A broken laptop DC power jack is common, but it can be fixed.
A broken DC jack on a computer will prevent the machine from receiving power. The power jack may have been damaged when someone stepped on the cord and the jack was broken as a result. If a professional replaces the jack, it may cost more than the laptop itself. If you have a soldering iron, you can replace the jack on the motherboard yourself but you have to dismantle most of your laptop.
Instructions
1. Turn off your laptop, if it is on, and unplug the power cord from the wall and from the damaged jack on the computer. Unplug any peripheral devices from your computer. Put on your antistatic wrist strap.
2. Set the laptop upside down on a flat work surface. Remove the screws securing the laptop's battery cover with a screwdriver and pull it off. Slide out the battery from the bottom of the computer. Remove any discs from the drive and any peripheral devices.
3. Loosen the screws that secure the plastic covers that hold the hard drive, wireless card, memory and optical drive from the laptop. Pull off the covers. Remove the memory sticks by sliding the retaining latches over and pulling the sticks out of the sockets. Remove the wireless card in the same manner. Slide out the hard drive and optical drive and lift them out. Unscrew any screws from the bottom of the laptop.
4. Flip the laptop over and lift open the cover. Remove the securing strip from the top of the keyboard. Pry the strip up with the tip of a flat head screwdriver. Loosen any screws attaching the keyboard with a screwdriver. Pull out the keyboard and disconnect the ribbon that connects it to the motherboard.
5. Pull out the display panel cable that connects to the motherboard and remove any other cables that attach to the motherboard such as wireless antenna cables. Remove any cables still connected to the motherboard. Loosen the screws securing the display panel with a screwdriver and lift the panel out. Unscrew the screws securing the top cover and pull it out.
6. Disconnect the CPU from the cooling unit by removing the screws with a screwdriver. Turn the locking screw or turn the locking lever over to unlock the CPU. Lift it out. Loosen the screws securing the motherboard and pull it out of the laptop.
7. Dislodge the old power jack, which is typically located in the left corner of the motherboard. Flip the motherboard over after you locate the jack. Unsolder the jack from the board using your soldering iron by melting the solder on the power jack contact points. Remove the melted solder with a desoldering pump. Pull off the power jack, being careful not to cause damage to the motherboard.
8. Add a light coat of solder around the power jack contact points on the motherboard. Insert the new power jack into the openings on the board. Flip the motherboard over and add solder to the contact points. After the solder dries, reassemble the laptop in the reverse steps you took it apart.
Tags: power jack, Loosen screws, screws securing, with screwdriver, contact points