When you’re working on your laptop and suddenly it shuts down, that can be frustrating. You try to turn it back on but nothing happens. There are a few things that could cause this problem, so before you go out and buy a new one take some time to troubleshoot it yourself.
Power Problems
One reason why your laptop decides to shut down is because it’s not getting power. If you try to turn the laptop on and there is no response, the first thing you should do is check that this is not a power cord issue. If it’s plugged in but still won’t turn on then you might need to replace your AC adapter or check if the wall outlet has any power by plugging something else into it. Another possible problem could be dirty power outlets; they can get dusty over time which causes them to lose connection with the wall outlet. Try cleaning out these outlets with compressed air or even a toothpick (if they are too small) to make sure they create good contact when plugged in. Make sure the power cord is plugged in and runs to the wall. If it’s not then check that it’s connected properly. Then check if the light located at one end of the power cord, or on your laptop itself near where you plug in the power cord if it has a built-in light, lights up when you try turning it on.
Dusty Fan
One common reason for sudden shutdowns is because of your fan being clogged with dust and dirt. You can buy compressed air and spray this around all sides of the fan to push out any blockage and stop overheating. Another option would be taking apart your laptop and cleaning out its insides, but this might void your warranty depending on which kind you have.
Faulty Power Button
The power button can become faulty if it’s stuck or gets pressed for a long time and breaks. If your AC Adapter is plugged in and the laptop still won’t turn on then try taking apart the laptop and disconnecting all cables from the motherboard except from where they are connected to. Now press down evenly on every part of the power button with a toothpick to make sure there isn’t any dirt under it preventing it from working properly. If you notice some resistance when pressing down on the button, try cleaning out all parts of it with compressed air or even use electrical tape to cover that part of it so that you don’t break anything while trying to open up that part of it again.
Faulty Motherboard
If the problem is so bad that it won’t even turn on, or nothing at all works when you try to use it then the most likely cause would be a faulty motherboard. This could have happened due to accidental liquid spills, dropped objects damaging its insides, or just old age. A motherboard replacement costs anywhere from $50 to over $300 depending on your laptop’s brand and model. You can often find cheaper replacements for laptops online through websites like eBay. It’s important that if you do replace the motherboard yourself that you follow carefully each step in this guide with exact parts instead of skipping steps which could damage your system further.
The power cord can become faulty if it’s plugged in and still won’t turn on then try taking apart the laptop and disconnecting all cables from the motherboard except from where they are connected to. Now press down evenly on every part of the power button with a toothpick to make sure there isn’t any dirt under it preventing it from working properly. If you notice some resistance when pressing down on the button, try cleaning out all parts of it with compressed air or even use electrical tape to cover that part of it so that you don’t break anything while trying to open up that part of it again.
Fold-out Power Cords
Some laptops have a type called “fold-out power cords” where there are two different cables coming out right next to each other , one for power and another for data transfer. They can be placed directly into the wall or into an adapter plug depending on your model’s specifications. The problem is these cords are often quite short in length which makes them easy to pull out by accident. This can result in your laptop being completely broken and not able to turn on at all. You can try buying a longer version of the power cord like an extension cable if this is the case with your model, but even then they can still become faulty sometimes due to accidental damage or exposure to moisture and heat inside the laptop.
