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If you never use your docking station, put a piece of tape over the connector

Discussion in 'Dell Latitude, Vostro, and Precision' started by Pylon757, Nov 6, 2010.

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  1. Pylon757

    Pylon757 Notebook Evangelist

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    So basically, my E6410 now has issues (system can't communicate with battery) because I accidentally placed the laptop on some runny dough (don't ask), which got into the docking port connector and probably shorted something out. Fortunately, nothing major got damaged, and my battery still works fine, though the readings will probably be off.

    Lesson? Check where you place your laptop, and if you never use the docking connector, put a piece of tape over it. It's a pretty major weak spot with a number of important connections that can easily lead to short if you put your laptop by accident on say, a desk with a spill. In fact, on the D630, it's pretty much exposes the motherboard.
     
    Pylon757, Nov 6, 2010
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  2. GKDesigns

    GKDesigns Custom User Title

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    I stuffed mine with steel wool... nothing gets past steel wool! :)

    This thread should be titled, "Only set your laptop on a clean, firm, flat surface".

    GK
     
    GKDesigns, Nov 6, 2010
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  3. booboo12

    booboo12 Notebook Prophet

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    This is gonna sound dumb but wouldn't that short it....:eek:

    One thing I liked about ..hmm dunno if it was the lenovo or the hp elitebook line...but one of those brands put protective flaps over the docking connector...
     
    booboo12, Nov 6, 2010
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  4. Commander Wolf

    Commander Wolf can i haz broadwell?

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    I think the latter is a joke.

    The last HP I had did not have a docking port cover. The last Lenovo I had sort of does. Back in the day, the Dx00 and derivatives all had flaps over the docking port connector, too. I guess Dell deemed them unnecessary...
     
    Commander Wolf, Nov 6, 2010
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  5. powerslave12r

    powerslave12r Notebook Evangelist

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    So the best solution is just tape over it?
     
    powerslave12r, Nov 6, 2010
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  6. Commander Wolf

    Commander Wolf can i haz broadwell?

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    The best solution is not put your laptop on anything that can get into the docking connector... but if you can't do that, tape is probably one of the better alternatives. Nonetheless, if you end up sitting your laptop in a puddle for a couple of hours, few tapes are going to save your docking connector.

    Else, try to use something that doesn't leave much residue?
     
    Commander Wolf, Nov 6, 2010
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  7. powerslave12r

    powerslave12r Notebook Evangelist

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    Yeah the residue's what I'm worried about.
     
    powerslave12r, Nov 6, 2010
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  8. Dillio187

    Dillio187 Notebook Evangelist

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    the D series flaps just broke and then jammed the connector anyways.
     
    Dillio187, Nov 7, 2010
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  9. debguy

    debguy rip dmr

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    The docking port is the hottest spot of my M6500s surface. I wouldn't put any tape on it. Maybe the plastic or paper strip could withstand the heat, but I don't even want to know what the heat does to the glue on it.
     
    debguy, Nov 7, 2010
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  10. Pylon757

    Pylon757 Notebook Evangelist

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    Also, I'm wondering, but would what I did void the warranty?

    Everything's back to normal now actually. The stuff probably just dried.
     
    Pylon757, Nov 11, 2010
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