HowToFixComputers.com

little_ceeg · Contributor Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 9

Here is an instant fix that I've mentioned before that is inexpensive (around $30), does not require any experience, disassembly, or reassembly of your laptop. It is a discontinued HP item called the HP xc1000 Notebook All-in-One Media Cable (DV318A) + RCA Splitter Cable (360395-001). It is compatible with a variety of HP and Compaq laptops that are subject to the jack problem.

I've been using the cable for about three months now or more and have not had any problems at all. As I've mentioned in other posts, I'm not sure that it is permanent but it has been the simplest remedy for the problem that I have found.

If, in the future, it fails me as the jack did before, I will likely send my computer to Ken. But for now, this cable is working great.

Here is the link to the tech outlet that I purchased it from.

http://www.techexcess.net/hp-xc1000-notebook-all-in-one-media-cable-dv318a-rca-splitter-cable-360395-001.aspx

xubomber · PRO Joined: 19 Feb 2006 Posts: 59

mattandrew, the third connection is one that, in a stock power jack, is closed when the power jack is not plugged in, and opened when there is a plug in the jack. It's totally unnecessary (on a ze5270 at least); the notebook still detects when it's on battery and when it's running off AC power just fine.

packet_smasher, I've heard (not sure though, someone correct me if I'm wrong, please) that the Cold Heat system isn't particularly safe to use on sensitive electronics. It does supposedly work very well for most things though.

hedsm420, chances are that the replacement jack you buy will also fail within a few months, since the flaw is a design flaw and not a problem with the part itself.

Trashbird · Member Joined: 05 Apr 2006 Posts: 1

Oops - i just bought a Pavillon dv8230 today, and chanced onto this list while trying to figure out how to wrangle an actual XP install disc out of HP. As far as I can tell from the outside, the dv8230 appears to have the same case and construction as all the other Pavillion machines. So now I'm wondering what's the prognosis? Ken, have you seen many of these yet? Has HP fixed anything, or should I expect problems?

The stories here are awfully discouraging and I sure wasn't expecting to hear anything like this; my Toshiba portege has had six years of brutally hard service and it's still solid as a rock. The 8230 looked like a good value, but if it's just going to let me down, I'll take it right back before I waste lose any more time or money to it....

- Bruce

njj023 · Contributor Joined: 24 Mar 2006 Posts: 7

little_ceeg does the cable charge the battery?

little_ceeg · Contributor Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 9

Yes, the cable charges the battery. It works just like the regular power cable. Among the many parts of the cable is a jack into which you plug your regular power chord. The cable then plugs into the media port on the right side of the laptop (that's how mine is set up anyway).

little_ceeg · Contributor Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 9

I've posted a picture that you can view, by clicking the following link, how the cable hooks up the computer to your regular power cable.

http://groups.msn.com/HPmediacable/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=1

I hope this picture shows up here also.

elguapo · Member Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Posts: 1

If you've recently purchased or are thinking about purchasing an HP Pavillion laptop, I strongly recommend you avoid it at all costs. I own a ZE4101 on which the power jack failed after 14 months of light use. The same thing happened to two family members of mine. I've owned laptops made by Dell, IBM, Toshiba and Sony and HP/Compaq laptops are the most poorly-made by a wide margin.

I'd love if these things were recalled, but I don't expect that to happen. Given the quality of the current generation HP is producing, stay far away. Even with some of the sub-$500 deals I've seen, they're just not worth it.

njj023 · Contributor Joined: 24 Mar 2006 Posts: 7

wow quite amazingly a new adapter has totally fixed the problem for now( which is quite shocking since i had tried one of those all in one adapters for my zv5000 at bestbuy before and that too would randomly stop charging).
It would be unbelievable if a new adapter was all i needed to fix the problem but atleast it has given me time to save money for the actual repair at ken's or somewhere else.

christech · Member Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 1

i don't know if this will help but i found a replacement power jack that i have been installing on those systems as well as a few toshiba's that have it and have not had any problems. the design of the replacement part is alot better. i do however charge for this service and i think it is a good price for the work involved compared to a new motherboard. part and labor is 200.00 plus shipping. let me know if i can help anybody.

Homer Simpson · Guest

Providing the part would be nice. I have had to resolder the jack on
my zx5190 once already.

I braced mine against the frame that surrounds the jack in hopes that
it will keep it from moving.

On Wed, 12 Apr 2006 07:30:36 GMT, no@spam.invalid (christech) wrote:

edgyone · Member Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 1

I thought that i was the only one that had this problem!!! I have been suffering with the same exact problem that many people have described in htis thread. The power jack on my computer went for the first time whil it was under warranty, all it took was an accidental trip on the cord. And bam. To those of you who think that this is a cheap laptop or in anyway acceptable, you are wrong. I design mechanisms with poser jacks, if any problem like this would occur with a product my company make you can believe I would have to explain why, and none of the defenses that I read in this post would be acceptable to my boss. I have a gateway laptop that from 1995 that we have used for feild work, and handled very roughly. The power jack still works on that machine. I saw there are a numer of class action suits but those usually only benefit the lawyers and the customers get a coupon for a free usb cable or something .....

teheidel · Member Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 2

I am very, very worried.

I sent my computer to Ikenfixit based on the glowing reviews he got on this board. I called before I sent it, and he assured me he could get it done in one day and out the door the next. I shipped it to him on Monday, April 10. It arrived at his location on April 13th. I heard from him on Monday, April 17th. He said he'd be shipping it the next day, Tuesday, April 18th.

"Great!" I thought.

Well, last Friday rolled around and I hadn't gotten it yet, so I tried calling. No luck. The office phone just rang and rang, and the messaging phone did the same.

This Monday, the 24th, I started trying to reach him in earnest. No luck with the phone. Now his messaging number would pick up and say something about his mailbox being full. Worse yet, when I emailed him, they would bounce- his e-mail mailbox is full, too!

I've called him dozens of times a day since Monday. Tuesday morning, I got a hold of him once. I asked him about my laptop, and he said he had shipped it the previous Friday. 3 full days after he told me he would, but whatever. He told me call back in a few hours for a tracking number. I have been unable to get ahold of him at all since then. The e-mails bounce. The phone rings and rings. I've called him every day, over and over, with no answer.

Worse yet, I checked with FedEx several times, the latest being this evening. They don't have any record of him shipping anything to me.

I hate to air all this on a public board- maybe it's all a big misunderstanding- but I'm getting pretty frustrated and pretty upset. I can't get a hold of this guy AT ALL! I've now been without my laptop, a crucial piece of equipment for me, for 17 days, and I have no idea when or if it might arrive.

Has anybody else had a similar experience?

Going nuts,
-T.E. Heidel

Guest

an even quicker fix (and maybe a bit of a hackjob) i wrapped a piece of
aluminum foil around the male part so it could still conduct, pushed it
back into the female part. this provided a snug fit, and prevented it
from falling out of place as easily. not a very permanent fix, since
everytime you want to unplug it, you'll have to put the foil on
again...but it does the job. (i've seen other people say they wrapped
tape around instead of foil, but this eliminates the metal connection
and doesn't work as well)

little_ceeg wrote:

disgusted · Member Joined: 02 May 2006 Posts: 1

We bought our daughter a HP Pavilion Laptop less than 2 years ago right after graduation. She started having these problems when the computer was less than a year old. It was sent back to HP and came back and worked fine for a couple of months. The same problem started happening again a few month ago. Luckily, we purchased the extended warranty from Circuit City and she sent it back to be fixed. They had to replace the motherboard this time along with fixing the power problem. Now she is in the middle of finals week and it is happening again. We spent over $2,000 on this laptop for her and this is totally disgusting. Now she will have to have it fixed for the third time for the same problem.

teheidel · Member Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 2

Well, I finally got my computer back from Iknenfixit this week. It's working great now. I was never able to get a real answer as to why it took 8 days to ship after he told me the repair was complete.

I tend to think Ken is just overwhelmed with the amount of work he's getting and fell behind a bit. However, some communication- ANY communication from him would have been nice.

Bottom line: Ikenfixit "ken" fix your computer- it just might take a while!