Laptop help - took it all apart, and can't figure out what's wrong with it.

Dell Latitude CPx -- my sister was having trouble with it (didn't always want to turn on)..one day it refused altogether. I messed with it - with battery, with AC, etc..and eventually noticed a burning electronics smell, and saw some faint smoke coming out of the laptop. Alrighty then..apparently something is messed up.

I disassembled it today - found three loose screws inside (bouncing around :eek:)..removed the motherboard, plugged in a keyboard & monitor, plugged it into AC power and then heard a light whine coming from the center of the board. It refused to power on. Is this a bad power supply, bad motherboard, or..?

Ideas would be great..

With 3 screws boucing around in it and a burning smell, he chances are high that it is really broken.

Learux

Probably shorted something on the motherboard. It's toast.

What would cause a whine? :confused:

I'm pretty sure I know where all the screws are supposed to go..but that doesn't really help me, does it..haha

Think I should just replace the motherboard, or sell the LCD, RAM, HD, CD and battery & have her buy a new one?

Maybe a fan that still spools up.

I did not say it was broken, but it is a good chance.

Learux

I had the motherboard outside of the case - it didn't sound like a fan whine..more of an electronic whine. I could pull the top off of it & see what's underneath..

It will be more expensive to replace the motherboard than to give up and buy a new one. Plus, you risk getting a new mobo, and having something else be the problem too. Sell the components if possible and use that cash for a new one. The CPx series is pretty old now.

Yeah..that's probably the best bet. We can find them on sale for about 400 bucks now..

Thanks all

I need laptop memory what do you have in that thing?

Learux

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Learux

I need laptop memory what do you have in that thing?

Learux

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2x PC133 or PC100 128mb, I think.

Specs:
PIII 650
24x CD-Rom
Battery (used to work..assuming it still does)
20Gb HD
2x 128mb RAM
The screen only has one or two dead pixels - 14" 1024x768.