Job Discussion Forums

skirmish · Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 81

Okay, so I have a laptop from Korea, and am now in Japan. If I plug it in just using a plug adaptor, is it going to blow it up?
I cant see any voltage reading on the actual computer, but the power source says its 100-240v, 50/60Hz?
Any knowledeable people out there?

Albright · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 39

Fuhgeddabouddit; it'll be fine. See this thread:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=21256

skirmish · Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 81

Okay, so I just tried to bootup my laptop, and I had problems!
It starts to go, but the screen stays blank, then it just idles!
Has something happened to it in the post on the way over?
Maybe the battery is screwed?
Any techies have any ideas?

Synne · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 269 Location: Tohoku

I actually rebuilt my entire comp once I made it to Japan. I had a similar problem when I hooked everything up to the Japanese power supply that was in the new case I bought for my comp over here.

Luckily for me I also brought my old power supply and once I hooked it back up and used the original power cords all seemed to go well.

Are you using any Japanese power cords on your laptop at the moment?

skirmish · Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 81

No, its the cord I use back home, but im just using a plug adaptor, no voltage transformer or anything.

Albright · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 39

Celeste · Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2005 9:15 am Post subject:

Has this computer been used for e-mail? The symptoms sound like MSblaster worm from a couple of years back.

skirmish · Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 81

No, dont have another battery unfortunately.
Yes, it was used for email, but was working fine when i left, so probably has been damaged. May need to get it looked at me thinks.

sethness · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 209 Location: Hiroshima, Japan

I used to be a pro at repairing PCs.

I'd like to take a whack at the problem, but I need t know more.
If it's a hardware problem (something physically wrong with the PC) then when you start it, you'll see nothing (screen stays blank) or there will be a splashy screen with the manufacturer's name in big fancy letters, and a wee little message in one corner that says "if you want to go into set-up (or BIOS, or something that sounds like that), press the DEL key (or F2 key, or something like that).

The totally blank screen would indicate a problem with the PC's man electrics...but your hard disk may still be OK, if it's put in another computer, so your info may be ssssSafe. The rest of the PC may be dead, or only need a minor repair, or (if you're lucky) just has a loose wire or dirty wire somewhere.

If you get as far (but no farther) as seeing the manufacturer's logo and that little "enter setup" message, then it's possible that 1) either your hard disk died because of baggage-handlers, which is easy and not expensive to repair. It'd mean your info (old mail, etc.) is dead, though. Or,it could mean 2) that maybe the machine got cold while in-flight, and like all batteries (remember your radio and flashlight, on cold nights outdoors ?) got momentarily weak. Y'see, a laptop PC actualy has 2 batteris, not just the big one you know about. The big one runs the machine while it's ON; the small one, like a watchbattery, is always on, and helps the PC to remember the date, time, and what kind of hard disk you have. It's designed to remember this stuff while the PC is OFF. If that battery fell asleep on the job, then your PC would forget the date, and might be unable to use the hard disk when you start the machine, simply because the PC is saying "What ? I have a hard disk ? Where ? What kind ? I don't remember having a hard disk."

If you get as far as seeing Windows' opening screen, then you probably have a virus or need to reinstall Windows or something less-tragic like that.

So...please, tell us more details.

---------
You're in Japan now, right ? Don't suppose you're in Hiroshima ? If you were, I could just diagnose the machine in person, in whatever restaurant near you has an electical outlet near the customers' tables. (Most do, for plugging in vacuum cleaners and floorpolishers.)

skirmish · Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 81

Okay, thanks
There is absolutely nothing on the screen when I boot up, its like I never turned it on, so I dont think its a software problem. When I boot up, the hird drive and stuff sounds like its firing, nothing on the screen, then everything is kinda silent after that, but the power/battery lights remain on.
Hope that helps, any info would be appreciated.

sethness · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 209 Location: Hiroshima, Japan

Hmmm... Maybe it's trying to boot, but having some problem communicating with the laptop screen, then hanging because it's waiting for input from you. Have you tried hooking up an external monitor, then booting up ?

Some laptops have little display-lights under the main screen, at the top of the keyboard. They're shaped like little icons for power, hard disk (can), and battery. Do those light up ?

It may EASILY be that something like a RAM chip shook loose while the laptop was doing the Samsonite Luggage Test, during your trip from Korea to Japan. The problem sounds like a failed or loose add-on RAM chip, amongst other things. Do you know where the add-on RAM is, on your laptop ? It's usually in a special pocket on th eunderside of your laptop, or possibly under the keyboard. It'll look green, about the size of your finger, and be attached by clips at the short ends. Be sure to handle it gently, with NO STATIC ELECTRICITY.

It could even be something else that shook loose, and is even now rattling around and shorting out the PC. A laptop PC often has many pressure/friction-fit pieces inside that may not work properly after gorillas at the airport play Rugby with your laptop. Good news: That kinda problem's easy to repair.

Please tell us the specific brand and model of the laptop. Frequently, Korean laptops are marketed in Japan under a different name or brand. (The same holds true in America-- look at some of the old NEC latops, and note how similar they are to the AT&T Safari PCs.) If you can tell a repairman "It's just like a [insert Japanese laptop model here]", he may be more willing to look at your problem.

How is your Japanese ? This sounds unfair, but part of your problem finding a repairman may be that you're a gaijin, and the repair staff are simply intimidated by the prospect of trying to communicate with you. It will also help immensely if you can provide a detailed description of the problem and how it started, IN JAPANESE. Any chance you can show up at a repair place with a translator-friend ?