Problem with my laptop

Problem with my laptop

Re: Problem with my laptop Posted by Le Chief on Wed Jan 9th 2008 at 2:01pm
Le Chief
2605 posts
Posted 2008-01-09 2:01pm
Le Chief
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2605 posts 937 snarkmarks Registered: Jul 28th 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia
Hay

I got a hardware problem with my laptop. 99% of the time when I turn my laptop on, it wont start. The lights come up, but the hdd doesn't turn on, the screen doesn't light up, the thinking light doesn't blink. Nothing.

Wilson has already suggested that the problem is heat damage, and that doesn't sound like an unlikely reason, the laptop was on all day and it was pretty hot day today.

I am wondering if you guys had any other ideas or whatever, its a pretty new laptop, less than a year old, so it shouldn't be doing this.

I'm just lucky that I got lucky and it started up, if I shut down than try to start up, it wont work.

I'll probley have to read your posts on my brothers crappier computer, so your post isn't a waste.

Thanks in Advanced.
Aaron's Stuff
Re: Problem with my laptop Posted by reaper47 on Wed Jan 9th 2008 at 4:37pm
reaper47
2827 posts
Posted 2008-01-09 4:37pm
reaper47
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2827 posts 1921 snarkmarks Registered: Feb 16th 2005 Location: Austria
Less than a year? Then make sure you take advantage of the warranty in time.

Other than that: From my experience, in 99% of all cases computer hardware problems are of mechanical nature. I don't know what to suggest, though. Even if you open the case completely (which might not be the best idea regarding the warranty) chances are you won't find the problem.
Why snark works.
Re: Problem with my laptop Posted by satchmo on Wed Jan 9th 2008 at 4:48pm
satchmo
2077 posts
Posted 2008-01-09 4:48pm
satchmo
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2077 posts 1809 snarkmarks Registered: Nov 24th 2004 Occupation: pediatrician Location: Los Angeles, U.S.
It sounds like a power supply problem to me.
"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return." -- Toulouse-Lautre, Moulin Rouge
Re: Problem with my laptop Posted by Le Chief on Thu Jan 10th 2008 at 12:30am
Le Chief
2605 posts
Posted 2008-01-10 12:30am
Le Chief
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2605 posts 937 snarkmarks Registered: Jul 28th 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia
Ok guys, I have come to the conclusion that the laptop wont turn on if it is hot (like laptops normally are) or even a little bit warm(after running the laptop for a minute). When I get it to turn on, it works fine, but because it has gotten warm/hot, if I shut down and restart it wont turn back on until its completely cool. So why would this happen?
Aaron's Stuff
Re: Problem with my laptop Posted by Crono on Thu Jan 10th 2008 at 1:49am
Crono
6628 posts
Posted 2008-01-10 1:49am
Crono
super admin
6628 posts 700 snarkmarks Registered: Dec 19th 2003 Location: Oregon, USA
The cooling devices aren't working properly?
Blame it on Microsoft, God does.
Re: Problem with my laptop Posted by Le Chief on Thu Jan 10th 2008 at 2:02am
Le Chief
2605 posts
Posted 2008-01-10 2:02am
Le Chief
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2605 posts 937 snarkmarks Registered: Jul 28th 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia
Well, I'm feeling the laptop now, and it doesn't feel any hotter than it normally is. However, I got to say, about a month ago (before the problem) I took the laptop to a friends house and we had a lan game, and it was extreamly hot, it was so hot that you couldn't touch the bottom, or it would of burnt your hand, I cant imagine how hot it would have been inside the laptop, that was the only time it has ever gotten that hot.

But the thing is it works fine, everything is normal except it wont turn on even if the laptop is very slightly warm. For example, my laptop being on for 20 seconds is enough for it not to start up.
Aaron's Stuff
Re: Problem with my laptop Posted by satchmo on Thu Jan 10th 2008 at 3:15am
satchmo
2077 posts
Posted 2008-01-10 3:15am
satchmo
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2077 posts 1809 snarkmarks Registered: Nov 24th 2004 Occupation: pediatrician Location: Los Angeles, U.S.
What's your CPU temperature reading after playing some game?
"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return." -- Toulouse-Lautre, Moulin Rouge
Re: Problem with my laptop Posted by Le Chief on Thu Jan 10th 2008 at 3:27am
Le Chief
2605 posts
Posted 2008-01-10 3:27am
Le Chief
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2605 posts 937 snarkmarks Registered: Jul 28th 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia
Errrrr, no idea. I don't have any cpu temperature software.
Aaron's Stuff
Re: Problem with my laptop Posted by Crono on Thu Jan 10th 2008 at 4:19am
Crono
6628 posts
Posted 2008-01-10 4:19am
Crono
super admin
6628 posts 700 snarkmarks Registered: Dec 19th 2003 Location: Oregon, USA
Guess what. Laptops generally have at least a 1 year warranty. Give them a call and they will help you trouble shoot the problem.
Blame it on Microsoft, God does.
Re: Problem with my laptop Posted by Le Chief on Thu Jan 10th 2008 at 5:56am
Le Chief
2605 posts
Posted 2008-01-10 5:56am
Le Chief
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2605 posts 937 snarkmarks Registered: Jul 28th 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia
Yeah, its got a one month of warranty left, but i'd still like to know what the problem is. I really don't want to have to wait 2 years to get my laptop back.
Aaron's Stuff
Re: Problem with my laptop Posted by Wild Card on Thu Jan 10th 2008 at 6:29am
Wild Card
2321 posts
Posted 2008-01-10 6:29am
2321 posts 391 snarkmarks Registered: May 20th 2002 Occupation: IT Consultant Location: Ontario, Canada
What make and model is the laptop?

I have a Dell and (I absolutely adore Dell) have left my laptop in the sun, on my bed, air vents blocked, for days on end, and it never over heats. I've stuffed it in my bag while running for up to 30 minutes and it's survived. Two and a half years.

If you feel up to it (and you dont break anything), you could try to disassemble the laptop. Take out George and his friend Tom; the dustbunnies. Check to see if your CPU's heatpipe is still firmly on the chip. Something tells me that may be an issue. Modern computers, laptops especially, are usually set to shutdown automatically if the CPU hits a critical temperature. Unless of course you want to melt the chip and destroy your laptop.

Of course with doing this, if the manufacturer found out, it'd likely void your warranty. And unless you've taken laptops apart before, I wouldnt really try it.

That being said, I dont think it'd be your hard drive, laptop hard drives are built real tough.

If your laptop is a Dell, you can expect about an 8-day turn around or so. Depending on the location of their depot. If you have a Toshiba, just chuck and get a Dell. My friend waited two months to get a new CD drive and screen. Toshiba wouldnt help him, they said contact the store, the store said contact Toshiba. Finally the store took his laptop and said we cant start the work until you call Toshiba and have them call us. A week and a dozen phone calls later... his laptop was on the shelf waiting for parts to come in. Those took about two weeks to come in. Then they had to wait for their only toshiba certified guy to come back from vacation.

I'd imagine, Acer, Asus, HP, Gateway, etc laptops are all the same. Dell, you deal straight with the company and avoid the bull(bleep)

disclaimer: Some of this post could be biased towards favouring Dell. :biggrin:
Re: Problem with my laptop Posted by Le Chief on Thu Jan 10th 2008 at 6:58am
Le Chief
2605 posts
Posted 2008-01-10 6:58am
Le Chief
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2605 posts 937 snarkmarks Registered: Jul 28th 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia
Lol, I like your t-shirt Wild Card, what does that say.... ooohh dell, nice :wink:

The laptop is a Compaq/Hp (There the same thing). I've taken apart computers before and added whatever, but never opened up a laptop. And it doesn't shut down by itself, it works fine, but the laptop has to be completely cool for it to start up.

I am actrully a bit worried with sending the laptop back for warranty, I would like it back asap, so if I could fix the problem before the warranty is over, that'd be pretty good.
Aaron's Stuff
Re: Problem with my laptop Posted by Crono on Thu Jan 10th 2008 at 7:43am
Crono
6628 posts
Posted 2008-01-10 7:43am
Crono
super admin
6628 posts 700 snarkmarks Registered: Dec 19th 2003 Location: Oregon, USA
You fool. I said call them.
Blame it on Microsoft, God does.
Re: Problem with my laptop Posted by Le Chief on Sat Jan 12th 2008 at 4:18am
Le Chief
2605 posts
Posted 2008-01-12 4:18am
Le Chief
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2605 posts 937 snarkmarks Registered: Jul 28th 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia
Hahaha, the problem is fixed. Me and my dad got out the vacuum and sucked a whole lot of dust from the laptops vents. Now its fixed. I'm so happy about that :biggrin: :D:D:D, lets have a party, I'll bring the drinks, well need somebody to order the pizza, I'm not paying.

User posted image
Aaron's Stuff
Re: Problem with my laptop Posted by FatStrings on Sat Jan 12th 2008 at 9:23am
FatStrings
1242 posts
Posted 2008-01-12 9:23am
1242 posts 144 snarkmarks Registered: Aug 11th 2005 Occupation: Architecture Student Location: USA
but you aint 21, how you supposed to bring drinks?, you get pizza we'll aquire drinks :biggrin:
Re: Problem with my laptop Posted by Le Chief on Sat Jan 12th 2008 at 10:34am
Le Chief
2605 posts
Posted 2008-01-12 10:34am
Le Chief
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2605 posts 937 snarkmarks Registered: Jul 28th 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia
Oh fine! Supreme alright?
Aaron's Stuff