My laptop (Gateway MX7118) has developed a bad power button. In fact,
for a while, all the multimedia keys on this bar above the keyboard
with the power button have not worked all the time.

After ripping it apart, using a multimeter, I believe the cable
connecting this strip to the motherboard is at fault. At the
motherboard, a couple pins on the cable have 3.25v, but at the other
end of the cable, I get nothing. I'm no electronics expert, but I
suspect what isn't quite right. I don't know exactly what this type
cable is called, to begin to search for a new one at Mouser or
someplace like that. The pins are exposed on only one side of the
cable at each end, and they go into a socket that has a locking, push-
down mechanism. I've seen this setup in a few electronic devices.

So, I've been pondering another way to get around this. I was
thinking of using another 3.2v source nearby, and solder a wire to the
right pin and make a new button. But, I'm stuck wondering how to
figure which is the right pin, there are 10 or 12. With the cable
unreliable, I can't get good readings with the meter as I push various
buttons. Anyone think it's possible to do this and recreate a power
button?

Any other tips would be appreciated. I'm just not ready to give up on
this lil' machine.

On Jun 23, 2:02 am, jrco...******.com wrote:
> My laptop (Gateway MX7118) has developed a bad power button. In fact,
> for a while, all the multimedia keys on this bar above the keyboard
> with the power button have not worked all the time.
>
> After ripping it apart, using a multimeter, I believe the cable
> connecting this strip to the motherboard is at fault. At the
> motherboard, a couple pins on the cable have 3.25v, but at the other
> end of the cable, I get nothing. I'm no electronics expert, but I
> suspect what isn't quite right. I don't know exactly what this type
> cable is called, to begin to search for a new one at Mouser or
> someplace like that. The pins are exposed on only one side of the
> cable at each end, and they go into a socket that has a locking, push-
> down mechanism. I've seen this setup in a few electronic devices.
>
> So, I've been pondering another way to get around this. I was
> thinking of using another 3.2v source nearby, and solder a wire to the
> right pin and make a new button. But, I'm stuck wondering how to
> figure which is the right pin, there are 10 or 12. With the cable
> unreliable, I can't get good readings with the meter as I push various
> buttons. Anyone think it's possible to do this and recreate a power
> button?
>
> Any other tips would be appreciated. I'm just not ready to give up on
> this lil' machine.

You scare the S**T outa ME. I just hope you ain't a close nieghbour of
MINE! Good luck, chum & keep up your insurance payments. :-)

On Jun 25, 6:07?am, sandy58 <Alecki...@aol.com> wrote:
> On Jun 23, 2:02 am, jrco...******.com wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > My laptop (Gateway MX7118) has developed a bad power button. In fact,
> > for a while, all the multimedia keys on this bar above the keyboard
> > with the power button have not worked all the time.
>
> > After ripping it apart, using a multimeter, I believe the cable
> > connecting this strip to the motherboard is at fault. At the
> > motherboard, a couple pins on the cable have 3.25v, but at the other
> > end of the cable, I get nothing. I'm no electronics expert, but I
> > suspect what isn't quite right. I don't know exactly what this type
> > cable is called, to begin to search for a new one at Mouser or
> > someplace like that. The pins are exposed on only one side of the
> > cable at each end, and they go into a socket that has a locking, push-
> > down mechanism. I've seen this setup in a few electronic devices.
>
> > So, I've been pondering another way to get around this. I was
> > thinking of using another 3.2v source nearby, and solder a wire to the
> > right pin and make a new button. But, I'm stuck wondering how to
> > figure which is the right pin, there are 10 or 12. With the cable
> > unreliable, I can't get good readings with the meter as I push various
> > buttons. Anyone think it's possible to do this and recreate a power
> > button?
>
> > Any other tips would be appreciated. I'm just not ready to give up on
> > this lil' machine.
>
> You scare the S**T outa ME. I just hope you ain't a close nieghbour of
> MINE! Good luck, chum & keep up your insurance payments. :-)

"Sandy Spooge". Why don't you come out the closet for good? You
KNOW you really WANT TO, Uglies?