Electro Magnetic Charge build up in laptop.

[gazza]

Hi Everyone,

I had just received a HP DV5 laptop from a customer whom stated that the laptop would not power on using either AC adapter or battery, nothing it was dead. I asked the customer whether or not the laptop had been dropped or had liquid spilled on it and she said no. I first tested her claims and she was correct, the laptop would not power up when using AC power and or the battery. I first tested the AC adapter with a multimeter and it posted the correct voltage of 19 volts. I proceeded to remove the memory and hard drive and then tried starting the laptop the AC adapter and the laptop powered on. So I thought the problem was either bad ram or a bad hard drive, not so both hardware passed memtest and HDD Regenerater tests. I then remembered reading somewhere that sometimes laptops can build up electromagnetic charge and cause it not to power on. So while I had the memory and hard drive out of the laptop I held down the power on button for 30 seconds to supposedly remove any build up of electomagnetic charge in the laptop. I then replaced the hard drive and memory modules and the laptop has no power issues at all. I ran a 45 minute burnin test and all hardware passed OK. I was just wondering if other techs out there have come across this phenomenon and what actually causes the build up electomagnetic charge in a laptop.

Thanks

Gary

 

[usacvlr]

The units were stuck in hibernate most likely. Removing the memory, power and battery generally fix it.

 

[gazza]

If it was a hibernation problem, it would have booted into windows from resume mode not a full boot into Windows. When in Windows I checked the power options for the laptop and hibernation was not enabled.

 

[red12049]

If it was a hibernation problem, it would have booted into windows from resume mode not a full boot into Windows. When in Windows I checked the power options for the laptop and hibernation was not enabled.

If you are so sure of that, Grasshopper, then come look over my shoulder at the four or five a week we get that come in completely dead. We pull the battery, wait a minute or two, and then plug them into AC and hit the button. They power right up. Some will ask us about deleting the corrupt hibernation file, some don't. Frequently happens when folks shut the system down, and then close the lid before it's completely off.

Two minutes, ten bucks, and they're back out the door, happy as can be.

Rick

 

[gazza]

Hi Rick,

You might need to get glasses OLD MAN. Read the post properly and you would know that I had already removed the battery and it did not help the solve the powering on problem. I then removed and reconnected the hard drive and memory modules and this solved the problem.

Also you had the hide two charge a customer for taking out a battery and then connecting to an AC adapter and turning the laptop on, and then tell them its a corrupt file. Get real!

 

[Elemdee]

Hi Rick,

You might need to get glasses OLD MAN.

You best not be speaking to my friend Rick that way, Junior. Disrespectful to say the least.

 

[gazza]

Don't tell me what to do or say, OLD GIRL.

 

[Elemdee]

Don't tell me what to do or say, OLD GIRL.

Except I'm not. But regardless, you're on the ignore list now. See ya.

 

[gazza]

It is a pity that some senior members on this site think they are the only ones that have something to offer in the forums, if only some of these members could read what is actually posted. Remember these forums are for all computer technicians.

You to might have done better to read my original post instead of defending a someone who obviously gets off on telling people he is right ALL THE TIME.

See Ya.

 

[14049752]

You might need to get glasses OLD MAN. Read the post properly and you would know that I had already removed the battery and it did not help the solve the powering on problem. I then removed and reconnected the hard drive and memory modules and this solved the problem.

Actually, I read your post twice, to be sure..you didn't actually say that you removed the battery. You said that you removed the hard drive and the memory, but never the battery.

But honestly, that doesn't matter so much to me, kiddo. What matters is that you got your answer and you didn't need to sling an insult so quickly.

If you would re-read the posts, both usa and red answered your question pretty well. Have a nice day.

 

[Xander]

Douchetastic

Don't tell me what to do or say, OLD GIRL.

Not cool, dude. Some folks know how to use this:

 

[gazza]

Firstly, I did not sling any insult, all I did was post a question and probable answer to a job I had in my shop. I did not take kindly to red12049 calling me Grasshopper or 14049752 calling me Kiddo in a patronizing manner.

And, yes I did get responses to my question, I agree to disagree on this one.


Thanks


Gary

 

[NeutronTech]

Also you had the hide two charge a customer for taking out a battery and then connecting to an AC adapter and turning the laptop on, and then tell them its a corrupt file. Get real!

What? We're running businesses here. He only charged $10. If it was in my shop, I would have charged $35. I charge at least the diagnostic fee for any piece of equipment I touch in my shop. I have a sign clearly stating this. If I can fix it in a few minutes, then the customer saved money by not having to pay for a Basic or Advanced Repair. My knowledge and experience are not free and doing free service does not pay the bills.

In all honesty, I will charge if there is nothing wrong with the PC too. Say it's running slow and a customer brings it in thinking something is wrong. I'll fully check it out, and if I find nothing wrong, I'll recommend a memory upgrade or whatever else they need. If they opt to upgrade, I order the stuff and do it. If they don't want to upgrade, but just wanted to make sure there wasn't a virus or something, then they get charged the diagnostic fee. Because I did just that, I diagnosed it.

Seriously, if the customer could have fixed it himself he would have. Since he didn't and brought the laptop to him, I'm sure the customer was more than happy to pay.

 

[gazza]

I don't believe what I am reading. All this feedback from a simple post about static charge build up in a laptop and what I did to rectify it.

I really don't care what you charge or don't charge customers, it is all about doing the right thing by the customer. But I wonder how many customers come back to your shop after being slugged for fixing a computer that has nothing wrong with it.

 

[red12049]

Hi Rick,

You might need to get glasses OLD MAN. Read the post properly and you would know that I had already removed the battery and it did not help the solve the powering on problem. I then removed and reconnected the hard drive and memory modules and this solved the problem.

Also you had the hide two charge a customer for taking out a battery and then connecting to an AC adapter and turning the laptop on, and then tell them its a corrupt file. Get real!

Actually, I was responding to the post I quoted, because it was very misleading, hence my explanation.

As for charging the customer, he walked in with a doorstop. He left with a fully functioning computer, along with instructions on how to prevent the problem in the future. I have no problem sleeping when I think of it that way. If your car doesn't start tomorrow, and a mechanic comes over and fixes the problem and tells you how to prevent it, you're telling me that rather than being glad you got away so cheap, you'd be upset over not getting your money's worth?

Sometimes, if you "can't believe" something, it is best to suspend your belief and thoroughly examine the situation from all angles.

I have been in the computer business for a bit over fifteen years in a small town of about six thousand residents, in a rural county of about twenty nine thousand people. I do have competition. You do the math as far as repeat customers.

"Grasshopper" is taken from an old TV show, and is used to denote younger folks. No slight intended. See here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCyJRXvPNRo

Rick

 

[gazza]

So if I am the Grasshopper, you must be the OLD WISE BALD HEADED bloke wearing a dress. No slight intended. Whatever!

 

[14049752]

For the record, I did mean "kiddo" to be patronizing. I think it's deserved. Anyone that got upset over being called "grasshopper" is probably too young to get the cultural reference (or, I suppose from another culture.). Anyone so quick to show disrespect doesn't deserve mine.



And....you agree to disagree? On something you basically admitted you don't know? You got your answer. It's right. Learn from it. It's that simple.


Anyway, yeah...sure...post another reply showing how you're too thick to understand, as I'm sure you will. I'm done with this thread because there's nothing more to say on the topic.

 

[red12049]

So if I am the Grasshopper, you must be the OLD WISE BALD HEADED bloke wearing a dress. No slight intended. Whatever!

Hmmm.... I still have most of my hair (no slight to those that don't), and I'm not normally seen in a robe. I'll settle for old and wise. Someday, if you're lucky, you might understand just a tad.

By the way; do you know what "ad hominem" means?

Rick

 

[MobileTechie]

The static charge thing is definitely true. I posted about it recently. Hp have it on their site.

By the way I charged the full standard repair fee.

 

[PcTek9]

Ok,

but electrostatic charge is different from electromagnetic charge.

electromagnetic charge implies the laptop has become an electromagnet. <- i never did see that happen, though i suppose if i see a laptop come in with paper clips sticking all over it, then i will know.

lol - just kidding. i apologize if i upset you that's just a joke.

ok.

electrostatic charge, like how a comb can pick up paper? it's uhmmm super high voltages but extremely low current. they finally agreed that static electricity and the electricity that powers your house are the same thing.

house electricity is higher amperage/lower voltage, just the opposite of electrostatic.

so with that said... i would have to say a strange and mysterious condition could exist, where electrostatic charges on the case build up enough to jump to the highest metal point inside the laptop itself and maybe zap the ram a little - in some areas, just enough to jumble a few bits and bytes and cause the system to fubar the hibernation file. (if i had a dollar for everytime that happened on a macbook...) lol.
...and then escd also can be wikipedia looked up for information about strange and unusual areas that can be afflicted and must be resat.

finally maybe the ram just needed reseated ? just b/c things don't happen often don't mean they don't happen.

i once worked on a motherboard where the hard disk controller block was loose on the motherboard. i wiggled the little plastic connecter where you plug in the cable and noticed that on the other side i could see the solder just sort of floating, not really contacting the pcb at all. but who ever thinks to wiggle all the connectors on a motherboard and check to see if the solder is loose?