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Project: Laptop LCD

My sister has an old Gateway NV7802U. Not a bad machine, it has a 2.2GHz processor, 4 GB Ram, and a 500GB. Tiger Direct review. Last week, I was told there was a problem and I said I would take a look. Below, it is in its natural state.

Unfortunately, when it is powered up, it is obvious what the problem is. She stepped on it and broke the screen. I found a replacement screen for the Laptop model on ebay for $149.99 but I thought if I might open it up I could find the model of the screen and might find the screen directly for less money somewhere.

After some fairly difficult figuring out, I was able to pull the screen out. It was a little funny as there is a webcam in the cover just above the screen. There was also two screws in the bottom of the laptop that had to come out.

 

After taking it out, I turned the screen over to find the model. Voila! Here it is, a Samsung LTN173kT01-A01. You may notice that the screen (and the laptop, for that matter) was relatively recently made. “0935” is a date-code meaning 2009, week 35. This puts it late August of 2009.

Unfortunately, my plan hit a wall when I could only find this type of screen for more than $149.99. It turns out that the replacement for the Gateway that I found on Ebay is not this model, but instead an LG LP173WD1-TLA1 and the LG is $75.  It looks like the LG would fit, but I wanted to do some research to confirm. I can imagine that Gateway manufactured this laptop (and the rest during this run) with whatever parts they could get at the moment and this screen happened to be a Samsung. At other times, they might use the LG.

The screen came in. It was simple to install, with the hardest part being to remember where the screws go. Because of this I tried turning it on before adding the hardware, as can be seen below.

After I got it all put together it was fine. Hooray!

For the record, I bought the screen on Ebay. The supplier was in China, and the screen came from Shenzen, China via UPS. Total time on this project other than shipping time for the new screen was about 1 hour.

-KB1SVH

LockSport on Wednesday!

Parts of a lock in action!

There will be a Locksport Wednesday on 5/22. Come by the Lab from 6pm to 8pm for a fun time with all kinds of Locksport related fun!

 

From Wikipedia:

At locksport meetings, members regularly participate in a variety of activities such as lock challenges, lock relay races, standardized tests, and many other such activities dreamed up by the members themselves.

One such activity is known as the Padlock Challenge, where members each start with a predefined number of padlocks linked together. As participants pick a lock, they attach the lock to the chain of padlocks of another participant. The goal is to be the first to rid oneself of all one’s locks.[citation needed] Another common activity is some form of speed challenge, where members are given a limited time to pick a lock, or compete for the best time on one or more locks.

Laboratory B Events In May

Laboratory B has three events planned for this May

1: We will be meeting again for 2600 on Friday 5/3 from 5-8pm at the Quarterstaff Game Lounge at 178 Main St. above Body Art Tattoo.
2: There will be a Locksport Wednesday on 5/22. Come by the Lab from 6pm to 8pm for a fun time with all kinds of Locksport related fun!
3: Learn to Solder workshop on the May 9th,  Come by the Lab from 6pm-8pm to learn to solder! We’ll be assembling Weevil Eye’s from Sparkfun. Donations welcome, RSVP [email protected] so we know your coming.
We also planning on having some gaming events & maybe the return of the anti-surveillance  fashion talk!

Laboratory B Events for April

Laboratory B has three events planned for this April.
1: We will be meeting again for 2600 on Friday 4/5 from 5-8pm at the Quarterstaff Game Lounge at 178 Main St. above Body Art Tattoo. Should be fun.
2: There will be a Locksport Wednesday on 4/24. Come by the Lab from 6pm to 8pm for a fun time with all kinds of Locksport related fun!
3: Learn to Solder workshop on the 11th of April. Come by the Lab from 6pm-8pm to learn to solder! We’ll be assembling Weevil Eye’s from Sparkfun. Donations welcome, RSVP [email protected] so we know your coming.

2600 Friday and Anti-Surveillance Fashion Talk on Wednesday the 6th.

First and foremost, 2600 is this Friday from 5-8 at the Quarterstaff Game Lounge,(178 Main Street in Burlington Vermont).  It’s going to be tons of fun and afterwards we will head to the Lab..maybe.

Second on Wednesday the 6th at 6:30 at the Laboratory, I’m going to be giving a talk on anti-surveillance fashion The talk will cover the current state of play, who is working on this topic and similar matters. Be there or be square.

2600 and come see the new Lab!

2600 this Friday from 5-8 at the Quarterstaff Game Lounge,(178 Main Street in Burlington Vermont) then come see the new lab space after the meeting.  Get your geek on before football takes over!

We’ve moved house last week, but there are still plenty of things that need to be dusted and put away!  Come check out the new expanded Laboratory B!

That First Friday of the year happens quick!

It seems like the First Friday of 2013 comes pretty quicl this year. 2600 meeting will be at the usual place the Game Lounge at 178 Main Street in Burlington Vermont from 5-8. It’s on the third floor, so just keep going up. There will be signs to point the way.

Afterwards we will probably head over to Laboratory B!  1.5 blocks away for further hijinks!

See you there!