Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests [Rant}How do I get an ACCURATE Computer Diagnostic

I'm not a computer hardware guy, but I like to think I can find out whats wrong wtih computer software pretty decently.

My g/fs Dell Laptop Inspiron 1100, started off by not charging. Ok, the a/c adapter had been been long enough that I thought the end had computer broken inside. New power adapter.

didn't fix it.

Ok, so battery.
Nope. Didn't fix it.

Ok, I give up. Spend 99.95 to take it to Microcenter to get it diagnosed. They want $400 to send it off to Dell to get fixed. No f'ning way! They tell me that were the a/c adapter plugs into the computer is bad. Ok, I'll take it locally to get fixed.

So I take it to NW DC to a shop that says NO PROBLEM! Woo Hoo!! Now this guy tells me that the power port is fine, its a piece on the mother board and he'll fix it for the low low price of $250!

WHO THE HELL AM I TO BELIEVE????? HOW DO I GET A GD ACCURATE DIAGNOSTIC!!!!

Ug!

It's the female end (hole in laptop). Very common with the Dell quality build. Seen a few so far in the Dell 1100 and a few HP models.

I usually just hit it til it works. Don't do a whole lot but makes you feel MUCH better!!

May I suggest trying to find a Tech school in your area and talking with the teacher. Maybe he will let the students look at it and fix it for the price of parts.

It has happened 3 times to my hp within the 1 year warranty. They tried to say it was because I use the computer on my lap, "Thats why we call them notebooks, not laptops now".

The female power socket is held to the motherboard by it's solders. There is no other reinforcment. Eventually those solders weaken and break.

I finally gave up on HP and just stopped using my power adapter. I bought an external battery charger and a spare battery and now only run on battery. PITA but much less expensive than the $400 they wanted to fix it out of warranty.