Comments on: How to remove motherboard and repair DC power jack in Dell Inspiron 1300/B120/B130 laptop

By: gorkypah

gorkypah — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 03:03:02 +0000

Hi Chuck,

Maybe I can help. I recently took apart my Dell Inspiron 1300 to repair its DC jack and had a hard time replacing the screws as well. After some trial and error I seem to have got it right. There are three types of screws, a 3mm (short), a 5mm (medium) and 8mm (long) screw. The four screws that hold the LCD screen in place (also marked by the letter D) are 8mm (long) screws. The two screws underneath the LCD screen are 3mm (short) screws. The 5 or 6 screws underneath the keyboard that holds the top on are 5mm (medium) screws. The eight screws on the bottom of the laptop should all be 8mm long screws. The five screws securing the motherboard should all be 5mm (medium) screws. I hope this helps you or anybody else. This is a great guide with pictures on how to fix a laptop DC jack, but could have used this information as well.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 07:03:23 +0000

I took my old inspiron b130 apart to make this repair a month ago and got sidetracked. My wife’s cat knocked over the pill box I had been using to keep the screws separate, and now I can’t remember what screws go in which holes. Can you help with that?

By: Iban

Iban — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:29:29 +0000

I use the manual for a Dell Inspiron 1300 and its Ok.

Thanks

By: Hedy

Hedy — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:31:40 +0000

Wow, thank you so much for this! I just fixed the jack on my Dell laptop and I am going to try it again with my son’s Dell laptop which is having the same issue. These instructions were really great! The only trouble I had was unlocking and disconnecting the cables from the various connectors. I figured it out eventually – probably took me a little longer than most people – duh! Step 5 Keyboard cable connector unlocks as pictured – opens like a door. Step 8 Video Cable connector: just pull blue tab straight up. Step 12 Wifi cable on wireless card: Pull straight up on gold metal piece at the end of the white wire. Step 17: Touchpad connector is LOCKED so first gently pull back brown locks(on both sides of cable) in the direction of the touchpad. They will move slightly to unlock the cable and then it will just slide out. The lid close switch and battery connectors are not locked: just pull gently to detach the connectors. Same with the speaker cable in Step 19.

By: cul heath

cul heath — Sat, 21 May 2011 17:21:28 +0000

Brilliant. An absolutely perfect example of how to document and detail repairs. Kudos and many thanks.

By: Robotics1

Robotics1 — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 23:44:30 +0000

Thank you for this very detailed process. I was able to successfully repair my DC power jack using your process. I discovered that my Dell 1300 Inspiron was intermittently switching from AC to battery power when I move the laptop around on my lap. I took it apart and sure enough, I discovered the same issue that you had….a poor looking soldering job. I think it was cracked; but my 61 year old eyes couldn’t be sure, even with a magnifying glass! I didn’t have to remove the MB from the case, as you did. I went through all the steps up to where you unscrew the MB and remove it. I left it there, because I really have great difficulty un-soldering multiple pins and the removing the unit. It is too easy for me to break the module or crack the MB while trying to remove it. Instead, I cleaned the pin that appeared to be cracked, by using the soldering gun to re-flow the solder and apply a minute dab of new solder. It worked. My only problem during the disassembly was that I dislodged the F1 key and have had trouble snapping it back in place.
I re-assembled the whole unit successfully. I plugged in the unit and it seems to be charging and staying AC connected; even while I move the unit around. Thank you again for this repair process. It’s a keeper.

By: Cord

Cord — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:15:17 +0000

Thank you, very very much,

This was the first laptop hardware repair I have attempted, and now, thanks to your guide it was also a successful one. I was very apprehensive about taking laptops apart due to a complete lack of experience, but your thorough documentation along with the clear pictures made it very straight forward and quite enjoyable.

Again Thank You

By: Elle

Elle — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 07:21:53 +0000

THANK YOU SO MUCH for this informative tutorial!!!!!!!!! This is the only website I could find with pictures. It helped me get to the fan of my five-year-old Dell 1300 where I gave it a good cleaning out and oiling which has fixed my noise problem (diagnostics all passed!). You saved me money on repairs that I don’t have as I’m currently unemployed.

When I have funds again, I’m sending them to you. And that’s a promise

By: Laptop Tech

Laptop Tech — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 19:28:01 +0000

Komberly,

After installing the new motherboard everything works, except that the computer is running so much slower than before.

Make sure both memory modules plugged correctly. Maybe one of them is loose and the laptop runs with one module.
Did you reinstall OS after replacing the motherboard? If the motherboard not 100% the same, it’s possible to reinstall OS and all drivers to make it work properly.

By: Alex

Alex — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 11:14:52 +0000

Thanks for this, my Dell Inspiron 1300′s DC power jack was wobbily. I reconnected it with superglue though seeing as there was no or very little solder around my machine, must have been bulit by a automated system. Anyway i can’t seem to reconnect the touchpad cable, it just won’t go in. And because i was a bit vigorous taking that part out, i took the cable out of both the motherboard and the touchpad, i’m left with the cable out on it’s own. Any help in reconnecting it wold be greatly appreciated,