I replaced the power switch on my dell d600 and my computor turned on fine for a few days now I have to fiddle with the power switch for a few minutes before I can make it start up , does anyone know if the circuit board under the switch is replacable or is it part of the motherboard ?

Corey, February 2008

I would say the fix is probably the guy that resoldered all 20 surface mount tags, thats the only "real" fix for the broken connection.

kayte, February 2011

There is a Centre Control panel containing On Volume up/down and mute button.
This panel has a dual in-line plug that mates into a socket on the motherboard. The socket has 20 surface mount solder tags down one side. Unfortunately these tags are apt to become detatched, although they look ok.
I have just spent all day with a jewellers eye-glass, a very fine soldering bit and holding my breath, re-soldering these joints on my daughter in-laws D600, it is now fine.
This laptop has been dropped in the past, had brown liquid stains inside and reekes of coffee, so it was quite entitled to have had problems.

Clive, August 2009

My laptop had a problem before a long time ago with the power button. I could plug it into the docking station and it would boot but not when I took it out.

Unfortunatley I don't have a docking station anymore. I only had one where I used to work.

I'm not sure if it is the power button now. A couple of days ago it just started loosing power. Sometimes it would power up and stay on and then just die. Total power failure.

Other times it would not do anything when I push the power button.

Now, it will not do anything and it hasn't for a couple of days now.

I have tried with ac adapter and without, with battery and without. Battery is good. I have tried pushing, squeezing it and trying to hold my mouth just right.

Sometimes it would die if I sneezed. For real. If I picked it up, it might die.

I took the whole thing apart, down to the motherboard, clean it with Windex (just kidding). Got rid of all the dust and junk. Made sure everything was seated well. Didn't see anything that stuck out.

I removed and reseated the RAM lots of times.

Still nothing after putting it all back together. I only had one screw left at the end. hehe

Any suggestions would be great. I know this is an old computer but it has been getting the job done.

I mostly use it for internet. You know, looking at the latest artwork.

Sorry this is so random. I am tired and ready to get off the computer and rest.

Thanks in advance.

Email me at folway at racenter.com

This is my first time on this site.

Chad, October 2008

Try purchasing a replicator or docking station, connect the laptop to it and use the docking station power button to switch on. I've done this a few times identifying the fault with a small daughter board.
Chez - villitcum@hotmail.com

Chez, May 2008

Yea... actually. I ran into this on two laptops. If you hold the corner of the plastic next to the power button and keyboard, it seems to work well. If you experiment and put one of the rubber feet that are on the LCD onto the corner of that power switch board, it seems to help out as well.

Good luck

Marty, April 2008