If your laptop does not start at all or it starts but will not boot properly, it’s possible that you can fix the laptop at home without taking it to a repair center. Here are some troubleshooting tips for you. I’m not sure if I can cover all situation at once, so I will update this post as more examples come into my mind.
Situation 1.
The laptop appears to be dead. You plug the AC adapter but the LEDs (power light, hard drive light, battery charge light, etc…) do not light up and the laptop will not react at all if you press on the power button.
First of all in this situation check the AC adapter. You can test the output voltage with a voltmeter. If you cannot do that, find a known good AC adapter and use it for testing the laptop. It is possible the laptop appears to be dead because the AC adapter is bad (and the battery is discharged). If you know that the AC adapter is working properly and it outputs correct voltage but the laptop is still dead, most likely you have a power issue on the motherboard (or power board on some laptops) and it has to be replaced.
If you have to replace the AC adapter, make sure you use a correct one. The output voltage must be exactly the same as on the original adapter. The output amperage has to be the same as on the original adapter or higher, but not lower.
Situation 2.
When you plug the AC adapter the power LED and the battery charge LED light up. When you press on the power button the laptop powers up but will not start. There is no video on LCD or external monitor.
If the power LED lights up it indicates that the laptop is getting power from the AC adapter. Most likely there is nothing wrong with the adapter but just in case test it with a voltmeter to make sure the output voltage is correct.
Also try this. Unplug the AC adapter, remove the battery and wait for 1-2 minutes. After that plug the AC adapter ans try starting the laptop again. Sometimes this trick helps.
It also could be a memory related problem. Try reseating the memory module, just remove it from the slot on the motherboard and install it back. Try installing the memory module into the other slot (if it’s available). If you have two memory modules installed, try removing them one by one and start the laptop just with one memory module installed.
If the laptop starts fine with one memory module in both slots, but will not start with the second memory module in both slots, the second memory module is faulty. Replace the module.
If the laptop starts fine with both memory modules when they are installed in the slot A, but will not start with both memory modules installed in the slot B, the slot B is faulty and you’ll have to replace the motherboard or use only one memory slot.
Situation 3.
When you press on the power button, the laptop makes a series or short and long beeps and will not start up. There is no video on the screen.
In this situation test the memory module as I described in the situation2. Try installing a known good memory module. Most likely you are getting a beep error because of a faulty memory.
Situation 4.
You start the laptop. It sounds like the laptop is booting normally (hard drive LED is flashing) but there is no video on the screen
In this situation test the laptop with an external monitor. If the external screen works fine but there is no video on the laptop LCD, most likely there is a problem inside the laptop display assembly. Go to my previous post witch covers laptop video problems in more details.
Situation 5.
You start the laptop and it starts making repetitive clicking noise or grinding noise.
Most likely you hear this noise because of a faulty hard drive. You can remove the hard drive and start the laptop without it. If the noise is gone, the hard drive is your problem. Replace it.
If the laptop makes clicking or grinding noises and you still have video on the screen, you can run a hard drive test utility. I usually use Hitachi’s drive fitness test. This test is reliable and easy to use.
Situation 6.
The laptop boots into Windows ans works for a while, but after that it shuts down by itself without any reason or warning. You restart the laptop but the same problem appears again
Most likely it’s a heat related issue. Listen for the cooling fan, make sure it works.
Also this problem might appear because of a faulty memory module, try some tips from the situation 2.
The laptop still boots ans you still can see the screen, so you can run the memory test. I usually use Memtest86+. Run the memory test and if it fails, replace the faulty module.
Situation 6
The laptop starts normally but video on the screen has lines, some strange characters or other defects
It could indicate a problem with the laptop LCD screen, video cable, graphics card or motherboard. Here’s my previous post witch covers troubleshooting bad images on the screen in more details.
Related post: How to troubleshoot dead laptops.
If you find this article useful, please consider making a donation to the author. Thank you!
August 15th, 2007 at 1:05 am
Help! Anyone?. I’m not a techie person
I have Toshiba Satellite A70. I used automatic repair tool when I received error message about Outlook. I was asked to insert Disc and allowed it to do its stuff. Outlook opened ok. I allowed laptopn to close down normally. Next time I went to use the laptop the screen does not come on. The laptop makes all the right noises. I know the charger is working ok. The three green lights at front are ok. The fan comes on. Is it coincidence or has MS office changed settings? How can I fix? Many thanks. Thomas
July 29th, 2007 at 10:35 am
my laptop will not turn at all. i tried pressing the power button but it would not work. i do not unstand if it is my AC adapter r my hardwrive. but when i put the adapter in, it would make these noises then turn off. and i don’t know how to replace my hard drive.
July 24th, 2007 at 9:41 am
my computer turns on but says no boot sector on internal hard drive
July 20th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Up until a week ago my HP Pavilion dv2000 was running fine. Windows would start normally, but then only a blank screen would appear. I’ve reinserted battery and such but I would only end up with the same result. Even when trying to enter safe mode too. Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what the problem is.
July 19th, 2007 at 7:50 am
yes, definately do not attempt to open up the notebook yourself if you still need to claim warranty because the warranty is voided once u open up a notebook. Esp if something goes wrong… Un;ess you have the technical support officially from the manufacturer/company of the notebook’s approval or guidance.
July 11th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
Desfari FR,
First of all, if the laptop is still under warranty you should send it for repair to the manufacturer. Do not open the laptop or you can loose the warranty.
If the laptop is not under warranty anymore, try this.
1. Unplug the AC adapter and remove the battery. Wait for 2-3 minutes and plug the AC adapter. Turn on the laptop.
2. Try starting the laptop without the hard drive installed and see if you can get any video. It’s possible that the hard drive is bad and it’s preventing the laptop from booting. If the laptop boots fine without hard drive, probably this is your problem.
3. Minimize the laptop as much as you can. Remove the hard drive, DVD drive, wireless card, modem, battery and test it again. If the laptop boots, start installing devices one by one until the laptop fails again. It will help you to find a faulty device.
4. Test the laptop with a known good memory stick.
July 9th, 2007 at 3:57 am
Sorry, I Mean Hard Drive LED, Its Flashing Every Second together with DVD LED, I try to remove The memory & put it back, Still same, The Noise From DVD when i Eject The DVD Room to Open it Didn’t appears,
When I Try to run the Laptop Without Memory The Hard Drive LED is on but not blinking Also With The DVD LED, The Screen Still Blank no bios come up, no voice / noise inside.
July 8th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
BubbaJoe,
The hard drive clicks and the laptop reboots? Probably you have a faulty hard drive.
Try this. Remove the hard drive and start the laptop without it. Does it still reboots over and over or the laptop stays on all the time? If it stays on, most likely you have a problem with the hard drive and have to replace it.
July 8th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Desfari,
I’m not sure what the Proc LED is. How it’s blinking?
I would check the memory first. Try reseating it and test the laptop again.
July 8th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
I have an older Compaq Presario 2100. When i click the computer to start up, it makes a sound like the harddrive is starting up, then it clicks off and repeats this action..on / off / on / off until i take out the battery. its stuck in a loop. any help would be great. thanks!