global Laptop and motherboard repair tutorial | Page 60

Chapter 8
Laptop Not Powering On Issues & Resolutions; Part 3: Motherboard Issues
The laptop motherboard can have many different issues
Blown Voltage Regulator–
VR chips are also called MOSFETs. They will be one of the most common board failure
components you will come across. They will typically fail near the DC Jack or the DC Jack input
plug port (both upper and under sides of that area…)
Above are a few types of V-Regulator ICs
Some reasons they can fail include:
Power surge or Power Dip, Liquid contact, board flex, contact with any metal object while power
is running through laptop, pressure to the palm-rest or referred failure due to another component
failing such as a capacitor or series of caps.
You can sometimes visually see when they have a fault or have blown. They will reveal a crack or
can have a circle shaped burn mark on the surface if the IC itself.
A blown VR can cause severe damage to the motherboard by blowing out surrounding
components or burning the motherboard and ruining the traces on the upper levels of the board.