How to Fix a Laptop That’s Not Powering On?

There may be plenty of reasons as to why a laptop or desktop might not power on. A complete troubleshoot procedure has been provided below.

Before starting any troubleshooting task, make sure that you have turned on the power switch and see if the power led indicator is shining. Next, look for any disconnected power cable. An unplugged or loose power cable is also one of the probable reasons as to why your device would not turn on.

Although your device runs on a battery, make sure that your AC adapter has been plugged in properly during troubleshooting. Remove all power distribution devices between the wall outlet and your laptop. If your device starts powering on after doing this, then it means that the cause of problem has been removed. If it doesn’t, then follow the subsequent steps outlined below. 

• Carry out a “lamp” test

You can carry out a “lamp” test to verify whether the power is being provided from the wall. If your laptop is not getting sufficient power, it is not going to switch on. All you need to make sure is that your power source is working appropriately. You can insert a real load on the outlet for the purpose of testing. What is best advised to do is attach the power cord of a lamp into the wall outlet and see if it works. If the lamp doesn’t switch on, or doesn’t light up to its brightest, you may be looking at an issue with your wall power outlet.      

• Take out the laptop’s battery and run from the AC power source

Remove the battery from your laptop and try using AC power for some time [provided your laptop battery is removable]. Your laptop will run fine even if the battery isn’t installed properly. If the device starts powering on after doing this, then this implies that there is something wrong with the laptop’s battery and you must get it replaced.

• Faulty Power cable/ bent pins

Inspect the power receptacle on your device for any damage. Look for bits of debris or bent pins that may be preventing your device from getting charged. You can also try cleaning some dirt and straightening the bent pin. You can seek help from professional for correcting major problems if any.

Replace the AC adaptor to check if there is something wrong with the cable. Many times, laptops would not turn on if there is something wrong with the power cable.    

• Try replacing the CMOS battery

This is essential if your laptop is a few years old or if it has been turned off for a long time or has been operated for a long time with the main battery removed. CMOS battery can be a common reason for why your laptop may not be receiving sufficient power. 

• Drain your device of electricity

Sometimes residual charge can prevent your laptop from turning on. This is considered to be electricity clog. You can drain your device effectively from any charge and start over. Disconnect the adapter and remove the battery. Hold the power button for atleast fifteen seconds. Plug the AC adapter back in the device without replacing the battery. For turning on your device, press the power button. If this doesn’t work, then hold the power button for a minute or a little longer.

• Bad hardware

If you have tried all the steps mentioned above and none of them worked, then there may be something wrong with the hardware component within your laptop. You can try contacting the manufacturer of your laptop for any recommendations. You can get the issue diagnosed and get the bad hardware replaced.