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Laptop won't start - think it's a battery problem

  • 03-10-2004 3:22pm
    #1
    dingbat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 717 ✭✭✭


    Am having a look at a friend's laptop to see if I can figure out what's wrong with it. He said that it was running really slowly and he was having trouble starting it. It's a Compaq Armada E500 running Win 2k. I said that it might be a virus or something and that I'd have a go at cleaning it.

    Firstly, it wouldn't start from the battery at all. When I plugged in the mains it started ok but when I got into Windows it shut down automatically. Before it shut down however I noticed that the little battery/mains icon on the task bar was flickering between the two, like it didn't know whether it was plugged in or not. I restarted it and went into safe mode instead. No problems there. While in safe mode I installed a virus checker and some anti-spyware stuff and scanned the thing. Plenty of nasties lurking. So, I started cleaning it. After about 20 minutes of another virus scan the laptop suddenly made a strange noise (sort of like a quiet cracking sound) and switched off. However, it wasn't completely off. The AC light at the front was still glowing and I could still hear something whirring. Pressing the power button did nothing. I disconnected the mains power and after about 15 seconds it was finally off.

    I cannot start the machine again. Every time I try to start it the same noise happens after only about 2 seconds.

    Am I correct in thinking that this thing needs a replacement battery? I seem to recall hearing that if a battery is completely dead a laptop cannot start, even if it is plugged into the mains.

    Any advice would be appreciated as I don't want to have to tell the guy to get a new battery if it won't solve the problem.


Comments

  • #2
    Tom Dunne
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,212 ✭✭✭✭Tom Dunne


    Have you tried removing the battery and then plugging it into the mains?

    This should at least allow you to boot up the laptop.


  • #3
    secret_squirrel
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,354 ✭✭✭secret_squirrel


    My mate has a high powered P4 lappy (probably with a desktop p4 inside). His power supply doesnt appear powerful enough to both charge the battery and run the lappy - so his doesnt work when the battery is flat at all.

    Definately try running without the battery in. Funny sounds sound kinda ominous tho.....if not HD could be a short.


  • #4
    MazdaMan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 147 ✭✭MazdaMan


    If it wasn't completely off, I wonder did it go into hibernation. I have seen laptops get stuck like this before. Solution was to remove the battery for a couple of minutes.

    Then plug it back in. Plug in the power supply let it boot and do nothing for an hour while the battery charges.

    Then try resolving any issues. Also turn off the hibernation feature from the Power options in the control panel


  • #5
    dingbat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 717 ✭✭✭dingbat


    Thanks for the replies. I took the battery out today and plugged in the mains. The exact same thing happens, i.e. after about 2 seconds the screen gives a barely perceptable flash, there's a soft "crack" type of noise, then it dies.

    Bah. Not a battery problem. At least that would have been a straightforward solution.

    At this point I'm beyond my area of expertise - I know little about hardware. What would be the best advice to give the owner of the machine?


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