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If your laptop shuts down unexpectedly or just won't turn on, you might think it's decided to stop working permanently. But before you declare your laptop as dead as a Monty Python parrot ("stiff, bereft of life, resting in peace, off the twig, kicked the bucket, shuffled off its mortal coil, and a member of the choir invisible"), consider the most common causes of laptop power loss.
Laptop powerlessness can come (or not come) from many sources:
- Battery troubles: Your laptop's power loss could be one of these problems with the battery:
• The battery may be fully discharged. Even if you're not using your laptop computer, the battery still slowly drains over time; the older and more used the system, the shorter the shelf life for the battery. If your battery is discharged, you just need to find an AC outlet and plug your power supply in — that way, you can both bring your laptop back to life and recharge the battery at the same time.
 | • If you can run your laptop from its AC adapter, you know that the computer itself is working. The next task is to determine whether the battery was merely bereft of electrons and needs to be charged, or whether it can't hold a charge and needs to be replaced. |
• The battery may be improperly installed in its slot or bay. Some laptops have an unfortunate design flaw that allows the battery to work its way out of its connectors while traveling. Try removing and then reinserting your battery.
- AC adapter issues: Your lack of laptop power could be a problem with the AC adapter. These are a few common AC adapter difficulties:
• The AC adapter may be improperly connected. Some adapters have two cords — one that plugs into the wall outlet at one end and the incoming side of the adapter at the other, and another cord that plugs into the adapter output and continues to a plug that connects to the laptop. Make certain everything is snugly attached.
• The wall outlet may not be live. Try another outlet, or plug a lamp or radio into the outlet you're using to confirm that it's powered.
 | • Some wall outlets are controlled by wall switches and may not be powered all the time. |
• The laptop may have some internal problem. It could be a problem with the internal electrical parts of the laptop, which isn't good news. The motherboard, the AC adapter, or another critical component is fried. If you can borrow a compatible AC adapter that you know is good from a friend, repair shop, or store, see if it brings the computer to life. If not, decide whether the system is worth repairing.
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