Need help - Clevo M40AE dead?

Hi!

This morning I tried to plugin the AC power adapter as usual, but the notebook cant recieve the power (no light indicates it is connected).
Instead, the green light on the charger is flashing. (a bit dimmed/faded and quite fast)

My laptop still "works" as in it boots to windows on battery.
But I cant get the battery to charge in any way.
The chargers light stays nice and steady green when unplugged from the computer, but immediatly when I plug it in the computer it starts flashing.

Ive tried to carefully move it around to see if theres any glitch but no luck so far.

On my way home from work today I bought a universal charger, and it reacted in exactly the same way, so I guess its not the charger...

Ive downloaded the service manual for M40AE and tried to look for anything physically wrong with the DC IN, but cant see anything wrong. It doesnt seem loose.

So should I just throw my old faithful servant away for a new one? Seems so unfortunate since its still working sort of.

Just let me know if anyone could help but are in need of pictures for troubleshooting.

Thank you in advance!

 

hi and welcome to nbr.
i was going to say does it flash when not plugged into computer but you answered that one already.
next try removing the battery and plug it in. if it runs the laptop fine then its your battery thats the problem.
if it still flashes without the battery then theres some kind of short in the computer and ill have to leave that one up to the techys that know what they are talking about.

 

Thank you for the welcome and reply MrDJ!

I tried to describe every action I took, but forgot write down that one =)

Yes, I have tried to plugin the adapter without the battery in. No sign of life at all. The only thing that reacts is the adapter with the light that goes from steady to flashing.

After I tried all these things, I put my battery back in to see I havent destroyed anything else while testing, and it still boots up.
I dont have much battery left though :/

 

You can try unpluging the power cord, removing the battery pack, pressing&holding the power button for 10 sec, then try booting normally.
Also (even though this probably won't help much) you could open the system clean and re-seat all the parts (CPU/GPU/RAM/HDD/etc)... just in case

 

Hi Aikimox!

I tried removing the power sources and pressing&holding the power button for 10 sec (15 sec just in case).
The problem still remains.
What was it supposed to do? Some kind of quick-CMOS-reset? Weblink for source?

I will try to remove, clean and re-seat all parts now to be sure...

The service team @goldenstaruk.com got back to me and asked me to fill in a RMA form, wait for a reply and then send my laptop to UK (from Sweden where I live) for a diagnose.

Anyone have any experience from this? Does it cost alot of money for the repair? (Probably depending on if they can repair it and replacement hardware etc)

EDIT:
Took a glance at the RMA form, and the prices are:

repair + diagnose + postage back = 143,75 British pounds = 1 628,02281 Swedish kronor
(and it does not include postage to London and possibly required parts)

diagnose + postage back = 86,25 British pounds = 976,813686 Swedish kronor
(does not include postage to London)

So, it seems this is not an option. Much better spent money to buy a new laptop

 

that is quite expensive but im wondering if it includes all parts and labour.
how old is the laptop as ive not heard of that model before.

 

The method is used to power-drain the system to release the static charge accumulated on the vital components AFAIK.
Don't have a link, but I'm sure you can google it easily.

100%, they will charge you way more for every extra part+labor that needs to be replaced.