Chosen Solution
Hi @incognegro918 , You can connect the laptop’s HDD into another computer to retrieve your files. Here’s an example of the various ways to do this. It may be prudent to back up your files this way before trying to fix the laptop as at least this way you have them in case anything goes wrong with the repair and corrupts the HDD for example, unless you remove the HDD that is ;-) Here’s a link to the ifixit Toshiba Satellite C855-S5115 Repair guide, which should be of some help to gain access to the motherboard etc. As you say, it appears as though the DC-In jack has been bypassed and the DC Power is connected directly to the appropriate connections on the motherboard. The DC-In jack is a plug in module (example only) so if the connector on the motherboard hasn’t been ruined by the “modification” then perhaps you can replace the jack and then re-modify the power adapter so that it has the correct plug on it so that the laptop has a standard removable external power connection again.
Make sure the chassis is intact when you open it to fix the jack. Many consumer grade laptops made since ~2007 are so cheaply made this is a normal problem. It can be fixed with hot glue, but it needs a new chassis and support to fix it properly. The issue is this will total out the laptop because of the cost of parts. That part doesn’t concern me… I’m more concerned if the previous owner left the connector intact and only cut the power jack cable; hope for that. If they also removed the SMD connector this is going to be a lot more difficult to reverse. You did get it for $25, so if they did modify the board this won’t be an expensive write-off, if you aren’t willing to fix the board.
