(partially) fried laptop

Hey guys. So, a client says she was on her laptop (Asus M50V) and she smelled burning plastic, then she noticed a small flame in the back of the laptop. The flame was put out. She was able to run the computer again, but it would only run on the battery. It will not boot up when plugged in. I want to take it apart to see if there is something that can be replaced.

Do you think it would be worth taking apart, and do you know if the part that could be damaged would be replaceable? I'm guessing there was a power surge, because there was a storm that night, and she was not on a surge protector. It looks like the laptop is still functional, it just won't boot from power anymore. Any thoughts?

Thank you!

 

I'd simply get a replacement, the M50 is getting a bit old. You can always take it apart and check if it is only the DC jack that fried, but if the motherboard is fried, time for a brand new lappy for sure.

 

I would not ever continue to use a unit that had suffered such a drastic electrical short that *flames* were the result.

The risk for a further, catastrophic electrical failure (including fire along the path of the electrical connections from the battery into the mainboard), potentially setting fire to something in the client's home and causing damage to property and/or life, would be unacceptable to me.

She should cease using it immediately, and purchase a replacement.

 

Where did the "flames" come from on the chassis? At the back left hand corner? It could have been electrical arcing, not flames, probably from the DC power jack?

My guess is that you may have a toasted AC adapter, possibly from that electrical storm and a power spike. If that is the case there may be damage to the notebook power circuit, but replacing the AC adapter would be a cheap enough thing to try.

 

Well, she's not using it now. I've got it. And purchasing a replacement may seem easy enough, but she's not all that wealthy. I'm trying to fix it so that she doesn't have to spend another $500+ on a new laptop.

 

$500 vs taking the chance of a room, apartment or home in flames from an unintended electrical fire. Hyperbole, perhaps, but there's the question.

I understand the issue of $500 being a significant amount for many people (myself included) - perhaps try the second hand market?

 

Ok, I took it apart. Here are a couple of shots of the fried power jack. It looks like some plastic got in there somehow, and melted to the solder points of the power jack. Is there hope? Could I scrape off the plastic somehow, and then solder on a new power jack? Would that solve my problem? Thanks for any advice.

 

No that's pretty much catastrophic failure. You have melted components and damage to the PCB.