Diagnosing Laptop Power Woes
Imagine the scenario where you plug in power, but there is nothing. Your laptop stops getting charged. This is one of the most common issues faced by laptop owners. There may be several reasons for this to happen. Some of the causes are easy to fix on your own, while others require you to take professional help. There may also be chances that you need to go for a full-blown system replacement. Knowing the problem can save you hours of frustration and money.
There are a few things that you need to know, after which you can narrow down the probable causes of this power failure. Here is a quick guide that can help you determine where exactly the problem lies. If your laptop has no power, there may be several reasons for that. [1] Here are some troubleshooting steps that you can take at home to help you see where the problem may arise.
Troubleshooting Power Issues
The most obvious troubleshooting step that you can try out is connecting the power cable to your laptop. If your laptop only has battery power, you can try connecting an AC adapter. This may solve the problem. Make sure that you have correctly plugged in the AC adapter on both ends. There are some AC adapters that come with a pin at the part that plugs into the laptop. You can try examining the connector of the adapter to see if the pin is bent or broken. If you see that there is a problem with the pin, it means that the AC adapter is not transferring power to the laptop. To fix this, you just need a new adapter. No need to visit a store, just find a replacement.
Some laptops have a pin inside the power port and not on the adapter. If the pin is bent or broken, it means that the laptop is unable to receive any power. You can repair or replace the power port on the laptop. This is something like an electrical clog. It just need a little power wash to boot back up. With these steps, you can restart your laptop, and it may begin to work: [1]
You can disconnect the power cable from your laptop and then remove the battery if it can be removed. Do not connect them for at least a minute. After a minute, you can put the battery back in the laptop. Connect the laptop to the power cable, and you can try turning the laptop back on.
Checking the AC Adapter
There are several ways to find out whether your AC adapter is facing issues. Here are some symptoms that can let you know if your AC adapter is facing issues: [1]
You can check if your AC adapter is working or not using the following methods:
The first thing you can do to check if your AC adapter is working is to check that it is plugged into the wall outlet tightly and securely. I know I know I know, this may seem to be a very obvious step, but sometimes an adapter can get loose even without your knowledge. I would guess, 15% of the clients coming into our store, this is the main reason their laptop is not powering on. When we plug it into our AC adapter and boots right up, the inventible happy but face palm happens 80% of the time.
Another way to know if your adapter is working is to check whether the adapter brick’s light is turned on or not. If the light is on, make sure that it is green in color. This power light is indicative that your AC adapter is receiving power. Depending on the brand, the colors of the indicator light mean different statuses, however, red is universally bad and green or white is good. [1]
You can also check if the wall outlet is working properly. You can use a voltmeter to evaluate the power output. With this, you can check whether or not the wall outlet is working. There are wall outlets that need the light switch to be turned on for the outlet to be active. This is available in most modern apartments and condos, so you can check for that. You can also try to plug in the AC adapter to another wall outlet. Another thing that you can look for is that there is nothing tripped or turned off in the circuit breaker. [2]
Checking the Laptop’s Power Connections
AC adapters normally come in two pieces. You need to make sure that both of these pieces are connected properly and securely. The two pieces come together at a single piece that is known as a brick. You can disconnect all parts and then try reconnecting them together. [1]
The power connection port of the laptop connects to the motherboard. There are several solder points through which it connects to the motherboard. If even one of the solder points is damaged, it can prevent the laptop from getting any power. You need to fix this by soldering the power connector onto the motherboard. [3]
Checking the Laptop Battery
You need to check the battery of your laptop. If your laptop has a removable battery, you can take it out. For about 15 seconds, hold the power button of your laptop. This will help you drain all extra electric charges from the laptop. With the battery still out, plug in the power cable and then turn the laptop on. If the laptop turns on, this means that the adapter is working well. The problem is with your battery. You can first try putting the battery back on your laptop and see if it works. If it does not, then you may need to replace the battery. [1]
If you do not see a battery compartment on the bottom of your laptop, this may mean that the battery is in-built. In such cases, you may need to open up your laptop if you can. However, it is best to take the help of a professional specialist. There are some laptops that do not have a removable battery – in these laptops, the battery is internal. This is extremely common these days, and unless you have a business class laptop, your battery is internal. If this is the case with you, the best thing to do would be to take your laptop to a professional (like Gophermods). [1] It is not advisable to open the laptop with an internal battery as this could lead to additional unnecessary damages. Broken keyboards, motherboards, displays, plastic hinges, etc. It’s typically never fun bringing in your laptop in a plastic bag or box in 22 pieces. By the time you purchase the tools, take the time, risk additional damages, you could have taken it to one of our Minneapolis stores. Our skilled technicians will diagnose the issue and offer a quick, efficient and reasonably priced solution. As a locally owned Minnesota company, our customers are our highest priority. You can trust that we’ll fix the problem quickly and get you back to work as soon as possible. Simply head over to our computer repair page for a quote.
Gophermods: Expert Computer Repair in Minnesota
Founded in 2010 at the University of Minnesota, Gophermods is a Minnesota leading consumer electronics company with a specialization in the repair of premium smartphones and tablets. As of 2024, we have three retail locations across Minnesota. We service more than 50,000 devices per year with an emphasis in specializing in iPad Repair, iPhone Repair, MacBook Repair and other recent technology.
Gophermods Minneapolis Address: 1624 New Brighton Blvd
Phone: (612)-354-2937
Email: [email protected]
Gophermods Eagan Address: 3250 Denmark Ave
Phone: (651) 212-4802
Email: [email protected]
Gophermods Woodbury Address: 10035 City Walk Drive
Phone: (612) 548-4674
Email: [email protected]
References
[1] Knowledge from https://www.gophermods.com/troubleshooting-101-is-it-your-laptops-power-port-ac-adapter-or-battery/
[2] Knowledge from https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-in/000124389/how-to-troubleshoot-power-issues-on-a-dell-laptop
[3] Knowledge from https://wiki.restarters.net/Laptop_power_problems
