Laptop broken - could it be the battery advice needed!

alisont

My old trusty laptop seems to have totally broken this am?

It froze when booting up, then got a blue screen and now it wont turn on or anything? All I can see is a red battery sign flashing - if the batterys gone and not sure if you can get replacement battery for an older laptop?

Its an Acer Aspire 1353 xc - about 4-5 years old so really not sure If Its worth getting a new battery?

Im waiting to get a Samsung NC10 netbook soon - waiting for John Lewis to get them back in stock as they offer free 2 year guarentee.

Beginning to wonder if I need a new laptop now not a netbook?

Got main pc in family home I can use so was going for a netbook for internet access in my room and when out/holidays. So a netbook seems ideal - will keep photos/music on main pc, dont use pc for games, use ipod for music so that would work with a netbook.

Am after advice as to if Its worth getting a new battery for the laptop see if that works, dont want to spend a fortune getting it fixed.

So do people think older laptops are worth repairing/purchasing a new battery for (and anyone know where is good to try for a new battery?)

Thanks in advance for any advice/comments:D

imnogeek

The batteries cost around £55-60. (google)

I would remove the battery and try it with just the power supply, if it still has no life then the problem is not with the battery but another component has probably failed.

alisont

Thanks will try that now, see what happens.

alisont

Right is not the battery, as it wont work on just power supply with battery removed.

Any idea how much it costs to fix a laptop as I have no idea what is wrong, will ask the IT team at work tomorrow but otherwise am guessing places like PC world charge a right amount to even just look at it?

GunJack

sounds like power adaptor..should be around £20 for another one...

macman

Don't even think about taking it to PCW...
Your work IT team are unlikely to have much experience of laptop hardware. Take it to an independent repair shop that specialises in laptop repairs (not the same as PC repairs). First get them to swap the mains adaptor with a good one, if it's that then replace it -problem solved.
If not, it could be power socket, could be the motherboard, various things. Any decent repair shop will give you a diagnosis and quote for £20-£30, you can then decide if it's worth fixing. If it's the mobo, you are unlikely to pay less than £100-150 for new mobo+fitting, probably not worth it on a 5 year old laptop, but that's a choice only you can make.

alisont

Thanks, now thats cheaper, dont mind getting a new power adaptor, but I thought the battery was fully charged this morning so it should of worked on that for a bit Id of thought?

So annoying when computers dont work and I dont know what to do:rolleyes:

Can ask my cousin to check it but he lives miles away so would take a fair while for that option! Will try work tomorrow as people there know lots more than me, would like to get it fixed.

Whats the average lifespan of a laptop? This ones around 4-5 years old and been used every day for past 18 months, not as much before that.....

diable

Maplins do a power adaptor with different voltages and connectors that you could errrr borrow or test out in the shop to see if its the right one.

macman

Yes, doesn't sound like the battery. Get the mains adaptor checked out first then as this will cost you nothing.
5 years is pretty good for a laptop, depends on how they're treated. If you want to fix it, fine, but if it costs you more than 50% of the cost of a new one (which will be a much higher spec) then it's probably not good financial sense. Your laptop probably cost £800 new, you could now buy a new one for less than half that. If you change the mobo on it, then in a year's time you might find the hard drive is failing, the screen going...
Laptops are not as cost effective to repair as PC's as they're not so standardised, and changing components is much less easy.

alisont

macman wrote: »

Don't even think about taking it to PCW...
Your work IT team are unlikely to have much experience of laptop hardware. Take it to an independent repair shop that specialises in laptop repairs (not the same as PC repairs). First get them to swap the mains adaptor with a good one, if it's that then replace it -problem solved.
If not, it could be power socket, could be the motherboard, various things. Any decent repair shop will give you a diagnosis and quote for £20-£30, you can then decide if it's worth fixing. If it's the mobo, you are unlikely to pay less than £100-150 for new mobo+fitting, probably not worth it on a 5 year old laptop, but that's a choice only you can make.

Thanks for the info - I wont go to PCW! heard too many negative comments! There is a small independant shop about 6 miles away,that I know someone I know at works friends run so might see if he can take it over for me or Il pop over - not sure if they are pc repairs or specialise in laptop repairs?

Work (a college) do have a lot of Acer computers and laptops so will try them tomorrow in case they have a decent mains adaptor to try. If it is the motherboard Id not pay for that/repairs not worth it with laptop age.

However my cousin has built computers/works in the IT industry and I know he has replaced motherboards, only problem is distance wise I dont see him much so would take a long time to sort.

macman

If you can source a secondhand board this might be more cost effective, especially if someone can fit it for you for a reasonable amount.