Template:Laptop POST Troubleshooting
☐ Try powering the system on: if the optical drive spins up, and you see the manufacturer's splash screen load, you're likely good to go. However, in many cases, some troubleshooting is needed to figure out why a system isn't powering on.
- Identify the cause
Work through these questions step-by-step, using the guides below.
- Is the system getting enough power?
- Is the system failing power-on self-test (POST)?
- Is the LCD panel dead?
- Is the graphics card or motherboard failing?
- 1. Is the system getting enough power?
- Power-related symptoms
- The screen remains dark.
- None of the indicator lights turn on (no 'signs of life').
- Troubleshooting steps
☐ Remove the battery.
☐ Troubleshoot your AC adapter.
- Try using a different AC adapter with the same power rating.
- If possible, try using an AC adapter that has a higher amperage (A) than required.
- If you're not sure if an AC adapter is functioning, use a multimeter to test. Full instructions are in the appendix article on AC adapters.
☐ If you still aren't seeing any indicator lights after this step, then this system is dead. Consult your instructor to see if it should be recycled, or saved for parts.
☐ If the indicator lights come on, but it's still not showing anything on the screen, proceed to the next section.
- 2. Is the system failing POST?
POST is run automatically before the process of loading the operating system is begun. POST is intended to prevent errors caused by malfunctioning hardware.
- Symptoms
- The indicator lights turn on and/or the fans and drives spin up
- The screen remains dark
- You can't access BIOS
- Troubleshooting steps