Mr. Jack is not behaving and Jimmy doesn't have the time.

June 22, 2011 5:44 PM

How can I fix the power jack on my HP dv6000?

This is apparently a common problem, and while I got the battery replaced a while back, I am still having problems getting the cord to actually charge the computer. It's extremely specific and only charges when it's wiggled around to a certain spot, and it's gotten so bad that I've stopped using the laptop altogether. I tried looking online for replacement parts, but I honestly don't know what I need replaced. I believe I can take the computer apart myself (with the help of my swell engineer hubby), but I want to make sure I get the correct part. Can someone help me out here? Thanks!

posted by two lights above the sea to Computers & Internet (7 answers total)

Response by poster: I should also note that the power cord was also replaced, so I know that is not the problem.
posted by two lights above the sea at 5:46 PM on June 22, 2011

Best answer: This is what is happening, as you have already correctly deduced. This is a really, really common problem with laptops, and it's also a supremely annoying one. The problem is with your "DC jack" (as you know, the bit where the cord plugs into the laptop).

According to this thread, which I only skimmed through, the DV6000 does not have its DC jack soldered to the motherboard.

Apparently this is the part you need.

Please be sure to remove the laptop battery before mucking around on the inside of it. You may find the DV6000 Service Manual useful in your explorations. Good luck!
posted by tumid dahlia at 5:57 PM on June 22, 2011 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Amazing! Thank you so much!
posted by two lights above the sea at 5:59 PM on June 22, 2011

Best answer: Please be sure to do your due diligence as far as replacement parts are concerned! I'm sure that in Philly there would be plenty of computer places with buckets full of spare bits and bobs, that could likely be found much cheaper than the site I linked. And if you are at all able, back everything up to an external drive before you try the repair, in the (very unlikely) event that everything explodes when you turn it on with the new part.
posted by tumid dahlia at 6:03 PM on June 22, 2011 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks for the update. I'll look around for something cheaper. And there's nothing on this computer. It's been so unreliable since this problem started. You rock!
posted by two lights above the sea at 6:12 PM on June 22, 2011

FWIW, HP will sell you direct (or direct you to an authorized reseller for) most any part on the machine. if you go to HP's support site, you can put in "dv6000" and choose what you have, then hit "Order parts". you'll have to put in some stuff from the sticker under your machine and it'll tell you what you can buy. prices can be surprisingly unhorrible.
posted by mrg at 6:34 PM on June 22, 2011

Best answer: I used to work for HP for their service centers. I know this one! tumid dahlia is absolutely right in that the DC jack is not soldered to the motherboard, it is on a small separate PCB known as the DC board. This is the part you want. If you get just the jack itself, then you have to solder it onto the DC board itself, which is sketchy. Replacing the whole DC board is much easier.

Don't send it to HP for repairs, they will charge $298 + tax.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 8:35 AM on June 23, 2011