The cheapest alternative is to disable the onboard network port and install a PCMCIA network adapter card.
There are very few places that can do component-level repairs on desktop boards, let alone notebook boards - the boards are multilayer and repair is difficult and in many cases, impossible because of that.
I read your message on Motherboard. I have had a DELL Inspiron600m Laptop for almost 2 yrs. Long story short....last week my computer died again. DELL says it is the Motherboard again and it will cost $700.oo to fix. Three mos after my original purchase in 2003, the Mother board went dead, DELL repaired after putting me thru the ringer with having me try ro fix/diagnose it. I am not a techy person.
My questions for you are:
Is there some way to verify if the problem is really my motherboard?
I do not have $250.00 to let COMP USA diagnose it NOR do i have $700.00 for DELL to replace. Although my Warranty expired; I do not believe that i should have to pay the cost to fix it as the Motherboard's are odviuosly defective (2 to die in less than 2 yrs when i use the Laptop approx. 3 hrs week). So, DELL said that the motherboard's should not be fixed for free as there are no actual recalls on this model. But, that doesn't mean the board isn't defective. I also fear that if i pay to have DELL replace the Motherboard; i would have fear's that the new one would die again (1 mos. 6 mos, yr). I intend to collect some info from people like yourself - Laptop owners, and then decide if i shall pursue in small claims court. Any thoughts?
Is there somewhere i can get a motherboard to fit my Laptop which is only a $200.00+? Would another manufacturer's Motherboard fit into my Laptop?
This recent problem occured 2 wks ago... first Laptop had a blue and green vertical lines thru Monitor upon start Laptop. Then, turn on computer and monitor was blank; however, i could hear the system boot up and beep twice, and some of top lights indicating machine power were on.
Is is possible that the problem is not the motherboard?
Basically everything -- power, video, etc. - is on the mainboard with this model. If nothing removeable (RAM, drives, etc.) is out of place, chances are replacing the mainboard is the only option.
I'm actually using a pcmcia card on it for the time being, because I am sick of the issues with the onboard port.
second, this is nowhere near a permanent solution, because, as it is... it is much easier to destroy a dongle / pcmcia nic card than it is an onboard one, not to mention the fact that I shouldn't have to use anything but the internal nic. It's bad enough dell uses an integrated (broadcom 4401) nic that has no OSS driver support in general. I mean, jeez... windows doesn't even have drivers for it by default. What is dell thinking?
Anyway, as soon as I get a credit card I can use, I'm going to be charging the $1.49 plus shipping it costs for the new rj45 jack, I'm going to buy some desoldering wire (the woven copper stuff, I can't remember the right name) and then I'm going to replace the connector on the motherboard, and I'll have a brand spanking new connector, and a properly working and fitted onboard ethernet jack again.
I suppose I'll take some photos of me doing it and post it on here when I'm done. As of course, no one else is willing to do repairs like this, at least that I've found.
anyway, I for one refuse to pay for dell's horribly overpriced replacement parts... any more suggestions are of course always welcomed...
To me I'd say your video chipset has problems. Usually not seeing the screen at boot and the two beeps says the video card is not present or seen by the cpu. Also you stated the color lines point to a video problem also - make sure the
video harness to the lcd is seated.
you can get motherboards repaired at laptopwork.com for like 200$, thats what I did when my motherboard broke. They are trustworthy and cheap (they are ebay based and you can check their feedback by looking them up on ebay), I would go there so its hundreds of dollars cheaper than getting it fixed @ dell.
"The worst-case scenario is when we replaced the CMOS chip and it did not fix the problem. Then your laptop will need a new motherboard, which will cost you some more."
That is a quote from the website so if it's not the CMOS chip then you will be looking at a new motherboard. However it would be worth calling them to see what they say.
I was wondering if anyone on here has successfully replaced parts on the motherboard, and also what advice anyone might have for me before plunging into it.
I have already found a supplier for another replacement jack, and no, I'm not going to just buy a new motherboard for $495+ dollars.
-Dclaw
I second
ejn63's advice about getting a PCMCIA card, that is going to be your cheapest way out. To fix the motherboard you are looking at $500 no matter who does it because they will have to replace it.
I don't recommend working on the motherboard. Removing a rigid multi-lead device is a pain. You either need to heat all leads simultaneouly to remove the device as a whole, or destructively separate the device body to enable the removal of each lead individually. The former is not likely to be accomplished without a soldering iron head designed to match the device lead layout. The latter may be possible, depending on how much damage is already done to the device or board, but access may be limited.
Inspect thoroughly before starting. Component replacement offers limited opportunity to repair board damage, but it can be plenty potentiary for creating it.
Get a few round toothpicks and soak the ends in a shot glass with 1/4-1/2" of water. You'll also need a hot iron with a mighty fine tip. A 25-33 watt iron with one or two 1/16 to 3/32" (.063-.094) chisel points plus a 3/64 (.047) needle point might be optimum.
Use a vice with cushioned jaws or pin the board in a workable position using other means.
Use a hot, fine-tip iron. Add solder to the iron tip to assure the transfer of heat to the device leads.
Put the tip against the lead at the board on the solder-side, and keep it in place.
Don't pull until it is loose. Wait for it, then grasp the far end of the device lead with needle-nose pliers.
Assuming the iron is hot enough, the tip is fine enough to avoid collateral damage, and a dab of solder assures heat transfer to the device lead, it should be removable.
Wipe the iron tip on a damp sponge. Add another dab od solder. Rinse and repeat.
When all leads are removed, stick the wet end of a toothpick in your mouth and use a needle-point iron tip to heat one solder hole. When the solder in the hole melts, push the wet end of the toothpick into the hole to clear a path for the new device lead. Alternatively, you can try using some fine-gauge solder wick to remove solder from the hole, but a small hole diameter may make this difficult. Pull a foot or two of solder wick off the roll before starting, as the heat will run back up the wick toward the roll.
When all holes are clear, prepare the new device. Make sure the leads are clean, wipe them down with alcohol.
Insert the new device, fully seated. Solder one corner, then the opposite corner, to hold it securely in place.
Keep the tip on the lead for a few seconds after the solder flows, to assure it wicks completely into the hole.
Wipe the tip on a damp sponge and add a dab of solder to the tip of the iron before soldering each lead. Don't add solder until the lead is hot, and add solder to the lead, not the tip of the soldering iron.
Trim the leads if necessary, and clean any residue off the board.
Good luck. If all goes well, you'll have a functional RJ-45 jack. Don't put it in backwards.
GM
PS - I hold a patent on the wet toothpick idea. If you use it, I'll need royalties. It's intellectual property. If you use another material with a fine point and resistance to hot solder, I'll still sue.
Actually
www.laptopwork.com had an official name
www.LaptopOnCall.com. They provide the best motherboard component level repair in the US. They can actually replace the CMOS switching power supply chip on the motherboard to bring your laptop back to work for $200. This is much cheaper than replacing the new expensive motherboard.
www.LaptopOnCall.com also have a nice tracking system for realtime status of your service
www.MegaTracking.com. You will be up to date with the most current info. You can also can call them at their business hour for more infomation.
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
0
February 15th, 2005 09:00
There are very few places that can do component-level repairs on desktop boards, let alone notebook boards - the boards are multilayer and repair is difficult and in many cases, impossible because of that.
Deb123456
2 Posts
0
February 15th, 2005 12:00
Hi there,
I read your message on Motherboard. I have had a DELL Inspiron600m Laptop for almost 2 yrs. Long story short....last week my computer died again. DELL says it is the Motherboard again and it will cost $700.oo to fix. Three mos after my original purchase in 2003, the Mother board went dead, DELL repaired after putting me thru the ringer with having me try ro fix/diagnose it. I am not a techy person.
My questions for you are:
Is there some way to verify if the problem is really my motherboard?
I do not have $250.00 to let COMP USA diagnose it NOR do i have $700.00 for DELL to replace. Although my Warranty expired; I do not believe that i should have to pay the cost to fix it as the Motherboard's are odviuosly defective (2 to die in less than 2 yrs when i use the Laptop approx. 3 hrs week). So, DELL said that the motherboard's should not be fixed for free as there are no actual recalls on this model. But, that doesn't mean the board isn't defective. I also fear that if i pay to have DELL replace the Motherboard; i would have fear's that the new one would die again (1 mos. 6 mos, yr). I intend to collect some info from people like yourself - Laptop owners, and then decide if i shall pursue in small claims court. Any thoughts?
Is there somewhere i can get a motherboard to fit my Laptop which is only a $200.00+? Would another manufacturer's Motherboard fit into my Laptop?
This recent problem occured 2 wks ago... first Laptop had a blue and green vertical lines thru Monitor upon start Laptop. Then, turn on computer and monitor was blank; however, i could hear the system boot up and beep twice, and some of top lights indicating machine power were on.
Is is possible that the problem is not the motherboard?
thank you,
deb
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
0
February 15th, 2005 17:00
dclaw
1 Rookie
•
4 Posts
0
February 15th, 2005 21:00
I'm actually using a pcmcia card on it for the time being, because I am sick of the issues with the onboard port.
second, this is nowhere near a permanent solution, because, as it is... it is much easier to destroy a dongle / pcmcia nic card than it is an onboard one, not to mention the fact that I shouldn't have to use anything but the internal nic. It's bad enough dell uses an integrated (broadcom 4401) nic that has no OSS driver support in general. I mean, jeez... windows doesn't even have drivers for it by default. What is dell thinking?
Anyway, as soon as I get a credit card I can use, I'm going to be charging the $1.49 plus shipping it costs for the new rj45 jack, I'm going to buy some desoldering wire (the woven copper stuff, I can't remember the right name) and then I'm going to replace the connector on the motherboard, and I'll have a brand spanking new connector, and a properly working and fitted onboard ethernet jack again.
I suppose I'll take some photos of me doing it and post it on here when I'm done. As of course, no one else is willing to do repairs like this, at least that I've found.
anyway, I for one refuse to pay for dell's horribly overpriced replacement parts... any more suggestions are of course always welcomed...
-Dclaw
johnallg
2 Intern
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7.3K Posts
0
February 15th, 2005 23:00
phoqoo
5 Posts
0
February 16th, 2005 01:00
jankerson
2.8K Posts
0
February 16th, 2005 02:00
http://laptopwork.com/service/
"The worst-case scenario is when we replaced the CMOS chip and it did not fix the problem. Then your laptop will need a new motherboard, which will cost you some more."
That is a quote from the website so if it's not the CMOS chip then you will be looking at a new motherboard. However it would be worth calling them to see what they say.
Still $495 is cheaper that buying a new Laptop.
jankerson
2.8K Posts
0
February 16th, 2005 02:00
dclaw
1 Rookie
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4 Posts
0
February 16th, 2005 07:00
as I already stated, I am replacing the jack myself
I'll let everyone know when I've finished
GreyMack
2.2K Posts
0
February 16th, 2005 09:00
Use a hot, fine-tip iron. Add solder to the iron tip to assure the transfer of heat to the device leads.
Message Edited by GreyMack on 02-16-2005 03:54 AM
dclaw
1 Rookie
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4 Posts
0
February 17th, 2005 01:00
Thank you so much.
I knew I would eventually get some real help and information on my little project.
Now I'm just waiting on that part to come in, then I'll be deep in the solder fields.
-Dclaw
angel-2
1 Message
0
March 29th, 2005 04:00