4 replies to this topic

[Scoops Bolling]

I have a Sony VAIO which had been struggling to take a charge for the past couple months, and today the DC jack totally gave out. Sony won't ship a replacement part and wants me to ship them the computer for them to fix. Alternatively, it looks like I can buy the part online and install it myself or have Best Buy do it for a third of the price. What's my best option here? I need this fixed ASAP as its my only computer and I do all my work on it, and working from my Nexus tablet can only do so much.

[gtmtnbiker]

Do you have a link to the DC jack? How would you replace it? By soldering it onto the board? Unless you're a really good solderer, I think your best option would be to have Best Buy replace it at 1/3 the cost by Sony.

I one time looked at replacing the DC jack on a Dell laptop but gave it up since it was non-trivial soldering.

[Scoops Bolling]

Yeah, soldering it. The short article I looked at made it sound like it was simple soldering, but having never done anything like that I wasn't sure how much to believe that.

[timlinin8th]

Yeah, soldering it. The short article I looked at made it sound like it was simple soldering, but having never done anything like that I wasn't sure how much to believe that.

It depends on what model laptop you have. You're sure yours is soldered to the board? Most newer laptops just jumper to the main board, and is insanely easy to replace. If its soldered, unless you're really good at it, I wouldn't take the chance.
The following youtubes show the process for either scenario:
Jumpered replacement

Soldered replacement

Edited by timlinin8th, 14 August 2012 - 07:23 AM.

[Duende Roomer]

Unless you're a soldering fool and you have the proper tools you're crazy to do it yourself. There are guys out there that do this for a living. Just Google dc jack repair and you'll get tons of hits. Pick one.