Compaq Presario R3000 power cord issue

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After cheking there is no power on the most left and most right contacts of the docking port connector (0 volt).
By the way it's an AMD CPU.
 
Finally fixed. Have connected the ac adapter cord to the expansion port (the most right and most left pins..) and now the laptop is working like a charm. By the way the charging battery led is also working , so absolutely no problems.
Thanks for everybody.
 
joeman I 'm pretty sure the only solution you have is to connect your ac adapter to the expansion port (the most left and most right pins..)
 
To all with the Presario R3000. The problem is the lousey soldering job the Chinese did when they attached the power unit onto the motherboard. I fixed my problem for $9.00.. You need a good soldering iron and have to do some minor cutting underneath the plate above the keyboard to the right. There, you will see the solder points that need to be re-soldered. I fixed my computer 1 1/2 years ago and it works great. Yes, as some mentioned on this post, you can by-pass this by using the all-in-one media plug to the right side of the laptop. But $9.00 is alot less expensive then the $$$ I'm reading these plugs cost.

Compaq/HP know of this problem.. Yet, they have refused to fix as this would have been a tremendous expense for them.....
 
This was a very poorly designed unit. What happens is the power cord plug while plugged into the laptop gets bumped and bends the metal contacts in the laptop. I was able to fix mine with a pair of tweezers although this will undoubtedly happen again so I bought a piece of 1/8" finish plywood (you can buy 2ft square from home depot for about ten bucks) I cut it about 4" wider and 2" deeper then my laptop then made corners and platforms to to secure and raise laptop for better ventilation I also made a swivel device to secure the cord. I used a two part epoxy to glue all parts together. This works very well and should make your laptop last a lot longer as it will keep it well ventilated you can also, as I did make a holder for your mouse to the right (or left) of lap top. This solves any future problems with power connection makes your laptop more comfortable to use, and makes it truly usable as a LAP top.
 

does anyone have a picture of where to solder? thanks
 

wolfman,


can you help me identify the solder points on the MB? Are they the 3 horizontal points right inside from the power port and then the 1 single point vertical down from the middle 3 points (if that makes any sense) thanks
sean
 


DEAR R3000 OWNER. BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. THE R3000 IS AMONG THE WORST OF MANY LAPTOPS THAT EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE SMALL RECIEVER UNIT INSIDE THE CASE OF THE COMPUTER THAT RECIEVES THE METAL LEAD FROM THE POWER CORD. ITS ABOUT $30 FOR THE PART, PLUS 1.5 HOURS LABOR. ONCE YOU HAVE THE OLD RECIEVER PART REPLACED AND THE COMPUTER IS WORKING NORMALLY - DON'T MOVE THE COMPUTER ANY MORE THAN YOU HAVE TO OR IT WILL BEGIN TO FAIL AGAIN! ITS JUST A BAD DESIGN.
 

Rod

Your explanations and links to the manual are great!!! THANK YOU!!! NOW as I am truly an amateur and all the 'local' guys say send it back to Compaq (who have quoted me a start price $200 no guarantees and all onus and liability on me). I am willing to have a go.

BUT I would love to be able to look at your links below so I can SEE what I am about. Have managed to for the most part pull the laptop apart, but chickened out and put it all back together again. Could you please send me the updated working links!! OR alternatively send the file to my email address entuchano@iname.com.

I now figure having a go myself is better than having an anchor (though my husband might appreciate a new one for the boat LOL)

Thanks in advance and much appreciated

Tracey


The entire repair took about 4 hours, with breaks and a few brews. I would not trust anyone else to do it. Most of the time was just figgerin' out how to do it from the manual. Actual work was about an hour. I used a weller WE550 soldering station, Temperature set at 73.

Ripped apart link
http://206.130.101.158/pictures/Ripped Apart.jpg

Solder Here Link
http://206.130.101.158/pictures/Solder_Here.jpg

Sound On/Off Button Resolder Link
http://206.130.101.158/pictures/Sound OnOff Switch Bad Solder.jpg

Rod[/quotemsg]
 

HP removed the dis-assembly video's, probably afraid someone would take it as proof of the production failure issue with this model.
 


Didn't realize they were HPs own videos...hmmm....why do they need to put up a rpr video if it isn't a systemic problem!!! :ouch:

Well I am going to pull the back off and have another go. But now when I try to start it up I have a blank screen!!! No lights, not writing, nothing!!

Have taken the HD out and tested it using a USB case on another computer and it appears to be working OK, so it isn't that. Would RAM prevent it 'lighting' up??? Am thinking that there is nothing wrong with the screen itself as it all worked fine (apart from the power cord problem) before I pulled it appart to try and fix that.

ANY help appreciated, or suggestions of other things to try to test the screen.

OH did plug in a external screen using the cable, but didn't wokr either, but I am not sure if you have to press something on the Compaq to make it use an external monitor or if it will automatically do so if once is plugged in to the back screen socket.

THANKS HEAPS

Tracey
 
Also how the hell do you get the Forcecon Heatsink off. I have removed every screw i can find but the blasted thing wont budge!!!

AAAGGGGHHH

I'd pay someone if it didn't cost more than the blasted thing is worth as I really LIKE this laptop.

 
By removing the 4 spring screws. Wiggle it a bit, dried out thermal paste seems your issue, re-apply fresh paste when assembling again. The cpu itself is fixed by a lever (amd) or a single screw (intel).
No screen on startup is bad. Memory (main- or video-) failure (change, try per stick if 2 sticks are mounted), or a dead cpu can be the cause.
ps. try Fn-key + F4 key (switch screen)?
 
Thanks. Well tried removing both RAM sticks and seeing if one or other made a difference. Didn't so assume they are OK. SO HD, RAM OK.
IS the video card a part of motherboard or separate.

Looks like if another compnonent is shot, it is going to be TOO expensive to repair. $200 + parts is the best quote I have had. I've tried giving the forcecon a good wiggle after leaving on so it would all warm up and hopefully the glue would soften...no such luck, so have decided best to pay someone who KNOWS what they are doing. But want a bit of fore knowledge so I don't get ripped off. ie tell me the mb needs replacing when it is only a video card (separately). ALso figure they have more equipment to test each component.

Minimum charge $99....and they will quote complete repair job. SO min cost $99 max cost??? NEW laptop some time n the future. Don't have the funds now, so wil just have to make do.

THANKS for your answer and for all your help

Tracey
 
Hi,

I also have a R3000 and it is beginning to develop the same power cord problem. I have been following this very confusing thread and I still do not know how to solve the problem. Could someone send a functioning link to a site that has photographic detail on the soldering required to resolve this issue. I do not want to take the R3000 apart so I will be looking for one the suggested shortcut.

Also has anyone attempted to take the expansion slot apart to gain access to the internal power points.

I contacted HP and attempted to get info from them on the pin configuration of the expansion slot but I was given the run around. If you examine the slot there are two copper coloured parts each at either end. I am assuming that they are the power points but which is the input and which the outout.

I am in Scotland and I can get parts from a company called Maplin.

Thanks for all your help in this.

Joe
 



I have the same problem. I plug the cord in and out a few time until I have power. I will have power from 5 min to a few hours. I do see it is getting worse so I will need to have it fixed. I did find a sponsor at the bottom of the page that states they will fix it for $99.00 with a lifetime garantee. Sounds pretty good.
http://comprehensivecomputing.net/power_jack_repair.htm#faq
Has anyone tried them? i think it is worth a shot since I do like my R3000. I have been using this PC for 6 years now without a problem.
 

Pin layout and port connector is described some posts up on this page.
 
In my opinion, Joe, pay for the sponsor to do it. After I pulled mine apart to 'have a go', found the forcecon glued solidly and rather than risk breaking the motherboard decided I would get someone to fix it for me. Then when I went to power up, no screen, so either I wrecked something else, OR another problem just coincidentally happened.
The DIAGRAMATICS for soldering have been removed, the link is dead. I believe in a previous link someone said they were from a HP site, guess they no longer wish to be seen as showing that this IS a MAJOR issue with this laptop.
GOOD LUCK, looks like mine is now going to be a 'sell for parts' job.
THink I might pay the guys $99 for a quote first, because I can't afford to spend the money to get another decent even 2nd hand one (which may come with its own issues).
THANKS to all who tried to help
Tracey
 


Hi,


Thanks for responding. Is that the layout from left to right. If I am looking at the side of the r3000 the negative is on the extreme left. THanks.

joe
 
You are welcome.
Yes, negative on the left. If you can get any power in over the regular dc-in jack (maybe by holding the dc-in plug from the adapter in a certain position) you can also measure that voltage on that docking port connector.
If you have power on the docking port and it is not dropping when you move the adapter's plug to the laptop, the problem is somewhere else.
 
Greetings everyone, Im sorry for skipping the entire 9 pages of this thread. I will go now my problem at hand.

I plugged in the battery to charged it then I noticed the thunder light is blinking, usually when charging the light is steady so I immediately removed the battery and switch on the laptop...but it wont switched on, I put the battery back with the light blinking again push the power button, the power light seemed to be lit but right after I removed my finger from pushing the power button the power light is no longer lit and the thunder light is blinking all the way.

any idea what could be wrong with my laptop?
 



I am having the same problem you are having and I have another solution for you. You can thank my mom for this solution. She put a small earring jewelry box under the power cord plug. So the laptop actually tilts diagonally because the back of the laptop rests on the power cord plug, which is on the earring box. The back of the laptop is lifted about 1 mm off the table. Maybe the extra upward pressure on the power cord pushes the plug into the motherboard?? All I know is it works and has been working for a year. The only annoying thing is that I have to carry an empty earring box wherever I take my laptop because my battery can’t hold a charge.
 
My suggestion would be get it fixed BEFORE it ends up as a broken piece on the motherboard. A stitch in time saves nine!!!

NOW for my question .... was watching the BOM site the other night as the daughter lives in the flood area in Lismore and needed to know if she would have to be evacuated. Lightening strike. Power surge. Power jack problem solved. Laptop "fried".

I may be MAD but am thinking of replacing with another HP/compaq. Apart from teh power jack issue I was very happy with my R3003AP. BUT I want to know if the power jack problem has been resolved. I DO NOT want to go through this again.

I know all brands have their little idiosyncracies, but this is a pain especially as it isn't easy to access for an amateur.

Also looking at may be a Mac Pro. Still deciding...will probably come down to $$$ depends on how much the insurance company gives me for the old one (yes, luckily it is covered!!!!)

Thanks

Tracey
 
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