GPU died on my Dell Inspiron 1420, how can I retrieve my files?

cyang · 2010-09-27 03:36:18

My Dell Inspiron 1420's graphics card recently failed, so nothing displays on the LCD panel or on any external monitors attached. Everything else seems to work fine. I can boot it up, log in, issue commands on the console and see the response in the form of my hard drive light blinking. X doesn't seem to start, but that's not an issue for me right now as I can't see anything anyway.

I originally thought that I could just use sftp to get into my computer and retrieve the files, but for some reason my laptop won't connect to the internet, wireless or wired. I was using wicd to connect before my GPU died, and theoretically, if I launch wicd-curses it should try to connect automatically. However, I'm finding that it doesn't connect at all.

Any suggestions on how I can retrieve the data on the laptop or how to get network working without any visuals?

Thanks in advance!

Skripka · 2010-09-27 03:49:19

Easiest way-pull the drive out and plug it into another computer...

Allan · 2010-09-27 03:51:48

Skripka wrote:

Easiest way-pull the drive out and plug it into another computer...

Agreed. Cables so that you can just connect it to a usb port are easy to find.

karol · 2010-09-27 03:55:20

+1 to the above, but maybe if you plug another drive in, you are able to mount it and run a script that backs up your data to t.

cyang · 2010-09-27 05:04:15

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'm currently copying the files onto an external HD I borrowed from a friend. Luckily, I don't have too much stuff on the laptop.

Any idea how difficult it will be to replace the graphics if Dell refuses to fix it? Apparently my warranty was extended because of this defect, but too bad it expired just 2 months ago... go figure.

ewaller · 2010-09-27 05:56:57

I am pretty sure it is a high pin count BGA (Ball Grid Array) package directly on the motherboard. If so, there is not a chance of replacing it. Not even with a surface mount rework station.

hotloo · 2010-09-27 06:13:57

ewaller wrote:

I am pretty sure it is a high pin count BGA (Ball Grid Array) package directly on the motherboard. If so, there is not a chance of replacing it. Not even with a surface mount rework station.

BGA is a nighmare when you try to replace something....it is almost impossible for you to remove the chip and plug a new one into the same place....However, BGA really does save a lot of space in the circuit board.

R00KIE · 2010-09-27 21:41:00

It might only need to be re-soldered, it seems these days it is quite common for stuff to fail because the solder points break, however if the chip is toast then I guess it's better to forget about that machine and get a new cheap one, it will be faster and have a larger disk than the old one, it will have warranty and best of all, smell new

ewaller · 2010-09-27 21:49:08

R00KIE wrote:

It might only need to be re-soldered

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_grid_array

karol · 2010-09-27 21:54:20

ewaller wrote:

R00KIE wrote:
It might only need to be re-soldered
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_grid_array
<sarcasm> Good Luck </sarcasm>

What if he uses a magnetized needle and a steady hand to post here? ;P
As the first monkey that went to the moon once said: "I love the smell of solder in the morning".

Will the warranty be void if you take your notebook apart?

Arch Linux

#1 2010-09-27 03:36:18

GPU died on my Dell Inspiron 1420, how can I retrieve my files?

#2 2010-09-27 03:49:19

Re: GPU died on my Dell Inspiron 1420, how can I retrieve my files?

#3 2010-09-27 03:51:48

Re: GPU died on my Dell Inspiron 1420, how can I retrieve my files?

#4 2010-09-27 03:55:20

Re: GPU died on my Dell Inspiron 1420, how can I retrieve my files?

#5 2010-09-27 05:04:15

Re: GPU died on my Dell Inspiron 1420, how can I retrieve my files?

#6 2010-09-27 05:56:57

Re: GPU died on my Dell Inspiron 1420, how can I retrieve my files?

#7 2010-09-27 06:13:57

Re: GPU died on my Dell Inspiron 1420, how can I retrieve my files?

#8 2010-09-27 21:41:00

Re: GPU died on my Dell Inspiron 1420, how can I retrieve my files?

#9 2010-09-27 21:49:08

Re: GPU died on my Dell Inspiron 1420, how can I retrieve my files?

#10 2010-09-27 21:54:20

Re: GPU died on my Dell Inspiron 1420, how can I retrieve my files?

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