Hiya guys
got a laptop on 6 October LAST year so its just over a year old.
In that time its been away for 3 weeks being repaired for hard disc failure
Its been acting up again recently and after smelling a burning smell (and a scorch on my footstool) it wont start up. Now my question is:
Is it likely to be a power adaptor failure in which case a new one should fix it?
Is it that the laptop has died?
Should I just go and buy another one?!

Was the scorch caused by the laptop or the power brick?

Either way it isn't good, but if it is the power brick that is faulty then that is cheaper and easier to replace... and hopefully it hasn't screwed the laptop. Though the fact that the laptop won't start would suggest otherwise.

If it is only just over a year old, get it back to the supplier (PCW?) or call the manufacturer. They may still treat it as under warranty since you are not long out of it.


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It was from the laptop itself - Im going to try PCW but to be honest they havent been awfully helpful in the past!

Im going to try PCW but to be honest they havent been awfully helpful in the past!

Surprise, surprise. I guess you're actually lucky to have had it repaired in the past! :)

If PCW don't want to know, even after some pushing, call Packard Bell directly.


BTW, can you describe which area of the machine caused the scorching? Is it obvious? ...It isn't the battery is it??


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Please tell me you haven't been using it on a upholstered footstool?

it was burning around the area where the power lead connects into but not the batter
I had been working with it on my lap went to make a coffee and it was while I was waiting for the kettle to boil that it scorched the footstool - yes it was upholstered :(

if you had it relaired, the warrantee is 'refreshed' from the last repair date (I think) because when they repair, they are meant to check it all over before signing it off as 'repaired and working' so check the last time it was repaired, you should be covered up until that date...

it was burning around the area where the power lead connects into but not the battery
I had been working with it on my lap went to make a coffee and it was while I was waiting for the kettle to boil that it scorched the footstool - yes it was upholstered

:shocked:

this doesn't sound too good for the laptop.


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if you had it relaired, the warrantee is 'refreshed' from the last repair date (I think)

But probably not for another 12 months.... maybe 90 days?


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But probably not for another 12 months.... maybe 90 days?


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thats usually an 'additional' 90 days if repaired within the original 1 year warrantee, or '90 days' full stop if repaired outside the original 1 year warrantee (if you paid for repair etc)... i think

ok - looks as though its seriously dead and PCW just dont want to know!!!!!!!!
Ive tested the power lead and thats fine so its something in the laptop - any clues on how much it would be to fix? is it better to ebay it as a spares? I know its probably how long is a piece of string type question!!!

How'd you test the adapter?

As for a price for fixing the laptop... like you say, could be anything. If it's power-related then you're looking at replacing the power-supply/motherboard - so then you're talking about a figure which is well on your way to buying a new laptop anyway.


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Hiya guys
got a laptop on 6 October LAST year so its just over a year old.
In that time its been away for 3 weeks being repaired for hard disc failure
Its been acting up again recently and after smelling a burning smell (and a scorch on my footstool) it wont start up. Now my question is:
Is it likely to be a power adaptor failure in which case a new one should fix it?
Is it that the laptop has died?
Should I just go and buy another one?!hi i recenly bought a parkard bell laptop and recently meaning the last two weeks . ive already had to contact them because it wouldnt close down , then when i managed to close it down it wouldnt resatrt ? ahhh i was told it was a power surge and had to remove the battery pack and hold off key for 30 seconds , then plug in the mains and restart ? sounds quite strait forward but it was a totall night mare. no its battery power only last s a max of an hour aggghhh all the mone y we spend ... hope you manage to get yours sorted , dont buy another laptop it should be coverd by warranty good luck