# Gateway MX3414 Laptop problem -- Loose DC jack **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 29, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gateway-mx3414-laptop-problem-loose-dc-jack/491193 "2009-03-29T17:11:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gateway-mx3414-laptop-problem-loose-dc-jack/491193/1 "2009-03-29T17:11:34Z")
My niece, who recenly lost her job, is now having problems with her laptop. It will not charge the battery. She used to be able to jiggle the charger at the DC jack to get it to charge, but that no longer works. Since shes out of a job, we would like to effect repair to this as inexpensively as possible. I have been unable to find instructions online for removing the cover of the laptop to inspect the jack. I am fairly decent with computers, having built several desktops and repaired them as well, but not a lot of experience with notebooks (replacing a keyboard is about the most I have done). Any info or help you could give me would be appreciated. If you happen to run a laptop repair business and this is something you can handle, you can also contact me via PM or at crazyjoemama at hotmail (you know the rest). Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gateway-mx3414-laptop-problem-loose-dc-jack/491193/2 "2009-03-29T17:53:43Z")
A loose DC jack on a notebook MB really is a job for the repair center. Modern high density motherboards are multi-layer and you can screw them up royally without very precise well regulated soldering. [Here is the MB](http://support.gateway.com/s/Mobile/Q106/Bishop/4001189R/4001189Rmv.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gateway-mx3414-laptop-problem-loose-dc-jack/491193/3 "2009-03-29T18:06:01Z")
[Ebay offers $ 99 DC jack repair](http://cgi.ebay.com/MOTHERBOARD-REPAIR-GATEWAY-SOLO-MX3412h-MX3414-MX3416_W0QQitemZ260384391083QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item260384391083&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50) [Jack itself for $ 10](http://cgi.ebay.com/Gateway-MX3414-MX3416-Motherboard-DC-Power-Jack-43_W0QQitemZ310104042062QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item310104042062&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116) Looking at jack pin out it’s pretty obvious what’s involved re replacing the jack. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gateway-mx3414-laptop-problem-loose-dc-jack/491193/4 "2009-03-29T18:16:33Z")
[These guys might be more price competitive.](http://stores.ebay.com/Computekinc-us_W0QQfsubZ6) ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gateway-mx3414-laptop-problem-loose-dc-jack/491193/5 "2009-03-29T18:19:09Z")
[computer shop owner hat on] If you are good with a soldering iron, a talented novice can do this. The biggest problem with these types of repairs is actually the teardown and reassembly which can take even a skilled tech a few hours. We do this in our shop…we charge $150.