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- Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
- Path: sparky!uunet!wupost!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!moe.ksu.ksu.edu!hobbes.physics.uiowa.edu!news.iastate.edu!sknapp
- From: sknapp@iastate.edu (Steven M. Knapp)
- Subject: Re: T1000SE Problem
- Message-ID: <C0nwop.299@news.iastate.edu>
- Sender: news@news.iastate.edu (USENET News System)
- Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
- References: <93010.125448PXF3@psuvm.psu.edu>
- Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1993 23:46:01 GMT
- Lines: 88
-
- In article <93010.125448PXF3@psuvm.psu.edu> <PXF3@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
-
- >The problem: The socket where the AC adapter plug goes into the laptop is
- >loose. The connection doesn't always make contact. This is messing up the
- >battery. As I type this, for example, the thing is plygeed in, but thered
- >light isn't one. I have to jiggle it to get the contact to work. I hate to
- >jiggle it too much cause I know I'm probably working it loose. The battery
- >now holds a charge for about 15 minutes. I used to get way over 3 hours off
- >a charge, sometimes 4.
- >Do you think this is an open-the-case-and-tighten-the-screws type repair, or
- >should I go to the Toshiba dealer for a professional repair?
- >
- >E-mail or posted replies are welcome--whatever you prefer.
-
- I thought I would post since I know I had this problem too, and perhaps others
- do as well. (Horray, good to see the T1000SE earning space in this newsgroup
- again too!)
-
- First try a squirt of contact cleaner. Cramolin is a GREAT brand, but the
- stuff from RadShack works too. If the problem is not dirt, but instead a old,
- broken, or loose jack read on.
-
- Ask Toshiba to fix it and they will not see a broken power jack, but a broken
- motherboard, the smallest internal unit which they deal with. This repair will
- cost more than the computer is worth, parts alone! $500 when I called about
- a year back. So, unless you really love your T1000SE, the repair is not worth
- it. UNLESS!
-
- *the crowd grows quiet, the spotlight focuses on the power jack of a reciently
- sold T1000SE*
-
- You replace it your self. This is not a modem installation job, nor is it
- without risk. The jack is soldered to the motherboard, although far away from
- it, the same piece that the CPU is attached. All circutry is CMOS, and VERY
- static sensisitive, a wrist strap is a MUST. I never did find a match for the
- original plug, you may find one or you may need to use what you can find, and
- make it fit. This may involve changing the plug on any powersupplys you may
- use as well. But if you are creative, and comfortable soldering and
- desoldering to a PCB, then you should have no problems.
-
- I used a switchcraft plug, barrel like the original, but a different size (was
- available). This plug was chassis mount, not PCB, and of much higher quality
- than the plastic crap Toshiba used.
-
- BACK UP ALL DATA! This procedure will remove all power from the CPU and RAM,
- all memory and settings will be lost.
-
- First remove the battery and modem. Next comes the keyboard, there are three
- screws on the bottom of the front edge that hold it in, then it snaps out. The
- flexable cable that attaches it to the motherboard is slightly fragile so be
- careful. To remove this cable there is a slide on the socket that it plugs
- into which must be unlatched, after this the cable should come loose easily.
- DO NOT FORCE IT, OR ANYTHING ELSE FOR THAT MATTER!
-
- Next comes the screen/top, remove the screws under the battery and modem slots
- as well as the three new ones exposed by removing the keyboard. Lift up,
- making sure to note how the wires sit in the area under the LED's, do not lift
- too much before looking. Unplug the large connector which drives the screen
- and set the whole assembly aside.
-
- The disk drive, modem port, backup batterys, and battery tray are pretty self
- explanatory. My only advice is to keep track of the screws and cable routing.
- The screws are of different lengths, and the cables do run in strange ways at
- times.
-
- Remove the RAM card if you have one, and the remainder of the screws. Lift out
- the motherboard, being careful of the shielding material located near the RAM
- card slot and the screen adjustment knobs.
-
- Examine the jack, and use a conduitity tester to determine which pins go
- where. Remove the jack. I used thick wire inserted through the PCB as a place
- to mount my non-PCB mounting jack. After posistioning the jack in a simmilar
- place as the old, solder the jack into place. Depending on the jack, you may
- need to cut a notch in the battery tray to allow the notebook to be
- reseassembeled. Reverse the procdedure for assembly.
-
- Good luck!
- If you need any additional help, please let me know!
- I'll try to help in any way I can!
-
- A few ideas, if this is over your head, then talk to electronics places in
- town, and see if you can't get one of them to do the work. If not, let me
- know....
-
- ________________________________________________________________________
- Steven M. Knapp Computer Engineering Student
- sknapp@iastate.edu President Cyclone Amateur Radio Club
- Iowa State University; Ames, IA; USA Durham Center Operations Staff
-