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What happens if you don't turn on your computer/laptop for a long time?

I assumed as much but I popped it open and no capacitors appeared leaking or bulged. I suspect something conductive fell into it through the vents and shorted it out.
One of the capacitors could of dried out unless there solid state capacitors. Even solid state capacitors go bad eventually.
 
Guys, if the laptop boots to desktop (cursor is visible), than it has nothing to do with the battery. It is possible windows installed some updates last time before shut down, which could cause the black screen.

If the laptop was truly in hibernate mode, try holding the power button for a couple of seconds for a complete shutdown, then power it back on. If it still doesn't boot normally, try windows restore to fix the problem. If it does not fix it, it is time for a clean install.
 
This, or what I would try is a live Linux bootable USB to exclude an OS issue.
 
If all the OP's seeing is the cursor, I'd boot to other media such as Linux or a Win 10 USB (for repair purposes) remembering to get to the bios first with F2 or Del.
They do go wonky if shutdown during a Windows update, but with scant information from the OP, it's hard to say.
I have a laptop that I only use when travelling, so it could go for months without use and always starts up without any problems, to answer the OP's original question.
 
OP appears to have abandoned thread after his first and follow up post " Another of life's unsolved mystery's "
 
Would it be possible to vacuum seal the battery before placing it in the frig? Thinking Food Saver

yes, but then it'd need to be left in the bag for several hours after removal to prevent the condensation issues

people misunderstand what batteries in the fridge does, all the lower temperatures do is keep the battery CHARGED for longer, it doesnt make its overall lifespan any longer
Sure, you can vacuum seal the battery but for the reasons Mussels note, I see no advantage to it. As Mussels noted, all the cold does is slow down the inevitable discharge process by slowing down the chemical reaction going on inside a battery. Decades ago, before alkaline batteries (which tend to have a long "shelf-life" of several years), this was a big deal because "brand new" old technology batteries would go dead sitting sealed in their packaging in a drawer after just a few months. So folks would put them in the "ice box" in the hopes they would last a little longer. Note those were NOT rechargeable batteries.

Unless you start talking extreme colds (like outer space and absolute zero temps), the freezing cold itself does not hurt the battery, but it does not help the battery either.

In fact, it is likely to get moved about in the freezer, possibly taken in and out multiple times, and subject to other abuse as people go digging for that last Eggo buried in the back or bottom of the freezer. Every time the freezer door is opened, warm, moist air gets in which is also not good. It would be better to just cover the battery (to protect it from dust) and put it on a closet shelf where it can remain undisturbed until needed again.
 
Ahhhhh.... Windows Auto Update strikes again. That cursor is Windows trying to install 6 months of updates when nothing is working right. Good luck....get ready for recovery.
 
Ahhhhh.... Windows Auto Update strikes again. That cursor is Windows trying to install 6 months of updates when nothing is working right.
:( Highly unlikely Windows Update caused this. Typically, even if WU hangs up, you see the WU screen. Nothing but a cursor typically indicates a boot failure long before WU has a chance to kick in.

Plus, the OP said, "more than 2 weeks". Nothing said suggests 6 months have passed.
 
:( Highly unlikely Windows Update caused this. Typically, even if WU hangs up, you see the WU screen. Nothing but a cursor typically indicates a boot failure long before WU has a chance to kick in.

Plus, the OP said, "more than 2 weeks". Nothing said suggests 6 months have passed.
Boot failure due to Windows trying to update the kernel. Windows is pushing the latest updates...forcing it. If you turn the power off or the battery dies while in the process this can happen.
 
"IF" you do that, then perhaps. But you don't know "IF" the user killed power or "IF" the battery died. And even "IF" that happened, you still typically get to the WU screen because Windows can't push or force anything until the boot drive is touched, well into the boot process.

Nothing but a flashing cursor suggests the boot process was halted before Windows had a change to even start loading.

And again - nothing about months, especially 1/2 year passing.
 
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I have an ultrabook that went through a few periods of several month of lying on the shelf,worked fine every time I needed it.
 
Yeah, my 9 year old Toshiba running W10 regularly sits unused for several weeks, some times longer, at a time. It may take what seems like forever to boot after being off for those times, but it is easy to see it is updating.
 
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