Die Compaq, Die!

[Gonzo]

The simplist REAL solution is to just open it up and unhook the harddrive cable. The computer will power up but not boot.

[IT Grunt]

The simplist REAL solution is to just open it up and unhook the harddrive cable. The computer will power up but not boot.

True, but the goal is utter annihilation of the laptop that wouldn't die. Best thing I've found here for destroying computers is dirty power. If they shut off the incoming power to the plant (we're talking over 10000 volts here), it sends huge spikes through the building and into all the office wall sockets when they bring it up again. Even on a good day, the sockets will measure around 140 volts. If you just had a way to put a good zap into the sucker.

[protege]

As much as I'd like that POS to fry, I wouldn't mind grabbing the hard drive for another project first

[technical.angel]

Then that's the easiest thing! Grab the HD, and oops! It won't boot!

[IT Grunt]

As much as I'd like that POS to fry, I wouldn't mind grabbing the hard drive for another project first

Said project wouldn't involve large magnets and a power drill, would it?

[lordlundar]

The simplist REAL solution is to just open it up and unhook the harddrive cable. The computer will power up but not boot.

You are no fun, you know that?

[Javarod]

Laughs, "Don't necessarily bet on liquids killing it. Back when I had a first gen iBook (remember those?), my cat dumped a large cup of water on it while it was running, so much that I had to drain the computer after words and wait a couple days for it to dry out. The only thing that failed was about a half of the keyboard.

[cravenmorhead]

I've thought about that. However, dumping coffee on it would be pretty obvious

Take the slip resistant pads off the bottom of the laptop. Heap some more equipment/paper/boxes on the counter. Leave the laptop preciously positioned such that it will fall if a swift breeze happens to touch it.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

Find a cat and let them either sleep or pee on the keyboard.

That should kill the Crapaq.

Which I may conduct that experiment soon on one that got pawned off on me that has a non-working screen if the BH doesn't soon find someone to sell it to for parts.

[jb17kx]

Open the craptop up, get a soldering iron, and perform some creative 'rerouting' of circutry on the motherboard.

[protege]

Said project wouldn't involve large magnets and a power drill, would it?

Unfortunately, no. Since the drive already has WinBlows 98 on it (and I'm a lazy bastard who hates reformatting), I thought about stuffing it into another laptop...simply so I can play Wolfenstein on long trips

[Evil Queen]

Ah yes, the old Compaqs. Mine finally crashed after 8 years and, I'm sooo sooooorrrrry but I actually miss it!

[Eric the Grey]

I like the "pull the HD" option myself. Otherwise, you could position a cup of some liquid nearby, maybe a bottled soda with a lid that's not 'quite' tight enough to withstand a good shake-up....

Ah yes, the old Compaqs. Mine finally crashed after 8 years and, I'm sooo sooooorrrrry but I actually miss it!

Heh. My Compaq had coffee spilled into the keyboard and wouldn't work properly after. It was still under warranty, and I called to see IF such a repair would be covered. The phone tech insisted that it would and set up a box to ship it off in.

After some time, they contact me and tell me it's not covered and that it would cost more than I paid for it new to get it repaired. I told them to return it to me. At that price, I'd get a new laptop.

When I got it back, it worked perfectly. I think someone got ahead of themselves to save time or something. It still works almost perfectly (except for the power and volume buttons that sometimes don't respond) two years later.


Eric the Grey

[Evil Queen]

Heh. My Compaq had coffee spilled into the keyboard and wouldn't work properly after. It was still under warranty, and I called to see IF such a repair would be covered. The phone tech insisted that it would and set up a box to ship it off in.

After some time, they contact me and tell me it's not covered and that it would cost more than I paid for it new to get it repaired. I told them to return it to me. At that price, I'd get a new laptop.

When I got it back, it worked perfectly. I think someone got ahead of themselves to save time or something. It still works almost perfectly (except for the power and volume buttons that sometimes don't respond) two years later.


Eric the Grey

My sibling spilled several cans of coke (over a long period of time, mind you; this is also probably why I can't drink coke anymore) on my keyboard. Granted, this is also for a desktop, but turning it upside down and taking the keyboard apart while attacking it with several Q-tips and rubbing alcohol did the clean up trick nicely.

[protege]

Well, I no longer have to worry about killing the Crapaq. It's dead now

Not totally, but just enough I can scrap it for parts. My boss bought some new equipment, and after some creative swapping things around, the Crapaq became surplus...and is awaiting its fate