Laptop Repair

[A Century United]

I have a moderate ability when it comes to upgrading and repairing pc's, but I am stumped by this one.

My Acer (which I have already explained is Spawn of the Devil) is now refusing to boot. When started the fan runs for a few seconds and dies, and then the light around the power switch and the power on led on the front edge just flash on for a couple of seconds and off for a couple of seconds, then on again, then off again, repeat... it is then impossible to do anything with it and this can only be stopped by physically removing the battery. Any ideas?

And secondly, if I get it repaired can anyone recommend a good repair service? My default solution is to take it to the Techy Guys at PC world in Inverness, but I would enter there with a heavy heart....

:darkcloud:

 

[MK Shrimper]

It does this with the power lead in?

 

[A Century United]

It does this with the power lead in?

Yup, with or without external power, and the battery has a full charge. I have also tried booting with the HD and memory removed, but still don't even get as far as the BIOS screen.

 

[Aberdeen Shrimper]

I have a moderate ability when it comes to upgrading and repairing pc's, but I am stumped by this one.

My Acer (which I have already explained is Spawn of the Devil) is now refusing to boot. When started the fan runs for a few seconds and dies, and then the light around the power switch and the power on led on the front edge just flash on for a couple of seconds and off for a couple of seconds, then on again, then off again, repeat... it is then impossible to do anything with it and this can only be stopped by physically removing the battery. Any ideas?

And secondly, if I get it repaired can anyone recommend a good repair service? My default solution is to take it to the Techy Guys at PC world in Inverness, but I would enter there with a heavy heart....

:darkcloud:

I am no PC expert but it sounds pretty terminal mate.....Avoid the Techy guys at all cost, I have had so many mates tell me horror stories about those guys.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

I have a moderate ability when it comes to upgrading and repairing pc's, but I am stumped by this one.

My Acer (which I have already explained is Spawn of the Devil) is now refusing to boot. When started the fan runs for a few seconds and dies, and then the light around the power switch and the power on led on the front edge just flash on for a couple of seconds and off for a couple of seconds, then on again, then off again, repeat... it is then impossible to do anything with it and this can only be stopped by physically removing the battery. Any ideas?

And secondly, if I get it repaired can anyone recommend a good repair service? My default solution is to take it to the Techy Guys at PC world in Inverness, but I would enter there with a heavy heart....

:darkcloud:

I had this a while ago eith a Toshiba. I hadn't used it for a while and did exactly the same thing, fan kicked in for a few seconds then it died. Left it on charge for a few days and it started fine. The other option could be the CPU has burnt out!

 

[MK Shrimper]

Sounds to me like the BIOS has got frazzled which as Dave said is terminal.

 

[South Bucks Shrimper]

Have you tried:

1. Remove the battery
2. Connect to mains
3. Try starting

Does the fan spin? Do the lights flash?

 

[markw]

have you tried turning it off and back on again :P:P

 

[Pubey]

have you tried turning it off and back on again :P:P

 

[jstallan]

Sell for spares on Ebay - remember the vista licence is probably worth £10 or £20 on its own - I suspect the screen would also have a value...

Otherwise it could be a claim on the house insurance ;-)

 

[A Century United]

Thanks for all the suggestions. :)

I have tried leaving it charging, firing it up without the battery, etc, but to no avail. I think I will get a quote on it from the Techy Guys, and then decide whether to ebay it or bite the bullet and have the thing fixed.

 

[South Bucks Shrimper]

Have you tried:

1. Remove the battery
2. Connect to mains
3. Try starting

Does the fan spin? Do the lights flash?

Were you able to try this? If the lights do not flash when the battery is removed it could be the external power supply.