Troubleshooting Common Power Problems With Laptops

Laptops work a little differently than desktop computers, and not just because they have batteries. Power problems can arise from issues with your power adapter, your battery and your motherboard, as well as with the voltage regulators. Sometimes you can fix the problem yourself, but even if you can't, you can perform some troubleshooting steps to help narrow down the problem. Troubleshooting problems on your own can save you money for repairs and part replacements, and it can teach you a little about how your laptop works in the process.

Check Power Adapter and Outlet

If your laptop is plugged in but isn't charging, the first place you want to start is the power adapter, if only because it's the easiest part to replace if necessary. You should also test your outlet while you're at it. This can be done a few different ways.

• Use another adapter (be careful to use one with the same voltage) to try to charge your laptop. If it works fine, you'll know that both your outlet and laptop are fine, and that you just need to replace the adapter.
• Look for a status light on the adapter box. If you have a light, it should turn on while it's plugged in to a power source. If not, either it's not receiving power, or it's broken.
• Plug in another electronic device to the same outlet. If it works, you know the outlet is fine and the adapter is broken. If it doesn't, you likely have a problem with either the outlet or the circuit. One potential cause is the metal contacts coming loose inside the outlet.

Check Battery Health

If your laptop hasn't been charged for some time, it's likely that you can't turn it on, which means you can't use the Command Prompt for any battery diagnostics (or, if you're on a Mac, you can't use System Information). But you can still check its health using a few different methods.

• Guess its cycle count by its age. You don't need to know anything specific, but if you've had your battery for years, it may be dying. Turning your computer on, then off again counts as one cycle, and most batteries last roughly 300 to 500 cycles. Beyond that, battery health can deteriorate fast until they no longer hold a charge. If it's old, you may just need a new one.
• Examine the battery for physical deformations. As some batteries age they can start to expand. This can be dangerous, but can also prevent the battery from working. If there are any bumps, or if it is expanding, replace it immediately.
• Try turning on your laptop with the power plugged in but the battery removed. If it works, you likely need a new battery, but your laptop is fine.

Test For Interface Problems

Your hardware and software communicate with each other using BIOS (basic input/output system), and sometimes these interfaces can experience issues due to power problems. To test this you'll need to reset the BIOS interfaces, but the process isn't as complex as it sounds.

1. Unplug your laptop's power adapter and all connected devices like mice, printers, keyboards and screens.
2. Remove the battery.
3. Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds.
4. Replace the battery, power adapter and all connected devices.
5. Power on your computer.

This resets your BIOS interfaces and clears your computer's temporary memory because the motherboard's battery doesn't have enough power to keep these connections intact. Resetting these connections can fix many hardware and software issues caused by temporary power problems. If it doesn't work, you have at least established that your computer has a hardware problem, not a software problem. If you cannot solve the issue with your laptop, then take it into a laptop repair shop like Computer Exchange.