Laptop needs some fixing

[fpantovich]

Alrighty, first let me give you the background, then I'll get into the nitty gritty...

So, my friend had a laptop that "magically stopped working" one day. He tried to fix it himself, but couldn't figure it out. So, he gave it to me and said if you can fix it you can have it. He had another more powerful laptop and this one was given to him as a present, so he wasn't out any money. The laptop is a pretty sweet laptop, so I said hell yeah I'll take it and try to fix it up It's an MSI MS-16332 laptop.

MSI Notebook Product Specifications

Well, here's what I've discovered so far. The power gets a charge and turns on the "Charging Battery" light but the laptop itself will not power on. As I delved a little dipper into the guts of the laptop, I noticed that not only were several screws missing, but the ribbon that links the power button "board" to the mainboard was all types of best outta shape and a little seperated.

I also noticed that the connector for the ribbon that connects the touchpad to the mainboard is completely missing. I see where it is SUPPOSED to be, but it appears that he may have broken it off at some point. I was wondering why I always saw him using a regular mouse

I don't know where a good reliable plase is to buy replacement parts is, so figured I'd give a shout out to my TechIMO buddies and see what ya'll think. What I am wanting to buy at first would be screws for the entire thing (he lost a LOT of screws) and all of the ribbon cables for interconnecting everything. I'm wondering if it's just a messed up cable. The next thing I'll want to get if the cables replacement doesn't work would be a motherboard.

I sent an e-mail to MSI to try to get a quote on a replacement motherboard earlier today and haven't heard back yet, but I'm sure there's probably sites that'll sell em cheaper than MSI, so asking ya'll. Where's a good place to get replacement parts/components for a laptop?? Let me know what ya'll think, thanks

[fpantovich]

Ok, I think I might have figured out the problem with it not powering on. The small 1-inch long cable that connects the "button board" to the mainboard is severed internally...anybody know if there's a way to "jump" the power on a laptop like you can on a desktop motherboard? I'm going to try and cut open the ribbon and see if I can maybe tape it back together or something while I await a response. Thanks

[#43 fan]

Cut the ribbon, not the cable, reconnect using electrical tape?
I've used ebay with no problem, replaced an HP keyboard.

[fpantovich]

well, pretty sure I've fixed the cable about as best I could with scissors and some electrical tape...still nothing...

As for eBay, the only thing I could find on there for this laptop are spare batteries and replacement LCD's...couldn't find anything else, unfortunately...got any other sites?