Here is the situation,
I am using my PCG TR5AP the other day, and I plugged in my Cowon A2 pm3 player. Without further ado, a heard a small bang sound and the VAIO shut down, and could not be opened again. Normally I plug my Cowon into the wall socket and the usb port at the same time but today as I was in a rush I simply just plugged my Cowon into the usb port without plugging it into the wall charger first. After this, whenever the power button is pressed, it gives no indication at all, nothing powering up and no LEDs or lights lighting up at all. Thinking at first I might have burned something, I smelt for smoke and could not smell any odour at all.
Bringing this to my local computer store, I was told that because of the TR’s small size, I might have fried the motherboard because I was drawing too much power from the USB port. I don’t know if this is normal, has anyone had this happen before?
The computer store guy told me that it will cost 280 dollars + tax to have this repaired and approx. 2 weeks. However I’m not sure about all of this. IF the motherboard is fried like he said, because of simply drawing too much power from the USB port, I would think that it will cost more than 280 dollars to order a new motherboard for me. More likely, I think that maybe only a few wires are fried and he is way overcharging me to replace a few wires.
However I have little knowlodge about cases like this, so if anyone could give me some suggestions, I’ll appreciate it! Thanks

Well,

You are not the only one :(

Whenever I plugged my external HDD directly into my TR5 It would cause a surge on the USB hub.

So I decided to use my no name PCMCIA 4 port USB card, only this time I decided to plug a 5V adapter into the vacant 5V jack on it.

About 30 seconds later smoke started to come out of the TR :cry:  and a chip on the motherboard has a hole in it (as well as invisible damage elsewhere no doubt).

For me an expensive lesson.

For anyon that knows chips, it is a Texas Instruments PU2211A thats blown

Just to clarify, the lesson here is to be sure powered USB devices are on (plugged in) before connecting the USB plug?

UPDATE:

Obtained a replacement board from Impact Computers (USA).

It is now up and running again.

Good news,  it was only £330 with postage and luckily I was not charged Customs Duty.

Bad news, Despite ordering a board for a TR5 (1.1Ghz) I seem to have ended up with a TR2 (1.0Ghz) board.

Obviously this was not apparent until the laptop was back together.

Oh well, at least its all working again, but I am not 100% happy that my TR5 thinks its a TR2 now. I just cannot go through the hassle of dismantling again, returning the board and hopefully eventually getting the correct one. I am not also sure that the numerous flimsy ribbon cables would withstand further disruption.