The computer has begun to shut down (similarly to how it would if the battery died) even when plugged in.
We’ve got a Dell laptop that’s been giving us different types of trouble for a long time. The battery’s been not great for a while — it takes a long time to charge, and then dies after a fairly short period. We thought we were just having a battery issue — which we certainly might be — but lately, the computer has begun to shut down (similarly to how it would if the battery died) even when plugged in. Today, it is shutting down every three or four minutes, and then won’t start up for several minutes after shutting down.
I still suspect its battery related somehow, but have no proof. Any ideas?
If it takes some time to charge the battery and then it dies after a short period of time, then it most likely the battery problem. I’ve seen it before many times and usually you can fix the problem by replacing the battery. Your second issue looks more like a laptop overheating problem and I don’t think that it’s related to a bad battery. You can remove the battery and run the laptop just on AC power. Does it still shut down? If yes, then it cannot be related to the battery because it’s removed.
An overheating problem might occur because of a clogged heatsink or a failed cooling fan (it stopped spinning). In your case I think it might be related to a failed cooling fan because it takes a very short time for the laptop to shut down. Usually, when the heatsink is clogged, the laptop still can run fine for 10-15 or even more minutes before it shuts down. Turn on the laptop and see if the cooling fan starts spinning before the laptop shuts down. Touch the laptop in the processor area. Is it unusually hot?
July 7th, 2006 at 7:58 am
On the one hand, I have noticed that sometimes it gets so hot on the bottom that I can’t hold it on my lap. I noticed that a couple of nights ago.
My husband also told me this morning, though, that often the “AC Power” light doesn’t come on, even when the computer’s plugged in — and that if he presses the power cord in harder, or bends it a certain way, the light will come on. So I guess it’s also possible that the connector is bad — or all of these problems could be true at the same time.
I’ll check whether the fan runs.
July 8th, 2006 at 9:48 am
i have a dell c640 with this same issue, ive taken the laptop apart and the cooling system and fan were clean and are working properly, sometimes when mine shuts off with no battery in and powerd by the ac, i can hear a high pitched ringing nois eif i put my ear close to the power input. im suspecting a voltage regulator problem but i have no idea how id fix this :S
July 8th, 2006 at 11:36 am
took it apart AGAIN today, couldnt find any appaerent issues, and couldnt find anything that looks like a voltage regulator. also i did get it to start up for about 2 mins, in which time i noticed the little fan over by where the ac input is was not running, could this puny little fan not working cause the power supply to overheat??? and cause these wierd shutdowns? how can i tell its not working? does anyone know if theyre supposed to be running full time?
November 25th, 2006 at 1:25 am
I’ve been struggling with my Gateway 5350CL for about 2 months. It will run for about an hour and a half and then abruptly shut off. The processor has run hot since the computer was born, and it’s not any hotter than normal. I recently removed the battery permanently and haven’t yet replaced it, running it off wall power exclusively, which stopped the abrupt shutoffs temporarily, but they have resumed in the past three weeks. I raised the computer off the desk with a wire basket so as to allow air circulation under the processor, in case overheating from the close contact with the desktop was the issue. I leave my laptop on all the time (though I don’t know if this is recommended or not) though recently I’ve taken to letting it rest and turning it off at night when I go to bed.
I’m reading the responses here about Dells. Do Gateways have the same problems? This computer is 5 years old and it’s just been a trooper. If I can do something to save it I’d like to do that instead of going through the trouble of a new computer. I do have a soldering iron and know how to (and am willing to) use it!
Thank you so much!!!
November 25th, 2006 at 11:30 pm
Jennifer,
Most likely it happens because the laptop heatsink got clogged with dust and the processor overheats. Buy a can of compressed air and blow inside the processor openings on the bottom and the side of the laptop. See if it can fix the problem.
December 11th, 2006 at 11:58 am
I just replace a harddrive in my laptop (Compaq ). Windows loaded fine and I did all the updates then when I tried to move it it just shut off. I pressed the power button and it came back on. I lifted it two days later to move it to my lap and it cut off again. All diagnostic programs says that everything is fine. When I first installed the Harddrive I pulled the battery out, unpluged it from the AC Adapter. The two screws were all I had to unscrew to remove the hard drive. It is centered under the “pointer pad”.
December 11th, 2006 at 11:45 pm
Sam,
Remove the hard drive and turn on the laptop. The laptop should start even without the hard drive. Try lifting and moving the laptop without the hard drive in place. Does it still shut off when you move it? Check if the memory module is seated properly.
December 22nd, 2006 at 12:08 pm
Just inherited a Dell 1150 and it was working fineuntil two days ago. It powers up fine and works fine until I pick it up to move it from the table then it shuts down. Could it be as simple as a memory module being loose adn how would something like this become loose if it is not moved often?
January 21st, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Hi
I’m using the Compaq m2108 and apperntly the cooling system is dead. either the fan got tired, or it is clogged with ling and dust.
Is there a way to open up the M2108 laptop without breaking anything and reaching the lazy fan?
Thanx,
Eran
January 23rd, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Sherri,
Yep, it could be a loose connection somewhere inside the laptop, not necessary the memory module. I cannot tell you from here what is wrong, it’s necessary to take the laptop apart and check/reseat all connections.
January 23rd, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Eran,
Sure you can take it apart, here’s a Compaq Presario M2108 Notebook PC manual (4.75MB), it has step by step disassembly instructions.
“Without breaking anything” part is up to you.
February 7th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
I have a gateway 4520gz that whenever it is moved freezes up or power cycles and restarts. I have isolated it to mainly occuring when the left palm rest is squeezed or pressure is put on it…if it remains stationary it seems to work fine…kinda defeats the purpose of the mobility of a notebook computer. I took out all of the screws in the back and I tried to take the back of the case off to be sure everythng was secure internally but it seemed like something else was catching and i couldnt get it all the way off…any thoughts or suggestions as to why it would be doing this and how I might fix this problem?
Thank you
March 8th, 2007 at 3:47 am
i’m sorry, this is a real novice question. the battery on my a30 thinkpad died while i was working. the moon symbol lit up. it is still lit up and i can’t start the computer again by plugging in the mains. please can you tell me how to spark it back into life. many thanks for your help.l
April 26th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
I have Gateway 4520GZ with same problem like Brett.
I did open it, checked all connectors, fan, reinstall heatsink. IT’s not hard drive, not memory, not network card. Inspected motherboard with magnify glass and didn’t see anything suspecious.
Did connect it to external display- same problem.
July 21st, 2007 at 10:48 am
I have an issue with my Dell Inspiron 5100 where it is overheating. I had bought a cooling pad and placed it underneath for a quick fix, but can anyone tell my how would replace the fan myself or get to it so I could clean it out? The only work I have done on my laptop is replacing the keyboard. Thanks for your help!
July 21st, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Katrina,
Dell Inspiron 5100 service manual has instructions for accessing the cooling fan. The cooling fan is located under the keyboard, so you shouldn’t have any problems getting in there.
You can clean the fan and heatsink with compressed air, you can buy it in any local computer store.
July 21st, 2007 at 9:55 pm
so no one has any ideas about a probelm reported twice in this thread…great resource….thanks…glad you are here (sarcastic)
March 16th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
I have a Sony Vaio. When the laptop is plugged in and the power cord is moved just right the laptop will shut down. This only happens if the power cord is moved (also, the battery is fully charged when this happens). Do you have any idea why this happens? Thanks for any insight you can give.
March 16th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Lyndsey,
What if you move the laptop when it runs on the battery power and the power cord in unplugged? Will it shut down too or the laptop shuts down only with the power cord plugged in?
March 17th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Only when the power cord is plugged in. Using the battery is fine.
June 19th, 2008 at 1:49 am
I have a IBM thinkpad T41 when i switch it on it just switches off i`ve changed the battery and the ac adapter the ram the lcd and replaced the heatsink but still no luck please i need to use it
June 20th, 2008 at 11:51 am
VAUGHAN,
You can try this test. Disassemble the laptop as much as you can. Remove battery, DVD drive, hard drive, unplug the LCD screen from the motherboard, etc… Basically, leave only main components such as motherboard, CPU, memory (known good module). If the laptop still switches off, most likely you there is a problem with the motherboard and it has to be replaced.
June 30th, 2008 at 10:47 am
This one is a little different… my hp N610c laptop will power up ok on the battery, but if I connect the AC adapter it shuts down after about 5 seconds. Replaced the dc-dc converter board, didn’t help. The battery won’t charge in this laptop, but I can charge it in another laptop. So maybe it is the power connector on the system board, but if I attach a port replicator to the laptop (which has all connections in the bottom of the unit) and then connect power to the port replicator, it shuts down after about 5 seconds. Thanks in advance for advice…
July 30th, 2008 at 5:58 am
I have an Acer Travel Mate 3210. My problem is the laptop can’t work even with the battery plugged in. The moment I disconnect it from the power source, it just goes blank and I will have to plug it in again before I can start up the computer again. At first I thought it was a battery problem but even after getting a new one, the problem still persists. What could be wrong with my laptop?
August 8th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
I have an ACER Aspire 5520 that runs fine with the AC on and no battery in it. When the battery is in, it starts to charge it (up to 27%) then starts dying. The battery warnings come on and after 5-10 minutest the computer shuts down. You can’t restart it for awhile. The battery not only doesn’t hold the charge but then the computer shuts down even though the AC is plugged in. Have only had the computer 8 months. Getting hold of ACER tech support is impossible. Any ideas? Thanks – Chris
August 26th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I just got a new laptop (Gateway FX series from Bestbuy) and wheen I’m in the middle of playing a game or jsut having it on the laptop shuts down like the battery dies but I have it plugged into it’s charger ALL the time (when I’m usin it). I have no clue what is wrong
August 26th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Kyle,
Could be overheating. Can you hear the cooling fan working? Do you keep your laptop on a desk?
I posted your questions here:
New laptop shuts down like the battery dies
June 6th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
first off i have a dell with windows vista anyhow i just installed a game and it seems like after 30 minutes to an hour or so it completely shuts down. One main problem is that it only does that when the game comes on not when I’m online or just on the laptop all day. I have no clue whats going on.
February 28th, 2010 at 2:25 am
I have a problem with my 2 year olf Toshiba M200. The problem started 3 months ago. Its fine when I am using the battery. When I plugged in the power cord, the computer will either restart or hang. The fan is Fine. I have no problem in the safe mode, can use the power cord plugged in perfectly well. I am using the Windows Vista. Problem with the hardware or software??