Notebook - No Power
Before you begin
The internal components of the computer are sensitive to electro-static discharge (ESD). Damage to the internal components such as the motherboard, memory modules, and wireless add-in cards can occur if these parts are exposed to ESD. A grounding strap should be used whenever removing any access panels or the keyboard and touching or handling any internal components. If a grounding strap is not available, ESD can be safely discharged by touching the bare metal surface of any electrical appliance that is plugged into an electrical socket. Following proper ESD procedures makes it is far less likely that static electricity will damage the computer if internal parts are touched or handled.
Note: Always check the FAQ sections of the product page for information about the computer being diagnosed. The user guides are also very helpful for performing many of the following troubleshooting procedures. There are many illustrations of components such as keyboards, memory, wireless devices and associated access panels as well as instructions on how to locate or remove them.
Initial Questions
- Is this a new computer right out of the box?
If this is a new computer and it does not power up, something may have come loose during the shipping process. It is possible that reseating the battery, drives, or the memory modules may solve the difficulty. Start by reconnecting the easy items such as the battery and the power cables. Next, remove the drives and reconnect them. Lastly, remove the necessary panels to gain access to the memory.
- Is this a computer that was previously functioning normally?
If the computer has been running normal until recently, anything that has been added or connected to the computer recently may be the cause of the issue. If a drive has been removed or replaced or the access panels opened recently, this may be an indicator of what triggered the issue. If something has been recently added or connected to the computer, remove them one at a time and check to see if the computer starts after a particular item has been disconnected.
Note: If the notebook has been recently dropped, this could be the cause of the issue and it may need to be sent in for service.
Things to Confirm
- Make sure the power cord is connected.
After pressing the power button, observe any LEDs to see if they come on or flash briefly. Inspect the connections and the wire carefully to ensure that all the power cord connections are firmly connected. Make sure the connectors and the cable are in good condition. If the computer is connected to a surge suppressor, extension cord, or UPS (uninterruptable power supply), remove the device and connect the computer power cord directly to the wall outlet. Only bypass these devices for testing purposes.
It is possible for the main power connector on the back of the computer to become damaged if it is struck or bent at an angle. This can cause a poor internal connection resulting in the computer needing to be serviced. A good indication that there may be internal damage at the power connection point is if the battery LED flashes briefly while gently moving the connector back and forth when connected. This connection should be firm. If it seems to be loose, it could mean that the connector is broken internally.
Surge suppressors can fail while some models have a built-in circuit breaker that may need to be reset. Backup power sources like UPS devices can fail also. Extension cords can introduce poor or inconsistent connectivity because of loose or worn connectors. Make sure all these devices are removed and the computer is connected directly to a known good AC outlet.
Note: Reinstall the surge suppressor once the issue has been found or once it has been confirmed that the device is working properly.
- Check for wall outlet power.
Confirm that the wall outlet has power to it. Another device such as a lamp can be plugged into the outlet to confirm if power is present. If power cannot be confirmed, plug the computer into a different outlet that is known to have power.
Some wall outlets are connected to a wall switch and power can be turned off inadvertently. Make sure this is not the case.
- Check the charge level of the battery.
Remove the battery and locate the meter on it if it has one. Some batteries do not have a meter. If present, press the battery meter button to check the charge level of the battery.
Some notebook batteries have a meter located on the battery. When the meter button is pressed, a series of LEDs should light up indicating the charge level of the battery. If no LEDs light up, this is a strong indicator that the AC adapter may not be delivering power to the computer or something is not connected properly. If AC power is confirmed and all the connections seem firm from the wall through the AC adapter and to the computer, the AC adapter may need to be replaced. Refer to the users' guide for details on how to locate the meter and test the battery.
- Check for a power LED on the AC adapter.
Many AC adapters have a power LED. It is typically green when connected properly and functioning normally. Refer to the users' guide for the specific computer and confirm if there is a power LED.
If a power LED is present and emitting a green light, it indicates that the AC adapter is functioning properly with the issue being either a broken internal connector on the notebook or something inside it has failed.
Things to try
- Remove all external devices.
Make sure the computer is powered off. Disconnect everything externally connected, such as the mouse, printer, or any other external device. Press the power button and watch the computer LEDs (lights). Listen for the cooling fan. If the computer starts normally, one of the external devices may be responsible for the issue.
If the computer turns on, one of the devices previously connected to the computer may have been preventing the computer from startng up properly. Reconnect each device one at a time. Make sure the computer is powered down prior to connecting each device. If the computer fails to start after a device is reconnected, the respective device may be causing the startup issue.
- Remove the computer from any docking station.
If the computer is connected to a docking station, undock it. Press the power button. Check the LEDs and cooling fans.
Removing the notebook from any docking stations eliminates many potential external issues that could be contributing to the issue. Once the notebook is removed from the docking station, make sure power from the AC adapter is connected directly to the notebook. If the notebook starts and appears to operate normally, the docking station may need to be replaced. Make sure the docking station is the proper model for the notebook.
- If the notebook has a hardware reset switch, press it to reset the computer settings.
Refer to the documentation that came with the notebook for the location of the hardware reset. Press the hardware reset switch.
Typically, a paper clip is used to press the switch. The reset switch is used to restart the notebook if it stops responding to the keyboard or the main power switch when it is already running. This procedure might be useful if the computer does not start under normal conditions.
- Start the notebook from just the AC adapter.
Remove the battery and connect the AC adapter. Press the power button and check if the notebook starts normally.
If the notebook seems to start and function normal without the battery installed, the battery may need to be replaced. This would be an unusual situation. However, this process might help verify the integrity of the battery and its internal circuitry.
- Start the computer from just the battery.
Disconnect the AC adapter and make sure the battery is seated properly. Press the power button and check if the notebook starts normally.
If the notebook starts normally without the AC adapter connected this might indicate a faulty AC adapter. This would be an unusual situation. However, this procedure helps narrow down the potential cause of the issue.
- Remove and reconnect each drive.
Make sure the computer is turned off and all external devices are disconnected from the computer. Remove the battery and disconnect the AC adapter. Locate the users' guide and determine the proper procedures to remove and each drive. After removing each drive, connect the AC adapter. Press the power button and check if the computer starts normally.
Follow proper ESD procedures while replacing the drives. It is not likely that reconnecting the drives will solve a issue of this type, but it is possible that one of the drives may have failed in some way and is preventing the computer from starting properly. By removing each drive and pressing the power button, you eliminate the possibility that the drive is causing the issue.
- Reseat computer memory.
Make sure the computer is turned off. Disconnect all external devices. Refer to the service guide for instructions on how to remove the memory for the notebook. If the notebook has two memory modules, remove them and replace one at a time. Press the power button with only one of the memory modules installed and check if the notebook starts. If the computer does not start, remove the existing memory module and install the other one. Press the power button and check if the notebook starts. Make sure the notebook is off whenever adding or removing modules. If the notebook seems to start, turn the notebook off and install the other memory module. Press the power button and check if the notebook still starts. If a memory module is installed and the computer stops starting normally, that memory module may be preventing the computer from starting normally.
Follow proper ESD procedures while replacing the memory. Memory does not often fail if undisturbed. When it does fail, error beep codes can usually be heard coming from the notebook. If the memory had been handled recently without proper ESD grounding, it could have been damaged by ESD and may need replaced. If new memory has been recently added, remove the new memory and see if the computer starts and runs normally without the new memory installed.
Conclusions
If all the troubleshooting procedures have been followed and the notebook still does not power on, the computer may need to be sent in for service. If the notebook seems to power on when the power button is pressed but does not display video or give indications that it is booting to a drive, it is likely that the AC adapter is functioning properly and the issue lies somewhere within the computer itself.
If following the above procedures did not resolve your problem, please contact Gateway through one of
the following methods:
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