I'm asking on behalf of my uncle, who owns an ASUS TUF Gaming F15. The laptop was working normally after an earlier drop, although its display was badly cracked. He recently took it to a local repair shop for a screen replacement. The technician said he had another identical laptop that did not boot and planned to use its screen as a donor part.
Later that day, the technician called and said the laptop would no longer boot, so my uncle collected it. A trusted technician then inspected the machine and found soldering marks and apparent component or IC swaps on the motherboard. Before it went to the shop, the laptop powered on and ran games normally; now it shows no signs of receiving power. The repair shop still charged for the screen work and denies responsibility.
A replacement motherboard would cost roughly 70% of the laptop's original price. Could the damaged board realistically be repaired for less, and what would be the best next step? We have the laptop, evidence of the soldering work, and its condition before the repair, but the shop is refusing to cooperate.
2 Answers
There may be a misunderstanding about what was swapped. Technicians generally do not replace random ICs without a reason, so the exact parts and board revision need to be identified. It is also possible the repair shop damaged the original board while testing it or accidentally exchanged more than the intended screen. Have the serial numbers and motherboard markings compared with the laptop’s original records, and ask the independent technician to document every replaced or missing component.
Do not authorize another repair based only on a verbal opinion. Get a written quote for board repair and compare it with the cost of a known-good used motherboard. If the shop supplied or installed the screen, it should also be checked for compatibility and damage before the laptop is powered again.
First, stop letting anyone else modify the board until you have thorough documentation. Take clear photos of the soldering, screw marks, missing parts, serial numbers, and the laptop’s current condition. Get a written diagnostic report from a reputable board-level repair specialist stating what was altered and whether the damage is consistent with the shop’s work.
A motherboard repair may be cheaper than replacement if the fault is limited to a power-management component, fuse, MOSFET, or damaged BIOS circuit. However, if the donor-board components were incompatible or multiple power rails were damaged, the board may not be economically repairable. Since it was working before the screen replacement and is now completely dead, the shop should at least explain and address the change in condition. Keep the receipt, messages, repair estimate, and any proof that it was working beforehand. Send the shop a written request for a remedy, then consider your local consumer-protection agency or small-claims process if they still refuse.
It was running normally shortly before the repair, including demanding games. Now it does not receive power at all, and the soldering marks are what made us suspicious. We’re planning to get an independent board-level diagnosis before doing anything else.