# ACK! laptop on the fritz. Any ideas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Lounge\ **Created:** [January 22, 2009, 6:46pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/ack-laptop-on-the-fritz-any-ideas/25215 "2009-01-22T18:46:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![toilofday](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/toilofday/32/371_2.png) [@toilofday](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/toilofday)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 6:46pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/ack-laptop-on-the-fritz-any-ideas/25215/1 "2009-01-22T18:46:31Z")
My computer was working fine, then I unplugged the power supply. In about 30 seconds it shut off completely. It wouldn’t restart until I plugged in the power supply. Then this happened again. Later I turn it on, just on the battery, and have no problems for 30 minutes. I shut it off, power it back up later, still on battery, and it randomly shuts off after 10-15 minutes. I pulled the battery and put it back in, and haven’t had any trouble since but it’s only been 10 minutes or so and i’m on the power cord. I’m going to unplug it and see what happens over the next hour. It’s a sony vaio vgn-fz140e symantec endpoint virus protection, and no viruses. I’m thinking it may have been the lock clip on the battery was unlocked and the battery kept becoming disconnected during operation. I don’t know…anybody ever have this problem? ---
**Author:** ![CdubFTW](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/cdubftw/32/2463_2.png) [@CdubFTW](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/CdubFTW)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/ack-laptop-on-the-fritz-any-ideas/25215/2 "2009-01-22T19:51:20Z")
> [@toilofday](#): > > My computer was working fine, then I unplugged the power supply. In about 30 seconds it shut off completely. It wouldn’t restart until I plugged in the power supply. Then this happened again. > > Later I turn it on, just on the battery, and have no problems for 30 minutes. I shut it off, power it back up later, still on battery, and it randomly shuts off after 10-15 minutes. I pulled the battery and put it back in, and haven’t had any trouble since but it’s only been 10 minutes or so and i’m on the power cord. > > I’m going to unplug it and see what happens over the next hour. > > It’s a sony vaio vgn-fz140e > symantec endpoint virus protection, and no viruses. > > I’m thinking it may have been the lock clip on the battery was unlocked and the battery kept becoming disconnected during operation. > > I don’t know…anybody ever have this problem? DId you check your power settings? Go to Start\>Control Panel\>Power Options then go down and check what its on. Could be on 5 mins, 10 mins..set all of them to 2 or 3 hrs, seeing as your batt should last htat long, and test it out. If the batt isnt loose when connected, or you dont smell a “burnt” electrical smell from where you plug in the AC adapter, then thats usually it. Let me know if that helps. Im a system Admin and own my own computer biz, so thats the only I can write this out, lol..Been doing it for about 10 yrs so it becomes 2nd nature. Peeeeeeaze ---
**Author:** ![CdubFTW](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/cdubftw/32/2463_2.png) [@CdubFTW](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/CdubFTW)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/ack-laptop-on-the-fritz-any-ideas/25215/3 "2009-01-22T19:52:40Z")
Also when was the last time you “cycled” the batt? Meaning let it drain completely and recharge it? Sony’s have been known to have crappy batteries.. ---
**Author:** ![catlord17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@catlord17](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/catlord17)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/ack-laptop-on-the-fritz-any-ideas/25215/4 "2009-01-22T20:17:34Z")
That’s almost certainly the battery. I had one that died on me, and had me convinced the entire lappy was dead for a few months. I’d say it’s time for a new one. ---
**Author:** ![Mtnjim](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/mtnjim/32/2010_2.png) [@Mtnjim](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Mtnjim)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 11:44pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/ack-laptop-on-the-fritz-any-ideas/25215/5 "2009-01-22T23:44:54Z")
Got to agree with Cat. How old is your system? After a while (a couple thousand charge cycles) the battery can no longer hold a charge. You cna most likely buy a replacement battery. Been doing computers professionally over 25 years, seen most everything. ---
**Author:** ![Phya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@Phya](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Phya)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 9:48am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/ack-laptop-on-the-fritz-any-ideas/25215/6 "2009-01-23T09:48:04Z")
I agree with everyone else. I’d say it sounds like the battery isn’t really holding a charge. No professional experience, just been around computers my whole life. ---
**Author:** ![toilofday](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/toilofday/32/371_2.png) [@toilofday](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/toilofday)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/ack-laptop-on-the-fritz-any-ideas/25215/7 "2009-01-23T16:27:54Z")
The power management is set ok. I’ll do some tinkering with the battery. I managed to get a full virus scan in, and drain and recharge a few times. Seems to be ok so far. I might jump the battery with a welder or replace the insides. That should do it. [Revive Nicad Batteries by Zapping with a Welder](http://www.instructables.com/id/Revive-Nicad-Batteries-by-Zapping-with-a-Welder/) [Laptop Battery Hack! Don’t Buy A New One! - Video](http://www.metacafe.com/watch/479447/laptop_battery_hack_dont_buy_a_new_one/) thanks for the diagnosis. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/wolfy/32/965_2.png) [@Wolfy](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Wolfy)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/ack-laptop-on-the-fritz-any-ideas/25215/8 "2009-01-23T18:23:15Z")
I have never tried the welder trick, but I have made a battery discharge circuit with about 15 brakelight bulbs from a car. discharges a battery pack in about 3 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![SteveO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@SteveO](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/SteveO)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/ack-laptop-on-the-fritz-any-ideas/25215/9 "2009-01-23T22:58:23Z")
Um Toil? You come back for laptop advice and didn’t even stop by to say hi. Sheesh! Glad to see you around though ---
**Author:** ![toilofday](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/toilofday/32/371_2.png) [@toilofday](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/toilofday)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/ack-laptop-on-the-fritz-any-ideas/25215/10 "2009-01-24T18:31:04Z")
> [@Steve](#): > > Um Toil? You come back for laptop advice and didn’t even stop by to say hi. Sheesh! > > Glad to see you around though I’ve been making some posts. I thought I’d stop by and see what’s going on in the forum. How you been? Good News. I’ll be at the Playboy Mansion in couple days. It’s going to rock. ---
**Author:** ![bosshank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@bosshank](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/bosshank)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/ack-laptop-on-the-fritz-any-ideas/25215/11 "2009-01-24T19:46:47Z")
TOD - good to see you back! hope to hear more from you.