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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
I recently repaired on of our laptops and was feeling pretty chuffed at
managing it. Unfortunately, the laptop (an Acer Travelmate 202T) has decided to stop working again. The original problem was that the PCMCIA socket had stopped working and I found two loose screws floating around in my laptop that should have been securing the sockets to the motherboard. I replaced them and it worked fine for a week. I pulled it apart again and discovered the root cause of the problem (which I had missed last time) is that an overheating card has damaged the plastic around the pins at the back of the socket. Fixing the existing card doesn't look possible and ACER don't sell spares for laptops of this age (made in 2001). Short of buying a used 202T for spares from e-Bay, has anyone any suggestions where I might get a replacement? TIA TIm |
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 15:45:37 +0100, "Tim Downie"
wrote: I recently repaired on of our laptops and was feeling pretty chuffed at managing it. Unfortunately, the laptop (an Acer Travelmate 202T) has decided to stop working again. The original problem was that the PCMCIA socket had stopped working and I found two loose screws floating around in my laptop that should have been securing the sockets to the motherboard. I replaced them and it worked fine for a week. I pulled it apart again and discovered the root cause of the problem (which I had missed last time) is that an overheating card has damaged the plastic around the pins at the back of the socket. Fixing the existing card doesn't look possible and ACER don't sell spares for laptops of this age (made in 2001). Short of buying a used 202T for spares from e-Bay, has anyone any suggestions where I might get a replacement? TIA Seaching Google for acer laptop spares yields 12,900 hits from the UK. DG |
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
derek wrote:
On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 15:45:37 +0100, "Tim Downie" wrote: I recently repaired on of our laptops and was feeling pretty chuffed at managing it. Unfortunately, the laptop (an Acer Travelmate 202T) has decided to stop working again. The original problem was that the PCMCIA socket had stopped working and I found two loose screws floating around in my laptop that should have been securing the sockets to the motherboard. I replaced them and it worked fine for a week. I pulled it apart again and discovered the root cause of the problem (which I had missed last time) is that an overheating card has damaged the plastic around the pins at the back of the socket. Fixing the existing card doesn't look possible and ACER don't sell spares for laptops of this age (made in 2001). Short of buying a used 202T for spares from e-Bay, has anyone any suggestions where I might get a replacement? TIA Seaching Google for acer laptop spares yields 12,900 hits from the UK. DG Thank you. That would never have occured to me. Having started with Acer themselves and working down to the people who now do the repairs for Acer, I've drawn a blank as far as this particular spare part is concerned. I was hoping to hear from someone who actually *knew* something helpful (rather than from bored smug gits). Tim |
#4
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
Short of buying a used 202T for spares from e-Bay, has anyone any
suggestions where I might get a replacement? Seaching Google for acer laptop spares yields 12,900 hits from the UK. Not a very helpful reply. Laptop spares are available but it's a closed market with little third party interest (it's nothing like the desktop PC marketplace). A small number of companies offer to repair laptops around the UK - that would certainly be a better Google search. However, they mostly offer to fix "standard" problems like damaged screens or the notebook refusing to power-up. However, they might offer you some advice if you phoned. So, in other words, yes, getting a used model from eBay is probably the quickest and cheapest option. ps Using Google properly and searching for "acer laptop spares" (surrounded in quotes) brings up eight results, one of which you might find interesting: http://www.laptopsolutions.plc.uk/Ac...top_spares.htm |
#5
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
"Tim Downie" wrote in message ... I recently repaired on of our laptops and was feeling pretty chuffed at managing it. Unfortunately, the laptop (an Acer Travelmate 202T) has decided to stop working again. The original problem was that the PCMCIA socket had stopped working and I found two loose screws floating around in my laptop that should have been securing the sockets to the motherboard. I replaced them and it worked fine for a week. I pulled it apart again and discovered the root cause of the problem (which I had missed last time) is that an overheating card has damaged the plastic around the pins at the back of the socket. Fixing the existing card doesn't look possible and ACER don't sell spares for laptops of this age (made in 2001). Short of buying a used 202T for spares from e-Bay, has anyone any suggestions where I might get a replacement? TIA TIm Have you spoken to ICR - Independant Computer Repairs? |
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
Max wrote:
"Tim Downie" wrote in message Short of buying a used 202T for spares from e-Bay, has anyone any suggestions where I might get a replacement? TIA TIm Have you spoken to ICR - Independant Computer Repairs? Yes. They were the first company that Acer suggested. No joy. Tim |
#7
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
peak man wrote:
So, in other words, yes, getting a used model from eBay is probably the quickest and cheapest option. I think that's what it's going to have to be. :-( ps Using Google properly and searching for "acer laptop spares" (surrounded in quotes) brings up eight results, one of which you might find interesting: http://www.laptopsolutions.plc.uk/Ac...top_spares.htm They don't list the appropriate part and nor do many of the others I've looked at. I must admit, I was hoping (foolishly I now realise) that a PCMCIA card socket might be a fairly generic sort of part but of course, because it's for a laptop, the manufacturers *have* to make it irrepairable as quickly as possible. Tim -- Remove the obvious to reply by email. Please support rheumatoid arthritis research! Visit http://www.justgiving.com/pfp/speyside or http://www.justgiving.com/speyside if you're a UK tax payer. |
#8
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
Tim Downie wrote:
I must admit, I was hoping (foolishly I now realise) that a PCMCIA card socket might be a fairly generic sort of part but of course, because it's for a laptop, the manufacturers *have* to make it irrepairable as quickly as possible. Tim Digikey carry a couple of bare cardbus sockets, but I guess the chances of them physically fitting may be somewhat remote, not to mention the SMD rework gear you'd need access to... http://rocky.digikey.com/WebLib/Hiro...1.27SF-EJR.jpg Lee |
#9
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
In uk.d-i-y Tim Downie wrote:
peak man wrote: So, in other words, yes, getting a used model from eBay is probably the quickest and cheapest option. I think that's what it's going to have to be. :-( snip I must admit, I was hoping (foolishly I now realise) that a PCMCIA card socket might be a fairly generic sort of part but of course, because it's for a laptop, the manufacturers *have* to make it irrepairable as quickly as possible. They are. But there are many, many variants. You may be able to chase down the part number for the one you need, but then you'd need to hire someone to fit it onto the board. Remember, that you may well be able to resell the bits of the laptop if you get one from ebay. For example I'm currently looking for 'plastics' for a toshiba 3110CT, so that I can play with doing custom mods to it. I don't care about any of the insides. (I want to add illumination on the keyboard.) I've already picked up a couple of spare motherboards, just in case (I've got two of these laptops, and love them, one bought just for spares, but got working) and also to use as low-power servers. |
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
Tim Downie wrote:
Short of buying a used 202T for spares from e-Bay, has anyone any suggestions where I might get a replacement? If you find a supplier for Acer parts, can you please pass the details on Acer? I've waited 2 weeks now to get my laptop back because they're waiting for spares :-( |
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
Tim Downie wrote:
Short of buying a used 202T for spares from e-Bay, has anyone any suggestions where I might get a replacement? Have you tried:- http://www.clonesuk.com/ -- Cheers, John. /================================================== ===============\ | Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk | |-----------------------------------------------------------------| | John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk | \================================================= ================/ |
#12
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
Ian Stirling wrote:
They are. But there are many, many variants. You may be able to chase down the part number for the one you need, but then you'd need to hire someone to fit it onto the board. ?? As the part in question plugs into the motherboard and is secured with screws, I don't quite follow your logic here. Any suggestions on how to find the part number? Remember, that you may well be able to resell the bits of the laptop if you get one from ebay. Hadn't really thought of that. Cheers. Tim |
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
In uk.d-i-y Tim Downie wrote:
Ian Stirling wrote: They are. But there are many, many variants. You may be able to chase down the part number for the one you need, but then you'd need to hire someone to fit it onto the board. ?? As the part in question plugs into the motherboard and is secured with screws, I don't quite follow your logic here. Any suggestions on how to find the part number? This will be a custom part, almost certainly unique to one Acer line, possibly even just one model. The socket soldered/screwed to this board may well be a generic one, from AMP/molex/... Remember, that you may well be able to resell the bits of the laptop if you get one from ebay. Hadn't really thought of that. Cheers. Tim |
#14
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
Lee wrote:
Tim Downie wrote: I must admit, I was hoping (foolishly I now realise) that a PCMCIA card socket might be a fairly generic sort of part but of course, because it's for a laptop, the manufacturers *have* to make it irrepairable as quickly as possible. Tim Digikey carry a couple of bare cardbus sockets, but I guess the chances of them physically fitting may be somewhat remote, not to mention the SMD rework gear you'd need access to... http://rocky.digikey.com/WebLib/Hiro...1.27SF-EJR.jpg Lee Hmm... similar but but not close enough I fear. What's SMD rework gear? Tim |
#15
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
Ian Stirling wrote:
The socket soldered/screwed to this board may well be a generic one, from AMP/molex/... Ooo... the Molex site looks promising. The double doodad job on http://www.molex.com/cgi-bin/bv/mole...geTit le=Intr looks like what I'm after. (or http://tinyurl.com/2chnj if the above is too long) Not sure if they take private orders though. I suspect I'll have to still play "hunt the stockist". Thanks for your help. Tim |
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
John Rumm wrote:
Tim Downie wrote: Short of buying a used 202T for spares from e-Bay, has anyone any suggestions where I might get a replacement? Have you tried:- http://www.clonesuk.com/ Yes thanks. No help I'm afraid. Tim |
#17
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 17:50:19 +0100, "Tim Downie"
wrote: Ian Stirling wrote: The socket soldered/screwed to this board may well be a generic one, from AMP/molex/... Ooo... the Molex site looks promising. Is the "absence" of this card slot stopping the whole laptop from functioning ? It shouldn't really. -- I don't have a solution but I admire the problem. Mail john rather than nospam... |
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
John Laird wrote:
On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 17:50:19 +0100, "Tim Downie" wrote: Ian Stirling wrote: The socket soldered/screwed to this board may well be a generic one, from AMP/molex/... Ooo... the Molex site looks promising. Is the "absence" of this card slot stopping the whole laptop from functioning ? It shouldn't really. No but once you've got used to wireless broadband, you don't want to go back to wires again. Also stops me boring guests with my digital photographs etc. ;-) Tim -- Remove the obvious to reply by email. |
#19
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
In uk.d-i-y Tim Downie wrote:
Ian Stirling wrote: The socket soldered/screwed to this board may well be a generic one, from AMP/molex/... Ooo... the Molex site looks promising. snip looks like what I'm after. (or http://tinyurl.com/2chnj if the above is too long) Not sure if they take private orders though. I suspect I'll have to still play "hunt the stockist". Soldering this on is going to be a serious problem, even for most electronics hobbiests. Is it the actual socket that has failed, or is it the guides. On some, you can replace the guides without needing to resolder. Alternatively, USB wireless adaptors are not that expensive. |
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
In uk.d-i-y Tim Downie wrote:
Lee wrote: Tim Downie wrote: I must admit, I was hoping (foolishly I now realise) that a PCMCIA card socket might be a fairly generic sort of part but of course, because it's for a laptop, the manufacturers *have* to make it irrepairable as quickly as possible. Tim Digikey carry a couple of bare cardbus sockets, but I guess the chances of them physically fitting may be somewhat remote, not to mention the SMD rework gear you'd need access to... http://rocky.digikey.com/WebLib/Hiro...1.27SF-EJR.jpg Hmm... similar but but not close enough I fear. What's SMD rework gear? It's what you need to attatch it. Do you know how to work a soldering iron? Look at the connectors pins where it attaches to the board. You have to solder all of the wires, without shorting any/... This is quite tricky. |
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
Ian Stirling wrote:
Soldering this on is going to be a serious problem, even for most electronics hobbiests. The existing one simply plugs into the motherboard. No soldering required. (As my usual soldering tool is the gas cooker I suspect I'd best not tackle the MB.) Is it the actual socket that has failed, or is it the guides. The socket. The plastic part that holds all the bazillion pins and metal strips has overheated leading to loosening of the connection with the MB On some, you can replace the guides without needing to resolder. Alternatively, USB wireless adaptors are not that expensive. If I can't get the socket, that'll be my next best option I guess. Thanks. Tim -- Remove the obvious to reply by email. |
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 18:30:55 +0100, "Tim Downie"
wrote: No but once you've got used to wireless broadband, you don't want to go back to wires again. Also stops me boring guests with my digital photographs etc. ;-) How strange. I spent yesterday afternoon pulling out WiFi from my home and replacing with wires. The WiFi has caused me one problem too many and it's now out of here. PoP --- http://www.ukdiy.org.uk |
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
In ,
Tim Downie wrote: John Laird wrote: Is the "absence" of this card slot stopping the whole laptop from functioning ? It shouldn't really. No but once you've got used to wireless broadband, you don't want to go back to wires again. Also stops me boring guests with my digital photographs etc. ;-) If that's all you want it for, wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to get a USB wifi adaptor? Or is the laptop really so old it doesn't have USB? -- The address in the Reply-To is genuine and should not be edited. See http://www.realh.co.uk/contact.html for more reliable contact addresses. |
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
PoP wrote:
On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 18:30:55 +0100, "Tim Downie" wrote: No but once you've got used to wireless broadband, you don't want to go back to wires again. Also stops me boring guests with my digital photographs etc. ;-) How strange. I spent yesterday afternoon pulling out WiFi from my home and replacing with wires. The WiFi has caused me one problem too many and it's now out of here. Whilst it was a bit of a pain to set up, for the laptops it's a boon. I have the desktops all hardwired though. If you don't want your WiFi gear, drop me a line and I'll take it off your hands. ;-) Tim -- Remove the obvious to reply by email. |
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
Tony Houghton wrote:
In , Tim Downie wrote: No but once you've got used to wireless broadband, you don't want to go back to wires again. Also stops me boring guests with my digital photographs etc. ;-) If that's all you want it for, wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to get a USB wifi adaptor? I *enjoy* fixing things. Besides, I can't see a USB wifi adaptor accepting a compact flash memory card. Tim -- Remove the obvious to reply by email. |
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
In uk.d-i-y Tim Downie wrote:
Tony Houghton wrote: In , Tim Downie wrote: No but once you've got used to wireless broadband, you don't want to go back to wires again. Also stops me boring guests with my digital photographs etc. ;-) If that's all you want it for, wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to get a USB wifi adaptor? I *enjoy* fixing things. Besides, I can't see a USB wifi adaptor accepting a compact flash memory card. If you have to ask what SMD rework gear is, you almost certainly are not capable of repairing this, even if you can purchase the bare socket. USB CF reader = 3-4 quid. USB hub = 2 quid. USB wireless adaptor - 30 quid. http://www.ebuyer.com/ |
#27
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
Tim Downie wrote:
I *enjoy* fixing things. Besides, I can't see a USB wifi adaptor accepting a compact flash memory card. A USB compact flash reader will though ;-) -- Cheers, John. /================================================== ===============\ | Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk | |-----------------------------------------------------------------| | John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk | \================================================= ================/ |
#28
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
Ian Stirling wrote:
In uk.d-i-y Tim Downie wrote: I *enjoy* fixing things. Besides, I can't see a USB wifi adaptor accepting a compact flash memory card. If you have to ask what SMD rework gear is, you almost certainly are not capable of repairing this, even if you can purchase the bare socket. *Please* read what I've written before coming over all pompous Ian. I'm grateful for your input to this thread but if you'd read my posts you would have seen that the existing socket simply plugs into the motherboard. No soldering required. USB CF reader = 3-4 quid. USB hub = 2 quid. USB wireless adaptor - 30 quid. http://www.ebuyer.com/ Yes, I know these things are cheap enough. It just seems daft to shell out for a number of separate devices when all I need is a new pcmcia socket. As present I don't know how much one will cost (or indeed whether I can even obtain one) but it would be *my* prefered option. Tim -- Remove the obvious to reply by email. |
#29
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
In uk.d-i-y Tim Downie wrote:
Ian Stirling wrote: In uk.d-i-y Tim Downie wrote: I *enjoy* fixing things. Besides, I can't see a USB wifi adaptor accepting a compact flash memory card. If you have to ask what SMD rework gear is, you almost certainly are not capable of repairing this, even if you can purchase the bare socket. *Please* read what I've written before coming over all pompous Ian. I'm grateful for your input to this thread but if you'd read my posts you would have seen that the existing socket simply plugs into the motherboard. No soldering required. Oops, I hadn't fully read all the messages. I have never heard of a generic socket that actually does plug into the motherboard. It seems unlikely for several reasons, but if it exists... I have often seen little sub-boards onto which the socket is soldered, that then plug into the laptop motherboard, but these are always specific to model. The link to the molex site does not work, can you post the part number you found? (the link will stop working when the session times out) I've had success ordering samples for molex parts for some things in the past, I'll see if I can dig up the parts. Do you have a picture of the broken part, and are there any visible makers marks, or part numbers, or logos? |
#30
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
Ian Stirling wrote:
This will be a custom part, almost certainly unique to one Acer line, possibly even just one model. The socket soldered/screwed to this board may well be a generic one, from AMP/molex/... BTW, the knackered part can now be viewed at http://edinburghmarathon.50megs.com/photo2.html (Please forgive the godawful site. It was something I put up in a hurry last year and as it's still there, it's the easiest place to stick a couple of pictures.) HTH. Tim -- Remove the obvious to reply by email. |
#31
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
Ian Stirling wrote:
Oops, I hadn't fully read all the messages. I have never heard of a generic socket that actually does plug into the motherboard. It seems unlikely for several reasons, but if it exists... Oh it exists. I have it here in front of me. ;-) I have often seen little sub-boards onto which the socket is soldered, that then plug into the laptop motherboard, but these are always specific to model. The link to the molex site does not work, can you post the part number you found? (the link will stop working when the session times out) Try this one: http://tinyurl.com/2xkfk. It doesn't show an identical part I realise now that I can compare more closely alas. I've just found the technical spec on http://tinyurl.com/2pmv9 and it's definitely not right. :-( I've had success ordering samples for molex parts for some things in the past, I'll see if I can dig up the parts. Do you have a picture of the broken part, and are there any visible makers marks, or part numbers, or logos? Again, alas no. It's just a nondescript beige bit of plastic. Have a look at the picture I've just put up at http://edinburghmarathon.50megs.com/photo2.html Tim -- Remove the obvious to reply by email. |
#32
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
On Sat, 17 Apr 2004 11:36:04 +0100, "Tim Downie"
wrote: If you don't want your WiFi gear, drop me a line and I'll take it off your hands. ;-) Now there's an offer that I can't refuse Haven't sorted it out yet. This latest "problem" appears to be a broken access point because I can't even get in to reboot a new bootstrap into it. Fortunately it's a warranty repair so it'll be a brand new access point PoP --- http://www.ukdiy.org.uk |
#33
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
In message , Tim Downie
writes PoP wrote: On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 18:30:55 +0100, "Tim Downie" wrote: No but once you've got used to wireless broadband, you don't want to go back to wires again. Also stops me boring guests with my digital photographs etc. ;-) How strange. I spent yesterday afternoon pulling out WiFi from my home and replacing with wires. The WiFi has caused me one problem too many and it's now out of here. Whilst it was a bit of a pain to set up, for the laptops it's a boon. I have the desktops all hardwired though. If you don't want your WiFi gear, drop me a line and I'll take it off your hands. ;-) Now there's an offer I hope he's not my neighbour, whose WIFi I use to access the internet when NTL is borked -- geoff |
#34
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
In uk.d-i-y Tim Downie wrote:
Ian Stirling wrote: Oops, I hadn't fully read all the messages. I have never heard of a generic socket that actually does plug into the motherboard. It seems unlikely for several reasons, but if it exists... Oh it exists. I have it here in front of me. ;-) I have often seen little sub-boards onto which the socket is soldered, that then plug into the laptop motherboard, but these are always specific to model. The link to the molex site does not work, can you post the part number you found? (the link will stop working when the session times out) Try this one: http://tinyurl.com/2xkfk. Nope. It doesn't show an identical part I realise now that I can compare more closely alas. I've just found the technical spec on http://tinyurl.com/2pmv9 and it's definitely not right. :-( Nope. Neither works, the first gives an error, the second just the homepage. Try clearing your cookie cache for http://www.molex.com/ or even clicking on the above links now. Many 'complex' websites do not support direct linking well, they rely on you having logged in, and then present the appropriate page depending on the status of your cookies. I've had success ordering samples for molex parts for some things in the past, I'll see if I can dig up the parts. Do you have a picture of the broken part, and are there any visible makers marks, or part numbers, or logos? Again, alas no. It's just a nondescript beige bit of plastic. Have a look at the picture I've just put up at I really like the picture of the sunset. Hmm, pity. Other makers that spring to mind are http://www.amp.com/ . The pictures do not make it quite clear. What happens when it's plugged in, does the connector shell seperate, so that it does not make good contact? It seems that some epoxy round it, to constrain it from moving might work. |
#35
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Acer laptop spares supplier wanted.
In message , Ian Stirling
writes In uk.d-i-y Tim Downie wrote: Tony Houghton wrote: In , Tim Downie wrote: No but once you've got used to wireless broadband, you don't want to go back to wires again. Also stops me boring guests with my digital photographs etc. ;-) If that's all you want it for, wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to get a USB wifi adaptor? I *enjoy* fixing things. Besides, I can't see a USB wifi adaptor accepting a compact flash memory card. If you have to ask what SMD rework gear is, I use the same blowtorch I use for CH pipework - works a treat you almost certainly are not capable of repairing this, even if you can purchase the bare socket. USB CF reader = 3-4 quid. USB hub = 2 quid. USB wireless adaptor - 30 quid. http://www.ebuyer.com/ -- geoff |
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