A broken power outlet on a laptop can make it useless. Without a properly functioning outlet, the laptop battery cannot be recharged by the power cord. Typically, a broken power outlet occurs when you move your laptop with out unplugging the power cord. Excessive pressure on the jack can cause the soldered connection to break. Shipping your laptop out to have the jack repaired can cost a few hundred dollars and you’ll be without your laptop for at least a few days. If you have a soldering iron and some screwdrivers, you can replace the outlet on your own and have your laptop back up and running in no time.
Things You’ll Need
- Replacement Power Outlet
- Soldering Iron and Soldering
- Desolder pump
- Screwdriver
- Phillips screwdriver
- Service manual for your laptop if possible
- Electrostatic discharge band
How to Repair a Power Jack for a Laptop Step by Step
- Purchase a replacement power connector for your specific laptop. Contact your laptop manufacturer to purchase one. Alternatively, you can try online retailers to find the correct connector.
- See service manual for complete disassembly instructions. This is important because all laptop computers are different, so the process will vary. Several manufacturers provide service manuals on their websites, so check online if you don’t have the original. If you can’t find one, you will have to use common sense and the general instructions in this guide to disassemble your laptop computer.
- Attach an electrostatic discharge bracelet to your wrist. Connect the other end to something metal. Static electricity can damage your laptop computer, and the electrostatic discharge strap will keep it grounded and prevent this from happening.
- Start disassembling your laptop. Remove the battery and power cord. Lay him face down and remove the covers from the bottom of the laptop.
- Remove the hard drive, optical drive, and memory cards from your laptop. Typically the hard drive will be located in a bay towards the front of the laptop. Remove all screws holding it in place and slide it to one side to disconnect it from the motherboard. The optical drive is normally held in place by a screw. Remove the screw and slide the drive out and away from the laptop. Finally, memory cards are usually held in place by two clips. Spread the clips apart and the sticks will appear. Grab them by the edges and slide them out of the compartment.
- Remove other screws on the bottom of your laptop. Set the screws aside, and be sure to document exactly which holes they were removed so that you can replace them properly later.
- Turn the laptop right side up and use a screwdriver to pry up the keyboard panel on top of the keyboard. Once it’s removed, remove the keyboard. The keyboard is usually screwed inside and connected to the board by a data cable. Remove the screws and disconnect the data cable to remove the keyboard.
- Unplug and remove the preview pane. Remove all screws connecting the display panel to the laptop base. Disconnect all cables connecting the display to the motherboard. Remove the display panel from the laptop base.
- Remove all screws located along with the top cover of your laptop and carefully lift the cover off the base.
- Remove all screws connecting the motherboard to the laptop base. Remove any other components attached to the motherboard, including the wireless adapter. You don’t need to remove the CPU and cooler. Remove the motherboard from the laptop base.
- Locate the power connector, usually on the back corner of the motherboard. Heat the soldering iron at this point.
- Use your soldering iron to heat the solder holding the power connector in place, and use the desoldering pump to remove it as it melts. Do not apply too much for soldering or you could damage your motherboard. Remove the connector.
- Place new solder around either side of the motherboard entries into the power outlet. Slide the new power connector into place. Solder the connections in place.
- Assemble your laptop and reconnect the power cord.
