Hi guys,

need some help. I have an Advent laptop which has worked spot on for over a year, and mostly leave it on my desk and use it as a desktop. Very rarely gets used as a laptop. But, today I took it to my brothers house and noticed that the screen was going off when the screen was open at certain angles. When I got home and put it back on my desk, I noticed that the screen was going off again at the angle that I need it to be at on my desk, but this time noticed its actually the backlight, the screen is actually still visible. So, I removed the bottom to have a look for any loose wires or whatnot but couldnt see anything so put it back together.

Then, proceded to start her up, all well and good until it stuck on the windows "Welcome.." screen.

Held down the power button, rebooted. Same again

Rebooted again, and the same happened, but this time I tried the angles again for the screen going off - and by some magic the thing booted, but didnt load the icons in the bottom right correctly (goes ok when explorer task is ended and restarted).

Any ideas what the problem could be?

A very unhappy Mike Pembo:(

Edit, just noticed that the usb ports are not working either

2nd Edit - they are working, I hadnt plugged them in !! lol

Sounds like some kind of dry joint..... maybe. Do you leave the laptop open at the same angle all of the time? I have no idea if that would make a difference, but if its been left in the same position for a long time maybe the joint / cable has become brittle.

However I had something similar with my computer stopping at the welcome screen, but unlike you i wasnt lucky enough to tilt the screen and get it started . But i put a windows CD back in, and it booted off that and has worked ok since (i really shouldn't of said that). I have been reliably informed it was something to do with dll files or something like that.:thumbdwn:

I bet this reply doesnt help you at all!

Sounds like some kind of dry joint..... maybe. Do you leave the laptop open at the same angle all of the time? I have no idea if that would make a difference, but if its been left in the same position for a long time maybe the joint / cable has become brittle.

However I had something similar with my computer stopping at the welcome screen, but unlike you i wasnt lucky enough to tilt the screen and get it started . But i put a windows CD back in, and it booted off that and has worked ok since (i really shouldn't of said that). I have been reliably informed it was something to do with dll files or something like that.:thumbdwn:

I bet this reply doesnt help you at all!

I think it is a dry joint, as the screen "creaks" at the precise angle where the thing goes off.

And yes, the screen is at the same position all the time.

I have sussed out the welcome screen hangs and goes off when I close the screen and re open, however it has just booted alright this time.

Definatly hardware and not software, just a problem of getting the parts tho to fix it I suppose. :(

Edit - found one on ebay... clicky

but it looks like the area thats broke on that is where the problem with mine is

sounds like something has broken or come loose and when your opening the screen your putting pressure or stress on a joint. My brothers laptop is doing something similar, its been back for repair once and done it again.

By the sounds of it, the one on ebay could well be the same.... have you had a look around any computer forums for the same issue?

It might even be worth dropping Advent a quick email, if its the cable it may be easily fixable with a new ribbon cable.

If not, you'd best get practising with the old soldering iron :P

By the sounds of it, the one on ebay could well be the same.... have you had a look around any computer forums for the same issue?

It might even be worth dropping Advent a quick email, if its the cable it may be easily fixable with a new ribbon cable.

If not, you'd best get practising with the old soldering iron :P

Aye, apparantly the hinges for the screen are common to fail as they are brittle:(

However if its the cable Im sure advent can supply one and I can fit it (and yup, quite handy with the ole soldering iron already )

Going to take it to SWMBO's dad on friday as he deals with computer repair all the time and I trust him with it rather than some trainee at PC world

Sounds like a power issue with backlight to the screen... have you looked for a service manual for it? I tend to find the ones I need on here...

At the least you'll be able to identify the parts inside where they're connected etc

Sounds like a power issue with backlight to the screen... have you looked for a service manual for it? I tend to find the ones I need on here...

At the least you'll be able to identify the parts inside where they're connected etc

Cheers for the link, but no sign of Advent 7079 on there.

Even the support site for the laptop doesnt list this model, and they didnt reply to any emails a while back so I presume they will be of no use.

Its booted up ok this morning, whoah there horsey...for some strange and perculier reason - its letting me tilt the screen:confused: oh no, never mind, tried tilting it back and it went off lol! Problem remains.

Ill keep searching for a manual tho

edit, found an alternative manufacturer name for it:

ECS 600

Unlucky... with it being an Advent it's highly likely that it's available elsewhere in the world under a different name, if you can find out what you might have more luck finding a service manual

Unlucky... with it being an Advent it's highly likely that it's available elsewhere in the world under a different name, if you can find out what you might have more luck finding a service manual

Ive managed to find another one on ebay for spares, do you reckon it comes with the backlight thingy I need?

clicky

Ive sussed out that when I apply a twisting pressure to the rear right hinge of the screen, the backlight comes back on. Also, I have noticed that there is alot of slop in the hinges, and from what I have seen on the tinterweb the hinges are brittle and prone to failure

From that auction it's hard to say... sounds like a dry joint or fault cable as already suggested.

Only thing I can think of atm would be to take it to bits again and fully investigate that hinge and anything running near or through it see if you can see anything obvious.

As for getting spare parts off ebay unless you are absolutely sure that you can get the part you need for a reasonable sum I would consider maybe getting a replacement laptop and then breaking your advent up for spares and selling it on ebay to recoup some of your money.

Another option would be to buy a cheap TFT screen and use that with your laptop.

Good luck

Another option would be to buy a cheap TFT screen and use that with your laptop.

Good luck

Already done

The cables for the screen commonly go through the hinge on their way to the LCD panel. My money is on a fractured cable.

Be very careful in that area, there is a high voltage inverter to supply the voltage for the LCD. Don't mess about in there with your fingers or any metal tools with the machine on the mains, or the battery installed.

The cables for the screen commonly go through the hinge on their way to the LCD panel. My money is on a fractured cable.

Be very careful in that area, there is a high voltage inverter to supply the voltage for the LCD. Don't mess about in there with your fingers or any metal tools with the machine on the mains, or the battery installed.

But its repairable, thats the main thing. Sod the fact that if I poke around Ill probably kill myself, aslong as in the process I make the bloomin thing work

Im with you on the cable idea though, as it just seems logical for it to be that.

I dont fancy the idea of selling the laptop for spares as its only 1 and a half years old and cost me