Laptop won't start

[clevey4]

I have a laptop with W XP Home, about a 1.6 G Intel processor. Not sure about SP because I can't start the thing! I push the power button and the fan spins for 1-2 seconds then stops, the power light stays on and the thing goes silent and stays dark. I keep turning it on and off and it used to eventually start after 15-20 tries but now it won't. HD light never lights during this. Where do I start? Power supply? thanks in advance. - Chris

 

[dustyjay]

I am thinking that you are not getting your battery charged and your ac adapter/connector may be the culprit. May be a silly question, do you still have any warranty time left with this laptop? If so I would use that to have it repaired by the manufacturer before tearing into it myself. Laptops are a different animal than desktops

 

[clevey4]

I checked the power supply - it does supply the 19V DC that it says it should. The batt also gets hot while charging. Any other ideas? Thanks for your reply! - CSL

 

[wacor]

how old is the computer?

it this is an old battery and it is shot i am wondering if it could do the same thing as a car battery where if a battery is shorted out you can not even jump a car without removing the battery??

maybe worth taking the battery out and trying to run off power supply?

 

[clevey4]

That was a good thought. But without the battery in it still did the same thing. (I didn't realize you could run it without the battery)!
Any other thoughts?

 

[wacor]

do any of the lights even try to come on? what make is the laptop?

 

[clevey4]

It is a PC Club EN34504

The battery charge/external power light works as expected. When "starting" the unit the power-on light does illuminate.
thanks again. - Chris