Troubleshooting Guide

Troubleshooting Guide

Troubleshooting Guide

Use the following information at your own Risk!

Still under construction

Let's get started with the three main rules:

1) It's not the BIOS

2) It's not the BIOS

3) It's not the BIOS

For some reason most OEM phone service people start troubleshooting with instructions to restore Windows (dumb in most cases) and/or issue an instruction to update some driver and/or the machine's BIOS. (very dumb idea) I guess that's so that they can maintain a less than the 5 minute phone call average - that's how many phone tech's earn their monthly bonus money!

But we will use LOGIC and not emotion to troubleshoot a laptop failure

Determine the problem:

1) Do a physical look see at the laptop and determine if there is a problem caused by a major mechanical failure. Fix these first.

2) Turn On the laptop. Does the laptop show that power is applied? If yes, then go to Step 3. Else:

A) If the AC adaptor has a light - is it lit? If there is a light and it is not on, does it come on when the AC adaptor is removed from the laptop's power plug? (You may need to remove from AC power and plug back in without adapter being plugged into the laptop)

If no light - determine if the AC adaptor functions. A volt meter should be used to test the output side of the adapter.

Note: Do not use any test equipment if you do not know how to use it.

Determine the output voltage matches the output voltage nearly matches the output voltage as listed on the adaptor.

Most adaptors are not closely regulated and the voltage may vary by a few volts from the rated voltage and should read higher that rated when there is no load applied.

Low voltage may prevent the laptop from operating if more than 20% lower than rated voltage. AThe laptop may function at low voltage, but the battery may not charge correctly.

If okay go to step 3, else replace the AC adaptor with a correct replacement.

B) If the AC adaptor does not have a light, does the laptop show that power is applied when the AC adaptor is plugged in? If not, test the AC adaptor as in step 2.A above.

If adapter test okay go to Step 3, else replace the AC adaptor with a correct replacement.\

3) Is the laptop smoking or signs of fire? If so, remove power and then extinguish fire. (Yes, this happens!)

If fire has occured then determine if the laptop is worth sending to a laptop repair center. End of troubleshooting.

Hopefully there's no smoke or fire and go to Step 4.

4) Does the laptop display the POST screen after power is turned on. POST = Power On Self-Test screen. Some major brand laptops may require a Function key command to display this screen - so use the OEM splash screen for this test. If NO, then go to Step 7. If YES, go to Step 5.

5) Remove AC power and determine if the battery will power the laptop. If Yes, then go to Step 12. Else go to Step 6.

6) Apply AC power again. Does the battery charge? Charge and repeat Step 5. If the battery is not charging or will not charge the replace the battery. End of troubleshooting unless the replacement battery also fails to charge. Then E-mail me.

7) Does the laptop have any signs of life after the power button is pressed. Look for flashing drive lights and or if the LCD blinks. Also listen for sounds of the floppy drive or hard drive motor spinning or read/write head resetting? Does the CPU fan begin to run? Does the status lights or status icons change after a few seconds? Does the LCD backlighting comes on?(White Screen)

If no signs of life then please go to Step 8. Else go to Step 9.

8) Double check that the laptop is receiving power from the AC adapter by looking at the laptop's adapter connector. Is there any damage to this connector. If so go to Step 10.

Often a laptop's CPU is mounted in a plastic socket and with some CPU socket it is possible that the socket bumps open from normal usage. This step will require good mechanical skills and a bit of knowledge of compater repair. If you do not possess thise skills then go to Step 10.

Else, remove the laptop battery and AC adapter plug to remove all forms of power to the laptop.

Then turn the laptop over (in most cases - see your manual) and look for an removable cover that in most cases has the cooling air opening. Some laptops may require lifting of the keyboard or major disassembly to find the CPU and it's cooling heatsink.

Remove the cover and remove the heatsink assembly. See if the socket has marking for open and closed. If so, then move the socket to the closed position. If the socket was open then replace the removed components and retest the laptop. If the socket is now closed and the laptop does not boot then go to Step 10.

9) Determine if the laptop LCD has failed to turn on, the laptop may appear to be dead. Try an external CRT or LCD monitor. If the external monitor displays video correctly then there's a problem with the laptop's LCD display circuits. If the external monitor works then go to Step 11. Else go to step 10.

10) E-mail me.

11) To be added June 2004. E-mail for now.