Laptop sat for months and now won't start

[pbm]

My daughter brought her laptop home from school last May (HP Envy model 6 1010us) and misplaced the power cord. She ended up getting a new Mac in September and the HP has sat unused since May.

I ordered a new power cord last week now but the laptop won't turn on.
This HP has an internal battery which I assume is dead.

My laptop can be run plugged in without the battery installed so I'm assuming this HP should start even if the battery is dead.

Any ideas on what my problem might be? Thanks

 

[901Memphis]

Probably still the power chord, lots of inferior ones on eBay if you got it there been there done that with laptops before, quality units usually are in the $30 range. If you bought something new for less than $15 it's suspect

 

[EdwardC]

Any clues as to whether it's getting power? Any lights turn on when it is plugged in? Any beeping? Or just totally dead? Is it not booting, or not powering on at all?

I would pull the battery and try again, try hitting the power button while unplugged and with the battery removed to reset it.

 

[zrxkawboy]

The battery could be shorted, drawing the power supply too low. Try disconnecting the battery.

 

[pbm]

No lights , No indication of power at all.
Maybe I'll take the battery out tomorrow and try your suggestion.

 

[901Memphis]

Also make sure that the outlet you're using is hot.

 

[Tones]

Yes try removing the battery and running it only on the external power supply. That will tell you if it is a bad battery.

 

[Subdued]

no lights at all when you plug the power in means you got a garbage adapter, or the system board is shot.

very very extremely slight chance it's a battery dragging the entire thing down.

 

[pbm]

Originally Posted By: Tones
Yes try removing the battery and running it only on the external power supply. That will tell you if it is a bad battery.


Tones:
My laptop runs on the power cord whether or not the battery is installed.
Are these 'sleekbooks' (with internal batteries) somehow different?
In other words will taking the (assumed to be bad) battery out somehow allow the cord to power the laptop? Thanks.

 

[SrDriver]

Make sure that the wall plug has power and if so try a different power cord.

 

[pbm]

OK...I took the battery out and plugged it in and it powered right up....when I put the back cover on the start button doesn't work. I put the battery back in and it starts up fine until I put the back cover on. Somehow the back cover is either not allowing the start button to fully depress or it is somehow shorting it out. When I left the back cover loose on the start button side it wouldn't start so I'm thinking the start button is not the issue....

 

[pbm]

FIXED IT....thanks guys.

I ran it without the back cover and was able to access 'Start Up Repair' (I think that's what it was called)....I was then able to do a full system 'recovery'...It's running great now with the back cover on....even the battery showed 100% capacity after being recharged....

 

[itguy08]

Double check the battery. It could have swelled and jammed the start button. On my previous Macbook the batteries (both Apple after 4 years and the off brand after 1) swelled and when they did the trackpad would go nuts as it was right under the battery.