Member Avatar for blackslipper

I am having a similar problem, however when i do click the start button on my compaq presario, the compaq logo, COMPAQ, appears on the screne, the fan starts and what seems to be the processor, and then it goes dead, switches off

Help!!

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by teleholic

Dani AI

Generated

Brief diagnostic addendum that builds on observations already posted by and others.

The symptom—brief power-up (logo/fan) followed by an immediate shutdown—points toward a power-delivery or early hardware-fault that cuts the rail under load. The following non-destructive checks help isolate whether the adapter, the DC‑in/jack, or the motherboard is at fault without repeating the simpler battery-swap suggestion in the thread.

  • AC adapter verification: with a multimeter on DC volts, measure the adapter barrel and compare to the printed rating. Large deviation, heavy ripple, or voltage that falls under light load indicates a bad adapter or internal regulator failure.
  • DC jack inspection: look for play, cracked plastic, bent inner pin, or hairline solder cracks where the jack meets the board. Intermittent solder joints commonly produce the described shutdown; reflow or jack replacement are typical fixes.
  • Board-level checks: visually inspect for bulging/leaking capacitors or scorched components near the input. A continuity check across the input fuse (often marked F) will show an open fuse if the jack or upstream protection has failed.
  • Controlled bench test: a current-limited bench supply (set to the adapter voltage) can be used to power the board while observing current draw — a rapid current spike or trip indicates a short. This is best done by someone familiar with electronics safety.
  • Quick hardware isolation: reseating memory and temporarily removing HDD/optical/PC cards removes POST-failure causes; note any beep/LED blink patterns and match them to Compaq diagnostic codes.

Safety and repair notes: swollen batteries must be retired and disposed of properly; replacement parts should match voltage and polarity. DC‑jack replacements and simple solder repairs are inexpensive compared with motherboard replacement, but soldering or bench-power testing should be left to a technician if inexperienced. This addendum complements ’s DC‑in observation by providing specific, testable steps to confirm the failing component.

Member Avatar for jfarc

I am having a similar problem, however when i do click the start button on my compaq presario, the compaq logo, COMPAQ, appears on the screne, the fan starts and what seems to be the processor, and then it goes dead, switches off

Help!!

Sounds like it could be a low battery issue. If you remove the battery while the power cord is plugged in, it should still power up. If it doesn't, then you probably have the same broken wire on the DC input jack as I did. Also, if you know someone else with this type laptop, install your battery in theirs to get it fully charged and place it back in yours to see if all works ok. If it does power up properly after doing this, then this would be another indication that your laptop has a charging issue.

One other thing to do is watching the battery charge light on the front of the laptop - it should be illuminated while charging. If not, try a wiggle the power cord as it goes into the back of the laptop to see if this light comes on. This would again indicate that there is a loose wire back there like mine had several times.

Member Avatar for teleholic

Sounds like it could be a low battery issue. If you remove the battery while the power cord is plugged in, it should still power up. If it doesn't, then you probably have the same broken wire on the DC input jack as I did. Also, if you know someone else with this type laptop, install your battery in theirs to get it fully charged and place it back in yours to see if all works ok. If it does power up properly after doing this, then this would be another indication that your laptop has a charging issue.

One other thing to do is watching the battery charge light on the front of the laptop - it should be illuminated while charging. If not, try a wiggle the power cord as it goes into the back of the laptop to see if this light comes on. This would again indicate that there is a loose wire back there like mine had several times.

Thanks jfarc, removing the battery and plugging in the mains solved the rpoblem! Looks like it's time for a new battery.

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