6130HS-20 Suddenly Dead

I read everything I could find on this issue before posting, but in need of help.

Background:
My 6130 is stock, I've never opened it in 3 years. I've always gotten the latest windows updates and latest drivers. Overall, no major problems. It gets hot at times but has never shut itself off. When playing F.E.A.R. Combat it sometimes freezes. Screen brightness goes in and out and flickers sometimes, but pretty rare. I use my laptop quite often and it takes a little abuse when transporting it with a notebook sleeve and a backpack. I recently purchased a new ac adapter from ebay, here it is: http://cgi.ebay.com/Averatec-6130-AV6130-New-AC-Power-Adapter-Supply_W0QQitemZ140136826551QQihZ004QQcategoryZ64471QQcmdZViewItem

The Story:
About a week ago I was playing F.E.A.R. for a couple of hours and it started to get really hot. I was using the new adapter. I noticed some smoke coming out from the back where the power cord plugs in. I immediately shut it off and left it alone for a couple of days. The power button region and the "Enter" area of the keyboard (and above) still smells a little like burnt plastic. I started it up again and everything seemed fine. But I decided not to use it for awhile to give it time to cool down.

Today I started it up again and everything seemed fine. I was on it for 15min uploading pictures from a digital camera when it suddenly shut itself off. The laptop was cool, barely even warm. So I went to start it up again and the power button flashed green but failed to start. It did this 7 or so times without booting. I noticed that the battery light was flashing orange, so it was charging. But, after trying to hit the button a couple more times, it no longer flashed green or anything and the battery light no longer comes on flashing orange.

Totally dead. I noticed that when I plug in the ac adapter now and put my ear up to the laptop, a slight humming/buzzing noise comes from the machine right where you plug in the adapter. It sounds kind of like the pulse machine noise when someones heart fails in a hospital and it's just a flat line. I think my poor laptop's trying to tell me that it's passed away.

The Solution?:
What's wrong with it? What do I do? I don't want to put too much money in repairs into it. Should I send it into Averatec? How much am I looking at? Is it worth it to fix? Is it the ac adapter? I don't have the original adapter with me to try, but this one seems fine with a solid green light. Would I be better off with CompUSA or a mom and pop repair shop?

Please help. Thank you.
Justin

 

Anyone have a clue?

 

Any information would be incredibly helpful, thanks.

 

Do you have the old power supply? What is the voltage rating on it? My averatec is 19V, not 20. It is possible that caused you to fry something.

It might be the battery or the plug. If it is covered under warranty, send it in. If not then check voltages, try a diff batt, try a diff power supply.

How old is the notebook? Does it beep or anything when you try to boot?

Sorry, I don't know if it is much help.

 

It's no longer under warranty, it's 3 years old. It doesn't beep or anything when I try to boot (just dead), but when I plug in the ac adapter it makes a faint humming noise by where you plug it in on the machine. I won't have access to the original ac adapter for a month. The voltage on my 3rd party adapter is correct, but now I've heard from someone else on these forums that it may have been the ac adapter. But what could it have fried? Are we talking about just a fuse or a plug or did I take out part of the motherboard? And if I did, would I be able to run it without getting a new motherboard?

Thanks so much for your help.

 

i'm sorry to hear the bad news. from the sounds of it, you definitely fried your laptop. try opening it up. at this point you cant really make it worse.

 

Could have been anything really. Especially if it was under load (F.E.A.R.) and running just 1 volt over. You may try having it repaired But I think you definately fried something.

 

I took it into a repair shop. I need a new power board. I found it online for $150 shipped: http://www.notebookparts.com/products/description.php?II=9208, plus they want $100 bucks to install it. Is it worth it? Can I get the part (35-UD7000-01) cheaper some place else?

Thanks.

 

I had the new power board installed. I spent $230 in parts and labor. But when I went to plug in my original ac adapter (which I know works perfectly) it didn't turn on. Instead the ac adapter indicator light went from solid green to flashing green. Normally I would assume it's the adapter, but I KNOW it has nothing to do with it this time, because this wasn't the 3rd part adapter involved in the overheating incident. At least it no longer makes that humming sound when plugged in.

So what does the flashing green mean? Did they install the power board correctly? Is something just not put together properly? Is my motherboard damaged? Do I just need to reset the laptop somehow?

Thanks so much to all of you for your input.