My computer passed away two weeks ago. The screen blew out with an impressive sounding pop. I must have had a premonition. Only an hour before I’d backed up everything, including my emails, something I never, ever do.
It was an Elonex Exentia media centre. I’d bought it because it had got rave reviews in computer magazines and it looked cool. Although I’d never heard of Elonex before a bit of digging uncovered the fact that they were a British company that had been around for 21 years and supplied a lot of government departments. They also offered a three-year warranty where most other computer manufacturers only offer a year.
When it died my Exentia was less than two-years old. There was still a year left on my warranty so I put in a call to the Elonex tech department. I got a message saying they weren’t open yet and to leave a message. It was 10 am on a Monday morning so I figured they were easing themselves into the working week. I called back at 12 and got the same message. I figured they may have been at lunch. When I got the same message at varying times over the next three days I began to worry.
I’d also sent emails and they remained unanswered too.
A week later I still hadn’t heard back and the alarm bells were really ringing. I did a search on Google to see if Elonex had moved or merged with another company. It turns out they’d gone bust. Three months before. A Scottish stationery mogul bought the carcass of the company and had been honouring warranties but it sent him under as well.
The computer guy down the road pronounced it dead. The graphics card had fried and the screen was cactus. Because it was an all-in-one setup there was no economical way of salvaging it. The hard drive and the memory were the only things salvageable.
The upside is that I got to treat myself to a sexy new laptop – a HP Pavilion. It’s got core duo processors, 2 gig of ram, a Geforce graphics card with 512 mb of dedicated memory and a shiny black finish that smudges when you pick it up. I love it.
The only downside is that I’d remembered to backup. A dead computer would have been a great excuse for delivering late!
This is where you'll find everything you need to know about me and my books.
Pete
At least you backed it up. although you could probably have got all the data off it. Ther laptop looks nice, but you should have bought a new Mac, much more sexy looking….
I’ve not backed up for ages – your story has been a warning to me! Hope you get on well with the new machine.
Hey Chris,
I very nearly used it as an excuse to get a mac – the black one does look v. sexy. But when I put my rational hat on, I just couldn’t justify it. The HP was better specced and roughly the same price.
Then I had to take into account that all the software I have (and use) is PC.
One day, when money is not an issue I’ll get me a mac as well.
Re: Getting data off. You’re right, it wouldn’t have been impossible. Just more effort than hooking up an external hard drive to the new laptop.
And Simon … I was just very lucky. The rare occasions I do back up it’s just the usual stuff like documents and stuff. I very rarely go to the trouble of tracking down my outlook files and copying them. I’d like to think that I’ve learned a lesson from this near miss but I suspect it’ll be a while before I do a back-up again. Maybe just before this laptop blows up!
Hi. I’ve got an exentia too. Had it for almost two years but the screen keeps going blank every few seconds. Did yours suffer any symptoms like mine? Do u think it could be because of the graphics card? Is there any way of fixing it before it actually blows? I’m getting worried now after reading your articles. My hard-drive is full and it will be very difficult to back up. I can’t even ring elonex for technical support since they’ve gone bankrupt. I would appreciate it if any one can help.
Hi every body
I am X Elonex employee
if you need your Exentia to be fixed I do repair them and I can source
the parts power supply or mainboard
I have an Exentia. Screen gone. Can anyone help
John Rowland
Had the same problem with the elonex exentia screen going blank after just a few months. Has been repaired by Elonex engineers once but ended up with the same problem after only 3months, post repair. Seeking repair but assume will have to bin it – an expensive mistake!! ouch!
I had the blank screen prob sometime back. It went away when I changed the tilt angle of the screen (now more vertical) – maybe the prob was a loose connection. It may not be the same prob as you guys but it fixed my problem.
By the way, is their a way of increasing memory from 512 to 1gig on the elonex?
Abdul- I have the same problem with the screen going blank- It started when the computer was left on on standby for a few days- all other processing is working- How do I contact you to get it fixed?
have vital bus data which I need to access asap
thanks
tracey
I also have an elonex xentia media centre (not very old) that has broken down with clicking noises coming from the rear and a message reload boot disc etc on balnk screen. No discs seem to help it.
can anyone advise who we can contact for repairs, tech support?
after reading various web pages it doesnt look promising
thanks, tony
I had the very same problem. The problem was DUST!
The big vents at the back of the screen get blocked.
If you give a big blow of breath and then hoover it with the soft brush,
hopefully (if you catch it in time) you will be ok.
Mine now works perefec. Good Luck, Spike…
BY the way,the problem i referred to earlier, was the black screen issue, not the clicking noises. Regards, Spike.
Hi all. Suddenly ok for about 3 weeks then began again, flashing screen then blank (Exentia) Have tried tilting, “hoovering” Have been told it may be the graphics card. Anyone know if that is possible? Have not tried large hammer yet.
Abdul, can you possibly fix this. Can travel. I live in West Midlands (nr Sutton Coldfield) Really reluctant to throw it away.
Hope to hear from someone
My email is john@adamsmoore.com or 01827 54944 (work)
John Rowland
Hi John,
Did you manage to sort out the screen? Mind’ s just gone flashing and black. Any suggestions?
Cheers
James
My elonex xentia mediacentre died last night. Screen has gone black and I can get anything from it. Need things taken from the harddrive? Is anyone able to do this for me? I live in Epping, Essex
Hi James and Jaine
I found, via someone called Gordon, some ex Elonex people in Bromsgrove. Took m/c down but it was beyond repair. So I bought from them a brand new Exentia (£300 plus vat) with a 6 months warranty and they transfered all my data over. So far so good.
Tel number is 0905 105 0010. This is a premuim rate line of course.
Keep in touch. Like a little club this. Nice place Epping, my roots are in Romford
kr John
Hi John,
My Exentia has died and the problem is when the machine boots up it switches off without warning, once it gets to the windows interface it’s completely fine, is this Gordon you mention ok with people ringing? I’ve sourced another company called Elonex parts in London who seem to be the only company that can fix the machines now, but would like any advice on how bests to go forward.
In my quest for trying to find someone to fix my machine I heard Comet took over the warrenties for the Elonex machines, when I called them they confirmed they can fix the machines but only if you bought it from comet, so if you did buy it from Comet then your a lucky person!!
James Smith
Huddersfield
Hi James. No I did not buy mine from Comet! Your problem seems slightly different to mine. I foind those London people but I had to ship the mcahine down there etc etc so I went local to Bromsgrove. Gordon was only the person who gave me the phone number above (ex Elonex employees). As I said they could not fix it (had to trust them on that) so bought a brand new machine for £300 plus vat and they transferred my data. You could do worse than give them a ring
krJohn
Hi All. Have Exentia Gold 1Gb RAM. Lovely bit of kit when its working! Sadly one of the most unreliable items I have ever owned. Now has the black screen of death syndrome – which I believe is caused by the LCD backlight going down. (TV sound still AOK while black etc) The ex-elonex guy in London says its the inverter boards (I guess the high voltage drivers for the lamps / tubes) are dodgy. I’m in electronics repairs & reckon I could fix it (dry joits or whatever) if only I could get into the thing! Tried all sorts bar breaking the case! Any one any ideas of how to get it apart please?
Hi Bob
Sorry, no idea. Before I took mine to Droitwich I had two computer “experts” try to take it apart and when they realised it was all really on a micro scale, gave up. If the new one I have gives up eventually I will go back to HP or Dell. Pity as it is so easy to move about
John
Having read all the above threads, I thought it would be useful to add my experiences. My elonex exentia two years had the same problem with the screen blanking and reappearing every couple of seconds, it went back to elonex and got fixed. The problem is back again so I tried to dismantle as I remember the original fix elonex carrid out was something to do with a video cable, I to could not work out how to dismantle so took it to the garage and used an airline to blow all the dust out and I can confirm that the vent behind the screen was almost completely covered with dust. I replaced all the srews I had removed, switched it on and it currently is working fine. I do also remember tilting the screen dose sometimes have an effect on the intermittent screen display
Interesting comments. I have an Exentia and have to say a couple of years ago Elonex fixed it no problem. Unfortunately two days ago I tried to switch it on and …NOTHING! The ethernet is glowing so there is power there. When I press the on buttoin the blue light flashes for a millisecond and…Nothing! I have no idea about what sits inside, but it seems bad to me, does anyone have any suggestions of what I could try? thanks
bailers
Have exactly the same problem. Had the machine for nearly 3 years and it’s been a joy – but now, suddenly and intermitently it switches itself off. The ethernet light stays lit up but when you try to turn it back on the blue light flashes for a m/s and then nothing. Leave it a couple of hours and it’s fine again. It’s sat behind me now and been running for hours! Like others I’ve cleaned out the dust(think it helped) backed everything up and now keeping fingers crossed.
If anyone knows anyone in Yorkshire who repairs, let me know
Roger
Hi Baz, these machines has conmen fault screen sometimes flickers on/off, inside the machine two inverters feeding the screen with power could be one of them faulty or both, if you squeeze with your hand on the left hand side next to the infrared receiver if the screen come on that will confirm the fault, or by adjusting the screen up or down some times the screen comes on.
Hi Roger
this fault could be the power supply unit is not given enough power for the hard drive and the main board some times happen when you typing or browsing you hear clicking noise and shutdown the machine, the power unit model number FSP-185JB-1A REV 00, there is new version with REV 01 is fixing this problem
Hi Every body,
I am working for this company (ever changing world)and there web site http://www.everchangingworld.com they fix elonex computers laptop and desktop and Exentia and Lumina’s
they give you qoute first before any repair done telephone number 02082037774, is worth it to give call and ask them questions regarding the fault and the cost. all the best and good luck.