All it does is the power button light comes on and a light at the upper left hand corner of the laptop flashes 3 times and a few seconds later it shuts off. A few minutes later the power light comes on automatically and stays on and the corner light flashes again 3 times, the fan kiks in for a couple of secands both times the power light comes on. Please help!!
Do you ever see "anything" on the screen? If it shuts down before even attempting to load Windows then it must be a hardware fault. Could be any number of things, so it's a matter of how you feel about poking around inside - not so easy on laptops.
One quick thing you could try (not too hopeful) is to see if the RAM sticks are accessible under a flap somewhere. If so take them out and clean their edge connectors with a pencil eraser and pop them in and out a few times to clear any oxide off their sockets.
Depending how far you want to go it would be worth ensuring all the connectors you can see are firmly in their sockets.
Keep watching - someone might know that particular computer better than I do and be able to suggest something more.
Always pop back and let us know the outcome - thanks
Acer Aspire 4720Z Service manual There is a lot of diagnosic information on page 73 onwards, however it is quite deep.
If you wanted a visual guide to checking the memory like Derek mentioned, there are visual diagrams on what to do from page 55 onwards
Re #3
BIOS button cell doesn't usually prevent boot up. It can give the wrong date/time tho.Always pop back and let us know the outcome - thanks
A dead BIOS battery would not cause the symptoms he is having. It would still boot and not shut off.
I have another laptop of the same model that is working and I've replace the bios batt and ram cards from thet one and still no difference. I don't want to replace too many parts from the one that works I may end up messing that one up. Also I've taken it completly apart and reconnected every think back, but it still doesn't work it does the same thing power light comes on, a light at the upper left hand corner flashes 3 times, the fans runs for a few seconds and then the whole thing just shuts off. Thanks for your help and if you have any other suggestions please share!!
I'd recommend a brand new button cell battery, any system beeps as it trys to start?
No beeps at all, the only noise it make it's the fan and the cd drive. If there are no system beeps at all is that an indicator that it might be the button cell batt or not?
It should still boot without the BIOS battery as everyone but dummkopf seems to agree. They are cheap and easy to replace if you want to prove the point but I can about guarantee it will make no difference. Much more likely things are Power Supply or maybe RAM.
Always pop back and let us know the outcome - thanks
a little kick of an extra volt worked for me in the past +cell battery is cheaper :D
"a little kick of an extra volt worked for me" Wow, you just keep burying yourself deeper & deeper
