{ "uuid": [ { "value": "8174931b-97d3-457f-8822-00c905fe9e1d" } ], "langcode": [ { "value": "en" } ], "type": [ { "target_id": "daily_email", "target_type": "node_type", "target_uuid": "8bde1f2f-eef9-4f2d-ae9c-96921f8193d7" } ], "revision_timestamp": [ { "value": "2025-05-11T09:00:03+00:00" } ], "revision_uid": [ { "target_type": "user", "target_uuid": "b8966985-d4b2-42a7-a319-2e94ccfbb849" } ], "revision_log": [], "status": [ { "value": true } ], "uid": [ { "target_type": "user", "target_uuid": "b8966985-d4b2-42a7-a319-2e94ccfbb849" } ], "title": [ { "value": "Fixing a laptop" } ], "created": [ { "value": "2024-12-14T00:00:00+00:00" } ], "changed": [ { "value": "2025-05-11T09:00:03+00:00" } ], "promote": [ { "value": false } ], "sticky": [ { "value": false } ], "default_langcode": [ { "value": true } ], "revision_translation_affected": [ { "value": true } ], "path": [ { "alias": "\/daily\/2024\/12\/14\/fixing", "langcode": "en" } ], "body": [ { "value": "\n

Today, I rediscovered my hardware knowledge and fixed my son's laptop - a Lenovo ThinkPad X390.<\/p>\n\n

Some keys weren't working when pressed, only to have the characters appear a few seconds later.<\/p>\n\n

Fun fact: I started my career refurbishing and repairing laptop computers.<\/p>\n\n

My first job was for a local laptop company that refurbished ex-business laptops for resale, followed by working for Panasonic where I'd repair laptops from blue chip clients across Europe.<\/p>\n\n

I used to build custom PCs, but have done little to no hardware work since I started in software development in 2010.<\/p>\n\n

Today, though, I took the laptop apart and after checking the motherboard and keyboard were OK, I reseated the keyboard and cleaned any dust from inside the casing.<\/p>\n\n

It worked!<\/p>\n\n

If I'd have returned it to a manufacturer or taken it to a local computer repair shop, I'd have had to pay for them to diagnose and (hopefully) resolve the issue.<\/p>\n\n

Here's the thing<\/h2>\n\n

Most laptops and phones today are sealed units and not as modular, repairable or upgradable as the devices I used to work on.<\/p>\n\n

In some cases, you can't upgrade or repair them yourself.<\/p>\n\n

Similar to having control and ownership of my own data<\/a>, I like the ability to repair a keyboard myself or to add more memory or storage to my laptop.<\/p>\n\n

As well as installing and running my own software, starting a homelab<\/a> has also reignited my interest in hardware and being able to upgrade and repair my own devices.<\/p>\n\n ", "format": "full_html", "processed": "\n

Today, I rediscovered my hardware knowledge and fixed my son's laptop - a Lenovo ThinkPad X390.<\/p>\n\n

Some keys weren't working when pressed, only to have the characters appear a few seconds later.<\/p>\n\n

Fun fact: I started my career refurbishing and repairing laptop computers.<\/p>\n\n

My first job was for a local laptop company that refurbished ex-business laptops for resale, followed by working for Panasonic where I'd repair laptops from blue chip clients across Europe.<\/p>\n\n

I used to build custom PCs, but have done little to no hardware work since I started in software development in 2010.<\/p>\n\n

Today, though, I took the laptop apart and after checking the motherboard and keyboard were OK, I reseated the keyboard and cleaned any dust from inside the casing.<\/p>\n\n

It worked!<\/p>\n\n

If I'd have returned it to a manufacturer or taken it to a local computer repair shop, I'd have had to pay for them to diagnose and (hopefully) resolve the issue.<\/p>\n\n

Here's the thing<\/h2>\n\n

Most laptops and phones today are sealed units and not as modular, repairable or upgradable as the devices I used to work on.<\/p>\n\n

In some cases, you can't upgrade or repair them yourself.<\/p>\n\n

Similar to having control and ownership of my own data<\/a>, I like the ability to repair a keyboard myself or to add more memory or storage to my laptop.<\/p>\n\n

As well as installing and running my own software, starting a homelab<\/a> has also reignited my interest in hardware and being able to upgrade and repair my own devices.<\/p>\n\n ", "summary": null } ], "feeds_item": [ { "imported": "1970-01-01T00:33:45+00:00", "guid": null, "hash": "7935da166360b58eee6cda5b341491bc", "target_type": "feeds_feed", "target_uuid": "90c85284-7ca8-4074-9178-97ff8384fe76" } ] }