Laptop won't work!!

[Joeyjake]

Laptop "on" light is glowing green but nothing happens when I press the start button - it won't come on and won't go off.

I have taken the battery out but the light stays on.

Any pointers for a complete technophobe?

Many thanks.

[ACtheTROLL]

when you took the battery out ... did you unplug the powerbrick as well?

[Joeyjake]

Sorry - what's a power brick? Told you I am a complete technophobe

[kaw69]

Did you switch it off at the mains plug?

[Joeyjake]

Yes, switched off at mains.

[ACtheTROLL]

Joe - you are right ... spooky

joey
take out the battery ... unplug the brick (the box that plugs into the mains at one side ... and the laptop at the other)
from the laptop (and the mains as well if you want) ... but the laptop should be completely un connected to any type of electrickery.

go ring a friend on the telling-bone or put the cauldron on and make a potion of tea.
.... (sorry getting carried away)
leave it all for at least 20 mins - or until the light goes out
...... go to bed if it looks like taking a while

then connect it all back together ...
if no joy it's down to the fixer - or the shop

[rojash]

It's not a Fujitsu-Siemens by any chance? If so, these are the instructions I was given by there support people (and, believe it or not, it worked!).

Remove the battery
Remove the power supply connection
Remove the RAM chips
Leave for 10 hours
Put it all back together, and hey presto!

I'm not going to tell you the technical explanation they gave me, 'cos it sounds like utter mumbo-jumbo, but as I say, it did the trick.

[Joeyjake]

Awful sorry - had a quick look on internet and what I thought was battery was not. Have now taken the battery out and put it back - computer light now off.

Tried to turn on again, but nothing happens. Presume from this the battery needs replacing?

[ACtheTROLL]

with the battery out ... plug in the mains power unit (brick) and see what happens ... that's how you prove the battery
if no joy ... do as rojash says ... disconnect everything ... go to bed ....
try again tomorrow.

just the mains power ... if it fires up ... fine ....
if not ... it's the machine - not the battery
switch it off ... plug in the battery ... switch on ....
if it works - good ... if it did work on mains only it's the battery .... if still nothing - your machine needs looking at

[Joeyjake]

Thanks everyone for all your help. Really appreciate it.

[~max~]

Joeyjake, I don't want to sound offensive or anything, because I know how it's certainly not familiar to many people, but seriously. Before removing any bits that you *think* are the battery, or whatever else, please ask someone who knows something about computers. It would be so easy to do more damage than you'd think, just poking blindly about.