Dell laptop power supplies (for the Inspiron 8600 for example) are a special case in that there is an extra pin in the connector that sends a signal to the laptop. If this connection is broken then you will get an error message on startup that reads something like “the ac power adapter type cannot be determined. this will prevent optimal system performance” and the laptop will power on but will not charge the battery. If the connection problem is in the power jack, as it often is, then the power jack pin has to be resoldered very carefully on the opposite side of the motherboard from the other power jack pins. So when you take your laptop in for repair and you have a power supply with a very thin central pin in the connector, make sure that the technician is proficient in replacing this type of power jack.
Archive for May, 2008
Dell Laptop Not Recignizing Power Supply
Thursday, May 29th, 2008Make Sure the Used Laptop You Buy Comes with a System Disk
Thursday, May 15th, 2008Occasionally we work on laptops that have failed hard drives. One such customer said that he bought his used, and it did not come with a system disk. The normal fix would be to install a new hard drive and re-install Windows XP and the drivers that came on the system disk. But in this case the restoration would be more expensive without the system disk since you would either have to buy a replacement system disk from the manufacturer or buy a new Win XP operating system and hunt for the drivers. This was a customer with a tight budget, so he was not able to afford the more expensive restoration procedure. If he had the system disk, he would be much better off.
If Your Dell Laptop Does Not Turn On
Sunday, May 11th, 2008We recently repaired a power jack on a Dell Inspiron B130. After the repair the laptop would not turn on and the caps lock light would blink 10 times and the laptop would then power down. Here’s the procedure to solve this problem:
- Take battery out, unplug the cord.
- Remove the two DIMM memory modules.
- Plug the laptop back in and turn it on. The caps lock and the scroll lock lights will turn on and then the laptop will power down.
- Unplug the laptop. Reseat the two DIMM memory modules.
- Turn the laptop back on and if all goes well, the laptop will start normally.
Overheating Problem with Toshiba Qosmio G25
Tuesday, May 6th, 2008
Consider the Cost of Ugrading Software when Deciding on Laptop Repair
Monday, May 5th, 2008The cost of laptop repair is often weighed against the purchase of a new laptop. With most new laptops having the Windows Vista operating system, the cost of upgrading installed software also needs to be considered. Many specialized software packages that were written for Windows XP will not work properly or at all on a Windows Vista computer. So when deiciding on whether to repair an existing laptop, investigate the compatibility of installed software with Windows Vista.
Consider Repair Costs when Choosing Laptop Screen Size
Monday, May 5th, 2008We repair/replace lots of laptop screens. About half are from accidental damage and half from age-related breakdown. When looking at replacement costs, its is intuitive to think that smaller screen sizes would cost less. But the opposite is true. Replacement of 12.1″ and 13.3″ laptop screens costs considerably more than 14.1″ and 15.4″ screens, and also more than 17″ screens. So when choosing a laptop that may be subject to frequent use and possible screen breakage, go with a 15.4″ screen. These are the least expensive to replace and have the highest availability.