Power supply disconnection problems with Packard Bell laptop
August 12, 2011 10:55 AM   Subscribe

I have a Packard Bell Easynote TJ68 laptop. The power supply keeps becoming disconnected -- not physically disconnected, but the computer stops recognising it -- at the slightest movement. (Plus bonus question re: keys falling out.)

I generally work with the power supply plugged in, but every few minutes or so, if I get up or change position, the power supply stops working. I'm not sure if this is a problem with the power supply or with the piece in the laptop that I plug the power supply into. I'm just using the power supply I bought with the computer about a year ago.

This problem is especially annoying because the laptop makes a loud beep when connecting or disconnecting the power supply (unless the sound is muted). I can't find any option to turn this horribly irritating sound off -- a quick Google search tells me there's no way to change it except through the BIOS, which I'm afraid to mess with.

The power supply for my old Dell laptop developed a similar problem -- I think I went through 3 or 4 of them -- and I've resolved to take care of this before it gets so bad I have to physically hold the power supply in to make it work. That happened with my Dell and it was terrible.

Bonus question: two keys (the Windows key and the B key) have fallen out. I've found someone who sells replacements on eBay, but they're in the US, I'm in the UK, and Packard Bells aren't even sold in the US so there must be somewhere else to buy these, right?

Thanks so much for your help.
posted by Put the kettle on to Computers & Internet (2 answers total)
 
I'm not sure if this is a problem with the power supply or with the piece in the laptop that I plug the power supply into.

Either is plausible. If you have another laptop or device that uses the same sort of power supply, plug the questionable supply into it and see what happens. If you have a voltmeter, check to see whether the voltage from the power supply changes when you wiggle the cord in various places.
posted by jon1270 at 11:13 AM on August 12, 2011


Put the kettle on: "I'm not sure if this is a problem with the power supply or with the piece in the laptop that I plug the power supply into."

The piece you plug into is called the power jack, and it is definitely a common problem. The way to figure it out is to plug your power supply into another laptop - does it work? Then try a known working power supply in your laptop. Does it work?

I've replaced a power jack before (well, I watched my solder-savvy brother do it for me), but I figured out the problem and bought it and took the laptop apart.

Power jacks are cheap. (Mine, for a Dell, was less than US $10 via a reseller on eBay.) Taking apart a laptop is generally something that a very careful lay person could do. (It helps if you can find instructions online, with pictures.) The soldering is the trickiest part, as it requires removing old solder first, so you need a solder vacuum.

Regarding the missing keys - just buy a new keyboard. You can get cheapo keyboards at any office supply store, or larger retailer. It doesn't have to be Packard Bell (which used to be ubiquitous in the US, not sure about now.)
posted by SuperSquirrel at 11:36 AM on August 12, 2011


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