I've been given a toshiba laptop to repair, apparently it's shut off and it's not recieving power now (no lights etc.)
What I've done so far is try it with the battery out, tried holding the power button in without battery or charger in, I've taken it apart and had a look at the dc socket which visibly, is fine, it's mounted solid, the pin is where it should be, all connections inside seated fine and cables in good conditon. I have to wait until tomorrow to get a multimeter out and test the charger and the DC socket as I've left it at a job.
It's not 100% dead, if you press the power button the light on the DVD drive comes on briefly, nothing else so I'm guessing it's something to do with the charging circuit?

Can anyone else think of what else I should have a look at, I'm hoping this aint a new motherboard jobby.

Too little information. Checking the power pack output would be the first thing to do. Then a physical check that the power socket on the lappy mobo hasn't got a broken (desoldered) joint - quite common.

Some lappy's work without batteries fitted, others don't (this is because the battery charging/voltage regulation circuitry is sometime fitted IN the battery) so a new battery might be in the offing. After that it's a minefield - what model is it as I have 'most' technical manuals for lappy's.

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i had same problem with my tosh laptop

turns out that it was the power lead, wat was happening was that if u look inside the plug which goes into the laptop, there are 2 small pins and these had got pushed up inside the plug so no contact was bein made to power the laptop.

changed the power cord and hey presto it worked. Found this out by spending a heck of a lot of money on the stupid thing, ie, dc replacement jack, then they stated that i would need new motherboard, but was just the power cord.

its worth a try rather than replacing the motherboard

I'm not replacing anything until I've diagnosed it to be honest.
It's not a soldered joint for the DC socket it's a cabled connector, one of the first things I looked at as I've changed a fair few of them out.

I have got a sneaky suspicion it's the charger but we shall find out when I get the old multimeter I guess! Do they do replacement connectors for the leads? Don't wanna be buying a new lead if i can replace the connector.
I know the two pins you're talking about now and I've actually bent them back central, no avail.

can you take a picture of the lead detailing the tech info on it and also the connector end? will see if i have any lying about if you like

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- Dave
http://www.pamperhouse.net
http://www.invertedcircle.co.uk

My Tosh Lap power supply registers 15.2v offload (just checking for you, as thought it might need to see a load to supply like some transformers).

Sure, got a couple of pictures although I'm not sure how helpful they'll be.

doh looks like i dont have any that will fit just looked through about 50 that are under my desk.... did find one online though
http://www.parts4ipods.com/TOSHIBA-19V- ... C3-ADAPTER

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- Dave
http://www.pamperhouse.net
http://www.invertedcircle.co.uk

i got a replacement compatible lead from that well known site, but not sure if i can post which one it is!!!

It cost me a fiver

Definitely the power brick, everything flowing in the laptop fine, batterys flat as a pancake so obviously not been charging but the charging pins are all working.
Order a new power brick then.

The 'power brick' shows as having a 19V DC output which is stabilised (regulated) but may require a small load before reaching it's correct output voltage. If you can connect a small resistor (or a 24V bulb) across the output THEN measure the voltage. If it's a steady 19V then the brick is ok.

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I just measured for continuity, I don't know if it's a broken connection or what but nothings getting through to the barrel from the live pin.
And after plugging it into the laptop, the charging pins are recieving no voltage.

I don't actually know all the correct terms but a circuits a circuit and I've used my working laptop for reference of what should be doing what.

To measure continuity you need access to both ends of the wire core. Measuring from the centre pin to the barrel isn't a measure of continuity.

These power bricks are seldom openable - of course SOME are held together with screws and if you're lucky you can open it to get to the actual wire you need to measure the continuity of.

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Surely not because the live pin is going to feed electricity from one end to the other regardless. I'm not looking to fix the actual charger, just to find out if it's knackered before buying a new one.

I can get power through that way with my acer charger which I know to be working, working from the assumption all laptop chargers work the same way. And adding into that the fact that I can put power through the charging circuits it's got to be the charger thats faulty.

shame the acer charger doesnt fit the toshiba eh

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- Dave
http://www.pamperhouse.net
http://www.invertedcircle.co.uk