New Motherboard or New Laptop?

Hi Everybody,

I really need some advice after what happened to me two days ago

I have a Toshiba Satellite M30 S309 (1.4 Centrino, 512 RAM, GeForce 5400 with 32 MB, 15.4 inch Screen, 80 GB Hard Disk). Whilst trying to clean out the fan I damaged my motherboard, and I found out today that these things are quite pricey.

If what I researched is true a new mainboard can cost around $500. Is that true? Also my DVD/CDRW only reads CDs, the battery is completely dead, the fan makes a loud noise and there's a key missing in the keyboard. I don't use all of these though, so it's not really much of a bugger.

Basically what I am confused about is whether it is worth it to fix the laptop, or should I buy a new one (a daunting thought). If I buy a new one, can I get a good price for the remaining spare parts?

Thanks a lot guys

 

Im confused, your sig says you have a HP DV5000 with respectable specs. Why would you bother fixing the Toshiba? If you already own that HP, just sell the TOshiba for parts or something and use it to upgrade your HP.

If you dont own the HP, I would just buy a new laptop. For a little more money you can get a decent laptop with at least the same if not better specs than the toshiba.

 

Yea, but another member of the family needs the Toshiba, that's why

Would be grateful for any other input...

 

How did you dammage the motherboard?

The M30 has a common issue where the video chip will fail and need to be replaced or this can happen with the north bridge. Either way, you will not be able to repair the motherboard and its not worth purchasing a new motherboard for it.

The DVD issue is most likely just a bad DVD drive. What model of DVDRW drive does it use?

If you want to replace the fan, thats inexpensive. like 15 dollars from toshiba + shipping.

KB is ~20 dollars from toshiba.

Battery is stupidly expensive and DO NOT BUY A 3RD PARTY BATTERY!

 

Ditch it . It is not worth spending all that money on an older laptop when you can buy a new laptop for as low as 600. Tear it down and sell the parts on Ebay.

 

Another thought would be to get a replacement mainboard off Ebay (second hand or refurbished) for $100 or $200. You think that's a good idea?

 

HELL NO. Garunteed to die within 3 months.

Again, how did you break the board? it is probably repairable.

 

I'm not sure. I brought it to the service center and they are really rude. He just said your main's busted. But I know he didn't want to bother fixing it.

What I think happened is when I removed the keyboard I pulled out the connection carefully instead of releasing it from the two tiny side locks. That's the only way I could explain the damage.

 

you could tear the entire keyboard connector off and it wouldnt break the motherboard.

So what does the board do? Does the laptop power on? does it post? Can you boot to windows? CAn you boot to windows in safe mode?

Please explain further. With a more detailed description i can tell you wether or not its worth trying to repair or if it even really is repairable.

 

When I connect it to the power, the blue light for 'power connection' lights up and stays steady. But once I press the power button to boot up, nothing happens.

Just the blue light switches to an orange one that blinks in certain intervals