How To Deal With Laptop Power Jack Failure
I just spent the last few hours repairing my HP laptop. Why, you may ask, didn't I take it to the shop? I just find it fun and challenging. Over the years I have found that laptops generally wear out in the same place no matter what the brand. The part that wears out is the power jack. When this part goes bad you can't even get a charged battery any longer.
The actual part is very cheap to purchase. Mine was only $10 plus $6.50 for shipping. I realize that everyone will not have the inclination or the know how to repair their own laptop, but the places that sell the part usually offer repair services too.
My point in telling this story is really all about the common failure point amongst all laptops (except the newer Macs). This must be one of the reasons Apple switched to the magnetic power connector. When I searched for my power jack, there was not a manufacturer left out of the list. Power jack failure is really a common problem. The actual part is only rated for a certain number of insertions of the power connector. When the part fails (and it will), you can no longer get a charge on the battery or power from the wall.
When the power jack is near failure, insertion of the power cord will not always be detected. Most laptops have some kind of indicator lights to show the power status. One more symptom is the battery not fully charging. This usually happens when the connection is loose and the indicator light goes unnoticed. So if this happens to be your laptop I am describing, you need not worry. There are many shops willing and able to repair your laptop. Also don't forget to check your warranty as this could be a covered repair.
If your power jack is getting loose, search for a shop right away or check that warranty. Failure will happen it is just a matter of time. And when that failure happens, Murphy's Law says you will be need to use that laptop for something very important at that very moment.
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