Inspiron 5150 Power Loss (in Response to Sudden Movements?)

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Im sitting still and tense as I write this because my laptop is being a real
problem ...

My Dell Inspiron 5150, maybe 18 months old, this evening began loosing
power, as best I can figure in response to suddenn movements, or perhaps
gentle taps to its back (port area). This came out of the blue; nothing has
changed recently and it has experienced no physical trauma. It just keeps
shutting down in an instant unless I am very very VERY careful with it. Its
presumably a hardware problem (though theres no rattle!) but does anyine
have any idea what it might be? Its no longer under warranty

Appreciate it,

El.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"Quaoar" <quaoar@tenthplanet.net> wrote in message
news:F_qdnQgKOrCVrhzcRVn-og@comcast.com...
>
> "Ellarco" <nobrow@eircom.net> wrote in message
> news:jxWfd.40217$Z14.14703@news.indigo.ie...
>> Im sitting still and tense as I write this because my laptop is being a
>> real problem ...
>>
>> My Dell Inspiron 5150, maybe 18 months old, this evening began loosing
>> power, as best I can figure in response to suddenn movements, or perhaps
>> gentle taps to its back (port area). This came out of the blue; nothing
>> has changed recently and it has experienced no physical trauma. It just
>> keeps shutting down in an instant unless I am very very VERY careful with
>> it. Its presumably a hardware problem (though theres no rattle!) but does
>> anyine have any idea what it might be? Its no longer under warranty
>>
>> Appreciate it,
>>
>> El.
>>
>
> On battery, AC power, or both?
>
> Q
>

Should have said. Both.

Ive just had it to pieces and saw nothing obvious (loose, burnt, ...). Its
crazy. I just have to tap it and off it goes.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"Quaoar" <quaoar@tenthplanet.net> wrote in message
news:9_KdnayIt58fNxzcRVn-iw@comcast.com...
>
> "Ellarco" <nobrow@eircom.net> wrote in message
> news:ssagd.40284$Z14.14737@news.indigo.ie...
>>
>> "Quaoar" <quaoar@tenthplanet.net> wrote in message
>> news:F_qdnQgKOrCVrhzcRVn-og@comcast.com...
>>>
>>> "Ellarco" <nobrow@eircom.net> wrote in message
>>> news:jxWfd.40217$Z14.14703@news.indigo.ie...
>>>> Im sitting still and tense as I write this because my laptop is being a
>>>> real problem ...
>>>>
>>>> My Dell Inspiron 5150, maybe 18 months old, this evening began loosing
>>>> power, as best I can figure in response to suddenn movements, or
>>>> perhaps gentle taps to its back (port area). This came out of the blue;
>>>> nothing has changed recently and it has experienced no physical trauma.
>>>> It just keeps shutting down in an instant unless I am very very VERY
>>>> careful with it. Its presumably a hardware problem (though theres no
>>>> rattle!) but does anyine have any idea what it might be? Its no longer
>>>> under warranty
>>>>
>>>> Appreciate it,
>>>>
>>>> El.
>>>>
>>>
>>> On battery, AC power, or both?
>>>
>>> Q
>>>
>>
>> Should have said. Both.
>>
>> Ive just had it to pieces and saw nothing obvious (loose, burnt, ...).
>> Its crazy. I just have to tap it and off it goes.
>>
>
> The obvious first place to look is the area on the mainboard around the AC
> jack for a crack, etc., due to flexure of the AC adapter plug. That the
> problem exists on battery points to the entire AC/battery switching
> circuit involved which is probably deeper in the board than just the area
> immediately around the AC jack. In addition, since the problem is
> intermittent it might be a simple break in a board trace or solder joint
> that can be repaired with conductive epoxy or solder.
>
> Another area might be the power key/cable to mainboard. In any event, if
> you open the case, take a look at everything very closely before removing
> the next part or cable. You might get lucky and find the source through
> inspection.
>
> BTW, check that the battery is firmly inserted.
>
> Q
>

Had another close look but cant see anything. Im starting to think that it
might be hard-drive related though (for no particularly good reason).

Guess Ill just have to send it off to be fixed ... Ch-ching