Dead Laptop... how to fix?

ZootHornRollo

Hi,

My stepdaughters laptop has overnight, given up. Working yesterday, dead today. It is a Compaq Presario V5000.

When connected to the mains the 'connected to mains' light illuminates. On pressing the power on button it sounds like everything is booting up, fans whirring etc for about a second then it all stops again. The power light, mains light and hard disk light are all illuminated. The screen never shows anything. Even holding down the power button has no effect. Only way to reset is to disconnect from mains and pull the battery out.

Any idea if this can be fixed?

davb

Are all 3 lights green, or different colours.

You could try removing the battery completely, and try statring with just the mains connected.

ZootHornRollo

all three lights are orange. i have never seen them any other colour.

ThomasK31ly

Sounds like a mother board failure...graphics chip!

ZootHornRollo

tried it with mains only. exactly the same.

ZootHornRollo

ThomasK31ly wrote: »

Sounds like a mother board failure...graphics chip!

not good... any way to test for that??

davb

There is normally a button near the bottom of the screen which is pressed when you close the lid - to turn off the screen. Make sure it's not stuck down - work it a few times to make sure it's not dirty.

Is the screen completely blank - sometimes the backlight fails, and you can still see a very faint image in certain light/angles.

Is there anything in the removable drives.

Can you access the BIOS setup (and then diagnostics) by pressing F10 on boot.

ZootHornRollo

i cannot see a button. from memory - and bearing in mind its not my laptop - the screen switches off before the lid is fully closed making me think there is a switch of some kind in hinge.

The screen appears to flicker for a nano-second when powering up but never shows anything. Tried viewing from various angles, can't see anything.

The DVD drive has power as that tries to read a disc when you open/close the drawer.

Never gets as far as the BIOS screen.

asininity

Can you enter the BIOS at all? Edit: nevermind.

AdamMerry

How old is the laptop ?
Were i work part of my job is booking warranty repairs in with the manufactures and over the last couple of months we have got loads of HP's with this fault, like every day I'm having to phone HP. The other day i asked them why we were getting a lot of there laptops with the same fault and they admitted that they was a batch of them went out with mainboards not up to the proper standard it should be. From what it sounds you have the same problem so i would advise you to give them a bell

ZootHornRollo

i think it is around 4 or 5 years old. We got her it for Xmas.