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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457 |
To put it simply, it won't turn on. It tries - when I hit the on button the lights flash for about a second then it shuts off. I suspect it might be the AC adapter / power supply. It has an LED on top. The LED is lit but when I hit the power button the LED dims. I dunno if this is typical or if it might be a symptom of the problem.
This isn't the original PS. It's the third one, one of the ubiquitous ones you see on Ebay. The connectors wear out, and I haven't had much luck with replacements. The connector is still in good shape on this one, but I'm thinking about replacing it anyway. Other than this problem the laptop has been very reliable. But it is getting kinda old - 10 years now. I hang onto it because it's still a solid performer. Faster than most new ones, plus it's got other stuff I like - 2 drive bays, a 17" screen, wifi, memory card slot, HDMI port and more. And yes, it has a CD/DVD drive. Yes, it's big, but I don't cart it around so I don't care about its size.
So am I barking up the right tree here or is there something else i should be thinking about?
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,173
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,173 |
Hi, this might sound counter intuitive but the first thing I’d try is to remove the battery then plug in the power and see how it goes. If the battery is 10 years old it is a fair chance it is no longer working as it should and maybe drawing down power. Also check if the power supply is getting hot. (Another indicator the battery is fritzed.)
Just a thought
Tony
HP i7-4770 16GB 1TB SSD, Win 10 Home,
Focusrite 2i2 3rd Gen, Launchkey 61, Maton CW80, Telecaster, Ovation Elite TX, Yamaha Pacifica 612
BB 2022(912) RB 2022(2), CakeWalk, Reaper 6, Audacity, Melodyne 5 Editor, Izotope Music Production Suite 4.1
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457
Journeyman
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Posts: 457 |
Hey Tony, thanks for the feedback. My apologies. I should have mentioned that the battery isn't installed. It isn't the original but is completely dead. I didn't think it was important when I was describing the situation above, but I guess I should for the sake of completeness. This problem first asserted itself a couple weeks ago. The laptop would shut down after being on for several hours, but it would always start back up. When it shut down, I felt around the bottom, expecting to find it would be very hot, but it wasn't. Ťhen, a few days ago, it wouldn't restart, behaving like it does now. I removed the battery, thinking it might be draining the PS. That seemed fo take care of the problem. But it didn't last. Then I tried something that would work with another laptop I owned, when it would spontaneously shut down. I used compressed air to blow all the dust out of the inside. That seemed to help too and things seemed back to normal for a couple of days. Then yesterday, when I went to start it up, nada.
So, yeah, I tried a couple of different things, each which seemed to help until it didn't.
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,114
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,114 |
Hi Michael
The fact that the power supply LED dims on connecting the lap top is not a good sign.
It means the laptop is drawing a lot of current at least at start up ,or the power supply has lost it ability to supply enough current.
The only quick way to try is substitution of the psu.
Or to check the current drawn by the laptop with a multi meter in series with the supply. not easy, to see if it exceeds the power supplies current rating.
It may be easier to check for voltage drop across the connection (parallel) test.
If this is excessive that would also indicate high current.
If you feel it is the laptop drawing to much current. You could try removing some drives etc from their bays also any connected usb devices of course.
Good luck
Mike
BIAB2021 UltraPlus,AsusN55S1Tbssd, W10/64,Akai EIEpro Yamaha CVP405,SquireStrat, CoolsoftVMidSynth Novatation Impulse61 Ctr kbd, Cwalk blab Kontakt http://mikesmusic.byethost16.com/
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,732
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I would replace both battery and power supply if I was interested in keeping it. You will need to balance the cost of that versus getting a newer model laptop and make your decision. 
 Steve BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,173
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Joined: Dec 2016
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Given the times you’ve changed power supplies and eliminated the battery I would suggest an updated laptop. I don’t know about your part of the world but here in Australia there are really good deals going. An i7 with 16 gig ram 512 gig SSD for under $1000.
Tony
Last edited by Teunis; 09/25/19 11:57 AM.
HP i7-4770 16GB 1TB SSD, Win 10 Home,
Focusrite 2i2 3rd Gen, Launchkey 61, Maton CW80, Telecaster, Ovation Elite TX, Yamaha Pacifica 612
BB 2022(912) RB 2022(2), CakeWalk, Reaper 6, Audacity, Melodyne 5 Editor, Izotope Music Production Suite 4.1
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Dec 2011
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Thanks for the responses guys. This laptop still has some life left to it. It has a 2.8 GHz quad core processor and I have 8 GB RAM installed. 1.5 TB of drive space. I replaced the LCD screen a couple years ago. Everything still works, including the wireless adapter.
It handles Band in a Box very well, and just about everything else I've thrown at it. I think its cheap Chinese PS has given up the ghost. If a new one brings it around I'll get a new battery for it. If it doesn't, I won't be out much and I guess I'll be looking for a decent replacement.
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Dec 2016
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Sounds a lot like the old reliable axe. Only had 5 new handles and 3 new heads but my word it’s a goodun. 
HP i7-4770 16GB 1TB SSD, Win 10 Home,
Focusrite 2i2 3rd Gen, Launchkey 61, Maton CW80, Telecaster, Ovation Elite TX, Yamaha Pacifica 612
BB 2022(912) RB 2022(2), CakeWalk, Reaper 6, Audacity, Melodyne 5 Editor, Izotope Music Production Suite 4.1
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Feb 2015
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You can try and take the hard drive, cd drive and ram out of it and see if it powers on if not try another ac adapter if that's ok have a look on ebay for a motherboard.
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 457
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Sounds a lot like the old reliable axe. Only had 5 new handles and 3 new heads but my word it’s a goodun. There's some truth in that. Thing about this old laptop is it has features that aren't so common anymore. Well, for a halfway reasonably priced unit, at any rate. It has a 17" screen and a full sized right side numeric keypad. These are two features I don't just like - I insist upon them.
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Dec 2013
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Mine's like that too Michael, it's a tank.... but good for mobile recording.
Steve BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Dec 2011
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A tank. That's a good way to put it. Sucker must weigh as much as a Les Paul.
Last edited by cooltouch; 09/28/19 06:04 PM.
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Jun 2005
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I had the same problem with a nice Fuji swivel screen Core Duo. Took it to Best Buy where they tested the PS for free. In my case the PS was good, they told me it was most likely the connector where the PS plug goes in which meant a new mobo. I can't do that myself and it's way too expensive to have them do it so it's trash.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Joined: Dec 2011
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If you can find the right connector, it isn't a difficult replacement. The connector on the MB is a block and is attached by just a few solder points. The trick is being able to find the correct connector. It would be a shame to junk the laptop just because of the connector.
Thanks to everyone for their advice. My replacement power supply finally arrived today. So, I plugged my laptop into it and hit the on button and bingo! It powered up. Back to normal. I'm typing this note on it, in fact.
Nice to have it back.
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Help! Tech S.O.S (Off topic)
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Great news! Thanks for the update!
Steve BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
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