From: sknapp@iastate.edu (Steven M. Knapp)
Subject: Re: T1000SE Problem
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1993 23:46:01 GMT

In article <93010.125448PXF3@psuvm.psu.edu> <PXF3@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:

>The problem: The socket where the AC adapter plug goes into the laptop is
>loose.  The connection doesn't always make contact.  This is messing up the
>battery.  As I type this, for example, the thing is plygeed in, but thered
>light isn't one.  I have to jiggle it to get the contact to work.  I hate to
>jiggle it too much cause I know I'm probably working it loose.  The battery
>now holds a charge for about 15 minutes.  I used to get way over 3 hours off
>a charge, sometimes 4.
>Do you think this is an open-the-case-and-tighten-the-screws type repair, or
>should I go to the Toshiba dealer for a professional repair?
>
>E-mail or posted replies are welcome--whatever you prefer.

I thought I would post since I know I had this problem too, and perhaps others
do as well. (Horray, good to see the T1000SE earning space in this newsgroup
again too!)

First try a squirt of contact cleaner. Cramolin is a GREAT brand, but the
stuff from RadShack works too. If the problem is not dirt, but instead a old,
broken, or loose jack read on.

Ask Toshiba to fix it and they will not see a broken power jack, but a broken
motherboard, the smallest internal unit which they deal with. This repair will
cost more than the computer is worth, parts alone! $500 when I called about
a year back. So, unless you really love your T1000SE, the repair is not worth
it. UNLESS!

*the crowd grows quiet, the spotlight focuses on the power jack of a reciently
sold T1000SE*

You replace it your self. This is not a modem installation job, nor is it
without risk. The jack is soldered to the motherboard, although far away from
it, the same piece that the CPU is attached. All circutry is CMOS, and VERY
static sensisitive, a wrist strap is a MUST. I never did find a match for the
original plug, you may find one or you may need to use what you can find, and
make it fit.  This may involve changing the plug on any powersupplys you may
use as well.  But if you are creative, and comfortable soldering and
desoldering to a PCB, then you should have no problems.

I used a switchcraft plug, barrel like the original, but a different size (was
available). This plug was chassis mount, not PCB, and of much higher quality
than the plastic crap Toshiba used.

BACK UP ALL DATA! This procedure will remove all power from the CPU and RAM,
all memory and settings will be lost.

First remove the battery and modem. Next comes the keyboard, there are three
screws on the bottom of the front edge that hold it in, then it snaps out. The
flexable cable that attaches it to the motherboard is slightly fragile so be
careful. To remove this cable there is a slide on the socket that it plugs
into which must be unlatched, after this the cable should come loose easily.
DO NOT FORCE IT, OR ANYTHING ELSE FOR THAT MATTER!

Next comes the screen/top, remove the screws under the battery and modem slots
as well as the three new ones exposed by removing the keyboard. Lift up,
making sure to note how the wires sit in the area under the LED's, do not lift
too much before looking. Unplug the large connector which drives the screen
and set the whole assembly aside.

The disk drive, modem port, backup batterys, and battery tray are pretty self
explanatory. My only advice is to keep track of the screws and cable routing.
The screws are of different lengths, and the cables do run in strange ways at
times.

Remove the RAM card if you have one, and the remainder of the screws. Lift out
the motherboard, being careful of the shielding material located near the RAM
card slot and the screen adjustment knobs. 

Examine the jack, and use a conduitity tester to determine which pins go
where. Remove the jack. I used thick wire inserted through the PCB as a place
to mount my non-PCB mounting jack. After posistioning the jack in a simmilar
place as the old, solder the jack into place. Depending on the jack, you may
need to cut a notch in the battery tray to allow the notebook to be
reseassembeled. Reverse the procdedure for assembly.

Good luck!
If you need any additional help, please let me know!
I'll try to help in any way I can!

A few ideas, if this is over your head, then talk to electronics places in
town, and see if you can't get one of them to do the work. If not, let me
know....

________________________________________________________________________ 
Steven M. Knapp                             Computer Engineering Student
sknapp@iastate.edu                  President Cyclone Amateur Radio Club
Iowa State University; Ames, IA; USA      Durham Center Operations Staff