Hi,

It's "alive" again (second time)! After a few months of storage (RTC/CMOS
battery removed), I hooked it up and it boots up!!! This is the second time
this Compaq Presario 1200XL needed a long rest before coming back to
"life"!!!! NOTE: When it "dies", it will not boot up a few days to a week
afterwards. I had tried this procedure both times, but this "mystery" laptop
needs a long "rest" before it can be brought back to "life"!.

I "flashed" the BIOS via SP15611.EXE Rom Paq downloaded
from HP.com. I installed a new RTC battery, but I will keep the main
battery removed. NOTE: The first time it "died", the main battery was
installed. The second time it "died", the main battery wasn't installed.

I will no longer use this "mystery" laptop for anything important on the
chance it will "die" again.

Brad

Before you type your password, credit card number, etc.,
be sure there is no active keystroke logger (spyware) in your PC.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Previous Post(s) from the past:

I found hundreds of postings regarding the Presario 1200XL series laptop
with the same or similar problem as I have (see my original post below).

It is my impression that one common cause of this problem is the flash
bios going bad. It seems that somehow, there is a connection with a dead
RTC/CMOS battery and flash bios!!! I replaced my dead RTC/CMOS
battery (like many others did), but that isn't enough.

I read several reports that stated the laptop was brought back to life
after the flash bios was replaced, along with a new RTC/CMOS battery.

My impression is the 1200XL series is a LEMON or this was designed
into the system so the laptop last for as long as the RTC/CMOS battery?

Brad


On Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:31:53 GMT, in sci.electronics.repair you wrote:

Hi,

My Compaq Presario 1200XL laptop/notebook won't power up (dead).

Note: I service TVs, etc. but not computers except my own.

I checked the power micro switch (AOK). I removed the
battery, then tried to power it up again the next day without
installing the battery. Also, I used a bench power supply set
at 19Vs as a sub for the AC adapter with the same results.
I checked the 5 amp fuse on the mother board.

When I press the power button/switch, there is absolutely no sign
of a response (reason I checked micro switch).

The only indicator that lights is the one that shows the AC adapter
is plugged in.

If I could get my hands on a schematic, that will be a big help.

Thanks in advance, Brad