Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (
More info?)
FIXED!!!
I googled "dell defect 1150" and about the 4th or 5th link down was
this:
http://hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/43678/
I performed the repair myself (since it's no longer under warranty I
figured "what the Dell")
I used:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1150/sm/index.htm as
a guide.
I'm happy again, but I think that since this is a design flaw, Dell
should be doing this repair for free, warranty or no. They should at
the very least be informing people that they should be shaving off
their "c" cover tabs. I smell a class action suit.
I'm going to reprint the text on the above link below just in case it
is no longer valid by the time someone else with the same problem finds
my post. The author is referring to a 5150 but this applies to the 1100
and 1150 as well.
Joe
Copied text:
In short, there is a design flaw between the motherboard and case. The
mini pci cover underneath (below DVD/CD drive) and labelled 'C' has
plastic tags in the centre and any pressure applied to the underside of
the case - for example when picking up the laptop by the front left
corner - causes this cover tab to press on a motherboard IC (chip) and
eventually fracture the solder connections or maybe damage the chip
itself.
See this site for the hundreds of people with the same problem. Much of
my info came from here.
http://delltalk.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_general&message.id=166703&view=by_date_ascending&page=42
IF YOU HAVE A 5150 - FOLLOW THESE GUIDLINES
Within Warranty Period
1. Remove the cover labelled 'C' and using a sharp Knife, remove the
centre plastic tabs flush to cover. This will stop them pressing onto
the motherboard chips and damaging your MB!!
2. If it's too late and you have the power cutout problem already then
send it back under warranty, get your MB replaced and cut off the cover
C tabs to prevent it happening again
Outside warranty period
- you probably have a useless lump of 5150 plastic that wont start or
when it does the slightest knock or pressure to the front left side of
case causes it to crash and screen go blank.
1. If your 5150 is working OK then just remove the tabs on cover C as
above - presto, you should not get the problem.
2. If you already have the power cut problem when you move it, or it
has got worse and now wont start, see below - YOU CAN PROBABLY REPAIR
YOURSELF AND DO NOT NEED A NEW £400 MOTHERBOARD
FIXING THE PROBLEM - you have nothing to loose if it's not working and
outside warranty
a) Remove power and battery, harddisk and DVD drive, mem chips etc.,
make sure you are well earthed to prevent static.
b) Remove all screws from the base and remove screen - start by
unclipping blue power button strip with screen flat open and removing
keyboard, unplug screen cable, take off screen, etc etc. You will need
to undo the nuts on the vga port as well as all visible screws, plus 1
screw under keyboard.
c) when case open, remove all the components and metal bits, graphics
card etc. Just keep pots for all the screws so you know where they go
back. - It really is not as daunting as it all sounds, you just need a
clear table and a bit of care with the parts.
d) now, you have full access to the motherboad. Under the mini pci bus
connector, which is positioned under the case cover labelled 'C' there
is a plack plasic sheet stuck to the motherboard to insulate. Peel this
back to reveal the components. See the photo (thread sheet 42) on the
link above which shows this clearly.
e) the IC (chip) which will have been dislodged by the pressure is an
LVC14A with 14 pins, surface mount. It has really small pins and you
prob wont see any damage (but you might see the marks on the black
plastic sheet where the cover was pressing on it. - see the photo in
link above.
f) With a very fine electronic soldering iron (with a pin point tip)
touch each of the IC legs for 1 second to remelt the connections that
have likely fractured by the pressure. It is not that difficult - just
needs a very steady hand. do not add any solder, you may burn the board
or join two pins together - they are v. fine !!!
g) Put it back together - AND IT WILL BE FIXED
h) ENJOY YOU NEW LAPTOP and the fact you just saved £400 - Remember to
remove the C cover tabs to stop it happening again.
hope this helps someone like it helped me - cheers to NILLION on the
thread above as his picture proved the clincher for me finding my
problem and subsequently fixing it.
Good luck
PS - this was written on my 5150 and it didnt crash once - even though
I am leaning on it whilst typing !!
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