Laptop Problems: Compaq Presario 1200 and IBM T21

Laptop Problems, get me out of my nightmare

I have got two laptops and they both have problems.  I bought both second hand and was thinking of giving one to my brother while I use one since I am doing a foundation degree in IT.  The first one is a Compaq Presario 1200, and the second one is a IBM T21.

The problems:

1. The Compaq Presario is a Pentium three, operating on windows 2000, 700 mhz, 128mb ram, 10gb memory.  It has a Dimm RAM.  The problem I have with it is that wenever i tried typing the key U, I,O,P, instead of displaying the letters, it displays the numbers on the key.  I mean if you look at a U, I, O, P keys on the keyborad, it has letter 4, 5, 6,*, on it respectively.  It only displays those figures rather than the letters.  I have tried pressing numlock all to no avail.

2. The second laptop which is a T21 IBM laptop.  It is also a Pentium 3 800 mhz, 256 mb RAM and 20GB hard disk.it was workinng perfectly until recently when it showed error on the screen and it tells me to restart the system, which i did.i can hear the laptop  CPU working(i mean u knw the sound when its booting) but the LCD screen is not displaying.  I switched it off and on again and it starts working, but this happens all the time.  Whenever i want to switch it on, the LCD screen sometimes refuses to work, or better still sometimes it switches off itself without warning while working with it.  Does anyone in the room know the cause of tis and what I can do to solve the problem.please kindly analyse it to me.i do have basic computing knowledge.

I use a Toshibe Portege with same specs like your IBM laptop. I experience such only when the battery power is really low and i know its a power saving mechanism. Though when i restart the LCD screen shows up.
Maybe u can tell us the error that was displayed (if u remember).


I suspect the keyboard for the compaq to be faulty. It doesnt look like a numlock prob. It could be a function key problem. Check the Fn key or Take it back to d seller if u just bought it.

ALll you need to do to test the IBM is to connect it to any external monitor and power it up.If it works, then there is a problem with the LCD screen. In my opinion, if thats the case, might be better off selling it off and buying another one.

The best way to know what kind of RAM your laptop uses is to go to www.crucial.com. It will tell you what the maximum RAM for your laptop is and give you the specs of what you need so you can be sure you dont make a mistake. Am sure u know that computer's system boards have a maximum RAM they can take.

I also recently bought a Compaq Presario 1200 on E-bay and have the following prob:

the screen does not start up...
the seller, who lives 100 km from my place, states that it did work at his place; so he thinks the malfunction is due to the transport...
indeed it was packed rather poorly!
anyway, he suggests to fix the processor, or to switch on the laptop without a HDD connected... but still nothing happens!
I hear the fan turning, the HDD rattles a bit, and the current-LED's are glowing...
when I connect a VGA-screen, nothing happens!
when I connect another HDD, or another memory-module, idem ditto!
the seller does not want to refund, ... impostor!!
what am I to to?

@gbenga....
I beg to differ. the major problem with your notebooks is that it is 2nd hand. my advice, save some money and but a state_of_the_art brand new notebook. u know what i mean. check out sony vaio fj series. quite affordable and breath taking specs. go to www.savastore.co.uk where u cld get the cheapest deal.

@chxta
do u ever wonder y things r 2nd handed? 1; when it develops a fault 2; when its been overused 3; when it gets out of fashion like all your computers.

how could u go for an acer? its the worst known pc manufacturer coupled with the fact that 9ja is known 4 her epileptic power supply.

considering these facts, its best to save some money and go for the best. now i'm very serious.

The LAN adaptor of my one and only second-hand laptop was bad, so I had to buy a new one.  The monitor screen had problems, and a few weeks after purchase the hard disk died.  So I don'd share your enthusiasm abt second-hand laptops without some warranty.  Unfortunately, new laptops are just too expensive!