Is my AC Adapter connected to my motherboard?? HELP!

Hi all. I have a Gateway MX3560 notebook.

Over the summer it took a fall, and landed on the AC adapter. Low and behold, after replacing the AC adapter cord, it stopped charging all together. I brought it in to Best Buy to talk to the guys there and before I even brought my computer out he told me that the AC adapter (internal) was connected to my motherboard and that in order to replace the pin in the AC Adapter, I would have to replace the entire motherboard.

He didnt even open up my computer.... is he right?? How can I find out if that is actually true?

It would be fantastic to find out that I could just have my ac adapter pin replaced and not need a whole new computer. The computer is a couple years old, and I dont know if it would be worth it to get the motherboard replaced.

Help me! If you know the answer to this question, please contact me!:

Is the AC adapter pin in my Gateway MX3560 connected to the motherboard?

Thanks!

Lindsay

 

The AC adapter connects into a small piece that is soldered onto the motherboard. Though it's possible to replace just that piece, it requires soldering skills while the piece is hard to find. Large repair shops like Best Buy or Gateway will just replace the motherboard instead of finding and soldering on the connector.

 

You could solder it back on if the connector itself still works... it is a simple repair by all standards that I have done myself many times (if thats any comfort for you ).

However, opening up the unit is not necessary yet. You should take the unit back to Bestbuy and insist on a more thorough assessment of the problem. Get those lazy techs to earn their pay and open up the laptop to make sure that the AC jack is in fact no longer functional; otherwise you will have to open it yourself and void the warranty or pay for the entire MB.

 

He has no warranty on it. Otherwise, BB would send the laptop out and get the motherboard replaced.

 

Oh. Then he may as well try to fix it himself.

 

It could be an easy fix. Then again could be hard. Go for it, nothing to lose.

 

why in the world would you voluntarily take your computer to Bestbuy and INSIST that those goons take your computer apart?

i wouldn't trust any of those guys to do ANYTHING let alone actually take my notebook apart down to the motherboard.

just wow.

 

The same thing happened to me with my first notebook, the AC piece dislocated from my motherboard, and even though I was under warranty they told me it was misuse and abuse and refused to fix it. I eventually found a person that could solder it back on. I would say try and solder it yourself or find someone that can do it for you, doing this may save you a lot of money on either buying a new motherboard or a whole new notebook altogether.

 

Think before you post. If they were to damage the laptop during the repair, don't you think they would replace it?