Computer issue; either really simple or a dead computer.

[Andy in Germany]

My laptop has gone from being a fairly reliable workhorse yesterday to suddenly dying on me for no apparent reason.



Yesterday I switched it off and it had been fine, this afternoon I couldn't switch it on at first, now it seems to register the adaptor being plugged in and work, but then suddenly goes dead as if there's no power.

the problem started today and it hadn't moved; the only possible issue was that I snagged the power chord moving some furniture, so I'm guessing I've pulled something vital and there's a dodgy contact, but before I spend on a new adaptor, is there anything else that could be causing this, and/or how would I test the adaptor?

 

[Grant Fondo]

My laptop has gone from being a fairly reliable workhorse yesterday to suddenly dying on me for no apparent reason.



Yesterday I switched it off and it had been fine, this afternoon I couldn't switch it on at first, now it seems to register the adaptor being plugged in and work, but then suddenly goes dead as if there's no power.

the problem started today and it hadn't moved; the only possible issue was that I snagged the power chord moving some furniture, so I'm guessing I've pulled something vital and there's a dodgy contact, but before I spend on a new adaptor, is there anything else that could be causing this, and/or how would I test the adaptor?

Quite possibly the adapter, particularly if the really thin type, same happened on my Acer.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Quite possibly the adapter, particularly if the really thin type, same happened on my Acer.

It's not unusually thin but it has been through a lot what with being schlepped around on bicycles and trains for a few years, and the furniture hooked the wire near to the end of it so I think the evidence points that way, thanks.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

No help but the other day we spent an hour trying to sort the black screen of death out on the lappie.

Turns out one of us had carried it from one room to the other whilst accidently holding the reduce brightness key down!

Embarrassingly dopey. 😂

Hopefully your problem is as easily resolved too.

 

[si_c]

You *can* if you have one put a voltmeter across the power terminals in the connector, check to see what voltage/current is flowing if any. I've done it a few times to test PSUs of varying uncertain status to good effect.

If it works then it could be the connector inside the laptop or the battery circuit or any number of things.

 

[DCBassman]

If not the lead, it's probably the power jack. Some are relatively easy to fix. Others are...not.

 

[Grant Fondo]

It's not unusually thin but it has been through a lot what with being schlepped around on bicycles and trains for a few years, and the furniture hooked the wire near to the end of it so I think the evidence points that way, thanks.

No probs, a 'wiggle test' on mine will flick the power light on and off, so an internal issue where chord has been yanked too hard.

 

[ColinJ]

Doesn't the laptop have a battery to take over if mains charger power is removed or fails?

 

[Andy in Germany]

Doesn't the laptop have a battery to take over if mains charger power is removed or fails?

Yes, but I tend to keep it out of the laptop because I don't want to wear it down by charging it, even so, the battery has a pretty short life.

 

[winjim]

...one of us had...

Diplomatic.

 

[ColinJ]

Yes, but I tend to keep it out of the laptop because I don't want to wear it down by charging it, even so, the battery has a pretty short life.

I was thinking that if a battery with at least a few minutes of charge were fitted, then you should be able to see what was going on if/when the charger voltage failed.