laptop wont boot?

[Gavin78]

Would appreciate some advice I have a laptop acer aspire 5738G and today it wouldn't boot up and a blinking orange light kept flashing...

messed around with the power adaptor for a bit and computer booted up showing the windows 7 pre boot logo and then shut down....now when I push the power button the screen just goes a shade of grey and stays like that till I hold the power button and it goes off.

Battery has a funny smell as if the cells could have gone and the laptop wont boot without a battery never did from new. the battery is around 2.5 years old and the power cord has always been plugged in as wife uses the laptop all the time. I've bought a new battery and waiting for it to come but thought I would trouble shoot on here while I am waiting.

[Jimmy-J]

I've been told to never leave the charger plugged in for more that 2hrs whilst the laptop is switched off, because it will damage the battery. But if the laptop is in use, it's ok to leave the charger plugged in.

Also it should boot without the battery on mains alone. What type of warranty / cover did you get with it?

[jempalmer]

It sounds like the battery is cooked. Some laptops will run from the mains charger without a battery installed but not all. While you're waiting for the new battery to arrive it would be a good idea to check the connections and look for signs of corrosion. If you find any then clean carefully with a cotton bud moistened with alcohol (cheap stuff, don't waste your Malt Scotch)

[Gavin78]

none laptop is 2 1/2 years old now....well it wont boot up when battery is taken out it does nothing...but there is some power there when battery is in so its either the battery which I think it might be has a kind of electric burning smell never used to have that or the plug/adapter is buggered or both.

I've ordered a new battery on the off chance so other than that its going to be a new laptop. thought about a repair shop as a lst resort but it could turn into an expensive job

[jempalmer]

If the battery smells like that then it's definitely cooked. It's possible that it's been overcharged if the mains psu is faulty. If you have a multimeter you can check the output voltage from the charger. If not, then either take it to someone who can test it for you or buy a new one. I wouldn't risk wrecking a new battery if the charger is suspect.

[Gavin78]

Thanks for the reply I have bought both the battery and charger unit for my make of laptop...hopefully I should have them both by tomorrow to try out...failing that I have found a shop near me that does a no fix no fee so will ask them to take a look at it before I go out and spend £600 on another one

[Gavin78]

Update....

Got the battery and AC charger today still same problem so getting the laptop looked at tomorrow and a quote on the damage.... if its too much will just buy a new one

[tizmeinnit]

perhaps it was not the battery that smelled perhaps it was a blown cap maybe

[Gavin78]

Not sure....but I was doing a mirror image of the drive 140 gig in total to a portable HD so the laptop was running for 10hrs that day ontop of that I was having some plastering done so while the guys were sweeping up there was a mound of dust and I am wonderin if that could have been sucked up into the laptop.

I only know because on my desktop I have removable filters and they were covered with plaster dust.

[budwieser]

So, Does it turn on at all mate?
Sorry, Just re-read your original post and it does and then shuts down.
Sounds like the cpu is maybe overheating, Could be that the fan`s so clogged up with dust and/or debris that the thermal protection is kicking in.

[Gavin78]

Laptop wont boot at all no power to the cpu fan or anything when the power button is pushed.

When power button is pushed I get a white screen nothing else no cpu power and there is a blinking orange light that I cant seem to find any reference to. when the battery is plugged in no charge goes to the battery at all and the laptop wont power up whether Jack is plugged in with battery or not.

I've done a search and the only reference I can find is lose cable for white screen but laptop is powering or black screen and no power at all.

So laptop has gone in for repair guy is going to ring me on monday to give me a price if the laptop can be fixed

[Gavin78]

Update.....Guy said the GPU has gone and taken the motherboard with it...I can get is fixed for £160 that inc a new motherboard and hes fixing fee or simply buy a new laptop choice was mine.

I know deep down I am getting a good deal...but in the back of my mind I'm thinking this laptop is 2 1/2 years old is it worth getting it fixed.

going to price some new ones up later seen one for around £500 thats custom built

[qasdfdsaq]

£160 is a bit overpriced. Motherboard itself costs £83.

[Gavin78]

I was told £140 as was ordering from China?

[qasdfdsaq]

£83 in the UK. China should usually be cheaper.