Which part is dead?

[Pinchy]

Im assuming its the motherboard.

I got this old laptop off a friend which I am trying to repair.

The problem: Press the power button and get no response at all. Nothing happens, no fans spin, no lights come on..nothing. Nothing with the AC adapter, battery or both.

What I have tried: I have pulled it apart, taken out the motherboard battery for 5 mins (assuming that will reset the CMOS), tested the 5GB disk drive (working fine), taken out the CD drive and taken out the floppy drive (lol).

Additional notes: I just cant seem to find where the RAM is located on the machine. It doesnt appear to be anywhere (Unless its on the other side of the board, which I cant access). Also, when the charger is plugged in (with the battery), the green battery charge/AC adapter light turns on, so there is some sort of working part.

Just a project for fun guys, so dont say "just get a new laptop"

Cheers

 

[erocker]

Not sure what's broken, but the ram is most likely placed on the backside of the motherboard.

 

[nflesher87]

wow, seems like a lost cause bro
I'm highly doubting it's the memory (though it could indeed be dead as well haha) but if you're not even getting it to boot that would indicate the motherboard as bad memory would simply result in not posting...
who knows where you'd even find a replacement mobo though, what's the make/model?

 

[xylomn]

it could just be the buttons knackered...

find where the power button connects to the mobo and short it with anything metallic

 

[DRDNA]

some laptops have the ram under the keyboard .

 

[rangerone766]

some laptops have the ram under the keyboard .

alot of the older laptops i've fussed with had ram under the kb.

let us know what make and model you have.

 

[Pinchy]

Sorry bout the late reply, just woke up .


Its a ... Compaq Presario 1200. I actually had to take out the keyboard to get to the motherboard, lol.

The motherboard battery has been out of the laptop all night, lets give her a try now .

it could just be the buttons knackered...

find where the power button connects to the mobo and short it with anything metallic

I was thinking of that, but the button is in such an awkward position :shadedshu

wow, seems like a lost cause bro

 

[Error 404]

Ok, it looks like it has built in RAM, which could be anywhere on the mobo, unless it has some expansion RAM. If it does have added RAM, it should be on the underneath. Look under any removable panels, or if its not under there then it would be under the keyboard.
If its not the RAM, then its almost certainly a dead mobo; if thats the case, then a replacement would probably cost more than the original laptop :shadedshu

My advice: Find out how much the motherboard costs, then find a similar specced laptop on eBay for about the same price. Either way, you'd end up with a working laptop.

 

[Nitro-Max]

you could check to see if theres any dead/blown capasitiors things get hot inside laptops also check the power conection on the motherboard it can somtimes work loose and will need resoldering.

 

[guyguy]

Take a multimeter and measure the voltage on the power supply to charge the battery, if thats alright it might be the small power supply in the computer that the charger plugs into and if thats gone the battery wont charge and you wont get any power from the charger. Suggestion if you cant get anything ill take it.....and take a look at it for you..im taking Electronics at school....but anyway i just got off topic...lol

 

[Black Panther]

I think if it was bad ram it would still power up. Once I saw a friend's laptop which had faulty ram. It used to power up, stop in the 'ram test' phase and display on the monitor the laptop brand, getting stuck there.

 

[Pinchy]

Ok, it looks like it has built in RAM, which could be anywhere on the mobo, unless it has some expansion RAM. If it does have added RAM, it should be on the underneath. Look under any removable panels, or if its not under there then it would be under the keyboard.
If its not the RAM, then its almost certainly a dead mobo; if thats the case, then a replacement would probably cost more than the original laptop :shadedshu

My advice: Find out how much the motherboard costs, then find a similar specced laptop on eBay for about the same price. Either way, you'd end up with a working laptop.

Yup I am pretty sure I saw the onboard RAM and in the expansion slot there is nothing. But as mentioned, it should still at least start up.

@ the mobo thing, probably wont be worth it . I searched for the laptop and got nothing but AC chargers anyway.

you could check to see if theres any dead/blown capasitiors things get hot inside laptops also check the power conection on the motherboard it can somtimes work loose and will need resoldering.

First thing I checked when I opened it all up. No problems with any of them (well, physically anyway).

I wouldnt think the actual power connection is gone because it does respond when I plug in the AC charger (via the green battery charge LED).

Take a multimeter and measure the voltage on the power supply to charge the battery, if thats alright it might be the small power supply in the computer that the charger plugs into and if thats gone the battery wont charge and you wont get any power from the charger. Suggestion if you cant get anything ill take it.....and take a look at it for you..im taking Electronics at school....but anyway i just got off topic...lol

I might try that.

Id give you the laptop, but it isnt mine and it wouldnt be worth the shipping