Here’s how you can fix, or to be precise, work around some hardware problem without taking apart the laptop.
1. Network port failure.
In most laptops the network port (aka RJ-45 port) is soldered directly to the motherboard. If for some reason the network port fails (I’m talking about hardware, not software failure), the whole motherboard has to be replaced.
Instead of replacing the motherboard, you can use a PCMCIA network card (aka LAN PC card). You plug this card into the available PC slot in your laptop and get a network port instead.
2. USB ports failure.
Most laptops have a few USB ports available and if one of them stops working, usually it’s not a big deal because you still have two or three working USB ports left. But what if all of them stopped working at once. Let’s say the USB controller on the motherboard went bad and the laptop stopped recognizing any USB device plugged in any USB port. Again, I’m talking about hardware, not software failure. In order to fix this problem you’ll have to replace the motherboard.
Alternatively, you can use a PCMCIA USB card. You plug this card into the PC slot and get two or four USB ports instead. It depends on the type of your PCMCIA card.
3. Internal wireless (Wi-Fi) card failure.
Most newer laptops come with an internal wireless card installed. In some models the wireless card could be easily access through the door on the bottom of the laptop. In other models, the wireless card is buried deep inside the case. What can you do if the internal wireless card fails? You can replace the internal wireless card with another one or use a PCMCIA wireless card instead.
4. Internal flash memory card reader failure.
Most newer laptops come with an internal memory card reader installed. You can plug most known flash memory cards into the slot and access the content right away. Usually the card reader is soldered directly to the motherboard and if it fails, you have to replace the whole motherboard or use it as is.
If you don’t want to replace the motherboard you can use an external USB flash memory card reader. All you have to do is plug the card reader into the available USB port in your laptop and it’s ready to go.
5. Internal CD/DVD drive failure.
You’ll find an internal CD/DVD optical drive in most laptops. If the optical drive fails and stops reading CDs and DVDs, it has to be replaced with a new one. Internal laptop optical drives are not cheap.
Instead of replacing the internal drive, you can use an external USB optical drive. Simply plug this drive into the USB port, let your laptop detect and install the drive and it’s ready for you. Also, you can use this optical drive with any other computer which is very convenient.
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November 16th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Hey, thanks for this post. I had all usb ports failed on me and didn’t know about PC card with USB.
Already ordered a new PC USB card. Found it on eBay for $14.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:48 am
i’ve been using my lappy with network pc card for over 6 month. my network port failed and repair shop said it cost $250 to replace the motherboard. lol.
i paid $30 for a new lan card and it works great!
November 23rd, 2009 at 6:52 am
I’ve got a Dell Latitude that the pcmcia slots do not work (broken connector on the motherboard). In order to connect to a lan I use a usb nic. To use a mouse I also use a usb hub, this gives 3 usb ports on a computer that normally has only 1. Only problem I have is that occasionally the computer looses the mouse. I found that by unplugging the mouse and plugging it into another port everything works fine.
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Jim,
I also use a USB nic a lot.
When you reinstall Windows on a laptop (or desktop), it’s likely that the network card drive will be missing. I this case I connect my USB nic, load driver for this device from a CD, connect to the Internet and pull all needed drivers.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
I have looked at the pcmcia usb adapters on ebay and they say that you need to plug that into another usb port to get enough power but all my usbs dont work. can you use the pcmcia usb adapter without the extra power?
November 29th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Jack,
I think you are looking at a wrong device. I think you are talking about USB hub, when you plug it into one USB port and get a few USB ports instead.
You need a PCMCIA USB card. This card doesn’t require anther USB port. This card takes power and signal from the PCMCIA port.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
I bought an external optical disk drive with USB port for my laptop. Much cheaper than an internal one, while it is a little inconvient when I plug it in, for there is only one usb port left. If I want to use usb mouse, then I can not use a cooler at the same time.
January 12th, 2010 at 4:08 am
Dear Friends
Thanks for u r information very use full ………….
February 11th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
My laptop produce tic tic sound continueasly. Songs play but without sound. other task is performing as normal. Pls help to resolve the issue.
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:51 pm
my laptop is acer aspire 4736. my LAN port isn’t working(bought 6 months ago) as th network chipset burnt out. I want to know if it will be replaced under warranty or not?
May 3rd, 2010 at 7:30 am
Sunil,
If the damage is not caused by you, it should be fixed under warranty.
July 2nd, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Here’s another one you can use to fix the sound:
http://www.google.com/products.....;scoring=p
August 27th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Thanks for clearing up a problem with a loose rj-45 connector on my laptop. Greatly appreciated!
October 14th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
My Laptop is HP dv6000 it fails to start operating system it just display the warning for few seconds then turns off.When I tried to re-installed it, it can’t read it from either USB port or DVD rom.Please help my school work is stuck
October 21st, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Sbu,
What warning?
October 31st, 2010 at 9:50 am
I need to repair the usb ports on a Packard Bell Laptop, and it’s the first laptop I have seen in my life with NO PCMCIA slot!
October 31st, 2010 at 9:52 am
Vasilios Douros,
Maybe you have ExpressCard slot instead of PCMCIA slot?
November 16th, 2010 at 11:26 am
Hello – I suspect the video card on my Acer 7730G laptop is not working. Screen is blank (but you can still adjust brightness).
Is there any way to boot up using an external video card – say using the USB port (from a device like the Diamond BVU160) or perhaps from the Expresscard slot ?
Kind regards
November 22nd, 2010 at 3:19 am
Hi,
I have a HP Pavillion Laptop, and recently my sound stopped working. No sound comes out from the headphone jack or the speakers. This must mean it is something to do with the sound card.
Please could you tell me what to do in order to fix this problem, I would rather not have an external sound card and would preferably fix this issue without replacing any parts if possible. I was wondering if it is something to do with the drivers?
Thanks, great website.
November 25th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Andrew,
This could be software related issue. Have you tried reinstalling sound driver?
Also, you can try reinstalling Windows OS from scratch. If the sound still missing, probably this is hardware failure.
November 27th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
Hi!
I have a msi wind u160
When i try to turn on the blue light come on only and the fan. ,but it doesnt see nothing on the screen , i dont know if i have to change the hd or is the screen problem.
I dont have any warranty becos i open it already uuppss.
November 28th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Yimbo,
Take a closer look at the screen. Can you see a very faint image or the screen completely blank?
If the screen completely blank, test laptop memory. This could be memory failure.
Do you have two memory modules installed? Try removing them one by one. Test the laptop with only one (either one) memory module installed.
February 25th, 2011 at 10:27 am
i got a better fix for all thatt! install Linux on ur machine
we got works around for most of hardware problems without having to use any external hardware.
works arounds using only software
February 25th, 2011 at 10:29 am
but still, this is a good solution, i mean i know theres a lot of people who prefer windows
February 27th, 2011 at 7:05 am
onedreax,
Dude, if you have bad hardware in our laptop, Linux will not fix it.
February 28th, 2011 at 3:14 am
well maybe you are right,, but think about. most of hardware failures are caused by driver problems, if thats the case, Linux works better… if you don’t want linux, fix the driver problem. or if it is bad hardware as you say, replace it with new one. dont waste money one external hardware caause thats just avoiding the problem..i say this ’cause sometimes external devices are very expensive, im just saying.. i mean i work with computers and thats what i do
but like i said it’s a good solution.. but not all the time, neither forever …
have a nice day cj2600
March 9th, 2011 at 4:27 am
my laptop is compaq make bought 3 years before,
now my hard disk is corrupted, how to replace hard disk
any body have solution please help me.
Thanks
March 12th, 2011 at 2:53 am
Any one can suggest, how to reset BIOS Password of Compaq Presario V3000(3070TU)
Notebook not able to boot and so we can not use Windows base BIOS Updater
March 13th, 2011 at 1:52 pm
Bhavesh,
Here’s a quote from the Compaq Presario v3000 maintenance and service guide:
March 13th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
Balaji,
What is your laptop model?
You remove the failed hard drive and replace it with a new one. After that boot your laptop from recovery CD (or Windows installation CD) and install the operating system.
March 13th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
Dear cj2600,
Though I have already try this couple of time but as per your instruction, this time I have disassemble all parts and leave Plain Motherboard of Compaq Presario D3000(3070TU) and then Connect the RTC Battery, Processor, RAM & LCD and last Power Adapter, Notebook PC Has been Power on it self but the PWD Issue does not solved!?
replay me if any mistake…
replay with any other please, because the problem is critical
Thanking you
Bhavesh
March 18th, 2011 at 12:22 pm
Bhavesh,
In my previous comment I provided a quote from the official service manual. I’m not sure why it’s not working for you.
March 19th, 2011 at 11:52 am
CJ2600,
I have short out the problem and resolve it also
Now the Compaq Presario V3070TU work ok
Thanking you
March 19th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
CJ2600,
I have a Notebook PC Compaq Presario V6000(6111TU)
Sound is ok but even after connecting of Headphone pin in Audio Jack Notebook inbuilt speaker is working
Reinstall Sound Drivers (Conexant HDAudio Driver) but problem is till continue
Reply me with batter solution
Thanking you
April 11th, 2011 at 12:51 am
i fallowed your instruction for the display problem of the hp tablet pc tx1000 its amaging i got it ok display come it nice working thanks thanks alot
July 30th, 2011 at 4:44 am
Last night, my HP mini laptop was acting slow, while I was deleting pictures and files. So, I decided to restart. Which I did, everytime it starts up. it doesn’t go directly where you enter your password on the user account. It stays stuck on loading part showing the windows xp icon. I have no clue what to do.
August 8th, 2011 at 10:53 am
So there is no getting around replacing the motherboard both of my USB ports were damaged during travel, was thinking of resodering the pieces back into the motherboard but now I am looking into an external!
September 23rd, 2011 at 11:47 pm
dear,
i have a lenovo y500 series laptop. there is a problem in my laptop “sometimes it is start and sometimes not” so please resolve my problem by mail. i will still waiting for ur reply.
thanking you.
September 24th, 2011 at 6:55 am
@ viany,
Possible memory failure. The laptop should have two memory modules installed. Try removing them one by one and test the laptop with each memory separately.
If one of the modules is bad, the laptop will start and work properly when you remove it.
November 2nd, 2011 at 11:44 pm
Hi there,
When I turn on my HP Pavillion TX 2522 the screen stays black, capslock and numlock are active, tried to remove the battery for half a day and then held the power button for 60 sec, it didn’t help so took it to get a free check up done-they said the motherborad is damaged and needs replacing for $240
I was wondering if anyone knows any ways to fix it, am a poor student so can’t really afford paying $240 and the lap top is not particularly new anyway!Thanks
November 3rd, 2011 at 7:12 am
@ Val,
If you have nothing to lose, you can try one of the following methods:
http://www.laptoprepair101.com.....p-laptops/
http://www.laptoprepair101.com.....hics-chip/
November 21st, 2011 at 8:06 pm
I have a dell D800 with a broken microphone jack. Is there any way to fix just the jack? Like fix the solder joint on the mother board? If so, how do I disassemble the laptop to get at the offending jack?
Thanks -
Michael
November 24th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
@ Michael Myjak,
Here’s Dell Latitude D800 service manual. The manual explains how to disassemble the laptop.
I don’t know if it’s possible to fix just the jack because I don’t know how bad the damage is.
November 26th, 2011 at 12:51 am
i have a sony vaio laptop. it is not starting up at all. what could possibly be the problem?
November 30th, 2011 at 1:06 pm
@ krish,
How exactly it’s not starting up? Any lights at all when you push on the power button?
Try this. Remove the battery, unplug the AC adapter, push on the power button for a few seconds. Now plug in the AC adapter and try turning it on again.