Mchart
Super Joe
join:2004-01-21
Gurnee, IL | reply to Hall
Re: Replacement AC adapter for laptop
Doesn't sound like the actual adapter is broken. It sounds like the solder between the DC input jack and the motherboard is kaput. |
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PeteC2
Got Mouse?
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join:2002-01-20
Bristol, CT
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| Unfortunately, more often than not, it is the female jack inside the notebook. Worse yet, although sometimes the fix is relatively simple, all too often it is not...sometimes the break actually includes part of the board that it is connected to.
This is not relegated to just one brand of notebook, BTW, it is all too often a common issue.
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...something is happening here but you don't know what it is...do you, Mr. Jones? |
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KickMe
join:2001-10-03
Lancaster, OH
 ·RoadRunner Cable
·Earthlink Cable Mo..
| said by PeteC2  :Unfortunately, more often than not, it is the female jack inside the notebook. Worse yet, although sometimes the fix is relatively simple, all too often it is not...sometimes the break actually includes part of the board that it is connected to. This is not relegated to just one brand of notebook, BTW, it is all too often a common issue. Just as a heads up to what Pete mentioned, I had an old Compaq with that same problem. Compaq found that it was an all too common occurrence with that model and replaced the motherboard for free. |
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PeteC2
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Bristol, CT
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| said by KickMe :Just as a heads up to what Pete mentioned, I had an old Compaq with that same problem. Compaq found that it was an all too common occurrence with that model and replaced the motherboard for free. That is a very good point. Sometimes they will extend the warranty well past it's normal span, so it makes sense to check, just in case...
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...something is happening here but you don't know what it is...do you, Mr. Jones? |
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Hall
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join:2000-04-28
Dayton, OH
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| reply to KickMe
I can't remember when we bought this, but I'm thinking Nov '06 (it was in the timeframe just before Vista was available as we had XP on it with the free upgrade coupon to Vista), so not even two years old... Pretty unacceptable in my opinion, but maybe not Gateway's. Maybe we should have gotten that protection plan Circuit City pushed so hard about !!  |
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Hall
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-28
Dayton, OH
·EarthLink
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| reply to Mchart
said by Mchart :Doesn't sound like the actual adapter is broken. It sounds like the solder between the DC input jack and the motherboard is kaput. We ended up getting it repaired by a local place... Cost $150 !!  From checking around the internet, the lowest price I saw was $100-125 + shipping so this wasn't too terrible. He also replaced the 90' plug on the AC adapter that we broke by "wiggling" and flexing the connection in the last days in order to make a (brief) connection.
He didn't replace the jack itself as it was just the solder connection that was broken. We talked on the phone about reinforcing it, if that was even possible, but he didn't know what he'd do until he started. He did say he would "jumper" it so that if the solder that holds it in place breaks again, it would maintain electric contact as a backup. It really isn't meant to be a long-term fix, but just a backup until we have it repaired (again ... if we decide to). |
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PeteC2
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Bristol, CT
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| I'm glad you got it fixed. Actually, though not "cheap" you were a bit lucky. It is not unusual for the break to actually be at the motherboard itself.
I did not mean to suggest that the laptop should last no longer than the warranty...1 year would be a pretty short life-span...but I am simply saying that these things do happen (hell, thats why they have warranties!), and in fact, from forums at Dell, HP/Compaq, Gateway, Acer, Toshiba etc., various models have been succeptible to this exact problem.
I never used to even think about how I plugged in the ac adapter, or if I was putting strain on the connection, but now I am very concious of that after hearing/seeing so many occurrences similar to you experienced.
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...something is happening here but you don't know what it is...do you, Mr. Jones? |
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