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    broken plastic clip on sata connector

    Discussion in 'Alienware 18 and M18x' started by anarky321, Jun 26, 2015.

  1. anarky321

    anarky321 Notebook Deity

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    so the alienware i got from ebay works fine but the connector clip that holds the sata cable in is broken on one side and its a real issue...does anyone have a spare they can ship from a parted out alienware or tell me where i can buy one?

    im talking about the piece of plastic that has the 2 knobs on it and holds cables in, its white
     
    anarky321, Jun 26, 2015
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  2. Juang1985

    Juang1985 Notebook Deity

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    thats part of the motherboard buddy. I broke one before and dell had to send me a new motherboard. Sorry for the bad news.
     
    Juang1985, Jun 26, 2015
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  3. anarky321

    anarky321 Notebook Deity

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    it's "technically" part of the motherboard but im talking about the white plastic clip that's on top of the actual sata motherboard connector, it comes off and is used in several other places on the motherboard

    http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/1539/02wifiremoved.jpg

    the white clip in the picture
     
    anarky321, Jun 26, 2015
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  4. ht_addict

    ht_addict Notebook Evangelist

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    It is part of the motherboard and not sold separately. As long as you still have it, even with a broken leg on one side, it will do its job by holding the cable in with pressure.
     
    ht_addict, Jun 26, 2015
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  5. anarky321

    anarky321 Notebook Deity

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    this is correct, its still a huge pain to take it out and put it back in though
     
    anarky321, Jun 27, 2015
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  6. TurbodTalon

    TurbodTalon Notebook Virtuoso

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    One of the retainers for my keyboard connector is broken, and I've just been using a pair of tweezers to remove/install it. As mentioned above, it still does its job since it's only a tiny wedge and stays put due to friction.
     
    TurbodTalon, Jun 27, 2015
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  7. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist®

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    Remove the WiFi card and getting to it is much easier. You can leave the antenna wires connected, just move it out of your way while you work with that retainer clip.
     
    Mr. Fox, Jun 28, 2015
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  8. anarky321

    anarky321 Notebook Deity

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    just a quick followup I did take an identical plastic clip from another place on the motherboard and it worked fine..but it's hard to remove the plastic clip without breaking it as well...anywhere else on the motherboard using the broken wedge works fine because it's not a critical/mobile connection like the SATA plug

    im sure that piece can be ordered somewhere as a separate part because its a pretty generic clip and it seems to fail pretty often...mine was broken on 2 of my m18x's upon purchase

    the broken clip works too it's just a pain to put in if you have to open the computer more than once
     
    anarky321, Feb 5, 2016
    #8