[averysadman]

Unfortunately the only SD card reader I have is on the laptop so I can't take photos, but I can copy down everything on the labels.

EASYNOTE
(bar code)
LXB220Y0029120058E4900
SNID: 91200142249

Packard Bell B.V
Model: Kamet GM
Made in People's Republic of China

P/N: LX.B220Y.002
S/N: 122552500132
MS-MODEL: KMG00

That's all that is written on the labels. However, I did some digging, and the models chassis seems to correspond to the model name 'ML65', that's not written anywhere on the labels but it looks like the exact same model.

http://www.prix-ordi...-ml65-u-014.jpg

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Sorry but I have been unable to find a disassembly guide

A cautionary note, be careful what sites you visit whilst searching as Avast blocked a Trojan at one link I attempted to open.

[phillpower2]

Sorry but I have been unable to find a disassembly guide

A cautionary note, be careful what sites you visit whilst searching as Avast blocked a Trojan at one link I attempted to open.

[averysadman]

Yeah, I couldn't find one either, and the PB website won't send me one.

I've removed every accessible screw, but something that I can't access is still holding it down, and I can't figure out how to remove the keyboard.

[averysadman]

This is ridiculous, this isn't a case of me lacking the right tools or screw heads, I've removed every visible screw, but something is holding the chassis together that I can't see or access. It seems to be towards the rear and center of the chassis under the plastic case. It's impossible that the case simply can't be opened, I can't see anything that would require special tools, and nobody would build a computer that is impossible to service.

[phillpower2]

It has been a couple of months since I last repaired a notebook (HP) and even with a manual a couple of the screws were hard to locate, one if I remember correctly was holding the keyboard, it was either in the battery bay or around the HDD area, may be worth a look.

[averysadman]

I'm stumped at this point, I can't continue. There's something holding it together, whatever it is, is underneath the plastic in an area that I wouldn't be able to reach without destroying the chassis, or under the keyboard which I can't figure out how to remove. I'm looking at schematics and manuals for different Packard Bell models to find similarities or clues, but no luck so far. I'll see if I can get some photos somehow.

[phillpower2]

I wish I had an answer for you

I will also look at whatever Easynote dismantle guides I can safely find.

[averysadman]

I have hooked up the laptop's HDD to my PC, so I can access the data, I'll have to wait until I can take it in for repair and see if they can either fix it, or show me how to get into the chassis so I can do it myself. As long as I can still access the data I'll be ok for a while, turns out the HDD is just SATA, so it was easy to hook up and works fine.

[phillpower2]

Have you secured the data on the HDD or would you like assistance with this!

[averysadman]

Data is secured, HDD is connected via SATA, it's working perfectly, but thanks!
All of my files are secure which was a concern, I used to use the laptop as a download/storage location for my home network, so it's not so much of an inconvenience now. Next week I'll take my laptop in to my local repair shop and see if they can advise me on how to get into the chassis.

[phillpower2]

Glad to hear that your data is secured.
Good luck and please let us know how you get on with the repair store.

[averysadman]

Well, it took me a while, but I eventually got frustrated and tore the thing apart, turns out that's what I should have done from the beginning as most of the chassis was glued or clipped together.
The repair shop was extortionate, so I didn't have them fix it.
I managed to disassemble and reassemble the entire laptop, it turns out it's not as fragile as I was treating it, and it turns on just fine after reassembly.
However, despite re-seating the connections to the monitor, it's still got the same problem, meaning the backlight is dead.

I don't know the first thing about laptop repair, is a backlight a part I can buy for cheap, or a proprietary, model-specific part that's going to cost me an arm and a leg?
If I can find one that's right for my model, is it as easy as switching out the old one, or will I have to solder something?

Edited by averysadman, 30 September 2012 - 12:52 PM.

[phillpower2]

Quite often it is the inverter board that has failed and not the backlight, the inverter board is less expensive than the backlight but is a gamble as to which one is bad and more often than not both are replaced to avoid having to dismantle the notebook again due to replacing the wrong component, an example of an inverter board from page 19 onwards ftp://ftp.packardbell.com/pub/itemnr/7441170000/EasyNote_MH_Disassembly_Manual.pdf

[averysadman]

I see where the inverter board is on my model, its what I re-seated, and checked for damage. I made sure the connections were tight, and it didn't seem to be damaged or unseated. I guess there's no way to know if it's the inverter or the backlight then? I was also told that replacing the backlight on most notebooks involves replacing the entire monitor, is that true?
Can you think of a reason as to why the BIOS screen shows up clearly, in full color and brightness, while as soon as that is passed, it goes dim?

[phillpower2]

When a computer is only in the BIOS it is under the least amount of load but when it is in use more demands are placed on it so weak components can fail, what the inverter does is control the amount of power that the backlight receives and so if the inverter board/connections is/are bad it cannot regulate the power correctly.