GH851EA RP115UA RR346EA RY682EA
GF715EA GH853EA RP116UA RR347EA RY683EA
GF716EA GJ156PA RP122UA RR348EA RY684EA
GF717EA GL880UA RP243UA RR349EA RY685EA
GF718EA GL885UA RP245UA RR350EA RY686EA
GF719EA GL886UA RP246UA RR351EA RY687EA
GF720EA GL887UA RP247UA RR352EA RY688EA
GF721EA GL888UA RP248UA RR353EA RY689EA
GF722EA GL889UA RP249UA RR354EA RY690EA
GF723EA GL890UA RP250UA RR356EA RY695EA
GF724EA GL891UA RP282UA RR357EA RY696EA
GF725EA GL892UA RP588AS RR359EA RY697EA
GF726EA KB189UA RP617EA RR360EA RY698EA
GF727EA PC620AV RP618EA RR361EA RY700EA
GF728EA PE926AV RP619EA RR362EA RY702EA
GF729EA RC278AV RP620EA RR363EA RY703EA
GF730EA RC279AV RP622EA RR364EA RY704EA
GF731EA RD017AV RP623EA RS553EA RY705EA
GF732EA RD018AV RP624EA RS554EA RY706EA
GF733EA RD019AV RP625EA RS555EA RY707EA
GF734EA RD020AV RP626EA RS556EA RY708EA
GF735EA RD021AV RP913EA RS557EA RY709EA
GF736EA RD022AV RP914EA RS558EA RY710EA
GF737EA RD023AV RP915EA RS559EA RY711EA
GF738EA RD024AV RP916EA RS560EA RY712EA
GF739EA RD025AV RP917EA RS561EA RY713EA
GF743EA RD026AV RP919EA RS562EA RY714EA
GF744EA RD027AV RP920EA RU312UA RY715EA
GF745EA RD028AV RP921EA RU313UA RY716EA
GF746EA RE042PA RP922EA RU314UA RY717EA
GF755EA RE043PA RP923EA RU688UA RY851LA
GG190PA RE045PA RP925EA RU689UA RZ595EA
GG192PA RE164PA RP927EA RU690UA RZ828PA
GG543EA RE364EA RP928EA RU876PA RZ899PA
GG544EA RE365EA RP929EA RU895PA RZ900PA
GG545EA RE367EA RP930EA RU896PA RZ916PA
GG546EA RE368EA RP931EA RU933PA
GG548EA RE369EA RP932EA RU948PA
GG549EA RE371EA RP933EA RU949PA
GG550EA RE372EA RR109EA RU971UA

DV91**:
ES716AV EZ379AV PC620AV PE926AV RR186AV

DV92**:

CC894AV ES716AV RL015AV RL022AV RX746AV
CC895AV EZ345AV RL018AV RL024AV RX747AV
CC896AV PC620AV RL020AV RL025AV RX748AV
CC897AV PE926AV RL021AV RR186AV

DV93**:

ES716AV GD574AV PC620AV PE926AV RR186AV

Wyzo Beta

2009-05-06T11:22:00.000-07:00

Wyzo Beta is here. It is a new web browser powered by mozilla that we're playing with here today. It is neat and supports download of torrents.

Windows 7 RC Available

2009-05-06T07:07:00.000-07:00

Windows 7 RC is now available here.

Earth Day 2009

2009-04-22T08:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day!

Today our inboxes were full of advertisements from various computer vendors talking about how green they are. While they do what they can and we do what we can here, the bottom line is that computers are terrible for the environment.

So what can you do? Instead of throwing out your broken computer, get it fixed! Here of course! =)

Wax On, Wax Off

2009-04-20T12:19:00.001-07:00

We figured that this laptop repair was blog-worthy. A candle burning on a mantle burned down and melted. The liquid wax ran off the edge of the mantle and onto this open HP laptop. The user was away eating a sandwich. They came back to this mess! A laptop covered in wax! The keyboard was ruined and the unit was covered in wax.

Being a previous AbsoluteRaleigh customer they rushed the unit over here. We were able to replace the keyboard and clean the unit up for under $100! Most of the laptop was cleaned using our special citrus cleaner, alcohol and glass cleaner.

Be careful with your laptop, Danielson!

Updated: New Laptops page

2009-04-20T11:51:00.000-07:00

Just a note- we updated our New Laptops page. It now reflects that we carry Toshiba and Dell laptops.

We're going to try to keep the Toshiba S300 laptops in stock, as they seem to be in demand at the moment.

HP Laptops with Defective Nvidia chips Not Covered

2009-04-06T09:19:00.000-07:00

Many HP laptops with the notorious failed Nvidia GPU are not being covered by HP, leaving many laptop owners stuck with a broken laptop.

We'll be posting the details here from now on.

First one today:

HP DV6500
P/N: RM098AV
Motherboard P/N: 446476-001
Problem: 1 long, 2 short beeps (GPU Failure)

Dell D510, D610 runs on battery only

2009-03-31T08:01:00.001-07:00

Over the years we have seen quite a few Dell Latitude D510, D610 laptops that run on battery only. It is not always the power jack, but when we get these in for repair we repair the motherboard and replace the jack. The repair falls under our standard power jack repair service.

Conficker aka Downadup April 1 2009 Worm FAQ

2009-03-30T11:59:00.000-07:00

If you are worried about the Conficker (aka Downadup) worm there is a FAQ on F-Secure's blog. Ignore the hype and get the facts. The link is here.

If your machine is up to date, it was patched over 5 months ago. Microsoft also has info on the worm here.

Retail area under construction

2009-03-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

Our retail area will be under construction this week. Over the weekend we painted and put in new carpeting- we're still working on the walls to bring you more retail products. We'll be carrying a lot of laptop accessories, too.

T60s are here

2009-03-15T12:08:00.000-07:00

Excellent condition T60s will be available this week. We've been checking them out, getting them ready for their new homes. They're still under warranty. They'll all have a clean install of XP with all of the latest updates. Depending on configuration they'll be $569 - $599. These are 14" XGA models w/ Intel graphics, Core Duo 1.8 or faster w/ 2 - 3GB RAM in most of them. They really are a good deal.

We're out of T23s and T30s at the moment but will have more available soon.

Unable to install Flash due to permission issue

2009-03-11T13:56:00.000-07:00

If you are unable to install Adobe Flash Player due to "permissions" you more than likely need the fix listed on Adobe's site here.

The "TechNote" basically has you run Microsoft's SubInACL tool.

SubInACL works on:
* Windows 2000 Professional
* Windows 2000 Server
* Windows 2000 Advanced Server
* Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
* Windows XP Professional
* Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
* Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
* Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
* Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition

Hope this helps someone...

Q-See QSPDVR04 Error DVR_DATA,5 and Solution

2009-03-10T10:36:00.000-07:00

If you are installing (or reinstalling) a Q-See QSPDVR04 on a Vista machine you may encounter the error "D:\dvr_data,5".

Solution:
Manually create the folders:
D:\DVR_DATA
D:\DVR_DATA\VIDEO

You may need to also add:

D:\DVR_DATA\VIDEO\CAM1
D:\DVR_DATA\VIDEO\CAM2
D:\DVR_DATA\VIDEO\CAM3
D:\DVR_DATA\VIDEO\CAM4
D:\DVR_DATA\VIDEO\CAM5
D:\DVR_DATA\5

(We added ALL of the above folders, restarted SuperDVR and it worked).