Compaq Pentium 4 laptop: power problems?

Question

My Compaq R3000 laptop often does not use AC power, even when it's been plugged in (and had the plug held in) several times. And, after it gets power, it often powers off within 30 seconds to 1 minute and has to run on the battery (often it can not boot completely without the battery).

Do you know if Compaq will fix this (apparently, I've read, many R3000's have the same problem)? Where's the best place to get it fixed (or is there anywhere I can get good instructions how to fix it myself...I am great at fixing hardware in desktops just have very limited experience with laptops)?

Or is it best to reinstall an entirely new motherboard (and if so, can I upgrade to a core duo motherboard/new processors without causing any conflicts)?

To answer the first answerer (and anyone after that), yes my "care pack" warranty has expired

There is also no problem with the display "dimming when AC power is on"...it does not "work in reverse", it simply does NOT say "charging" 99% of the time, no matter what I do, how many times I plug it in, into which power adapter...

My point is I'm 90% sure it has something to do the motherboard power regulation (and perhaps the heating, as the first answerer suggestion) and/or the AC plug/"hole" itself being lose/damaged.

Again, It will also NOT BOOT WITH THE BATTERY, REMOVED, the AC adapter simply won't give it power long enough without having a "loose connection"

Answer 1

R3000 & Other Latest Models

Backlight Issues:

Customers may tell like this:

"The display of my Presario is working in reverse. When it is plugged with AC Power, the display is dim, but if it runs in battery, the display is bright"

This is due to the display brightness settings. Perform the following steps to increase the display brightness:

1. Remove the Battery and Start the Presario with AC Power Adapter.

2. After getting into Windows, Press Fn+F8 to Increase display brightness.

3. Then Connect the battery and remove AC Adapter.

4. Again, Press Fn+F8 Increase display brightness.

5. Now shut down the Presario and connect AC Power Adapter, also install Battery too.

6. Start the Presario and check if the display is brighter in both AC Adapter and Battery power.

If the issue persists again, reinstall and update the Video Drivers. If that too fails to work, reinstall Power Management.

To reinstall Power Management in Windows XP, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, select Control Panel, and then choose Performance and
Maintenance.
2. Click the System icon to open the System properties window.
3. Select the Hardware tab and click Device Manager.
4. Click the plus (+) sign next to System Devices.
5. Right-click the ACPI Fixed Features button and select Uninstall.
6. Restart the system.

On restarting the system, Windows will automatically detect and install Power Management on the computer.

Good Luck and Happy Browsing...........

Answer 2

odds are you are out of warranty. Your laptop should run without a battery if it doesn't test it with a new AC Adapter and if that doesn't work i would sell it on eBay and buy another one.

Perhaps your laptop is overheating, you could remove the heatsink and apply new thermal paste to the CPU or you could buy one of those coolers that sit under the notebook and cool it. If that works it's a heating issue. If none of the above works see ebay.

Answer 3

If it's an older computer over 2 years old then I'd think about replacing the battery. It could be the battery.