FAQ Why won't my laptop power on?
From Computer Evolution Knowledgebase
So your laptop doesn't power on? This can be a a really simple issue or a really complicated issue.
First we have to establish whether or not your computer is really not powering on. Not powering on can often be confused with the computer not booting up. If your computer isn't powering on that usually means that when the power button is pressed there are no flashing or solid lights, no fans or noise of any type, and no post (AKA nothing shows up on the screen). If the first two are true but you just don't see anything your screen then reference FAQ Why can't I see anything on my monitor?
Now that we know your laptop isn't powering on, we need to decide whether or not it should be regarded as a doorstop. There are four questions we should be asking ourselves at this point:
- Is the battery bad?
- Is the power adapter broken?
- Is the power jack broken?
- Is the motherboard the culprit?
Now let's go into more detail.
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Is the battery bad?
Believe it or not the battery can be causing this issue. And believe it or not, most laptops will work without the battery in them. So, unplug the adapter from the laptop and flip it over. Now locate the battery. Usually the battery will be denoted with a little image of a battery. It also most likely will not come out without pressing or holding release clips. Once you do that some force might be required to free the battery.
Now plug the adapter and try powering it on again. If it powers on then you know the battery was the issue. You probably need a new battery. If you only plan on using the laptop on AC without the battery then maybe you don't even need that.
Is the power adapter broken?
If your laptop is not booting up still then perhaps it's not the battery. Now let's see if our power adapter is broken. It is notable that the power adapter is the piece that plugs into the wall outlet.
One of the easiest ways to know if the power adapter is broken is to see if there is a little light on the adapter anywhere. This way if the light does not light up we can just say the adapter is bad. Otherwise the only other way to know is to get another adapter that is exactly the same as the one you have or at least a universal power adapter that works for your model. The logic is, if another power adapter works with your laptop then your power adapter is broken. You need a new one then.
Is the power jack broken?
So neither your power adapter or battery seems to be broken? Well, it's possibly your power jack. Now how do we tell if it's your power jack? That's actually a pretty tough call. Let's first take out the battery.
We can start by plugged in your power adapter to your computer. Now wiggle it a little bit. If it has some play (meaning it does feel loose) then try holding it to one side then turning your computer on. Now try holding it to another side and turning your computer on. If the laptop powers on while the AC adapter is held to one side and then powers off when it is released then it is your power jack. Even if it does do this, there is still a chance it is your power jack. Thus making this a very hard issue to detect.
Now, as far as a bad power jack goes, replacing the power jack might fix the problem, it might not. Most likely the power jack needs to be replaced and re-soldered. Of course here at Computer Evolution we can do that. However, this will only work if the motherboard is not broken where the jack is. And even after a new jack has been re-soldered, the jack is usually weaker than how it comes from the factory and you will have to operate it with great care.
Of course soldering a new jack cheaper than replacing the motherboard. It's just never a guaranteed option.
Is the motherboard the culprit?
If the battery and the power adapter are both not bad, and you're sure it's not sure jack (or you think it's your jack and re-soldering sounds like a bad option for you), then your motherboard would have to be replaced. Now, since the motherboard is likely the most expensive piece in your whole system (next to the LCD screen) and the laptop will have to be taken apart to be replace the motherboard, it's a trend to say that it's not worth fixing. However it is certainly possible to do. But in some cases, a motherboard might even be half or more than the cost of a new machine.
What's even more, whatever caused the motherboard to go bad might have also caused other components to go bad. That, of course, cannot be determined until the motherboard is replaced.
The only guaranteed option in this case is to transfer your data (or have somebody, namely us, transfer your data) to a new machine.
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Categories: FAQ | Support
