My laptop's died

lionking · 2nd January 2010, 02:16 AM

It was working perfectly, but the internet (wireless) was slow so I decided to re-boot. Nothing now, just a black screen. Hardware problem no doubt, power supply or something. Is there anything I can try before taking it into the tech guys at work in a few days?

biomorph · 2nd January 2010, 04:27 AM

Originally Posted by lionking

It was working perfectly, but the internet (wireless) was slow so I decided to re-boot. Nothing now, just a black screen. Hardware problem no doubt, power supply or something. Is there anything I can try before taking it into the tech guys at work in a few days?

don't you get anything on the screen at all? nothing?

Any lights on the base unit at all, is the harddrive light working? (that means it is booting, but you cant see anything)

if you have detachable wireless card (PCMCIA/USB) take it out, try again.

if you've an external monitor port on the back of it, put a different monitor on. if it works then, and doesn't when the other monitor is removed then its the screen, or cable, probably.

shut the screen so that you can still just see it, or move it about while booting, to test for possible intermittant cable problem (thats a "maybe" test not a definate.,)

take the small panel off the back, if there is one, and take the RAM chips out and put them back in a gain a couple of times to reseat the connectors, unconnected or badly connected ram can stop the whole caboodle, sometimes.

make sure the fans are working.

check your power leads are properly plugged in , and take out the battery, try again.

remove all your peripherals too and cables, execpt the power cord, try again. i wouldn't bother testing it without the power plugged in anyway, as you need to have reliable power, if your battery system is broken, somehow.

out side of the above, I'd have the back off and reseat the processor, if possible (careful there tiger).

the external power supply can be checked for out put on another same model laptop, or a cheap multimeter.

TobiasTheViking · 2nd January 2010, 07:55 AM

I would also add, take out the battery, keep it out for a little while, and try to turn on the computer without the battery in it.

2nd January 2010, 02:16 AM	#1
lionking In the Peanut Gallery Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 47,161	My laptop's died It was working perfectly, but the internet (wireless) was slow so I decided to re-boot. Nothing now, just a black screen. Hardware problem no doubt, power supply or something. Is there anything I can try before taking it into the tech guys at work in a few days?
	__________________ A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject. Sir Winston Churchill

2nd January 2010, 04:27 AM	#2
biomorph Muse Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 852	Originally Posted by lionking It was working perfectly, but the internet (wireless) was slow so I decided to re-boot. Nothing now, just a black screen. Hardware problem no doubt, power supply or something. Is there anything I can try before taking it into the tech guys at work in a few days? don't you get anything on the screen at all? nothing? Any lights on the base unit at all, is the harddrive light working? (that means it is booting, but you cant see anything) if you have detachable wireless card (PCMCIA/USB) take it out, try again. if you've an external monitor port on the back of it, put a different monitor on. if it works then, and doesn't when the other monitor is removed then its the screen, or cable, probably. shut the screen so that you can still just see it, or move it about while booting, to test for possible intermittant cable problem (thats a "maybe" test not a definate.,) take the small panel off the back, if there is one, and take the RAM chips out and put them back in a gain a couple of times to reseat the connectors, unconnected or badly connected ram can stop the whole caboodle, sometimes. make sure the fans are working. check your power leads are properly plugged in , and take out the battery, try again. remove all your peripherals too and cables, execpt the power cord, try again. i wouldn't bother testing it without the power plugged in anyway, as you need to have reliable power, if your battery system is broken, somehow. out side of the above, I'd have the back off and reseat the processor, if possible (careful there tiger). the external power supply can be checked for out put on another same model laptop, or a cheap multimeter.
biomorph Muse Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 852	Last edited by biomorph; 2nd January 2010 at 04:32 AM.

2nd January 2010, 07:55 AM	#3
TobiasTheViking Resident Viking Autist Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 6,925	I would also add, take out the battery, keep it out for a little while, and try to turn on the computer without the battery in it.
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