Member Avatar for LambwithaLimp

Hi, this is my first time posting here and I heard you guys are very helpful. The problem I am having is when I go to plug in the power adapter to the back of the laptop the green light keeps flashing and the computer does not turn on or anything. All you get is a smell like that of smoke, but there is no smoke. Then I went out and bought another power adapter and tried that and the whole thing started smoking. So the question is,what is overheating and how can i fix it?

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As described, a flashing power LED plus a burned/plastic smell — then actual smoking when a second adapter was used — points to an electrical fault in the input/power circuitry. Stop using the laptop and the adapters immediately. The adapter that smoked is unsafe and should not be reused.

Immediate safe triage (do these before any further testing):

  1. Unplug wall power and remove the battery. Work in a well‑ventilated area.
  2. Do not plug any adapter in until you verify it’s the correct type. Inspect the adapter label for voltage/polarity/current and, if possible, confirm output with a multimeter.
  3. With the battery out and the system powered off, look and smell for the source of burning. If you see smoke or persistent burning odor, do not continue — stop and get professional help.
  4. If comfortable and equipped, remove the service cover to visually inspect the DC input area for charred PCB, bulging capacitors, burn marks, or lifted solder pads. Use a multimeter to check for a near‑short between the DC input and chassis (indicates a shorted input stage). If unsure how to do these safely, skip to a shop.

What to look for and what it likely means:

  • A hot/loose DC jack or arcing at the jack can char the board and damage solder joints and nearby components.
  • Burn marks, cracked epoxy on power ICs, or blown surface‑mount fuses are signs of serious damage.
  • The adapter itself can fail shorted — if the adapter smoked, it may have been defective or incompatible.

Repair vs salvage:
For an old Presario, motherboard repairs (replacing regulators/FETs or a jack reflow) are possible but may cost more than the machine’s value. Prioritize data recovery: remove the hard drive and use a USB adapter/enclosure to copy files. As noted, adapter compatibility matters, and as implied, input‑jack problems are common; both issues are worth checking, but avoid further powering attempts until the problem is isolated.

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Member Avatar for Catweazle

Take it to a technician and get it checked. It may be that it is already damaged beyond repair - are you sure the replacement power adapter was the correct one for your laptop?

Member Avatar for quwip10

I will tell you the same thing I told ploppy this is extremely common on the 700's. I am almost sure this is your problem.

"Ok, first off I have an old compaq presario 700 and I have serviced multiple others. The power supply is integrated into the motherboard so buying a new one is out of the question. One of the most common problems with the 700 is the internal port into which the power cord connects often breaks. If you plug your cord into the back of your computer and can wiggle it around, the port is probably broken. The best way to check is to take out the keyboard and your cd drive and to look behind the cd drive at the port. The computer I am using the port completely broke off but I have been able to fix it up a little, just enough so it runs. Let me know if that is the problem and I will try to help you more."

Member Avatar for DMR

Hi peer,

First of all- welcome to DaniWeb :)

We ask that members not tag their questions on to a thread previously started by another member (regardless of how similar your problem might seem). Not only does it divert the focus of the thread away from the original poster's problem, but it also makes it less likely that you yourself will get the individual attention that you need.

In light of that, I've moved your post into its own new thread, which you can find here.


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Thanks for understanding.

Member Avatar for DMR

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