Laptop refurb in Udon

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tamada
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Laptop refurb in Udon

Post by tamada » January 20, 2019, 12:47 pm

When I stayed in Pattaya, there was a guy had a shop in Tukcom who was the go-to laptop repair and refurb place. I had a couple of laptops rebuilt and restored after I bought all the hardware on eBay and his boys did the work.

Is there a similar business operating here in Udon? I have rounded up a mobo, USB modules, cpu, keyboard and case hardware needed to repair and upgrade my limping 5 year-old from i5 to i7 and also look like a newly bought one.

Ta
tam



Natas

Re: Laptop refurb in Udon

Post by Natas » January 20, 2019, 3:45 pm

I have been in the Mac refurb shop north of Khun Prajack statue. I know he is a Mac refurber but he or they might know.
Good luck.

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Re: Laptop refurb in Udon

Post by dunroaming » January 20, 2019, 8:10 pm

There are many shops in Landmark that repair computers just need the talking thai dictionary with you, only word of warning ensure they don't load pirate software

Natas

Re: Laptop refurb in Udon

Post by Natas » January 20, 2019, 8:39 pm

dunroaming wrote:
January 20, 2019, 8:10 pm
There are many shops in Landmark that repair computers just need the talking thai dictionary with you, only word of warning ensure they don't load pirate software
He is not looking to get it fixed. He is looking to have new components swapped out on the mother board. Which involves some work.

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Re: Laptop refurb in Udon

Post by dunroaming » January 20, 2019, 9:54 pm

So repair/upgrade isn't the same? If they can repair they can upgrade

Natas

Re: Laptop refurb in Udon

Post by Natas » January 21, 2019, 12:29 am

dunroaming wrote:
January 20, 2019, 9:54 pm
So repair/upgrade isn't the same? If they can repair they can upgrade
I am not exactly sure how many computer shops you have been to in Udon.. I have seen only one with a bench in the back. A Soldering area with a microscope device to work on PC Boards.
Taking out a Hardrive or RAM or adding in are a bit different then changing out the CPU, adding in a new USB port, a FAN or whatever to a Laptop.
To be quite honest most of the Shops here (even if you translated) would suggest buying a new Laptop then trying to do the refurb.
But what do I know.

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Re: Laptop refurb in Udon

Post by dunroaming » January 21, 2019, 6:04 am

Been in quite a few over the years, actually when I first moved here there was really only the night market, but times move on and of course they would suggest buying a new one as more profit for them. However there are also many decent helpful people here too (but unless you can speak fluent Thai its not eady) and I'm sure the shops in Landmark (Tukcom) if they can't perform the work will know someone who can. I also know that some shops just sell spare parts at the shops but have a clean area at home for repairs. Since the OP is supplying all the parts for the upgrade no computer manufacturer would offer this service in their service centres. Also understand that integrated parts are harder to replace than plug and play. We used to design and build our own computers and laptops as a secondary line for controlling remotely operated vehicles and robotic tools but hey what would I know I was only the sourcing specialist. I mentioned the software only because none of these backstreet shops have licencing agreements for operating systems therefore they tend to install pirate versions. When they did that to me years ago I contacted Microsoft with my original build key codes and they sent me a disc free of charge!

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Re: Laptop refurb in Udon

Post by glalt » January 21, 2019, 10:24 am

Other than RAM and a solid state hard drive, it is expensive and difficult to upgrade a laptop. This is where a desk top has a huge advantage. I once made the mistake of replacing the main board in an expensive ThinkPad laptop. It wasn't worth the expense and hassle to get an extra year out of it before it died again. Desk tops, other than a failed main board, are easy to upgrade.

I have an old Acer laptop that I changed the hard drive to solid state and added RAM. It was still pretty weak so I changed it to Linux. After making those changes, the keyboard failed. I ordered a new one from AliExpress and replaced it myself. It is still working but is pretty slow.

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Re: Laptop refurb in Udon

Post by runrunshaw » January 21, 2019, 1:14 pm

Advice used to have two locations on Wattana, right across the street from each other. One is closed now, and that's the one I've taken a couple of laptops to for simple repairs over the years. They had a bench and a dedicated repair crew. They have another location on Dutsadi which might do upgrades,repairs. Since they are a country-wide chain, they may be more reputable?

On the non-reputable side, the TW found a guy who worked at a some computer repair shop and did work on the side. We used him a few times, and he seemed okay. Then I had big problems with one of my laptops and he told me which part I needed to buy. I picked up the 1500 baht part on a trip back to the States. He then kept the laptop for a long time, insisting he still couldn't fix it and needed more time. After three months, my wife threatened to call the police if he didn't return it. She finally got it back from him, but I discovered he'd switched out the HD and replaced it with junk, and he kept my power cord and the one he gave back didn't even fit the machine. !!!

So, Tamada, if you find a good shop, I'm anxious to learn which one.
The best gadget is the human brain.

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Re: Laptop refurb in Udon

Post by tamada » January 21, 2019, 2:27 pm

Thanks for the tips and comments. There's probably 3 or 4 shops in Landmark that look like they could do the business. Workbench at the back and display cases full of old cpu's, memory cards, LCD screen and all different breeds of battery. I was hoping that someone might have had a good experience with any one of them rather than I play lucky dip. They will all say yes, no problem but then you get the ones that bugger about or bugger you about.

The bar has been set high by the guy in Pattaya I mentioned in the OP. I gave him 2 laptops and all the parts and told him no rush as I wasn't going anywhere in a hurry. He called me up about 3 hours later and told me they were ready. When I did drop by (after my massage), he was most apologetic that although both laptops were done, he had run out of cells for the second battery refurb. Told him no sweat, picked the second battery up a couple of days later and all he wanted was 800 baht for the lot. A few years later, I had an android tablet that needed a new LCD. The first guy was closed so I hit another shop who said can-do. He told me a few days later that he couldn't get the LCD as it wasn't available in LOS (tablet was bought in the UK) so I went online and eBayed myself the proper LCD. Gave it to the guy about a month later and he broke the bloody new LCD installing it. Then he tried to fob it off as a bad connection that was there BEFORE he opened it. Then he wanted 500 baht for his time. Twunt.

Natas

Re: Laptop refurb in Udon

Post by Natas » January 21, 2019, 3:00 pm

"yes yes I can do." haha

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Re: Laptop refurb in Udon

Post by tamada » January 21, 2019, 5:22 pm

Regarding the upgrades versus buying new, I was the perpetual laptop replacer kinda guy. In my line of work where the hell gets beaten out of them, it usually meant they were falling apart just about the time the extended warranty was up. But it's also been several years since an employer or client has supplied a laptop so with only part-time work until I throw in the towel, I am not forking out for a new one especially since I still need quite a high minimum spec. The 15,000 baht Acer's on special at Big C and Banana IT, would melt doing my level of math. With 'new' innards, I reckon I can squeeze at lease one more circumnavigation of the planet out of the current half-brick.

I have saved a link to a well-made YouTube that sees a properly spoken gent swapping a mobo on EXACTLY the same model laptop as I have. Maybe 15 years ago, I could easily DIY. But 15 years ago, I was single and had peace and quiet on tap. That was then, this is now.

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Re: Laptop refurb in Udon

Post by Pooclover » January 22, 2019, 6:02 am


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