Help!

[invisiblelady]

I've managed to drop my work laptop and it landed on the side where the power supply goes in. I noticed it was bent so pulled it out and when I went to push it back, saw that the power jack is loose. Any ideas what I can do? Will it be broken or is it worth me opening it up and having a look. Are they expensive? I daren't tell work!!

[Tuvok]

Why not take it to a local repair shop and let them look at it

[ChuckFickens]

You've almost certainly broken the power socket on the laptop, unless you're an electrical engineer with a good knowledge of how to solder then nothing you can do about it.

Just tell work, I see a few a year at work which have been dropped so it's not a big deal, they will have seen it before.

[ChuckFickens]

"Why not take it to a local repair shop and let them look at it"

Doing that would get you in more trouble than simply reporting it to work at my place, it's not your decision to make about invalidating the warranty on a company laptop.

By all means offer to pay for the repair if they do get funny about it, but don't try and hide it.

[invisiblelady]

Thanks ChuckFickens. It's actually quite an old one and so there is no warranty left on it. I'm actually the IT support at work and so can more or less do what I want, but only sort out software problems. I'm pretty practical though and have done other things. I've ordered a new jack point off eBay. It is only £4.50 and looks pretty easy to fit. Have put out a call to our external IT support man who is always doing me favours lol. He knows what I am and am not capable of and will be honest. Suspect he will offer to nip round and fit it with a bit of luck! I was just worried that it was going to cost a bomb so a fiver isn't too bad. Wonder what the local rip off shop would have charged! Thanks for your input though. Much appreciated :-)

[invisiblelady]

PS. I'm good at soldering!

[ChuckFickens]

Actually the tricky bit it the desoldering :)

That and to get to it you have to strip every part of the laptop apart, which if you've never done one before isn't all that easy (and then putting them back together is a good test of memory and dexterity!).... I've done loads and it's not generally something I'd suggest somebody attempt unless they are very confident in what they are doing.

Have a look on youtube first for some videos about taking laptops apart to give you a heads up on how some of the connectors work as some of them are very easy to break, and most of all take your time and be gentle, if something doesn't want to come apart don't force it, find what's stopping it.

[invisiblelady]

Hmmm.....that's the bit I'm worried about. I've found a 14 step video but I can see there is a lot of stripping down. I think I'll wait and see if friendly IT man offers! Lol. If it was my own I would give it a go, but I have to act responsibly when it's not. I think you're right. At least I know it's not going to cost me an arm and a leg. Although, it was the pot on my leg that knocked it off the bed in the first place :-(

[invisiblelady]

On a totally different tangent.....have you ever taken an iPad apart? Can't imagine what they look like inside. All 'chips' I suppose?

[ChuckFickens]

http://www.ifixit.com...+3+4G+Teardown/8277/1

[invisiblelady]

Not much in there to get a screwdriver into! Lol

[ChuckFickens]

Basically, the inside of an iPad is all battery!... the main board looks like this.

http://guide-images.i...MNSAejFIJsYJGt.medium

[invisiblelady]

So no repairing anymore, just replacing. Bet it costs peanuts to produce.

[Tuvok]

You can vist a repair shop and not have to submit it for repair - ie. you can show them it, ask their opinion and get an estimate!

[joko]

there should be service manual for your model available online

i replaced mine and it was a pain in the arse frankly - you do have to strip everything down step by step and be methodical... but myself and two others tried and just could not get the old solder out... so i had to replace the whole board... not just the socket... it was cheap enough and i was able to just slot it in.

be careful when reassembling that all the little plugs and tapes are properly put back together.

[joko]

a reapir shop will cost probably £80 ish as they have to dismantle which take time etc