Dell 500m won't charge.

mfield

Quick question, I have a Dell Inspiron 500m here, the problem is that the damn thing wont charge any more, I have taken it apart and tried to re-solder the power socket but can't seem to get right at it. Should I just bin it or is it worth getting fixed. Thanks in advance.

Alanstrainor

mfield wrote: »

Quick question, I have a Dell Inspiron 500m here, the problem is that the damn thing wont charge any more, I have taken it apart and tried to re-solder the power socket but can't seem to get right at it. Should I just bin it or is it worth getting fixed. Thanks in advance.

I'm confused, will the laptop power up on the mains or is it that the battery wont hold charge?

bren50c

Does(or did) the power come back intermitently if you wiggle the end of the power lead that goes into the laptop power jack. Had this problem myself - loose dc jack on mobo.

I also soldered a new jack on from ebay and used hot glue to stick it better to the motherboard. Its tricky alright. It worked again for a few months. But the soldering's really only a temp fix.
Now ive ordered a new laptop altogether.

Its either that or a new motherboard which would set you back a few hundred euro and in my opinion youd be better off with a new laptop.

mfield

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I'm confused, will the laptop power up on the mains or is it that the battery wont hold charge?

I won't charge at all as the socket for the mains charger is fooked and therefore won't charge or power the laptop.

Does(or did) the power come back intermitently if you wiggle the end of the power lead that goes into the laptop power jack. Had this problem myself - loose dc jack on mobo.

I also soldered a new jack on from ebay and used hot glue to stick it better to the motherboard. Its tricky alright. It worked again for a few months. But the soldering's really only a temp fix.
Now ive ordered a new laptop altogether.

Its either that or a new motherboard which would set you back a few hundred euro and in my opinion youd be better off with a new laptop.

The wiggle won't do anything. I have the whole laptop taken apart and I tried to solder the dc jack but it was a fecker to get at.

I'm handy enough at soldering, so I might buy a replacement jack, but maybe it's not worth it?! Could sell the screen and bin the rest maybe.

What ya reckon. Many thanks for the help guys! Really appreciated!

bren50c

if you want to have a crack at it you'll be able to get a new jack on ebay and here's some links for ya:

http://www.laptoprepair.co.uk/how-to-repair-laptop-power.htm
http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2006/01/28/toshiba-satellite-m35x-a75-power-jack-problem/
http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2007/07/16/satellite-m35x-fixing-power-connector/
http://www.uofr.net/~greg/hardware/dell_power_connector/

imo its a bit*h to do and the repair will probably not last too long anyway, leaving you back at square one.

mfield

bren50c wrote: »

if you want to have a crack at it you'll be able to get a new jack on ebay and here's some links for ya:

http://www.laptoprepair.co.uk/how-to-repair-laptop-power.htm
http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2006/01/28/toshiba-satellite-m35x-a75-power-jack-problem/
http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2007/07/16/satellite-m35x-fixing-power-connector/
http://www.uofr.net/~greg/hardware/dell_power_connector/

imo its a bit*h to do and the repair will probably not last too long anyway, leaving you back at square one.

I stripped the laptop down to the mobo last night, the soldering hopefully won't be too bad, but the part I'm worried about is putting it back together! What a total and utter nightmare! :eek:

majiktripp

I had a 500m / 510m in the office not too long ago, very similar issue to yours, item would power on with an ac adapter but wouldn't charge the battery, even though the battery was fine, tried a second know to be good battery and same thing. The motherboard couldn't detect the type of charger attached to the machine and in turn would run down the battery till it went flat and then would not power on. I'm just mentioning this as I think it was a known issue with that particular model of Dell. I don't know if all you jack soldering woes are going to sort that issue....

mfield

majiktripp wrote: »

I had a 500m / 510m in the office not too long ago, very similar issue to yours, item would power on with an ac adapter but wouldn't charge the battery, even though the battery was fine, tried a second know to be good battery and same thing. The motherboard couldn't detect the type of charger attached to the machine and in turn would run down the battery till it went flat and then would not power on. I'm just mentioning this as I think it was a known issue with that particular model of Dell. I don't know if all you jack soldering woes are going to sort that issue....

The problem I am having seems to be a little different to the one that you mention. The ac adapter will not charge the battery and if I take the battery out it will not charge the laptop either.

I wonder can this be fixed by replacing the the ac socket, or am I wasting my time?

majiktripp

Wasting your time, its a motherboard issue not the AC jack. That is of course, if it is the same issue.