“My laptop won’t turn on” is the most common call we get. It can mean a million things — from the simplest (plug in the cable) to the worst (the motherboard is done). At the shop I see five to ten such cases a week, and here’s the order I go through during diagnostics.
1. Check first — the adapter (power supply)
In 30% of cases the problem is the power cable. Not sure whether the adapter is faulty? Try this:
- Plug the adapter into the wall
- Are you sure that outlet works? (often the power in one room isn’t live)
- Look at the LED indicator on the adapter — is it lit?
- If it’s lit, plug it into the laptop. Check the indicator on the laptop (if it has one).
If the adapter doesn’t light up, it’s dead. The price of a new original adapter depends on the wattage and model (in the price list). A compatible (third-party) one is cheaper, but be careful — a bad compatible unit can destroy the battery or the motherboard.
From experience: if your adapter is 3+ years old and the cable shows wear (when you gently move it, the indicator flickers), replace it. The price of a new adapter is nothing compared to the damage to the motherboard if a short circuit hits.
2. The power connector on the laptop (DC jack)
15% of cases. The plastic around the port is broken, or the DC jack itself is loose on the inside. How to check? Plug in the adapter and gently press/wiggle the cable up and down. If the charging indicator flickers, the jack is the problem.
DC jack repair at BG Computers — the price depends on the model (in the price list). Dell, HP, and the Lenovo Y/L series have a simple DC jack. Asus and HP Pavilion have a soldered one, which is a bit more demanding.
3. Battery — completely drained or faulty
20% of cases. An old battery (5+ years) can fall into a “deep discharge” state — so empty that the laptop won’t turn on even with the adapter plugged in, because the battery “swallows” all the power.
Test: remove the battery (if your model allows it) and connect only the adapter. If the laptop powers on without the battery, the battery is the problem. The price of a new battery (original or compatible) depends on the model (in the price list). Original ones last 3–5 years, compatible ones 1–2 years.
If the battery isn’t removable (most newer models) — bring it to the shop, we can measure it and decide.
4. RAM — shifted out of place or faulty
10% of cases. After a bump to the laptop or during prolonged use a RAM module can work its way out of the connector. The laptop powers on — but doesn’t reach Windows, just a black screen with a lit LED. If you see this, the problem is the RAM or the motherboard.
More careful users open the cover on the underside (where the RAM is visible), pull out the module, clean the contacts with a pencil eraser, and put it back. Often the fix. If that’s all it is, the repair at the shop is a minor job (price in the price list).
5. Overheating — thermal protection
10% of cases. A laptop that hasn’t been cleaned in 2–3 years can fall into a state where the CPU hits 90+ degrees on every startup and the system shuts down to protect itself. You see only a flicker, a couple of seconds of running, then it shuts off.
The fix: a dust cleaning + fresh thermal paste. It takes about an hour (price in the price list). After that the laptop runs normally.
6. Motherboard — the worst case
5-7% of cases. Liquid that got in, a short circuit, BGA chips that came unstuck. The motherboard is the most complex part of the laptop and the repair is expensive (the price depends on the fault and the model, in the price list) — and sometimes replacement is the only option, if the board is still being manufactured.
Honestly, for a laptop older than 5 years with a broken motherboard — it often isn’t worth repairing. Bring it in, we’ll run diagnostics, and we’ll tell you honestly.
7. The rarest cause — the display is faulty
5% of cases. The laptop turns on, the fans run, you even hear the Windows startup sound, but the screen is black. Often it’s just the screen backlight or the LCD cable.
Test: connect an external monitor via HDMI or VGA. If an image appears on the monitor, the laptop’s screen is the problem. Screen replacement — the price depends on the model (in the price list).
What to do before you call
- Try a different outlet
- Check whether the adapter lights up
- Try it without the battery (if it can be removed)
- Try an external monitor (a display test)
- Check whether you hear the fan/Windows sound when you try to power it on
With this information, when you call us, the diagnosis is faster. Often I can tell you over the phone what it most likely is and how much it will cost.
Call 069 1303 111 — I answer within 30 minutes at the latest, and a courier picks up the device across all of Belgrade, usually the same day.
When you need service: we check the charger, the battery, and the board through laptop service — from battery replacement to motherboard repair.