Attempting to Fix Laptop - Diagnosis Help

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › Attempting to Fix Laptop - Diagnosis Help

ewansm

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#270504 12-May-2020 21:56

About a year ago my laptop broke. The laptop specifications are as follows.

Toshiba Satellite L50-A

PART NO. PSKLNA-01Q00J

What happened, from as best as I can remember, I was watching a movie but I noticed the battery was low so I plugged it in to save having to get up later. However, later on I got the low battery warning, figured I must've not switched it on from the wall, only to find it was already powered on from the wall and plugged in. So I just let the laptop run until it eventually shut itself down.

In an attempt to fix the problem quickly I ordered a new ac adapter as that was my first thought of what could be broken. Only to find that the laptop LED that shows it's charging still wasn't on when the new one was connected. I left it plugged in for awhile just in case, no luck. As a result, I just grabbed this other laptop I had and have been using that since. I needed to quickly change laptops as I'm at university.

Recently, I found the Toshiba in the wardrobe and thought maybe I should have one last go at fixing it now that I have more time. My question for the forums is based on the events that occurred what do you best believe the issue with the laptop is?

My own research suggests that apparently it's likely to be a motherboard fault, the battery, or the ac adapter. However, it's clearly not the ac adapter as the new one I bought would've fixed that, correct? I believe it's not the battery as from my understanding I should still be able to turn the laptop on even if the battery was broken, just as long as it was connected directly to power through the ac adapter, correct? I'm not so sure about the motherboard fault as I would've thought the laptop would've suddenly shut off in the event a part of the motherboard failed, but my laptop just ran until the battery died.

In conclusion, this led me to believe it was actually the DC jack that needed to be replaced. Before I ordered the part I thought I'd put it to the forums and see what others thought of my self diagnosis. Any advice would be appreciated. I tried to provide as much information as possible to help, cheers!

lxsw20

3552 posts

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#2482267 12-May-2020 22:03

DC Socket is a common fault, especially if it's been knocked while plugged in. Pull it apart and inspect the socket/solder joints for the socket.

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
13765 posts

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Retired Mod

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#2482405 13-May-2020 07:47

Yeah, had similar issue on a Toshiba years ago, was a poorly designed jack on the laptop and plug never felt right in it. If handy with a soldering iron, then should be an easy fix.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

LinkTree

1101

3122 posts

Uber Geek

#2482608 13-May-2020 11:06

The most common fault when is dead is the Power Circuitry INSIDE the laptop (assuming a working power pack).
Thats fixable, but not cheap ( $200 - $300+ )

If its just the power socket, wobbling the plug sometimes might get the power LED to briefly turn on (as a test)

- also, generic power packs : can be DOA . Not common but it happens
The new power pack you bought may not be the correct one , the plug may be very slightly differnet : plugs inner socket(hole) come in many sizes : it plugs in but doesnt connect if wrong size.

otherwise
See if it powers up with the batt removed (worth a try)
Check voltage is correct on new Power Pack

ewansm

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2483184 13-May-2020 21:30

Thank you everyone! I'm going to take on board your advice and pull the laptop apart this weekend. Also, I'm thinking of ordering a new DC jack anyways as I found one that was only $10. So even if it doesn't fix, it was cheap anyways.

Will let you know what I find out.

frankv

5680 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#2483414 14-May-2020 09:35

I had a laptop (Dell I think) that sometimes wouldn't charge. However, removing the battery and replacing it fixed it (for another month or two). Worth a try before you pull the whole thing apart to get at the jack.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
18659 posts

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#2483558 14-May-2020 10:58

I have an Acer with a bad jack. I can tell because it constantly signals me when the connection breaks. I can still charge when the laptop is sitting still. One day I will have to fix it.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

tripper1000

1617 posts

Uber Geek

#2483647 14-May-2020 12:11

Yes it should power up without a battery even attached.

Yes it is not uncommon to break DC jacks. Often the plug can seem a bit wobbly when the jack has broken. Sometimes you don't even need a replacement jack plug. I've scored a couple of laptops where the solder joints had failed, so simply re-soldering the jack solved the problem.

Your battery was probably OK then, but could be buggered now. You shouldn't put them into storage dead (I realise you had no choice in this case) because once they self discharge a little, the voltage goes too low and the BMS permanently disables them. Optimally they should be stored approx 1/2 charged.

If you were going to throw it away anyway, then there is certainly nothing to loose by opening it up and having a look.