Setup network options / keyboard fixing

[Raindancer]

I just swapped an old PS2 and a hoover for a laptop. WOOP! happy days!

 

it's a Dell inspiron 1525

I have two questions...... .....

 

(1) The keyboard is buggered (only half the keys work, the rest do NOTHING)

 

- What sort of costs am i looking at to get a new keyboard (I can install it myself)

- Wheres the best place to buy some skins for it? (the women I got it off has pictures of dam flowers all over the top of it

 

(2) What to do with my new lappy?

 

I have a perfectly good desktop and would rather use that for most things, and would rarely take it out, so I was thinking of using as one of the below;

 

(a) Dual screen for my desktop (laptop running Vista and PC running XP) Can I do this?

(b) use it as storage

 

 

Ideally..

 

I want to be able to drag and drop files from one computer to the other, what would be the best way?

I can hook them up via Cat5 or do it wirelessly?

 

[dice]

1. Press Fn + NumLk on your laptop

 

2. Depends on how fast you can get your wireless working. It the connection is good, use wireless, else use a cat5 cable. It operates at usb 2.0 speeds afaik so it isn't to damn slow, but it isn't that fast either

[Fozzy Fozborne]

I found a new keyboard on ebay for $11 that claims to be compatible with the 1525.

 

You can definitely connect two computers, one via wireless and the other via ethernet. All you need to to do is enable file-sharing on both computers.

 

I found a skin site here that even lets you make your own skin.

[kingvercetti]

Laptops typically only have video out, and not video in, so you might be out of luck using it for a second monitor.

[Raindancer]

Coolski, will make my own skin! I think your right, tried a little last night to get a dual screen going with no luck.

 

The on-screen keyboard is PANTS! I will nip over to Ebay and get a new one

[Fozzy Fozborne]

Dualscreen is available with a program called MaxiVista. It's a free trial and $30 to buy. I've never actually used it but everyone says it works fine.

 

Oh and yes the On screen keyboard could not be any worse.

[Slamman]

I've taken apart EVERY Dell Laptop and desktop I obtained, and I can tell you, there are some trouble spots, but best bet I HIGHLY advise is to RESEAT the flex ribbon cable and tighten the plastic clamp when firmly pressed in (not too much force is needed, like putting CPUs in their ZeroForce sockets, a gentle grip is needed to make sure both flex cable ends are in and connecting, a simple out of joint flex cable makes all pins connect poorly.

The other thing is the male board point of connection can get solder and trace issues, I had that with one, in cases where a mouse or keyboard did not work, I plug external ones up, it's a bit defeating but WILL get you by.

I've used Windows OSD keyboard too, I can't complain, it's a godsend to me.

 

I will also add, a few Dells use Male and Female connectors, I was thinking of all the versions I've dealt with, the more trouble some are flex cable on the keyboard end. Dell uses a plastic female lead for the keyboards on some models, I believe Toshiba's A25 is the flex one and I replaced that board (eBay is your friend here!!!) You can get one under $20.

 

if the mobo connection point is bad, the keyboard will still not work. The A25 moved their keys around and I've seen the more traditional Querty on eBay in fact, so they must have two that work on the same machines! I've seen Dell moving their own keys around, so you likely have to get used to them. I use laps more then desktops now, not the case before I got these rash of good P4 machines.

 

They work great everywhere, and as I said with Pac Man and vintage arcading, no real sweat that they are older.

 

I work heavily with digital photo taking, and vids online and off (DVD on most of my laptops!)

Also highly recommend you have a PCMCIA Wifi and card reader, I have a seperate one for Compact Flash card, which I've seen at MCenter at 32GB size.

The card readers I use to transfer data, but IR works too

Edited August 26, 2009 by Slamman