Hi All,

I have a Dell Inspiron 5150 in the shop. I lay it onto a flat surface
and it boots up fine. Whenever I touch the underside of the case or the
area around the touchpad, the system cuts out. I think someone has had
a go at opeing it up and forgot to put some part back in which is
causing it to short out that way. Havent seen this happening before so
any help as to what it could be would be fantastic.

Thanks in advance,

~The Doc~

On 1 Dec 2006 08:46:26 -0800, pc_docter89********.com wrote:

>Hi All,
>
>I have a Dell Inspiron 5150 in the shop. I lay it onto a flat surface
>and it boots up fine. Whenever I touch the underside of the case or the
>area around the touchpad, the system cuts out. I think someone has had
>a go at opeing it up and forgot to put some part back in which is
>causing it to short out that way. Havent seen this happening before so
>any help as to what it could be would be fantastic.
>
>Thanks in advance,
>

Sounds like a cracked mainboard.

"Chris Hill" <chill_mapsfree_000@centurytel.net> wrote in message
news:9c73n2d87u2u8mf1alcsovibm59g8df15k@4ax.com...
> On 1 Dec 2006 08:46:26 -0800, pc_docter89********.com wrote:
>
>>Hi All,
>>
>>I have a Dell Inspiron 5150 in the shop. I lay it onto a flat surface
>>and it boots up fine. Whenever I touch the underside of the case or
>>the
>>area around the touchpad, the system cuts out. I think someone has had
>>a go at opening it up and forgot to put some part back in which is
>>causing it to short out that way.

Or left out a standoff / put the screws back wrong causing the
motherboard to now be bent. Or used a long screw into short hole,
leaving something a bit loose or short / ground out against the threads
of a too long screw that is now protruding. Or maybe they just left a
washer in there under the motherboard.

I'd ask up front - a confession may save 1. their PC , and 2. hrs of
billable labor.

- Bobb - wrote:
> "Chris Hill" <chill_mapsfree_000@centurytel.net> wrote in message
> news:9c73n2d87u2u8mf1alcsovibm59g8df15k@4ax.com...
> > On 1 Dec 2006 08:46:26 -0800, pc_docter89********.com wrote:
> >
> >>Hi All,
> >>
> >>I have a Dell Inspiron 5150 in the shop. I lay it onto a flat surface
> >>and it boots up fine. Whenever I touch the underside of the case or
> >>the
> >>area around the touchpad, the system cuts out. I think someone has had
> >>a go at opening it up and forgot to put some part back in which is
> >>causing it to short out that way.
>
> Or left out a standoff / put the screws back wrong causing the
> motherboard to now be bent. Or used a long screw into short hole,
> leaving something a bit loose or short / ground out against the threads
> of a too long screw that is now protruding. Or maybe they just left a
> washer in there under the motherboard.
>
> I'd ask up front - a confession may save 1. their PC , and 2. hrs of
> billable labor.

Definately seems like someone has open the case up before it came to
me. Some of the screws are not tightened. I don't mind billable labour
though :)