Should I replace a cracked screen or install hdd in another machine

[MichaelG653]

I have a friend that recently dropped his emachines laptop (I forget which model #, but he purchased it at Wal-Mart a little over a year ago... so warranty is over ). I have searched the posts here about replacing laptop screens and the perferred consensus seems to be to either replace the whole lid or turn it into a desktop... Anyway, I was wondering what would be involved in replacing the lid and how difficult it would be to do. I have built several desktops and upgraded some parts on laptops (memory, hdd), but have never attempted anything more involved than that with a laptop. My research online found a couple of places that would do the job for as much or more than what he bought it for... no surprise since it isn't that expensive of a laptop, but he likes it and has alot of data on that he wants to keep. My first suggestion to him was to find a similiar laptop and switch hdd's (I know there would be some conflicts with device settings, but doable). A decent used machine that would be compatible seem to run almost as much as a screen replacement so, was wanting your opinions on which would be the best way to go..... replace the screen or transfer the hdd? I appreciate your help on this matter and will relay your advice to him.... thanks in advance

[shadowpr]

It would probably be easier to just transfer the hard drive into a new machine.

[gods_son_is_me]

Yeah, fixing a laptop screen takes a lot of time, accuracy, and patience. Something most people don't have all at once. It would save your friend a lot of stress to just get another lappy all together.

[doubledragon5]

I tried to fix my uncles laptop (Sony vio) and gave up on it..

[MichaelG653]

Thanks for all the responses and have talked with my friend and he is just going to get another laptop and we will try to transfer his data to the new one.

[thefultonhow]

For data transfer, it may be easiest to get an external enclosure for the old drive. That way you can transfer things easily, and then he can use it to back up.

Also, don't forget that you may be able to get a couple hundred dollars (depending on the age of the laptop, it could be less) by selling the broken laptop on eBay. But obviously, be clear that it is broken and is being sold "as-is."

[MichaelG653]

Two good ideas, was planning on hooking up a monitor to the broken laptop and transferring data to the new laptop that way and we had planned on selling the broken laptop already to offset the cost of a new laptop....lol.... after clearing out his personal infomation of course.