Laptop will not take in AC but at times would if plug wiggled. Mains adapter changed but same problem. Loose/ bad connection in input socket? Been quoted >£100 to repair but don't think machine is worth it. Can I DIY? I'm OK with tools, soldering etc. but would need help getting into machine etc.

Laurence Hughes, July 2009

i have got mine into loads of bits and reached the motherboard but i cant remeber how i did it i know the there are very hard to get of clips bye the speakers and some bye the battery connector but if you gently do it then they will never move u have to put som force on it with a flat head screwdriver and then they will just pop right off i am hoping to fix mine today thanks for the advise Yorkie this is what has happened to mine it also makes a funny smell but its not buring the motherboard i know that so it can be fixed thanks guys alot of help :D:D

Jonathan White, March 2010

better late than never but to replace the jack plug is quite a fiddly job cos I believe the m/board has to be accessed. I am attempting this at the moment with a MIM 2220. I have so far removed battery, all the screws underneath (including 1 hidden under the yellow laser sticker). Removed hard drive and two silver screws underneath. This nearly releases the top with keyboard but there is resistance felt above the optical drive caddy and also at the front of the keyboard (by the F8 key). At this point I am stuck and if anyone else reads this and can help, I would be eternally grateful!

Dave Crawley, November 2009

I have an MIM2220 that did this. Turned out to be just the contacts in the socket on the laptop for the outside of the jack plug i.e the little "ring" of small prongs inside the socket stopped making proper contact with the outside of the plug pin. Sometimes would work if you wiggled the plug, sometimes wouldn't and plug would get hot if it was working. I carefully hooked them out a bit and it's fine now.

Yorkie, September 2009

you are right it sounds as if it is the dc socket. on most machines at the best of times it is quite hard to solder the dc connection points to the board, you have to be light handed or you will burn/solder straight through the motherboard rendering the board useless.
my theory is if it is the first time you have paid out on the machine get it fixed .....if not sell it on ebay for spare parts
average prices for eg. screens 50 plus (depending on size and condition). keyboards 20 plus. adapters 15 plus. cpu's 20 plus. and battery 20 plus...good luck

the workshop, August 2009