HomeLately I’ve been seeing exactly the same problem with the power socket in some newer Toshiba Satellite L305/L305D and Satellite L355/L355D laptops. I don’t know if it’s a poor design or people just not careful enough with their laptops, but the power socket in these models breaks very often.
On the picture below you can see a good working power socket. The power jack is seated correctly. It’s tight and will not move when you plug in the adapter.
On the next picture you see a broken socket. There is a gap between the power jack and laptop base and when you plug the AC adapter inside the jack it feels very loose. In some cases, the power jack disconnects from the laptop base and you cannot plug in the power adapter at all.
In order to understand what’s going on it’s necessary to remove the top cover and take a closer look at the power jack.
As you see on the picture below, the power jack is not seated correctly and separated from the laptop base.
In some cases it happens because the DC-IN power jack gets broken.
In other cases, the DC-IN power jack is OK but the laptop base is broken. The power jack mounts between two plastic brackets inside the case. If one of the brackets is broken (the left one in my case), the DC-IN power jack will not seat correctly.
But in many cases you have both parts broken, the power jack and base assembly.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO FIX THE POWER SOCKET?
1. If the power jack is OK but the base is broken, you’ll have to replace the base assembly, which means you’ll have to disassemble the whole laptop.
2. If the base assembly is OK, but the DC-IN jack is broken, you’ll have to replace the DC-IN power harness.
3. In the worst case scenario you’ll have to replace both parts, the base assembly AND power jack harness.
UPDATE!
I just published a guide explaining how to repair broken power connector yourself.
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July 28th, 2010 at 3:53 am
I have this computer, and 3 mo after I bought it the DC adapter inside the computer broke off as you are showing here. When I took it to Best Buy where I bought it, there was another woman there who had the same exact computer with the same problem. I ended up sending it back to Toshiba and they supposedly fixed it. I have now had it 1.5 years and it became lose. I called Toshiba and complained because I hardly even use the computer and they fixed it again and said it would be the last time!
I think they made a faulty dc adapter. I think that the computer should have been recalled and I am NOT happy about the issue since I spent 700.00 on the laptop only a year and a half ago.
I will NEVER buy another Toshiba computer again.
July 22nd, 2010 at 10:10 am
nat,
Check memory modules. Try removing memory one by one. Test laptop with each memory modules separately.
July 19th, 2010 at 6:14 am
my machine is going on and off, can anyone help me.
July 12th, 2010 at 9:02 pm
Todd,
Make sure all screws are removed.
Now take a knife and insert the blade between the top cover and base somewhere on the side of the laptop. Lift up the top cover. When the gap is wide enough, continue removing with your fingers.
Again, make sure all screws are removed from both sides.
July 12th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
I have the same problem as Texxs…I cannot for the life of me see how the heck you can get the top panel off. There is just no easy to separate it as far as I can tell. Even with something thinner than a guitar pick. Help before I throw this f****** through a wall.
April 28th, 2010 at 6:51 am
I am currently repairing two Toshiba L300 s with the same power socket problems. On one, the plastic support on the base has snapped off allowing the socket to come lose. I should really replace the base but the customer doesn’t want to pay, especially as I explained that I could not guarantee it would not happen again. I have glued it back in using Araldite Epoxy and told the customer to be gentle with it. On the second, the sides of the socket have snapped off allowing it to slip out of its supports. I have ordered a replacement Power Socket / Jack from ebay.co.uk for £6.99.
I think it is a great idea that that manufacturers have started to put the power sockets on a seperate ‘plug-in’ mini harness due to the fact that the the older style power sockets that were soldered to the motherboard were always breaking and very fiddly to replace. However, it is a shame that Toshiba has not designed these very well and have not provided adequate support / strength. Their is a stong metal plate for the kensington cable lock socket only millimeters away from the power socket. this could easily have been extended to provide a very strong support for the power socket which then would not break.
April 27th, 2010 at 6:16 am
just get someplastice epoxy and glue it in place. This way you do not have to take out the motherboard. This is common problem in a lot of Toshiia Laptops
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:38 pm
Okay, Can anyone tell me how to get the top cover off and what the name of the special tool I need for the one funky screw on the bottom is? (we’re having the same problem but can’t even get the case open).
Thanks!