Blown capacitor on motherboard!!!

I am very sad, I bought a pre-owned laptop off of craigslist a m9700i-R1 (which everyone else tells me is labeled wrong on the bottom and is a m9750) It came without an OEM charger, it came with one that would give it just enough juice to power it on, but shut down on any graphically intense applications. I used this to install Windows 7 without any problems, then I get what is supposed to be an OEM adapter from ztronics.com and they sent me one that is not the correct amperage. Anyways, after using this charger for maybe 30mins I smell a burning smell out of the back of my computer. I shut down the computer immediately and tonight I finally opened up the computer and took off the heatsink and there is a burnt plastic, and it took out one of the capictors on the board right next to the cpu.

I was livid...I just spent $350 dollars for this thing and haven't even gotten to use it! The video card/cpu is fine, and with the charge it had left in the battery still powers on and boots to windows, but now I'm afraid to even charge it once I get the correct adapter. Also, when I go into work next I am going to bring the charger and see if it is giving out the correct voltages using a voltmeter, and if it is not, then ztronics is going to be either replacing my motherboard or buying me a new one, because there is a 30 day warranty for the adapters. I have a feeling it is the ac adapter, because I was able to install windows and leave it on for like an hour and a half without smelling anything, but only when I tried it with the charger they sent me did I notice this. Also, in case it doesn't turn out to be the ac adapter, anybody know of anywhere online to get a motherboard cheap? Or know of anyone who will buy alienware parts? I know the video card sells on ebay for around $250-300 dollars, so worst case I could part it out or sell it.

 

I don't think they will replace your motherboard, as the warranty was for the adapter, not your motherboard. You may not like this, but its kinda your fault for not checking if it was 100% compatible with your laptop.

This is the only thing I could find for your motherboard: eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

Email and ask them about your issue.

 

The motherboards are like gold dust, you bought it very cheap, so you should be able to scrap it and make your money back, $350.00 dollars = £224.00 in the UK they sell for £350.00 - £450.00 = $544.00 - $700.00, so it was cheap, even non working ones, the last 2 ive seen go for £180.00 - £200.00 = $280.00 - $310.00 and they were completely dead.
I sold my 7950GTX card for £140 = $217.00 and then youve all the other bits to sell, just sell the parts and buy an M17.

 

Well, the good news is that the laptop powers on and boots into windows. The bad news is, I almost fried my computer completely and need to RMA the adapter, but am getting hit with a 30% restocking fee, plus I have to pay shipping. (LAME!) Anyways, I am buying the correct adapter and I have the original part number for the ac adapter thanks to another member on this site. I sprayed where the burnt smell was with contact cleaner, and that got rid of most all the smell. While I had the computer opened up, I also put on some new thermal compound for the CPU. Hopefully everything will work normally and I won't notice any problems. If all else fails, I will most likely part everything out.