Member Avatar for Cortney S

My laptop has been turning off while I'm still on the computer. The screen would turn off but the power light will still be on. When I try to turn it back or or press ctrl+alt+delete, nothing happens. I have to take out the battery and unplug the cord just to get it to come back on.

Then yesterday it shut off and when I tried to turn it back on the power button will flash for a couple min. and the turn back off. The battery light is on so it seems to be getting power from the cord, I just cant get it to work.

I tried gateway support but they were no help at all. It took the guy 30 min. just to tell me I was only covered through Best Buy and I needed to call some Gateway Q & A hotline that has a low rate fee. Whatever.

So if anyone has any help for me that would be greatly appriciated.

Thank You,
Cortney

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Xlphos

Dani AI

Generated

Brief expert summary: from 's symptom description and the basic checks suggested, this pattern (system suddenly cutting out, then the power LED flashing at attempt-to-start) points first at power-delivery or motherboard problems, with memory or a short as other common causes. A failed hard drive is unlikely to cause a machine to refuse to power on — bad drives usually allow POST/BIOS to appear and then show disk errors — so focus on power, memory, and simple hardware isolation first.

Step-by-step diagnostics (ordered from safest to more invasive):

  • Power-reset: disconnect AC and remove the main battery, then press and hold the power button for 30 seconds to discharge capacitors. Reconnect AC only and try to start.
  • AC/adaptor check: confirm the adapter brick LED (if present) and, if possible, verify output with a multimeter or borrow a known-good adapter of the same voltage rating. A marginal adapter can let LEDs light but fail under load.
  • Inspect the DC jack and cable for looseness, broken pins, or heat damage; wiggle the plug gently while attempting to power on to see if the behavior changes.
  • Minimal-boot test: with power removed and grounded, open the memory cover and reseat RAM sticks; try booting with one stick at a time in each slot. Faulty or poorly-seated RAM commonly prevents POST and can produce no-display/no-response symptoms.
  • Remove non-essential drives/peripherals: detach the hard drive and optical drive and try to boot (you should at least see POST or BIOS). Connect an external monitor to rule out an internal display/inverter failure.
  • Observe signs at power-on: fans spinning, drive spin-up, and beep codes — these give strong clues about where the failure lies.
  • CMOS reset: if comfortable, remove the RTC coin cell for a minute then reinstall to clear BIOS settings.

Cautions and next steps: use ESD protection when touching internals and avoid disassembly if under warranty. If these steps don’t restore POST, the likely causes are a failing DC jack, power circuitry, or motherboard — board-level repair or replacement will be required. If unsure about any step, a local repair shop can run these checks quickly and confirm whether a simple part swap (adapter, RAM) or a motherboard repair is needed.

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Member Avatar for Xlphos

Have you tried powering the laptop without the battery? Take it out and see if it still gets power from the cord.

Member Avatar for Cortney S

Have you tried powering the laptop without the battery? Take it out and see if it still gets power from the cord.

Yes I have tried doing it without the battery and it still wont turn on. I press the power button and the light will just flash and then turn back off. I've tried just the battery and it will do the same thing. A friend of mine says that he thinks maybe it's not reading the hard drive, but I don't know.

Member Avatar for Xlphos

Okay, when you are charging the battery does the light come on?

I am thinking there is no power getting to laptop. a flashing light usually indicates a flat battery.

If there is something wrong with the harddrive the laptop should bleep, if it doesn't boot up the laptop should still turn on.

Member Avatar for Cortney S

Okay, when you are charging the battery does the light come on?

I am thinking there is no power getting to laptop. a flashing light usually indicates a flat battery.

If there is something wrong with the harddrive the laptop should bleep, if it doesn't boot up the laptop should still turn on.

When I'm charging the battery the light does come on. But if I'm just using the power cord and no battery the laptop should still come on right?

Member Avatar for Xlphos

When I'm charging the battery the light does come on. But if I'm just using the power cord and no battery the laptop should still come on right?

Yes thats right, it should turn on without the battery and work normally.

Member Avatar for Cortney S

Yes thats right, it should turn on without the battery and work normally.

Ok, well when I press the power button it still wont turn on. the light will just flash for a min. and the turn off.

Member Avatar for Xlphos

Okay, have you charged the battery up?

What I want you to try is charge the battery, the charge light should go off once charged(Do this without the laptop being on). Then remove the powercord and try turning on the laptop.

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