Laptop Computer Not Powering On

The most frustrating scenario in laptop malfunctions is when the computer refuses to power on. Well when this happens then you need to keep cool and check for the source of error. The issue could be No Video, No Post, No Power.

First of all we need to isolate which category, mentioned above, does our issue fall. You need to check few things to correctly isolate the issue.

What happens when you press the power button?

Does any of the LEDs comes on?

No Power

If no LED (Power LED, Hard drive activity LED, etc.) is lit. In this case the issue could be with the AC adapter or motherboard. Remove battery from the computer, disconnect AC adapter and press the power button for ten seconds. Reconnect AC adapter and battery. Sometime static build up happens because of which computer refuses to power on. If still no activity then Click here to check the further troubleshootings steps in this case.

No Video

LEDs are lit but there is no display on the LCD screen. Click here to check the further troubleshootings steps in this case.

No Post

If LEDs are lit for few seconds and then the system turns off. Computer gets hung at POST screen( Initial black screen with white progess bar). There could be many reasons for this and we need to isolate one by one.

1) Reseat all external peripherals (Printers, Scanner, USB devices, etc.) and CRU's (Customer replaceable units) such as battery, DVD drive, hard drive, etc. You can check for CRU list from computer service manual which is readily available on manufacturers website.

Note: Please check servie manual before doing this work and do not proceed if you are not comfortable in doing this.

2) If no progress the remove all external peripherals and the CRU's except hard drive and memory. Does the system powers on. If yes then you need to check one by one for faulty component. Connect one component at a time.

3) If no progress then take out the memory module(s) and put one module ( If the system is having more than one memory module ) in the any of the two memory sockets . Then restart the system , verify whether the issue persists. Again put the same memory module in the other socket and verify whether the problem is there.

If not then take out the first memory module from the system and put the other memory module in any of the memory socket and repeat the same procedure as that of the first memory module . Also attach a know good memory module from some other system and verify whether the issue persists with the known good memory module.

Many times issue has been found with either the memory or the memory socket on the motherboard. If still the issue persists then most probably motherboard has gone bad and therefore needs replacement.