Geez, just three weeks after the desktop PC wouldn’t turn on and we replaced it, the laptop refused to start tonight. I tried holding the power button down for over 15 seconds in case it was just in sleep mode, but nothing happened. So I tried pushing several button combinations with the same no results. I did notice that when first pushing the power button there was an adjacent light that would blink 3 times then no more, so I went to our new desktop and Googled For Answers(TM).
Best I could find said it was a possible battery issue, so I should remove the battery and plug the laptop in using the power cord to see if it would start. I was kind of hoping this would be it, as the battery is pretty much shot from use, as it can be used untethered for only about 45 minutes with having to be plugged in.
As I flipped over the laptop to get to the screws on the back, I heard something rattle around inside the case. That rattle has been there for a couple of months, but I’ve ignored it, because, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Well guess what, it’s broke. Maybe something broke off and was shorting something out?
After removing the eight screws and snapping the edges loose, there was still something holding the case together. I pried the edges apart some and could see a boss that looked like it was under the space bar that might be the culprit. That can’t be right? Flipping the laptop over, that boss was probably right under a rubber footing strip. Bingo, there was that pesky screw.1
When I got the back completely off, a little black screw fell onto the desk. Hmmm, all the ones I removed were silver, this must hold the motherboard or some component in place. I looked around all the visible places a screw could go, mentally lined them up with the ones I removed get inside and that left one likely looking boss in the upper right corner. I put the screw in and it screwed right down, holding part of a circuit board in like it was made to fit there.
Turning the laptop over I saw that on the other side was…that’s right, you guessed it, the power button. The laptop powered right on now. Note to self: if something rattles, something is loose somewhere, find it and tighten it.