Currys Samsung S3520 (Rv511)

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone was having power issues with their samsung s3520 (apparently currys one are tagged this way but look similar to the rv511).

I bought mine in July and after a month I have had to press the power button several time probably like 3 - 4 times to get it on. However if I just shut down and press the power button once it will switch itself on.

Is there anything to be worried about? Its just that being without a laptop will be quite tough and thats why I did not bother going back to the store. Anyone aware if thats common on this model or other samsung.

Its a really nice laptop btw and for the price I paid I don't think will get a similar or better spec at the moment, if ever am offered an exchange.

Has anyone had any luck with exchanges being done by Currys or Samsung?

Cheers

 

That power button behaviour is not normal and could be a symptom of something worse to come. I would want to get it back to the shop before the year (and warranty) is up. The first task is to get them to agree that there is something wrong which they can't blame on normal usage.

Samsung would only offer a replacement if there is problem within the first few days (technically called DOA (Dead on Arrival)) but Currys might offer a replacement if they can't get the problem fixed.

John

 

Thanks for the information.

So before leaving home to the shop, I thought of investigating that issue once more as I really like the laptop and wanted to avoid the hassle of transfering all my data and so on.

Anyway, I tried to switch it on, same usual problem won't power up until 4 push on the power button.

I then attached the battery to it as I removed it from day 1 since I use it only at my desk, and it powered up on a single press. Saving myself from getting over excited, i tried it with the battery attached and connected to the main and powered up on the first press of the power button.

Made a complete shut down and switch it on after 5 mins and was up on the first press itself. Tried that for an hour or so and it was on everytime from a single press on the power button.

I am wondering if that is some kind of fail safe in samsung laptop requiring several press if no battery is installed. Anyway till now it has been working fine.

I must say am quite surprised with the battery on this laptop, managed to get 4.30hr on silent mode and doing word processing and browsing with youtube playlist on.

Have had 2 Asus, 1 Sony and now my first Samsung; am very much impressed with it, only let down was the power button but seems to be sorted now.

 

Ah! Many notebooks do strange things if there's no battery installed although the usual thing is to throttle the CPU.(Perhaps your notebook does this as well but you haven't noticed it).

I always leave the battery installed. Recent notebooks have become more intelligent about not doing lots of little top-up charges that gradually kill the battery. Does you Samsung offer the facility to limit the charging to 80%? (Battery Life Extender?).

John

 

Yes thats so true and weird as well.

The battery life extender is available, I have set it on but not sure how much it really helps as I wait for the battery to be completly down to charge it.

Do you know if the new battery still suffer from the memory effect? I was told I only needed to have a monthly full discharge and charge again to rejuvenate its internal circuit.

 

The charge memory effect is a characteristic of Nickel-based batteries (particularly NiCd and, to a lesser extent, NiMH) and does not afflict Lithium-based batteries. Lithium batteries usually survive longest by avoiding the extremes of the charge range hence the Battery Extender only charges the battery to 80%. It is advisible to do the occasional full discharge to help the battery's chip know when it is empty. However, this is best done using the battery calibration option in the BIOS (if it is still there) since Windows will automatically shut down a notebook before the battery is completely empty.

John