laptop advice

pinkgem

i have a laptop, 17 months old

macman

It's possible but unlikely. Until the laptop is dismantled it's not always possible to know exactly what is broken. How could you prove they broke it?
£15 for diagnosis without repair is very reasonable, most laptops specialists would charge around twice that amount.

asininity

Its definitely possible, depends on them and whether they're trustworthy. My mum took her computer into a shop because it was broken, I would normally have fixed it but now live in scotland.

I remember the computers spec being there when she bought it and when I went to visit last year had a look and not only had the guy not fixed it right he'd stolen one of the 256mb sticks of ram!

pinkgem

macman wrote: »

It's possible but unlikely. Until the laptop is dismantled it's not always possible to know exactly what is broken. How could you prove they broke it?
£15 for diagnosis without repair is very reasonable, most laptops specialists would charge around twice that amount.

i wasn't disputing the £15 diagnosis

pinkgem

asininity wrote: »

Its definitely possible, depends on them and whether they're trustworthy. My mum took her computer into a shop because it was broken, I would normally have fixed it but now live in scotland.

I remember the computers spec being there when she bought it and when I went to visit last year had a look and not only had the guy not fixed it right he'd stolen one of the 256mb sticks of ram!

i don't know. they are just a local computer repair shop

macman

It may still be charging intermittently, but upon dismantling it they have been able to establish that the damage is not just related to the external power socket but to the motherboard to which it is fixed. I think the original diagnosis was a reasonable one based on a visual inspection without dismantling. However, they might have told you that the damage might be severe enough to require a mobo replacement but that the only way to tell would require dismantling.
If you feel you don't have confidence in them, pay up the £15 and seek a second opinion at another repair shop.

pinkgem

not quite sure how that would have happened

macman

Sounds like strain to the power socket has caused a crack in the mobo. This happens because each time the lead is plugged in there is a strain on the connector which can be transmitted into the mobo. It doesn't need to be dropped, maybe the power lead has been snagged a few times, eventually the socket breaks or the board can crack.

pinkgem

the lead doesn't get plugged in loads though, it is always left plugged in to the laptop :S

macman

I can't explain exactly how it has happened in your case, I was just outlining the common problem areas. Power sockets are a weak point on laptops because they are vulnerable.

motorguy

We've seen this very problem whereby it appears initially just to be broken solder, but ends up needing a new mobo.

I think its a bit unfair to think it might be the guy in the shop who has broken it.

Personally, i'd stick it on ebay, 'Spares or Repair' detailing it not charging now but otherwise had been fine.

You'd be surprised how much you could get for it.