Targa TS30AS

[[Chris]]

You may remember my Targa TS30AS laptop that i posted a while back when i first joined the forums.

It isn't in the greatest of shape, but still works as it should, bought it from eBay months ago. Sadly the LCD's backlight recently quit working and i have no idea if anyone would have a replacement LCD or backlight to spare (the LCD part still works, i can still see a bit if i shine a bright light on it). I can still use the PC just fine when connected to an external VGA display.

It has 8MB RAM, a 450MB HDD which was in the sorriest of state, may replace it with a 4GB microdrive via a CF to IDE adapter which is the max the BIOS can detect. Has a Chips & Technologies integrated video. Before the HDD went bad, it was running MS-DOS 6.22 and Windows For Workgroups 3.11 (i was gonna upgrade it to Windows 95). It has an ESS Audiodrive ES488F integrated audio with built-in stereo speakers and a built-in microphone.

Has 2 built-in PC card type 1 slots:

Has a built-in 1.44MB 3.5" diskette drive.

Has a single serial, parallel port and what seems to be a MiDi interface port, aside from the VGA, audio in jack, audio out jack and the PS/2 port.

has a mini display, shot this the second i powered it up to show all the indicators

power adapter. also realized it has the same DC jack as my Inspiron 5000...

 

[amadama]

Very nice. I never knew Targa made laptops. Hope you can get the screen fixed. I had a similar backlight problem with a Powermac G3 Wallstreet. Turned out the LCD was fine but the power controller for the screen was on the same board as the audio output.
Alex

 

[[Chris]]

Very nice. I never knew Targa made laptops. Hope you can get the screen fixed. I had a similar backlight problem with a Powermac G3 Wallstreet. Turned out the LCD was fine but the power controller for the screen was on the same board as the audio output.
Alex

Here's something interesting and now it makes sense for once, both this laptop and my Dell Inspiron 5000 are both manufactured by Compal, which explains why both laptops have identical DC jacks. After a little researching, it's in fact a rebadged Compal TS30AS. Someone on youtube has a Midwest Micro Elite branded TS30AS but with a DX4-75.

 

[[Chris]]

I had a similar backlight problem with a Powermac G3 Wallstreet.

Turns out that the backlight literally broke. The LCD panel is just fine, i just needed to replace the CCFL or may try to retrofit a LED backlight kit if i can find which pins from the HDD supplies power so it can be used to power the LED retrofit.

However if a replacement can be found, it would be great before i have to shell out $100+ for a panel from some of the online sites that claim to supply them. i made a WTB post on here:
http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcf...300XUCC-A1-Color-STN-display-for-Targa-TS30AS

Also found out that mine is an import from Germany, as it does have a german keyboard layout and the company is based out of Germany. They also appear to have a UK branch which seems recent.

 

[smeezekitty]

Turns out that the backlight literally broke.

How'd that happen? They are very fragile outside the screen (because they are thin) but should be robust when mounted

 

[RWallmow]

There are some companies who sell the CCFL tubes to repair LCD monitors/laptops, but it is quite delicate work to replace them, like smeezekitty says, they are VERY fragile and easy to break trying to slide them in place.

 

[[Chris]]

Here's some pics of it running from an external monitor:

Running some apps:

 

[[Chris]]

Well i picked up a Sceptre TS30A on eBay which was being sold for parts..sure enough, the laptop was DOA despite being in excellent physical shape, but it yielded a lot of usable parts to repair the Targa TS30AS. Now it has a much quieter floppy drive, an HDD cable in better shape, a backlight to jerry rig the original LCD until i can buy a suitable replacement (the TS30A had a B&W screen while my TS30AS has a color screen), bottom covers which were in 10/10 condition, the I/O port cover, a replacement trackball, screen latch, PCMCIA port cover, and a CMOS battery which was pretty much new.