Computer Repair - help

[TheSaint]

My wifes laptop is on the fritz. Its just over one year old, so the warranty has expired (Dell). It started freezing up a month ago. I finally got that restored to working condition.

Last week, she got battery bad errors of some sort and it eventually quit working. I bought a new battery. It worked briefly, but now it wont even come on.

I usually fix all my own computer crap (just had to replace my crashed HDD) but im stuck with this one. Not sure whats going on. Is there a legit way to fix this thing without paying $500? Thats what it cost to begin with.

[CLTPanther]

Hmmm to help a Saint fan or not. I just can't decide

[Kevin Greene]

When you plug in the wall charger does a charging light on the lappy come on? how about if you wiggle the connector at the lappy? may be a bad charging socket on the lappy if it lights when you jiggle it. Pulling the mobo and soldering a new one on would be the fix.

[g5jamz]

When you say "won't even come on"....expound on this.

Are you saying it just powers on and goes to a XP/or whatever OS logo and just stays there...or you don't get anything at all.

[TheSaint]

i will get my hands on it today and try for myself. I havent done that this go around.

[Kitten Diver]

Mac > Windows. Do it.

[blackcatgrowl]

Mac > Windows. Do it.

Don't buy into this BS. Mac's crap out just like PCs do. You just don't hear about it as often, because there are fewer Macs to crap out.

I used to sit next to an Apple Certified tech when I did work on PCs on a retail basis. He was always busy with the same issues PCs have.

More recently, my brother had to replace his system board on a Mac laptop within 9 months of owning it.

....

As to your problem with the laptop. Sometimes Dell uses the actual screws that hold the casing together as electrical grounds. I've seen their laptops do some strange crap because of loose case screws.

Tighten up all the screws you can find and see if that helps.

Apart from that, you could have a short in the power control functions, from bad connector at the battery port, to a problem on the system board. If so, you'll probably be better off replacing the laptop.

[KillerKat]

Are you sure you bought the right battery?

[Skew]

Reboot it.

[Wither]

As to your problem with the laptop. Sometimes Dell uses the actual screws that hold the casing together as electrical grounds. I've seen their laptops do some strange crap because of loose case screws.

Tighten up all the screws you can find and see if that helps.

Apart from that, you could have a short in the power control functions, from bad connector at the battery port, to a problem on the system board. If so, you'll probably be better off replacing the laptop.

You'll probably end up spending less money replacing it anyhow.

[TheSaint]

Well, i think ive solved the "problem" now that ive actually gotten my hands on it. Apparently the outlet it was plugged into wasnt working. lol

Strange though, because when i took the lamp and plugged it into the same outlet it worked. Anyway. We will see how long this lasts.

Silly wimmins

[Wither]

Apparently the outlet it was plugged into wasnt working. lol

Sounds very suspect.

[TheSaint]

what? the outlet or the computer?

Both are suspect.