Advice or insights anyone?
The initial problem: Laptop turned itself off and since then, it will only boot into safe mode via battery only. AC only brings it to a blank blackish screen with blinking cursor in top left corner. This is not a DOS prompt. I can't access BIOS from AC as it only goes to this black screen.

Why the discrepancy between battery and AC?

LED's all light up when power on. The AC is still charging the battery.

I brought laptop into shop and they charged me $250 for resoldering power port back onto mobo and, cutting and taping power cord. I got home and started laptop from AC. It booted and was loading windows...as far as my MSN messenger and then, there was a crackling sound from inside and the computer went black. Back to same problem with blinking cursor and no BIOS option *EXCEPT* through battery power.

The shop said I had to reformat hard drive. They insisted that this was the problem and want to charge me another hundred for it but hey, I like to try things myself first so...
I attempted reformat using battery power only. It was at 96% complete when computer turned off. grrr So, I'm not sure if it actually completed and then turned off or it was all for naught.

The AC *still* doesn't work though...at least for starting the machine up. It's giving power because the power LED lights on the laptop and I can *hear* the cd drive or fan going AND it is charging the battery. :-(

I'm so sad. This laptop is only a year and a half old and I can't afford to get another one.
Does anyone have any useful suggestions?
SusanHeb

What happens if you remove the battery and then boot using the AC power cord?

Life is more painless for those who are brainless.

"crackling sound from inside" does not mean you need to reformat the drive. It means they blew it with the attempted repair. Try booting with the battery removed and plugged into AC.

Good luck trying to get them to reimburse you a new laptop system board.

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Yes. I tried booting it multiple times in various ways. The AC problem remains the same, with battery in or with battery out.

I just came back from the shop. I left the laptop with them and they said they are going to 'reformat'...for another $90!!! If it doesn't work, they will give me money back to put towards one of their own laptops. Sounds lucrative huh?

According to the tech doing the work, the AC and the battery run two different ways. The AC requires a certain software to run the OS, while the battery doesn't. Hence, the need to reformat and reinstall Windows. I *still* don't understand it but I'm at the point where I just want to trash the whole thing and go computerless.

Isn't it weird how attached we get to these little fellows? I actually cried last night from the loss. ;-)
Sue

>> The AC requires a certain software to run the OS, while the battery doesn't. Hence, the need to reformat and reinstall Windows. <<

What a load of rubbish. The difference between battery and AC power is managed by the BIOS, nothing to do with the Operating System.

The only part the OS pays is in Power Management and that is a different thing altogether.

I would get as much money from them as you can. They screwed it up and should pay for their mistake. Crackling from the inside is a sure indication that electricity is getting into places it was never meant to go. I would be looking for a good lawyer.

Stuart

Hi, Stuart is correct. There is a switch in the Power Connector that switches from AC to Battery. Probably no other difference.
Good Luck, Jim

Thanks guys,
The comp place called to let me know that the laptop was fried. :-( They have a cheap Acer I can trade in for... <sigh>
Thanks for your help.
SusanH