Laptop Spontaneoulsy Reboots

herbenus · Mar 3, 2003

Lots of good suggestions here. Now here's a couple more, though maybe not as "good". Do you have access to a UPS, or can you buy one? It may be a problem with surges, as already mentioned. The UPS will eliminate these and also warn you with an irritating audible when you have a surge.

The other suggestion is to play with the Powersave features: When the hard drive shuts down and when the monitor powers down. Though probably not the problem, it would be good to eliminate them as possibilities. I've had trouble with some desktops (mainly Compaq's, HP's and Gateways) with these features enabled. They would go into sleep mode and could not be reawakened. Set these to never power down and see if problem is fixed.

cwave · Mar 3, 2003

Concur with Bill:

Do you have access to another IBM Laptop (same model ?) - In our shop we always used the same brand for just about everything used. - Dell Laptops - 3com Nic's - Routers - Hubs -The reason - Support - 1 call for support and warranty - you get to know their routine and what they would allow. Yes it was fun to support - up to 4 different models of Dell Laptops.

<font color="blue">Desktops not always the case $$$$$$$ </font>

MikePA · Mar 3, 2003

Got to work this morning. Powered it on and it sat there, not even using it, for an hour. Locked up. Powered off. Powered on. Little green light came on indicating power and I heard the fan come on. Nothing after that. Didn't read the disk. Nuttin'. Power Off/Power On cycle at least half a dozen times. Still wouldn't boot up. Shut it off and went to a meeting.

Came back, booted up fine. Move screen (lid), locked up.

I gave it to a guy who works for me, who also works for a local PC shop in his spare time, for analysis. It's well out of warranty. Sigh.

My guess is it's either heat or power related.

herbenus · Mar 3, 2003

Or something loose. Disassemble and tighten all boards, etc.

TerryinMD · Mar 3, 2003

Mike,

Here is a simple solution:

1. Dump all of your data.

2. You need a new chock so that your tractor doesn't slip, don't you? If so, use the laptop as a wheel chock.

3. Buy a new Laptop.

4. Restore your data.

5. Sit back and enjoy the new machine and a lot less grief and aggrevation!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Good luck!

Terry

MikePA · Mar 3, 2003

Hi Terry, just send me the $1,500 and ya got a deal! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

MikePA · Mar 3, 2003

Hi Terry, just send me the $1,500 and ya got a deal! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Mar 3, 2003

It's almost eerie how close your description is to the problems I experienced with my Dell. I'm still leaning toward either a bad "lid closed" deal on your display frame OR something shorting out your power supply (which is what my problem turned out to be).

It was certainly a fluke but that's what it was. i sincerely hope you check out those two possibilities. Please let us know when you find out. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

mikim · Mar 4, 2003

Had that problem with the bosses Dell - turned out to be a bad battery -- we chased it for about a month - swapped the battery just 'cause it was somethin' to do -- and the problem started on the other machine - and the boss was happy -- pulling the battery out would be the same thing as having a bad one installed - yes?

MikePA · Mar 4, 2003

<font color="blue"> pulling the battery out would be the same thing as having a bad one installed - yes? </font>
Yep. The PC Doctor diagnostic software tested the batteries and they both passed.