To update, I compared the laptops with PC Wizard (as suggested) but no
differences showed up. About the only other thing I can try is the
connections from the battery plug to the motherboard. Another
motherboard out session - I'm getting quite good at it!

The motherboard extraction is a fiddle but only takes about 5 minutes.

I dont fancy fault finding on it as I have no idea what most of the
components are supposed to do. Bring back discrete components and
circuit board tracks you can see without a magnifying glass, and the
suitcase to carry your lugable in!

Sourcing a replacement is an issue at the moment but I have an
un-tested one on order - long shot but I may be lucky.

Thanks again everyone for the suggesstions.

David

On Tue, 17 Apr 2012 21:40:00 -0700 (PDT), Jeff Urban
wrote:

I understand this, there are only two wires feeding the thing, dealing
with charging current while running is the job of the mobo. Aside from
bad connections most likely the mobo needs to be replaced unless you
know someone REALLY good.

But it's not an "easy" solution by any stretch of the imagination. If
I never work on a laptop again it will be too soon, unless the money
is very good. If the two laptops remain in the same household, it
would be easier to deal with charging batteries and swapping them off.
Everybody sleeps sometime.

I didn't do this completely, but I had it apart bigtime. This guy
makes it look easy, but let me tell you, you better have a steady
hand, know how the connectors work (I broke one), alot of patience and
really kickass eyesight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_RZtwDKgS4

Now, if this doesn't work, here's one of our ol' boys who figured aout
another way :

http://www.epicfail.com/2012/02/12/parenting-win-2/

Show that last one to your kids.

J