FN-GM Posted January 27, 2021 Posted January 27, 2021 Sounds like the old Dells Commodore were famous for this in the last batches of the C64. They just used up all their old parts inventory
bigal06 Posted January 27, 2021 Posted January 27, 2021 (edited) No luck! All i have is the DfE stating they do a flat fee repair.. for only £220..... Sigh... Yeah, I contacted Geo directly to see about getting parts and they said we don't offer that service and directed me to the DfE and noted £220 for 'repair'. Trying to source a compatible one from eBay but it looks like a bit of a gamble. I peeled back some tape on the screen that gives the number 'NT116WHM-N44' but that seems to show many variants. The key physical difference is they all seem to come with brackets at top/bottom or sides and the Geo doesn't have this. I don't believe that brackets on top/bottom would be an issue because they wouldn't get in the way so maybe going to take a punt at one from eBay for £39.00 Edited January 27, 2021 by bigal06
LeMarchand Posted January 27, 2021 Posted January 27, 2021 Who pays the £220? The school or the DfE? Was wondering if the school could somehow get the £220 and get a Chromebook instead. At least the student could get on the internet...
bigal06 Posted January 27, 2021 Posted January 27, 2021 (edited) Who pays the £220? The school or the DfE? Was wondering if the school could somehow get the £220 and get a Chromebook instead. At least the student could get on the internet... The school pays since ownership is signed over upon receipt of the devices. Ideally, the parents should pay but as the devices are given to families in need there is no way they could afford to fund the repairs. Edited January 27, 2021 by bigal06 1
synaesthesia Posted January 27, 2021 Posted January 27, 2021 Apparently the laptops are not identical and cobbled together with whatever parts are available. The model number of the LCD may vary. Oh, just dandy! They get even better.
achedgy Posted January 27, 2021 Posted January 27, 2021 Regards screen, i bought one of these on ebay, hacked off the top screw mounts and it worked fine https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0888TVDNP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 1
bigal06 Posted January 27, 2021 Posted January 27, 2021 (edited) Hacking the brackets off one I bought on eBay this morning is my option too. Edited January 27, 2021 by bigal06 1
zuludelta Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 Thank you for this thread, the information is invaluable
nar001 Posted January 29, 2021 Posted January 29, 2021 I've gotta admit, reading this thread is very interesting, I never knew the UK DfE would buy laptops like these! I hope you people are doing alright enough with these
Driftingforlife Posted January 29, 2021 Posted January 29, 2021 We have just been told we are getting 250 devices. Hoping to god we can choose anything but these things.
Norphy Posted January 29, 2021 Posted January 29, 2021 We have just been told we are getting 250 devices. Hoping to god we can choose anything but these things. Quite. In the twelve-odd years I've been using SCCM to image machines, I have never come across a more awkward device. Even those god-awful Linx Windows 8 tablets that were in vogue a few years ago weren't this bad. 1
markberry Posted January 29, 2021 Posted January 29, 2021 We have just been told we are getting 250 devices. Hoping to god we can choose anything but these things. The ones they are currently sending out are Dell Dimension 3190s. We got another batch this week. 1
markberry Posted January 29, 2021 Posted January 29, 2021 Quite. In the twelve-odd years I've been using SCCM to image machines, I have never come across a more awkward device. Even those god-awful Linx Windows 8 tablets that were in vogue a few years ago weren't this bad. Get them set up using InTune using Autopilot. The DfE can provide you with the hardware hashes for them so in theory you don’t even need to touch them although we’re reinstalling Windows on all now!
LeMarchand Posted January 29, 2021 Posted January 29, 2021 Even those god-awful Linx Windows 8 tablets that were in vogue a few years ago weren't this bad. I still use the one I got for £40 regularly!
Norphy Posted January 29, 2021 Posted January 29, 2021 Get them set up using InTune using Autopilot. The DfE can provide you with the hardware hashes for them so in theory you don’t even need to touch them although we’re reinstalling Windows on all now! We considered that approach, but we imaged them for a few major reasons: 1) Alway On VPN device tunnels require Windows Enterprise or Education. Windows Pro for Education only supports user tunnels. 2) These devices are supposed to be going to disadvantaged students. We can't guarantee that they've got a decent internet connection, or that it hasn't been capped. Enrolling them into Intune then stuffing Office down the line might use their data 3) If we image them beforehand, we can guarantee a consistent software loadout and configuration.
FN-GM Posted January 29, 2021 Posted January 29, 2021 The ones they are currently sending out are Dell Dimension 3190s. We got another batch this week. Is that definitely a Dell Dimension? I thought they had stopped that line and they used to be Desktop models?
ultima170387 Posted January 29, 2021 Posted January 29, 2021 Latitude 3190. Our most recent batch was these too.
George109 Posted January 30, 2021 Posted January 30, 2021 (edited) I replaced a smashed screen with one from a dead Chromebook 3180 if this helps anyone. They're about £50 on eBay See pictures of the board here: http://imgur.com/a/BQrYjqZ Edited January 30, 2021 by George109
smarties11 Posted February 2, 2021 Posted February 2, 2021 Has anyone seen or heard anything yet about a BIOS update for the GE114 to fix the forgetting admin password and PXE boot issue?
itwitch Posted February 2, 2021 Posted February 2, 2021 Has anyone tried neverware or another linux on these, it might just make them usable? I just put Neverware on one today but the wifi didn't work so I'm putting Win10 back on
Driftingforlife Posted February 2, 2021 Posted February 2, 2021 (edited) Has anyone had the Dynabook E10s? We are looking at splitting out allocation between ipads and these look very close to the Geo books. Edited February 2, 2021 by Driftingforlife
LeMarchand Posted February 2, 2021 Posted February 2, 2021 Has anyone had the Dynabook E10s? We are looking at splitting out allocation between ipads and these. These ones? Satellite Pro ET10-G-104 Celeron [email protected] 4GB RAM 32GB Disk If so we've had one that had a dodgy keyboard connection but otherwise, much to my surprise from the spec, no other real problems yet. 1
smarties11 Posted February 2, 2021 Posted February 2, 2021 We considered that approach, but we imaged them for a few major reasons: 1) Alway On VPN device tunnels require Windows Enterprise or Education. Windows Pro for Education only supports user tunnels. 2) These devices are supposed to be going to disadvantaged students. We can't guarantee that they've got a decent internet connection, or that it hasn't been capped. Enrolling them into Intune then stuffing Office down the line might use their data 3) If we image them beforehand, we can guarantee a consistent software loadout and configuration. Did you have success imaging with SCCM? I'm finding it an absolute nightmare. We're booting from a USB boot stick due to the lack of PXE boot, but the problem is most of them won't see a USB ethernet dongle at boot, you have to unplug and replug it. This means the task sequence fails because at every reboot step unless you are there to unplug/replug there is no network connection. I've got one or two so far that have been successful but most not. I've tried all the options in the BIOS relating to USB, disabled fast boot etc. Tried two different types of dongle. Injected the latest USB ethernet drivers into the WinPE boot image and the driver package deployed to the laptop during TS. We've used these same USBs on other laptops no problem. I'm going to have to build an offline task sequence on a USB HDD at this rate then just add to domain at the end? I've never ever come across such an awkward machine to image in my entire IT career spanning 20 years!
Guest Guest Posted February 2, 2021 Posted February 2, 2021 I imaged 17 of these last week, successfully PXE booted and imaged using startech usb 3 ethernet adaptors
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