Broken Laptop

Cows Go µ

So I have a bit of a problem. I have a Inspiron 15 5000 Series that I bought in March 2016.

Ages ago it started having trouble charging. At first I could just wiggle it and it would work again then it started becoming harder and harder to get it to charge. A few weeks ago it stopped altogether. I went into a repair place to ask if it was the charger or it is was the jack. They took one look at the jack and said it was damaged.

They ordered the part and after a few weeks (I gave them a bit of leeway because of the storm as I could see builders in the place after so I figured they had to close because of it) I hadn't heard anything so I asked for an update. They said that there was more damage than they thought. They say that the CPU is faulty and they need to replace the mother board (costing 300-390 to replace). The laptop was working fine (other than not charging) when I gave it to them and I only handed it in when it had finally run out of battery.

Is there anyway that the laptop could have had a faulty motherboard and still work and maybe the battery finally dying triggered something? Or is there anyway in replacing a jack that it could have damaged the laptop?

TerrorFirmer

It sounds to me like they're talking waffle. The CPU is faulty? That is nothing whatsoever to do with the charging port. One of two things is happening here.

a) They damaged it even more attempting to repair it and now the full board needs replacement

b) They're just trying to find a way to get more money out of you

It sounds to me like it was just a standard damaged jack, this is probably the most common issue in these repair places - they even could tell that immediately from just looking at it.

Half of these repair shops are run by total cowboys unfortunately.

bonzodog2

No soldering involved to change the DC jack, it has a cable that plugs into MB. Cheaper than a tenner. Cowboys.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DELL-Inspiron-15-5000-Series-DC-Jack-Power-Socket-Cable-Connector-P51F-UK-Stock/372098877509?epid=932981044&hash=item56a2d24845:g:vTgAAOSw4YdY0N3g

Cows Go µ

I'm glad to read that, I had pretty much given up on the laptop. I got it back free of charge and I'm going to bring it somewhere else. Hopefully it is an easy fix and if they did do something to break it, then they might be able to tell me.

On that note, does anyone know any good computer repair companies in Cork?

DubInTheWest

I find Dell's can't withstand much 'knocking about' or it will cause motherboard damage, and currently I have 2 because I got them at good prices. (Had 3)

I bought a 17" 5000 series awhile back, I was using it on the bed, I got a call and I threw it on the bed to go get the phone, it landed not so hard on something on the bed, possibly the charger and slightly and I mean slightly damaged an air vent on the laptop. That particular knock damaged the board and the whole laptop is kaput and it was only a few months old. I didn't get the accidental damage protection so it was just an expensive lesson. Not only that but I had work on it that I needed badly. I had to take the drive out and get what I could off it.
I took the laptop apart, swapped out the ram for other ram, checked the cpu and nothing. It will power on but won't reach the bios.

Right now I have an Inspiron15 5000 series i7, and going great but I treat it with kid gloves these days.

All the best in getting it fixed but I wouldn't be surprised if it was your motherboard. It prob was just the jack and the guy was heavy handed with it and damaged the board.

Cows Go µ

DubInTheWest wrote: »

I find Dell's can't withstand much 'knocking about' or it will cause motherboard damage, and currently I have 2 because I got them at good prices. (Had 3)

I bought a 17" 5000 series awhile back, I was using it on the bed, I got a call and I threw it on the bed to go get the phone, it landed not so hard on something on the bed, possibly the charger and slightly and I mean slightly damaged an air vent on the laptop. That particular knock damaged the board and the whole laptop is kaput and it was only a few months old. I didn't get the accidental damage protection so it was just an expensive lesson. Not only that but I had work on it that I needed badly. I had to take the drive out and get what I could off it.
I took the laptop apart, swapped out the ram for other ram, checked the cpu and nothing. It will power on but won't reach the bios.

Right now I have an Inspiron15 5000 series i7, and going great but I treat it with kid gloves these days.

All the best in getting it fixed but I wouldn't be surprised if it was your motherboard. It prob was just the jack and the guy was heavy handed with it and damaged the board.

Luckily I don't have anything on the laptop that I can't live without so if it's dead then it's not the end of the world. It's just the most I have ever spent on a laptop so I don't want to give up on it because I can't afford one with a similar spec.

If he was heavy handed and damaged it, would you be able to tell?

DubInTheWest

Cows Go µ wrote: »

Luckily I don't have anything on the laptop that I can't live without so if it's dead then it's not the end of the world. It's just the most I have ever spent on a laptop so I don't want to give up on it because I can't afford one with a similar spec.

If he was heavy handed and damaged it, would you be able to tell?

I feel your pain I was gutted when I broke mine. I got an i7 back in February for €720 as there was a 20% sale on top of a sale kind of thing so right now I'm happy enough.

Best thing you can do it bring it to a reputable shop and explain your situation. To me it sounds like a jack 100%, I've replaced soldered and connector jacks numerous times. Did he say it was the CPU or the CPU socket ? If it was the CPU chip, you should still get power when you charge it. If its the actual socket or the board it's a different story. In my view it was the jack.
At the end of the day, it's his word against yours, and this happens in 'big repair centres too.'

I was talking to a guy in passing recently who left his laptop in for repair, he said he kept getting the advanced options of Windows 10. The guy said he needed a new hard drive and put in a SSD, he told him he'd get his stuff off the other drive if possible, then after awhile said it wasn't possible as the transfer speed was too slow. I asked him did the hard drive sound off and scrunching noise as thats what usually happnes if it's going bad, he said no, I took his drive and got all his stuff from it that he needed.
The 'repair' guy was a chancer who just replaced a drive and installed windows and made a pretty pound out of it.

Just get a second opinion from a shop OP, I'm sorry as I know laptops are expensive for a decent spec one

Cows Go µ

I requested an update via email so I have what he said:

"Motherboard damaged
not turning on after DC jack replacement
power goes into laptop but not turning on
CPU faulty

You have option we can replace board in your laptop

Motherboard replacement:
€390 (i5/i7 processor with external GPU, used, grade A, USA, 9-17 working days)
€300 (i3/i5 processor with integrated GPU, used, grade A, USA, 9-17 working days)"

When I queried it, this was the response I got:

"CPU is the chip which is responding for charging , holding charge and taking power from charger and from battery so maybe that was the problem not the DC jack ."

I'm living in Bandon and their are only 2 repair places. The other one was closed when I went into town (I swear it's always closed and they had previously made a really basic error so I didn't really trust them anyway) so I thought I would give the other shop a shot. They have a couple of branches so I figured they would be okay.

I've got it back now anyway though it's actually in my mum's work so I haven't had the chance to look at it

DubInTheWest

Is there a pc world near you ? I'm not sure if they still repair stuff but they used to but it would be good to get a second opinion and another price on getting it fixed.

If he replaced the jack and there is a light on, on the laptop to say it's charging but not powering up, it's the motherboard. If it was the cpu chip alone that was failing it should power on and you should hear a series of beeps to let you know something was wrong. I could say there is a chance the power switch is not connected to the board properly or is broke but I know I'd be lying to myself.
It's the board.

Boards are expensive to replace, thats why I have a practically brand new laptop just sitting in a press.
I think one way or the other you will need to get your board replaced either by him or someone else.

At the end of the day, you'll just never know if it was only the jack that was damaged or the board too. I have a hunch it was only the jack but thats only my opinion.

I'm sorry but I think you're going to be shelling out a few quid on this

Cows Go µ

My mum picked it up (she works across the road from the place) and left it in her work. I'll get it on Tuesday evening so I'll plug it in and see what happens.

I work in the city so I have a PC world near enough so I could try there.

Thanks for all of your help, I'll report back when I know more

DubInTheWest

I hope you get it sorted. I don't want to get your hopes up but there is a chance the jack he installed could be faulty. More than likely he ordered it from ebay and just ordered the one.

More than likely the board though

This is not something you need coming up to Xmas, so good luck I hope it doesn't cost you too much!