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    Strange Power Issue

    Discussion in 'Gateway and eMachines' started by Kensogtp1, Sep 16, 2009.

  1. Kensogtp1

    Kensogtp1 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I plug in my laptop and I get power: However, it sometimes goes to battery mode and I have to pull the power cord tighly under the computer to hold it in place.. it seems like the contact is bad where the plug goes into the computer. Any ideas/suggestions :confused:

    P7811fx
     
    Kensogtp1, Sep 16, 2009
    #1
  2. AlphaQ99

    AlphaQ99 Notebook Enthusiast

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    i had a dell that had the same problem. i had to prop the end that connected to the laptop on top of a box of cigarettes. my wife bought me a replacement power brick from targus that worked for a little while, but i had to go back to propping it over something to hold in place. you should talk to a gateway rep and ask if they'll replace the motherboard for you.
     
    AlphaQ99, Sep 16, 2009
    #2
  3. Starcub

    Starcub Notebook Consultant

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    It might be a little risky, but you could try crimping the plug ever so slightly at the tip.
     
    Starcub, Sep 17, 2009
    #3
  4. mujtaba

    mujtaba ZzzZzz Super Moderator

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    Hmmm, sounds like that the connector on your motherboard has gone bad.
    There are many repair shops that can fix that, you can also try sending it to Gateway.
     
    mujtaba, Sep 17, 2009
    #4
  5. gamadaya

    gamadaya Notebook Evangelist

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    I had a laptop a long time ago that did that. I did what you did Alpha. I propped it up with a small book, then a bigger one, and then a pretty big one. By the end, it lifted my laptop off the ground a little. When it finally failed, I got a new laptop, but I needed to get files off. The old laptop had never fully recovered from a really bad virus, and it had a PATA hard drive, so the transfer of 40 gigs took hours. I and a friend took turns wiggling the power connector to keep it powered, but that stopped working entirely, and it finished with maybe 20 minutes of juice. And it was a mobo problem. So yeah, nip this in the bud. You're probably still under warranty anyway.
     
    gamadaya, Sep 17, 2009
    #5