Dead Laptop comes back to "Life" Mystery

[Brad]

Hi,

I have a Compaq Presario 1200XL110 laptop (bought 2nd hand) with
bad display (display "wires" disconnected). I used an external Monitor. I
kept the laptop plugged into AC all the time and the battery installed. I
had no problems the first few days. Note: the laptop was on from 7:30AM
until around 5PM every day. Then one morning, I tried to turn it on, but
absolutely nothing happened. The only indicator that was lit, which
is always lit, is the plugged into AC indicator. Note: I am a TV, etc. (not
computer) serviceman. I won't go into details of the tests I performed, which
included testing the power switch.
..
I removed a dead (!!) RTC/CMOS battery. Note: When the laptop "worked",
there was no sign (loss of time/date) that the RTC/CMOS battery was going bad.

I put this laptop in a box (main battery removed). About 5 days later, I
hooked it up to AC, but left the main battery out (RTC/CMOS battery removed).
When I tried to turn it on, absolutely nothing happened so I put it back in
the box (main battery removed).

Over a month later, I hooked up the laptop (main battery removed & no RTC
battery). When I pressed the power button, it booted up!!!!!!! I repeated
shut down and power up. It boots up every time, although I see a warning
message caused by no RTC/CMOS battery. I installed a new RTC/CMOS
battery. I now use it on AC without the main battery installed. When I shut
it down for the day, I remove AC power via the switch on the power strip.

Can someone explain this MYSTERY???

Thanks in advance, Brad

Before you type your password, credit card number, etc.,
be sure there is no active keystroke logger (spyware) in your PC.

 

[Tim]

Hi,

I have a Compaq Presario 1200XL110 laptop (bought 2nd hand) with
bad display (display "wires" disconnected). I used an external Monitor. I
kept the laptop plugged into AC all the time and the battery installed. I
had no problems the first few days. Note: the laptop was on from 7:30AM
until around 5PM every day. Then one morning, I tried to turn it on, but
absolutely nothing happened. The only indicator that was lit, which
is always lit, is the plugged into AC indicator. Note: I am a TV, etc. (not
computer) serviceman. I won't go into details of the tests I performed, which
included testing the power switch.
.
I removed a dead (!!) RTC/CMOS battery. Note: When the laptop "worked",
there was no sign (loss of time/date) that the RTC/CMOS battery was going bad.

I put this laptop in a box (main battery removed). About 5 days later, I
hooked it up to AC, but left the main battery out (RTC/CMOS battery removed).
When I tried to turn it on, absolutely nothing happened so I put it back in
the box (main battery removed).

Over a month later, I hooked up the laptop (main battery removed & no RTC
battery). When I pressed the power button, it booted up!!!!!!! I repeated
shut down and power up. It boots up every time, although I see a warning
message caused by no RTC/CMOS battery. I installed a new RTC/CMOS
battery. I now use it on AC without the main battery installed. When I shut
it down for the day, I remove AC power via the switch on the power strip.

Can someone explain this MYSTERY???

Thanks in advance, Brad

Before you type your password, credit card number, etc.,
be sure there is no active keystroke logger (spyware) in your PC.

Sounds like a corrupt or flaky CMOS setup to me.

IBM has a similar problem and the fix for that one is to remove the main
battery (with power off, AC adapter plugged in), hold down the power
button for 10 seconds, and release. Once the notebook powers up, you put
the battery back in. I have to do that about once every 5-6 weeks or so,
sometimes only once very 3 months.

- Tim -