please help me $AVE my laptop!!

[mafibisha]

Out of the blue, my laptop just stopped working

My laptop is just a little over a year old. Since I was home, I was using it like usual with the power cord. I walked away and did a few things, leaving it on, like I always do. I came back to find it had turned off and would not turn back on. At all. No matter what I did.

So DH removed the battery, and it turned back on using the power cord only.

Now what? Does this mean I need a new battery? Or could it be due to something else? Should I take it somewhere? I'd be grateful for any advice!

 

[cmwade77]

It could be a number of issues, but my first thought would be the battery.

What brand is the laptop? If it is Apple, I suggest taking it into one of their stores, they will be able to tell you quickly (and since it is a little over a year, for free) if it is the battery or not. If it is an Apple and it is the battery, they will most likely replace it for free.

ASUS generally will do the same, most other manufacturers will charge you, but in some cases, it will be a prorated cost to replace the battery.

Also, if you are in So. Cal., PM me, I may be able to help.

 

[mafibisha]

It could be a number of issues, but my first thought would be the battery.

What brand is the laptop? If it is Apple, I suggest taking it into one of their stores, they will be able to tell you quickly (and since it is a little over a year, for free) if it is the battery or not. If it is an Apple and it is the battery, they will most likely replace it for free.

ASUS generally will do the same, most other manufacturers will charge you, but in some cases, it will be a prorated cost to replace the battery.

Also, if you are in So. Cal., PM me, I may be able to help.

Thanks so much for your reply. Oh how I'd love to be in SoCal! But I'm not

Its an HP laptop purchased at Best Buy. Should I try there first?

(I'm not sure what ASUS means?)

 

[pls5286]

My laptop needed a master reboot. It was a corupt update. My dh called dell tech support and this is what they told him to do. Unplug the laptop, pull the battery and hold the power button for 30 sec. This will erase the bad update. It fixed my comp. No problems since and it powered right back up. I hope this helps you.

 

[cmwade77]

Thanks so much for your reply. Oh how I'd love to be in SoCal! But I'm not

Its an HP laptop purchased at Best Buy. Should I try there first?

(I'm not sure what ASUS means?)

Asus is a brand, they are considered the second best laptop brand in laptops (Lenovo ranks fairly high too). Apple is considered the best. This in terms of reliability and customer services.

HP has slipped to the worst in reliability, that being said, their customer service is usually pretty good, I would recommend calling them, they will probably replace the battery of that is the problem. Best Buy will most likely charge you for diagnosing it and tell you to buy a new battery, unless you bought the extended warranty from them (but, extended warranties are not really worth it generally).

 

[NYCDiane]

Do you have a "chill pad" under the laptop? Laptops get pretty hot when they're running and if they get too hot, the laptop can burn out.

My hope for you is that it's a simple problem like a reboot or something similar. Even though laptops are relatively inexpensive now, I would hate to see you have to lay out the $$$ for a new one.

 

[Disney_Freak56]

It could be your battery or your power cord (or both). I have an HP and had to replace both within a year of owning my HP.

 

[mafibisha]

My laptop needed a master reboot. It was a corupt update. My dh called dell tech support and this is what they told him to do. Unplug the laptop, pull the battery and hold the power button for 30 sec. This will erase the bad update. It fixed my comp. No problems since and it powered right back up. I hope this helps you.

I will give that a try, thanks.

Asus is a brand, they are considered the second best laptop brand in laptops (Lenovo ranks fairly high too). Apple is considered the best. This in terms of reliability and customer services.

HP has slipped to the worst in reliability, that being said, their customer service is usually pretty good, I would recommend calling them, they will probably replace the battery of that is the problem. Best Buy will most likely charge you for diagnosing it and tell you to buy a new battery, unless you bought the extended warranty from them (but, extended warranties are not really worth it generally).

Thanks, I'll call HP first. No, we didn't buy the extended warranty. And we too have heard Best Buy is all about sales vs. service.

Do you have a "chill pad" under the laptop? Laptops get pretty hot when they're running and if they get too hot, the laptop can burn out.

My hope for you is that it's a simple problem like a reboot or something similar. Even though laptops are relatively inexpensive now, I would hate to see you have to lay out the $$$ for a new one.

Yes, I have a chill pad. However, I often hear the battery (?) running in high gear (for lack of the right lingo LOL), even when I only have two windows open. ???

It could be your battery or your power cord (or both). I have an HP and had to replace both within a year of owning my HP.

Oh boy, sorry to hear that. And sorry to think I may have to, also

Any other ideas anyone?

 

[Fyrefly]

If it works with the power cord but not with the battery, I'd say its a 90% chance you're looking at a battery issue.

Batteries are often twitchy things and most companies do not offer a guarantee on them beyond the first year. In my experience there are 3 battery camps: the unlucky bad ones from the factory that die super early, ones that croak at around a year, and then the ones that last reasonably well the entire laptop's life, accounting for the fact that they hold less charge as they age naturally.

What you need to do is bite the customer service bullet (that is, set aside an hour and make a cup of tea ) and get on the phone with HP. You said it's a "little over a year old." Try your best to get them them to send a free replacement since it's barely been a year. But don't waste time, you're already over the one year mark and it's only going to get harder the longer you wait.

They may go for it, they may not. But you should try, and it just costs your time to call. Going to a store will make them charge you to say "The battery is dead." which people on the internet have told you for free.

 

[EC0323]

I would call hp support. I have had a hp laptop for 8 years. I do not use it now because Rusty is so slow. But Rusty still works. It died several times. They will walk you through several different scenarios to figure out what is wrong. First for me was some kind of weird setting that some how got activated. On the phone fix. Second time my wall charger was dead. Third time battery died. And one other time that I do not remember what was causing the problem.

I highly recommend calling them. Just one warning, they are now overseas. It was easier to deal with them the first few times when they were still in the states.

Good luck.

 

[Aryanna&BiancasMommy]

I have an HP laptop that is now 2 years old. In the first year, I had the power cord die. I called HP, they sent a new one. That cord lasted 7-8 months and then it died. About this time last year (right after I hit 1 year) the battery stopped working. Got a new HP battery... Guess what... It is doing the same thing. The laptop will run off the new power cord I bought (which is HP compatible- but not HP) but the battery will only hold a charge for 2 minutes. Ended up buying a new laptop last month and needless to say, it is NOT a HP. We had HP desktops in the past with no problems, but I have had major problems out of the laptop and others that I know have had similar problems. Sorry you are having the same problems.

 

[mafibisha]

Thanks for the latest replies. Its soundling like I do need a new battery. Will give them a call and let you know what happens. Fingers crossed ...

If I need a new battery, where do you suggest I buy it, and approximately how much are they? Do they ever offer coupons?

 

[Fyrefly]

If you need a new battery, you'll need to buy it through HP. No coupons I know of. But hopefully since it's barely been a year they'll just send you a new one.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but there is a certain technical level one should have before buying and installing their own discount electronics parts. I fully admit to not having this technical level myself.

You'd need to figure out the exact specs of your battery, find a reputable seller online, and deal with the fact that it could cause problems ranging from not providing enough power to frying out your machine if it's not a good battery. Plus you'd probably void whatever warranty you have left on the rest of the computer if something else breaks, because you're the one who put in a non-standard part. So I wouldn't try it.

 

[Aryanna&BiancasMommy]

Fyrefly- If you were responding in reference to my power cord that is HP compatible, but not HP- that was from a suggestion from my dh's best friend who is a computer technician- He said truthfully, HP is crap and I should have consulted him prior to buying a laptop and he would have suggested I avoid HP altogether, but the power cord is perfectly fine to use on the laptop- it meets the same specifications as the HP power cord, but would probably last longer....

Although- my laptop is no longer covered under warranty so it would really make no difference at this point anyways. (and truth be told, I am certain if I had warranty left on it, that it would have been voided last month anyways, when my 3 year old niece dropped a glass of water on it. )

 

[Fyrefly]

Fyrefly- If you were responding in reference to my power cord that is HP compatible, but not HP- that was from a suggestion from my dh's best friend who is a computer technician- He said truthfully, HP is crap and I should have consulted him prior to buying a laptop and he would have suggested I avoid HP altogether, but the power cord is perfectly fine to use on the laptop- it meets the same specifications as the HP power cord, but would probably last longer....

Although- my laptop is no longer covered under warranty so it would really make no difference at this point anyways. (and truth be told, I am certain if I had warranty left on it, that it would have been voided last month anyways, when my 3 year old niece dropped a glass of water on it. )

No, I was responding to OP who was asking where to get a battery cheap or with coupons. I don't think she should be off googling for cheap batteries to get the best deal when there is a chance it can be replaced. Or if she does have to buy one, go and do it without knowing how to go about it. You have guidance and got a solution that works for you, so that's fine.

As far as HP being crap, I see about the same number of people who hate each of the major computer manufacturers and who love them. As with any product do your research: review the product, review the warranty options and customer service you expect to receive, then base your purchase on that. I think at this point HP isn't exactly the premium brand that it was back in the early 90's when computers were just beginning to make their way into homes, but I don't think they're necessarily any better or worse than Dell, Asus, Acer, etc.

 

[mafibisha]

No, I was responding to OP who was asking where to get a battery cheap or with coupons. I don't think she should be off googling for cheap batteries to get the best deal when there is a chance it can be replaced. Or if she does have to buy one, go and do it without knowing how to go about it. You have guidance and got a solution that works for you, so that's fine.

As far as HP being crap, I see about the same number of people who hate each of the major computer manufacturers and who love them. As with any product do your research: review the product, review the warranty options and customer service you expect to receive, then base your purchase on that. I think at this point HP isn't exactly the premium brand that it was back in the early 90's when computers were just beginning to make their way into homes, but I don't think they're necessarily any better or worse than Dell, Asus, Acer, etc.

OP here, and I was actually kidding about the coupon, hence the

But I am curious how much the battery will cost - from HP. IF they won't replace it gratis (I hope I hope...) Its been a crazy afternoon and won't have a chance to call now until tomorrow am.

Thanks all.

 

[Fyrefly]

Sorry, I managed to miss that tone even with the emoticon!

Here's the battery page on their store: http://www.shopping.hp.com/hp-battery

Prices vary it appears from about $80 to $150. Hopefully tomorrow is less chaotic for you! Best of luck trying to get them to replace it gratis.

 

[torinsmom]

I had an HP laptop a few years ago. The power cord had to be replaced 3 times during the one year warranty. Shortly after the warranty ran out, the whole laptop croaked and would not turn on with or without the power cord/battery. I swore I would never buy another HP product, but I did buy a Compaq(same company) It was only because it was a great sale, and I had learned about Square Trade warranties. Anyone getting a new computer should look into Square Trade. They have replaced two computers for us when the screens cracked(had the ADH warranty); actually, they just paypalled us the whole purchase price. There are always coupon codes to get 20-30% off the warranties too. I have a ST warranty on everything electronic at my house!