Difference between revisions of "Template:Laptop POST Troubleshooting"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
(Created page with "☐ Try powering the system on; if it shows the manufacturer's splash screen, you're likely good to go. However, in many cases, some troubleshooting is needed to figure out w…") |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | ☐ Try powering the system on | + | ☐ 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 | ;Identify the cause | ||
Work through these questions step-by-step, using the guides below. | Work through these questions step-by-step, using the guides below. | ||
# Is the system getting enough power? | # Is the system getting enough power? | ||
| − | # Is the system failing | + | # Is the system failing power-on self-test (POST)? |
| − | # Is the LCD panel dead | + | # Is the LCD panel dead? |
# Is the graphics card or motherboard failing? | # Is the graphics card or motherboard failing? | ||
| − | + | ---- | |
;1. Is the system getting enough power? | ;1. Is the system getting enough power? | ||
| − | ; | + | ;Power-related symptoms |
| − | * The screen | + | * The screen remains dark. |
* None of the indicator lights turn on (no 'signs of life'). | * None of the indicator lights turn on (no 'signs of life'). | ||
| − | ;Troubleshooting steps | + | ;Troubleshooting steps |
☐ Remove the battery. <br> | ☐ Remove the battery. <br> | ||
| − | ☐ | + | ☐ Troubleshoot your AC adapter. <br> |
| + | *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 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.<br> | ☐ 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.<br> | ||
| − | ☐ If the indicator lights come on, but it's still | + | ☐ If the indicator lights come on, but it's still not showing anything on the screen, proceed to the next section.<br> |
| + | ---- | ||
| + | ;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 | ||
| + | <!-- | ||
| + | Here, we'll be looking to see whether the system is successfully POSTing, but unable to produce video output. There's a great deal of variance that arises across different manufacturers, so there is some blind inference that is required in this step. Some exmaples of issues that can cause a system to fail its POST include: | ||
| + | |||
| + | The RAM is bad or incompatible | ||
| + | A bad or incompatible peripheral card (PCI) is installed | ||
| + | The BIOS is corrupted | ||
| + | An integrated component on the motherboard (GPU, Host Bridge, etc) is bad | ||
| + | --!> | ||
[[Category:Laptops]] | [[Category:Laptops]] | ||
Revision as of 14:29, 8 November 2012
☐ 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