Good computer repair places around campus? I think I have a short in my motherboard and I'm looking to get it repaired ASAP for as cheap as possible. I was looking to...
Alkibiades415 replied:
I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but if it *is* a short on the motherboard, I bet nobody around here will be able to fix it for cheaper than the cost of a new laptop. Or else not in a timeframe you would like.
Have you gone through troubleshooting steps to make sure it is a short on the mobo? Tried plugging it in to the comp with the laptop battery removed?
Is the jack itself "loose?" I replaced the jack on a Dell laptop in the past. It is a process, but not impossible.
Can you easily access the ram chips? If so, try taking one out (and then the other) -- dead RAM can sometimes cause laptops to have weird power issues.
The two most likely suspects are:
#1: the adapter brick itself; they are cheap and fail easily
#2: the "jack," either the part itself or its connection to the mobo becomes loose
#3: failed RAM
distant #4: actual mobo issue; the adapter itself offers protection from power surge damage etc; did you plug it into a non-USA outlet (like in Europe, or South America?) via one of those cheap, non-grounded adapters? I've had computers since the time when dinosaurs walked the land, and I've never ever had a mobo fail. So i'm immediately suspicious of them being a problem.
I'm not an expert by any means, but I have taken apart and fixed several lappies by myself and learned some along the way. Maybe somebody here has an adapter of the same type that you could try? that would narrow it down.
snaverevilo replied:
I work at the used computer store on Shattuck and it would probably be ~$250 to replace a motherboard, it's basically the most expensive thing to replace. Could only take a few days but if a new board needs to be ordered and shipped that would add time.
sweetmachuca replied:
1. Take battery out, press power button a few times for a few seconds each time (still with battery out). Put battery back in and try turning it on again. 2. Try different adapter, even if the one you currently have is new, you never know. The adapter could have been defective. If you go to geek squad/best buy, they'll try another charger for you. You can also just go to the store, buy a universal charging kit (comes with different plugs for a variety of different laptops) and if it doesn't work you can return it. 3. If you want to see if its the RAM, YouTube how to do it. Its surprisingly easy. Feel free to PM me if you have another question. Good luck!