Member Avatar for nickis

The other night the screen suddenly went dim. (first time ever) I was able to jiggle the power cord and get it to go bright for one second. Stayed on but dim for 2 hiurs, then suddenly the entire computer died. No power. Nothing at all happens when I press the power button, no blinking amber light, as with other people, just dead as a doorknob. Nothing. Ac adapt. working fine. It's the computer that seems to be dead. 3 days now.

Please someone help? Many thanks.
Nicole

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Brief expert summary and practical checks to add to the thread: highlighted the DC‑in area as a likely fault and offered help—those are reasonable directions, but verification with a few simple tests will avoid unnecessary parts replacement.

Recommended diagnostic order (safely, with battery removed and AC unplugged before opening):

  1. Verify the AC adapter itself — read the adapter label and measure DC output (tip to sleeve) with a multimeter.
  2. Try powering the machine with the battery removed and AC connected; if the adapter is good but the laptop is still inert, the fault is on the laptop side.
  3. Inspect the DC jack assembly and its solder points or pigtail. Intermittent behavior before final failure usually points to a broken jack, loose solder joint, or connector.
  4. Locate and test any inline SMD fuse(s) near the jack (often small rectangular parts marked with F); an open fuse is a common, low-cost fix.
  5. Visually check for burnt components, leaking/bulged capacitors, or cracked solder joints around the power entry and regulator area. Measure for voltage on the board pads that follow the jack to narrow whether the fault is mechanical (jack/fuse) or electronic (regulator/MOSFET).
  6. If voltage is present at the board but the system still shows no signs of life, the next suspects are power regulators or logic-level power controllers; those repairs usually need good soldering skills and proper replacement parts.

Safety and repair notes: use ESD precautions, replace fuses/parts with exact-value components, and document screw/connector locations during disassembly. For anyone not comfortable with board‑level diagnostics and SMD soldering, a local repair shop is the prudent choice.

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Member Avatar for dogbreath077

It sounds like the power jack inside the laptop has broken. We've fixed a lot of power jacks, and your symptoms fit the bill. Strip the motherboard out of the laptop, and buy a new powerjack, and carefully replace the power jack.

Member Avatar for rbuchanan07

The other night the screen suddenly went dim. (first time ever) I was able to jiggle the power cord and get it to go bright for one second. Stayed on but dim for 2 hiurs, then suddenly the entire computer died. No power. Nothing at all happens when I press the power button, no blinking amber light, as with other people, just dead as a doorknob. Nothing. Ac adapt. working fine. It's the computer that seems to be dead. 3 days now.

Please someone help? Many thanks.
Nicole

Do you still have this laptop problem. I can help you fix it if you like,

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