Dealing with Power Loss on a Laptop
If your laptop shuts down
unexpectedly or just won't turn on, you might think it's
decided to stop working permanently. But before you declare
your laptop as dead as a Monty Python parrot ("stiff, bereft
of life, resting in peace, off the twig, kicked the bucket,
shuffled off its mortal coil, and a member of the choir
invisible"), consider the most common causes of laptop power
loss.
Laptop powerlessness can come (or not come) from many
sources:
Battery troubles: Your laptop's power loss could be one of
these problems with the battery:
• The battery may be fully discharged. Even if you're not
using your laptop computer, the battery still slowly drains
over time; the older and more used the system, the shorter
the shelf life for the battery. If your battery is
discharged, you just need to find an AC outlet and plug your
power supply in - that way, you can both bring your laptop
back to life and recharge the battery at the same time.
• If you can run your laptop from its AC adapter, you know
that the computer itself is working. The next task is to
determine whether the battery was merely bereft of electrons
and needs to be charged, or whether it can't hold a charge
and needs to be replaced.
• The battery may be improperly installed in its slot or
bay. Some laptops have an unfortunate design flaw that
allows the battery to work its way out of its connectors
while traveling. Try removing and then reinserting your
battery.
AC adapter issues: Your lack of laptop power could be a
problem with the AC adapter. These are a few common AC
adapter difficulties:
• The AC adapter may be improperly connected. Some adapters
have two cords - one that plugs into the wall outlet at one
end and the incoming side of the adapter at the other, and
another cord that plugs into the adapter output and
continues to a plug that connects to the laptop. Make
certain everything is snugly attached.
• The wall outlet may not be live. Try another outlet, or
plug a lamp or radio into the outlet you're using to confirm
that it's powered.
• Some wall outlets are controlled by wall switches and may
not be powered all the time.
• The laptop may have some internal problem. It could be a
problem with the internal electrical parts of the laptop,
which isn't good news. The motherboard, the AC adapter, or
another critical component is fried. If you can borrow a
compatible AC adapter that you know is good from a friend,
repair shop, or store, see if it brings the computer to
life. If not, decide whether the system is worth repairing.
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Laptop Repairs Guide
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