Apologies for the long post; just need to get this out for my peace of mind.
I’m in college studying computer science, so my laptop (a 4-year-old Lenovo Legion 5 with an i7 core and Nvidia GTX) is my lifeline since I don’t have a desktop. Recently, it just stopped charging. Worked fine in the morning, but later that day, it wouldn’t turn on when I plugged it in. After a while, it did start up but wouldn’t charge, even with a different charger. My first thought was that the charging port was the issue, but I noticed it would require soldering to replace, so I decided to take it to a repair shop.
I went to a small, highly rated family-owned shop with good reviews online. They let me watch them open up the laptop and pointed out a lot of loose screws and dust. They were surprised it hadn’t broken down sooner, given its wear and tear. They gave me an initial estimate of $50 to $289 and said it would take 2–3 days.
The next day, I called for an update. The guy working on it said he’d been at it all morning and that a loose screw had caused some damage on the board, including a fried capacitor and motherboard issues. He says he has pictures of the damage and found a replacement board for $599.99 from China. He said he does flat-rate pricing, so the total cost would be $599.99, no more.
I told him I might want a second opinion, and he started saying he’s the only guy in town who can replace boards like this. He mentioned he’d already started replacing the mousepad and capacitor. I’m going in two days to look at it, but I’m pretty sure I’ll take it elsewhere no matter what.
My concerns:
Maybe they’re just confused, and it can be fixed cheaper somewhere else.
They’re lying to upcharge me, but it’s fixable at a lower price elsewhere.
They’re right, and the board does need a pricey replacement.
Worst-case: they’re lying, and now they might damage it to match their story since I’m asking for proof.
It’s all a bit fishy because the laptop was working fine aside from not charging, so would it really have all these issues? Also, one of their few bad reviews mentioned something similar about an expensive part from China. Should I be worried they’ll damage it to support their claim? I didn’t take any internal pics before handing it over. Advice appreciated!
Hey, if you’re still getting occasional blue screens (BSOD), we need to see the crash logs to know what’s going on.
Check if there are any files in C:\Windows\Minidump, and if so, zip that folder and upload it. You can use a site like catbox.moe or mediafire.com to share. Also, if you only have one file, follow this guide to set up Small Memory Dumps.
This info could really help figure out what’s going on with your laptop!
Honestly, yeah, this could be legit. Nowadays, many laptops just have everything on one or two boards. If the charging component is on the main board, a full replacement might be needed.
In my shop, I’ve seen cases where the charging circuit itself fails. A lot of times, it’s right on the main board. Sometimes you see burnt parts; sometimes, it’s hidden damage. Definitely get that second opinion, though.
Yeah, I’ve dealt with similar things on Dell Alienware laptops. They often have the charging circuit integrated into the main board, so there’s no easy fix for it. Even a skilled tech might struggle to isolate the problem without replacing the whole board.
Honestly, we can’t know for sure if he’s lying, but what he’s saying is possible. Everything in a laptop these days is integrated on one board, so fixing specific parts is tricky.
If there was a short, it could mess with other components. Replacing the board is pretty common, and it’s often close to the cost of a new laptop. Finding replacement boards can also be tough since many come from third-party suppliers in places like China.
He could have started replacing parts thinking you’d go through with the board replacement. If you want him to reassemble it for a second opinion, be aware he might charge extra. Just something to keep in mind!
If your laptop is over 4 years old, needing a replacement board or charging port isn’t too surprising. Older model boards can be pricey, especially if you’re looking outside the U.S.
Loose screws could happen with time; it’s rare, but I’ve heard that vibration can do that over years. If there’s a lot of damage, a full replacement might make more sense than trying to solder on new pieces.
Used to do laptop repair myself. Here’s a few things to note with your model:
The charging port on your Lenovo Legion 5 is soldered to the motherboard, so a short could mean the board is toast.
Loose screws can definitely cause issues if they’re moving around in there, but you’d likely hear it.
I’ve seen the boards for your model go for around $350–$600 on eBay, depending on the specs.
If it’s indeed the whole board, the cost he quoted doesn’t seem too far off. Might be cheaper just to get a new laptop, or even a used Legion 5 and swap the SSD over. Either way, a second opinion couldn’t hurt, especially for something like this!
If your laptop has a cracked chassis and loose screws, it’s seen some rough use. Typically, when a laptop stops charging, it’s either the battery, the charger, or the motherboard.
Charging port issues often mean the whole board needs replacing because it’s soldered on. A motherboard replacement on an old laptop can easily run $600 or more. Honestly, a new laptop might be a better investment.
For situations like this, extending the warranty with Lenovo and then waiting a bit to send it in could have been an option. Just a thought for the future!
If you can find a similar model used for $300–$400, that might be the way to go. Laptops are hard to repair due to all the proprietary parts. I personally stick with desktops because it’s easier to replace individual components if they fail. Just something to consider if you don’t need a laptop for portability.
Did you check out their reviews to make sure they’re not sketchy? And yeah, if it’s true that this is a common issue with Lenovo, it’s definitely worth considering.