Fixing Laptops?

[throdgrain]

Whats the crack with these then. My wife has a small lap top for web browsing and such like, but the socket that you plug the cable into is broken inside. You can get it to take a charge but only by pushing the cable in very hard and holding it there, not ideal

If it was a PC I wouldnt bat an eyelid but Ive never taken apart a laptop. Can you do it? Or will springs and god knows what shoot out all over the place ?

 

[Kryten]

It's slow and fiddly but certainly doable. But that also depends on the make and model, some are a right pain in the arse - I do it every day.

If you can get hold of a service manual, they're a good start as a reference - and it also helps to make a note of which screw came from where, a lot of manufacturers like using different width and length screws in different parts.

Getting down to the nitty gritty like power sockets isn't too bad normally, sometimes you may have to bend away metal protective plates around it which is a pain to re-straighten once it's all done, but obviously this is dependant on which model it is. You also need to be REALLY careful about the soldering especially on modern boards which use multiple layers.

If you can let me know what make and model it is, I can probably advise you more specifically - and in a fair few cases I should even be able to get you a replacement socket of the correct type in the post

 

[throdgrain]

Great stuff !

Its only a cheap one, an Acer 3682wxmi, but my missus does like it and is a bit grumpy at the moment

 

[Kryten]

okie doke, I'll look at our scrap pile on Monday and see what I can pull out for ya

 

[throdgrain]

Cheers mate

 

[Trem]

Get it took apart throd!!

Take all the screws out the bottom, then have a look at the top where the keyboard is, usually a snap on strip of plastic will come off then take the keyboard out to reveal more screws, this is the bit that stumps lots of people, they think there is only screws in the bottom.

The holes are normally numbered on the bottom side making it easier to know which screw came from where.

I reckon you may have to solder the power socket back in though.

If you get stuck give me a ring.

 

[Kryten]

Aye the acer one's aren't at all bad for taking apart like that, and to boot it'll have a nice standard power socket Easy 3 pin solder job

 

[throdgrain]

Splendid Have a butchers if you have an old power socket Kryten, if not do you know where I can buy one?

The soldering will be no problem I hope

 

[Kryten]

I cant remember the dimensions as such but I can't see you having any difficulty getting a replacement for a few quid from the likes of RS Components or Maplins - the latter of which have recently started taking PayPal, which I have recently found VERY, VERY useful

I know I've a couple of recent Acer's at work on the scrap pallet - both brand new, still with protective packaging on.

Just both bent clean in half - suspect during someones loading routine they (complete with original box) ended up underneath a forklift or something.

 

[Guest]

can you get a 2nd hand docking station for it, if so you won't need to fuck about with fixing the power supply on the lappy, just use the docking station/port replicator.


alternatively its not _that_ hard to crack the laptop case, jsut remember where all the bits went...........

 

[Kryten]

Scrap pallet has been, well, scrapped, meaning I can't get my greasy mitts on it :|
Best bet, get some dimensions and go to the likes of Maplin and get a replacement.