UPDATE: Dead Laptop comes back to "Life" Mystery
 

Hi,

Well it didn't last long, around 6 days, but this time it "died" while
I was downloading. I will not spend any more time trying to fix this
Compaq Presario 1200XL110. I removed the 3V RTC/CMOS battery,
which I bought new. I check the voltage (2.98V).

Brad


On Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:42:24 GMT, in sci.electronics.repair you wrote:

Hi,

I have a Compaq Presario 1200XL110 laptop (bought 2nd hand) with
bad display (display "wires" disconnected). I used an external Monitor. I
kept the laptop plugged into AC all the time and the battery installed. I
had no problems the first few days. Note: the laptop was on from 7:30AM
until around 5PM every day. Then one morning, I tried to turn it on, but
absolutely nothing happened. The only indicator that was lit, which
is always lit, is the plugged into AC indicator. Note: I am a TV, etc. (not
computer) serviceman. I won't go into details of the tests I performed, which
included testing the power switch.
.
I removed a dead (!!) RTC/CMOS battery. Note: When the laptop "worked",
there was no sign (loss of time/date) that the RTC/CMOS battery was going bad.

I put this laptop in a box (main battery removed). About 5 days later, I
hooked it up to AC, but left the main battery out (RTC/CMOS battery removed).
When I tried to turn it on, absolutely nothing happened so I put it back in
the box (main battery removed).

Over a month later, I hooked up the laptop (main battery removed & no RTC
battery). When I pressed the power button, it booted up!!!!!!! I repeated
shut down and power up. It boots up every time, although I see a warning
message caused by no RTC/CMOS battery. I installed a new RTC/CMOS
battery. I now use it on AC without the main battery installed. When I shut
it down for the day, I remove AC power via the switch on the power strip.

Can someone explain this MYSTERY???

Thanks in advance, Brad

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