Busted laptop motherboard!!!

samtheman_2

Hi I have a dell inspiron 5160 which seems to require a new motherboard (I've tried a new power adapter and removing all the components). Dell have quoted me £267 for the job which seems a tad high!!

Does anyone know

-where i can get this job done for cheaper?
-how easy this would be do replace myself (and where I get a cheap replacement motherboard)?


A quick google reveals this is a common problem for this model. Anyone had a similar experience?

Happy_frank

I did read a web site the other day (sorry can't find the artical now) that this is so common a problem someone is taking Dell to court claiming the laptop is unfit for purpose.
May be worth seeing if Dell will come to some arrangement over the cost (ie repair it for less)

Browntoa

found the motherboard on ebay for £99 on auction or £155 on buy it now , both plus postage, this involves totally stripping it down and re-assemble and test...not that bad a price if you ask around

albertross_2

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/12/inspiron_defect_lawsuit/

http://www.dti.gov.uk/consumers/fact-sheets/page24700.html

Note the section on six years..

samtheman_2

I could ask but I'd bet that dell won't do anything for fear of that lawsuit (apparently they've had simiar cases before and had to settle). I'd imagine if they lose I'll get money back.

Is there any website which shows you how to replace the motherboard? I looked on ebay too and they seem reasonable. I obviously don't want to spend too much as it appears if I put a new one in it could burn out again!

Kilty_2

Dell will have manuals on how to strip the machine down (well, they do for the Inspiron 1300 anyway).

Think about whether it's worthwhile doing or not though, since it is a pretty costly job.

jamstaruk

replacing a motherboard on a laptop isnt easy are you sure you would be up to doing it? might be better to sell laptop as faulty and buy a new 1

samtheman_2

any idea how much i would get for a faulty 5160?

samtheman_2

A moneysavingexpert dilema here -

get the laptop repaired
ditch it

what do you reckon will be best in the long run

samtheman_2

I've listed it on ebay. See how it goes. It'll be interesting to see what it makes. It appears companies do buy these parts to repair other lappys (wish i could get the money they charge for say a screen as mine is working). Theres a lot of good parts in them there hills.....

epz_2

jamstaruk wrote:

replacing a motherboard on a laptop isnt easy are you sure you would be up to doing it? might be better to sell laptop as faulty and buy a new 1

agreed, i work as a field engineer fixing pcs etc and laptops are way harder than pcs and servers to swap parts over, they arent designed to be serviced or really upgraded. every laptop has its own quirks and you usually need to leaver components off which make allarming cracking sounds as catches snap out etc

my advice would be contact your home insurance and if accidental damage, get it replace by that, if not ask about the legal cover. usually you have something mental like 25k to sue people with, write a leter to dell saying you have your insurance redy to back you to the value of this cover and to fix it or else, perhaps put a little more diplomaticly. it will cost them less to replace than attend one court session.