Archive for August, 2009

How to repair a bad power jack on a Dell Inspiron 5150/1100 series laptop for under $20.00

Now the New connector is in and ready to use. Run the slideshow in reverse to put the computer back together again.

Dell Inspiron Power Jack

If your dell laptop will not charge without wiggling the cord around, Here’s how to do the fix yourself:

Dell 5150/1100 series Slideshow

Other dell inspiron laptops are similar to the Instructions above

Parts: Dell Inspiron power jack Fix Kit & Instructions NR

Generic instructions:

  1. Remove power and battery
  2. Remove power on button strip
  3. Remove Keyboard
  4. Remove LCD Cable from video card
  5. Remove Wireless minicoax cables from the wireless card
  6. Remove the screen from the laptop body
  7. Flip the laptop
  8. Remove screws from the panels and remove cards and ram
  9. Remove case screws and keep track of them.
  10. Remove cd-rom and hard disk
  11. flip laptop and remove any other screws holding the case together.
  12. pop the shell apart, remove the bays that interfere with the removal of the motherboard
  13. remove the VGA standoffs
  14. remove the video card and processor fans
  15. remove the motherboard from the case.
  16. Prep and use desolder wick to remove old component and clean up the thru holes.
  17. put the new component into the board ( be certain you put it on the correct side of the board)
  18. Flip the board and solder the component in, be sure to flow solder evenly on each leg.
  19. allow all to cool and reassemble by reversing the steps above to rebuild the laptop.
  20. Plug the unit into the wall and see if it will charge the battery/start the computer without the battery in.

Enjoy the repaired computer.

AT&T to take a new look at apple’s decision to block Voice over IP VOIP

att-logo1Apple Denies It Rejected Google Application for iPhone

For all you Iphone lovers out there, AT&T says that they had no say in blocking VOIP applications on their networks using their 3G. This may be the first step in allowing Voice over Internet protocol phone calls on their plans.  I for one hope they convince apple to not block the applications as to block them is a form of internet censorship, a growing concern on the internet.

People currently can use the apps on wifi as long as they are within range, but if allowed on the 3G networks, you should be able to talk to anyone from anywhere using VOIP instead of burning cell minutes.

As with all things phone, to admit they had nothing to do with the decision is not to say they want the apps used,  just they did not say they could not be used.  I say make them make a stand, either explicitly accept the technology is here to stay, or block the technology and tell people why you don’t want them using the applications on your networks. I for one, hope that Apple says Ok, let’s allow all VOIP applications thru the cell 3G networks since AT&T says that they don’t mind. Making AT&T say no would be a shrewd move on Apple right about now.

How to repair your Dell Inspiron Laptop Hinges for less than $10.


Many of you have dell laptops, and many of you are starting to have wobbly screens. I’ve replaced a number of hinges on other laptops, however with most laptops the hinge itself is fine. The problem actually stems from the fact that the hinge is steel, the screws are steel, however the mount with the threaded holes is aluminum. So, as you open and close the lid, you wobble the screws and stress the aluminum and the screws get loose. Eventually, the hinge doesn’t turn but the plastic does and pop, you’ve got a damaged “Hinge” where the plastic gets loose and the screen won’t stay in place..

I assembled an online picture presentation with all the information you need to perform the repair.

Generic Hinge Repair Dell

Total cost of repair all sourced at my local ACE Hardware store:

4 4×40  screws ($0.11 each) = $0.44

4×40 Tap and appropriate drill bit=$6.54 including tax.

Total cost for repair $6.98