Laptop Won’t Power Up

When a laptop won’t power up, the problem usually lies in the AC adapter or battery. Try running the laptop from just the battery, then try running it with the AC adapter with the battery removed. If possible, try borrowing a working battery of AC adapter from a friend or at a repair shop. Replace the adapter or battery as necessary.

Battery Doesn’t Charge

The operating system usually gives an indication as to whether the battery is charging. When the battery does not charge correctly, even when plugged in, the problem is usually a faulty AC adapter or a bad DC jack. If replacing the AC adapter does not solve the problem, the DC jack (where the AC adapter plugs into the laptop) may need to be repaired. Take the laptop to a professional repair technician.

Laptop Turns Itself Off

If your laptop is turning itself off at random moments, there could be a few causes. Over-voltage or under-voltage from the AC adapter can sometimes cause the computer to turn off, but the most common cause is overheating. When the laptop becomes overheated, it will often power down to save components from being damaged. Use a can of compressed air to blow as much dust and debris from the laptop’s vents as possible, and check that the cooling fan is working correctly.

These are the most common power issues you will encounter with any laptop. Hopefully, the troubleshooting tips above will help you to diagnose and fix the problems you encounter and get your laptop back up and running properly. If you have tried the troubleshooting tips above and are still having problems, it is a good idea to take your laptop to a qualified repair technician.

Reduced Battery Life

The most common problem for laptop batteries is reduced battery life. It is an inevitable fact that laptop batteries eventually lose some of their capacity, and therefore, the amount of time they can supply power on a single charge. Even a battery that is used correctly will eventually begin to lose some of its capacity. The typical life for a lithium ion battery is around 2 years.

Very Short Battery Life

A typical laptop battery loses a certain amount of capacity over a period of time. If your laptop battery has lost a significant amount of capacity in a short period of time, it may be damaged, or may be exhibiting the “memory effect” that causes some older battery technologies to lose a large amount of capacity. Unfortunately, this often requires a new battery.

Battery Won’t Charge

If a laptop battery won’t charge or charges much slower than normal, it is most likely damaged. This damage can be caused be extreme heat or other problems, but a battery that won’t charge usually needs to be replaced. If the laptop won’t run on either battery power or its AC adapter, however, the problem is most likely not the battery, but the AC adapter or power supply.

If you suspect your laptop battery needs to be replaced, it may be helpful to use a battery diagnostic tool to check the status of your battery. Do an internet search for the term battery diagnostic tool. These tools can give you information on the life, capacity, and health of your battery. If your battery needs replacing, it is recommended that you replace it as soon as possible to avoid damaging your laptop or other safety risks posed by a bad battery.

HP has been well known for their fan problems of the past. Their fan has been known to short out or collect dust, preventing any cooling attempts from becoming successful. This issue is not only a problem for Hewlett Packard laptops but also in a variety of other brand names. Unfortunately, there is little that one can do to prevent these issues. Cleaning the fan and using the proper maintenance tools to remove the dust that settles inside of the casing, is all that can be done to optimize the performance of internal cooling system. This method is rarely used, but can extend the life of both your fan and your entire laptop.



Problems with laptop power supplies can burn out parts of your motherboard and give the appearance of failure in the LCD screen itself. In many cases, these problems can be fixed just as easily as replacing the LCD screen, but can also become much more severe. In the event that such an issue has occurred, tests of the power connection may be necessary to determine the source of the problem and the best course of action that should be taken.

At this point pull, ever so slightly, on the power jack to determine if all of the solder has been removed. It is typical that not all of the solder was removed, so you may need to simultaneously pull the jack and heat the contact points to loosen the solder and remove the jack. After the jack has been removed, clean the leads with a small knife to get rid of any corrosion or dirt that may have built up on it. Next you will need to apply fresh solder to the contacts of the jack to prepare it for re-entry to the motherboard.

Before the jack can be placed on the motherboard, the board should be cleared of flux, or the small left-overs from the solder. With a small toothbrush and a light amount of rubbing alcohol gently rub the surface of the motherboard clean of the flux. After, apply a small fresh coat of solder to the contact points on the motherboard. Be sure to coat both sides; above and below for best results. Place something under the motherboard as you re-solder the jack into place; this will keep the motherboard level. Apply solder to each contact and you have finished. Repeat these steps in reverse to finish your project.