www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

My daughter has a phillips freevent laptop that will not work from the mains she can charge the battery and use it from this mode but it swithces off when she tries to use it when it's plugged into the mains. She took it into a local repair centre and they said it needed reformatting, she had already tried this but she let them go ahead with the reformatting. They phoned to say this hadn't worked and they didn't know what the fault was. Anyone out there any ideas. Regards Mo

Without having it in front of me it's impossible to give a proper diagnosis, but it sounds like it could be getting too hot or there's a short circuit somewhere.

Take it to someone who knows what they're doing, not some cowboy who thinks reformatting solves every problem.

Off topic, but just looked in on your site.

Very good. Makes me realise I need to do something with mine urgently

my son had the same problem with his [different make]laptop

i suspect there are 3 contacts in the lead that passes from the brick transformer into the lap top because

it was over stretched and the wire was dammaged where it leaves the jack
first fault battery wont charge but works off the lead
second fault stops working off the the transformer

sent off for a new transformer/brick

now me being me the problem is obvious dammage = problem the outer sheilding layer has become detached
solution solder a new bit off wire onto the jack outer metal contact[outer ring] where it goes into the plastic but on the radius to allow full penitration into the laptop socket and the other end solderd to the sheilding or outer wire

now that worked the lap top fine but did not charge the battery so assumed other dammage connected with the jack

new brick arrives and full funtion returns and the battery charges

so i am assuming theres a second contact not making or a second wire dammage inside the lead for the charging function!!

I would have thought the transformer was suspect as well BA.

thescruff wrote:I would have thought the transformer was suspect as well BA.

i certainly wouldnt exlude it from the fault finding process especialy if it has 2 secondery windings as battery charging is normaly at 15 to 20% overvoltage

Thanks Dave. Feedback always appreciated.

RichieP wrote:Without having it in front of me it's impossible to give a proper diagnosis, but it sounds like it could be getting too hot or there's a short circuit somewhere.

Take it to someone who knows what they're doing, not some cowboy who thinks reformatting solves every problem.

Thanks for your imput

RichieP wrote:Without having it in front of me it's impossible to give a proper diagnosis, but it sounds like it could be getting too hot or there's a short circuit somewhere.

Take it to someone who knows what they're doing, not some cowboy who thinks reformatting solves every problem.

Thanks for your reply Mo

[quote="big-all"]my son had the same problem with his [different make]laptop

i suspect there are 3 contacts in the lead that passes from the brick transformer into the lap top because

it was over stretched and the wire was dammaged where it leaves the jack
first fault battery wont charge but works off the lead
second fault stops working off the the transformer

sent off for a new transformer/brick

now me being me the problem is obvious dammage = problem the outer sheilding layer has become detached
solution solder a new bit off wire onto the jack outer metal contact[outer ring] where it goes into the plastic but on the radius to allow full penitration into the laptop socket and the other end solderd to the sheilding or outer wire

now that worked the lap top fine but did not charge the battery so assumed other dammage connected with the jack

new brick arrives and full funtion returns and the battery charges

so i am assuming theres a second contact not making or a second wire dammage inside the lead for the charging function!![/quote Thanks for your reply Mo

thescruff wrote:I would have thought the transformer was suspect as well BA.

Thanks for your imput

tagdog14 wrote:

big-all wrote:my son had the same problem with his [different make]laptop

i suspect there are 3 contacts in the lead that passes from the brick transformer into the lap top because

it was over stretched and the wire was dammaged where it leaves the jack
first fault battery wont charge but works off the lead
second fault stops working off the the transformer

sent off for a new transformer/brick

now me being me the problem is obvious dammage = problem the outer sheilding layer has become detached
solution solder a new bit off wire onto the jack outer metal contact[outer ring] where it goes into the plastic but on the radius to allow full penitration into the laptop socket and the other end solderd to the sheilding or outer wire

now that worked the lap top fine but did not charge the battery so assumed other dammage connected with the jack

new brick arrives and full funtion returns and the battery charges

so i am assuming theres a second contact not making or a second wire dammage inside the lead for the charging function!![/quote Thanks for your reply Mo

Thanks for your imput Mo

thescruff wrote:I would have thought the transformer was suspect as well BA.

Thanks for your imput Mo

I have futher information on my daughters laptop when plugged into mains it will work in SAFE MODE but switches off as soon as you go back to normal windows. It also charges the battery and it will work in normal windows from the battery.

What make and model is the laptop? That is the weirdest damn fault I've ever heard of and I look after hundreds of laptops.

It boots in safe mode with the power in, but won't work in normal mode? It boots up normally without the power connected?

What happens if you boot up with just the battery, and login use it for a few mins. Then shutdown, connect the power and then on boot up select last known good profile?

Is it shutting down or very quickly blue screening and rebooting and then looping?