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

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

  1. #1
    Great White Shark CadetLee's Avatar
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    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 )..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..
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  2. #2
    Mako Shark Learux's Avatar
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    With 3 screws boucing around in it and a burning smell, he chances are high that it is really broken.

    Learux
    GA-MA790GPT-UD3H, AMD Phenom ll 955,
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  3. #3
    NullPointerException rock's Avatar
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    Probably shorted something on the motherboard. It's toast.

    Open Source is free like a puppy is free.

    It's only when you look at an ant through a magnifying glass on a sunny day that you realise how often they burst into flames.

    Understanding Evolution

  4. #4
    Great White Shark CadetLee's Avatar
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    What would cause a whine?

    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?
    Last edited by CadetLee; 02-15-2006 at 12:42 PM.
    Heatware - 50+/0/0

    GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD3 - Core i5 750 - 4Gb DDR3-1600 - Enermax 720w - Sapphire Radeon HD 5870 - 1Tb WD Black - 1Tb Samsung Spinpoint F2 - 1.5Tb Seagate 7200.11 - LG GGC-H20L HD DVD/Blu-ray - Samsung SyncMaster 205BW - Vizio 42" 1080P - Logitech Z560 - Logitech MX1000 - Windows 7 Professional

  5. #5
    Mako Shark Learux's Avatar
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    Maybe a fan that still spools up.

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

    Learux
    Last edited by Learux; 02-15-2006 at 01:00 PM.
    GA-MA790GPT-UD3H, AMD Phenom ll 955,
    Lian Li PC-60 PLUS, HD5850
    ----------------
    Resist the devil, and he will flee from you!

    "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."

    When thou seest an eagle, thou seest a portion of genius; lift up thy head!

    2kr1b1r/Bpp3pp/1N2p1n1/4p1q1/4P3/2Q5/PPP2PPP/3R1RK1 b - - 6 15

  6. #6
    Great White Shark CadetLee's Avatar
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    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..
    Heatware - 50+/0/0

    GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD3 - Core i5 750 - 4Gb DDR3-1600 - Enermax 720w - Sapphire Radeon HD 5870 - 1Tb WD Black - 1Tb Samsung Spinpoint F2 - 1.5Tb Seagate 7200.11 - LG GGC-H20L HD DVD/Blu-ray - Samsung SyncMaster 205BW - Vizio 42" 1080P - Logitech Z560 - Logitech MX1000 - Windows 7 Professional

  7. #7
    NullPointerException rock's Avatar
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    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.

    Open Source is free like a puppy is free.

    It's only when you look at an ant through a magnifying glass on a sunny day that you realise how often they burst into flames.

    Understanding Evolution

  8. #8
    Great White Shark CadetLee's Avatar
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    Yeah..that's probably the best bet. We can find them on sale for about 400 bucks now..

    Thanks all
    Heatware - 50+/0/0

    GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD3 - Core i5 750 - 4Gb DDR3-1600 - Enermax 720w - Sapphire Radeon HD 5870 - 1Tb WD Black - 1Tb Samsung Spinpoint F2 - 1.5Tb Seagate 7200.11 - LG GGC-H20L HD DVD/Blu-ray - Samsung SyncMaster 205BW - Vizio 42" 1080P - Logitech Z560 - Logitech MX1000 - Windows 7 Professional

  9. #9
    Mako Shark Learux's Avatar
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    I need laptop memory what do you have in that thing?

    Learux
    GA-MA790GPT-UD3H, AMD Phenom ll 955,
    Lian Li PC-60 PLUS, HD5850
    ----------------
    Resist the devil, and he will flee from you!

    "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."

    When thou seest an eagle, thou seest a portion of genius; lift up thy head!

    2kr1b1r/Bpp3pp/1N2p1n1/4p1q1/4P3/2Q5/PPP2PPP/3R1RK1 b - - 6 15

  10. #10
    Great White Shark CadetLee's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Learux
    I need laptop memory what do you have in that thing?

    Learux
    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.
    Heatware - 50+/0/0

    GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD3 - Core i5 750 - 4Gb DDR3-1600 - Enermax 720w - Sapphire Radeon HD 5870 - 1Tb WD Black - 1Tb Samsung Spinpoint F2 - 1.5Tb Seagate 7200.11 - LG GGC-H20L HD DVD/Blu-ray - Samsung SyncMaster 205BW - Vizio 42" 1080P - Logitech Z560 - Logitech MX1000 - Windows 7 Professional

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