Anyone know of a PCB repair facility?

I'm in the US and i'm looking for a facility that repairs motherboards. I wanted to take out the mobo in my Vostro V13 and send it out for repair. The price on Ebay for a replacement mobo is too high. The problem is the LAN doesn't work on the mobo. I got it to work temporarily but now it's back.

The only real solution besides addressing the mobo is to use a USB LAN adapter.

 

Err...isn't not covered by warranty or it is physically damaged?

Might be cheaper to buy another LAN and solder it on..

 

Nah it's out of warranty, it's my first V13. Now I wish I had bought that extended warranty, rats.

 

Contact Dell for OOW extension? The motherboard is expensive cause the processor is BGA soldered onto the motherboard..

 

It's been OOW for several months now, I don't think they'd reconsider.

I resoldered the LAN connector on the mobo and it's working again.

EDIT: My warranty expired 5/5/11 so it's not that long ago. Is it possible to buy an extended warranty at this point or is it too late?

 

The only way to know for sure is to call Dell.

 

I did and it's $366 for 2 years and $196 for 1, are they kidding me?

No thanks, i'll send it off to an Ebayer I found who reflows PCB's. They want me to send my laptop and I emailed them and asked if I can just send them the mobo in an electro static bag?

 

Okay, out of warranty for almost 4 weeks and with a known M/B problem and they'll still give you a 2 and 1 yr warranty and you're not taking it?

Are you kidding me?

I think you're missing something here... (or maybe I am?) - how much was your system new (and when did you buy it)?

 

The laptop was under $500 and I can buy a new V130 for $399 and add a 3 year warranty for $80. That's the problem right there. From the info I have gathered the mobo issues are partly down to soldering issues.

 

I don't know what kind of laptop you have, but is it even worth repairing?

Would it make more sense to just use your laptop with a USB ethernet adapter, or WiFi? Because a repair of your laptop would be pretty expensive. And if your laptop is old enough, something else may go wrong with your laptop pretty soon anyway.

If I were in your situation, I would get my laptop working as inexpensively as possible, continue to use that laptop until something major breaks / dies, sell the inoperable laptop as-is in eBay, and then just buy a new laptop.

 

All of the above !

I fixed the LAN issue, second time. I have a Nintendo Wii LAN dongle i'm using and most of the time it's on Wifi.

 

Rodster,

Ah! I see... I am leaning towards kent1146's advice.

Use it till it dies (with an adaptor) and simply buy a new one then (start saving).

You didn't say how long ago you bought this, but it certainly seems past it's prime. Don't sink more money into a system that will most likely keep failing (in possibly different ways).

Good luck.

 

I bought it about a year ago from the Dell Outlet store. I recently purchased another one AND now I kick myself for not buying the 3 year warranty.

If the first V13 kicks i'll sell it for parts on Ebay. I can probably make more money buy selling parts piece by piece.

 

I would just sell it as a broken laptop on eBay and put that money towards a new one. Cost to you would probably be about the same as sending it out for repair (assuming ~ $100)

 

I found a repair center in Tampa, Florida that does PCB level repair. I found them on Ebay. I sent them an email, waiting to hear back.

 

not necessarily. I think you should sell it as one unit. You should include a USB/Ethernet adapter with it. I'm sure that it will be useful to someone who connects to the internet main through the wifi.

I would suggest either you keep it as a back up system, give it away to a friend or a relative that needs a laptop and can't afford one, or sell it a whole system . I personally won't bother repairing it. The mailing alone would represent a fortune.