Hi,
My laptop is a Compaq Evo N610C.
After installing an internal antenna for my mini pci WLAN card, (I had the motherboard in and out several times) I put it all back together and the laptop now won't run from the battery. Both in Windows and in BIOS it says the battery is not present - when the computer is powered off and plugged in, the charge LED won't light up either. However, if it's running on AC, I can unplug it and it will run for (it seems EXACTLY) 8 seconds before it shuts off. Though if it's off and I have it plugged in, I do NOT have an 8 second window to turn it on after unplugging it - as soon as it's unplugged it wont turn back on. That means (unless there's some internal capacitor that can store 8 seconds of power to run the computer) the laptop IS getting the power from the battery when I unplug it but then after 8 seconds some part of the computer decides that it shouldn't be running right now so it shuts off.
I've checked the connections at the battery terminal and determined there's no problem with the connection - there's a voltage at every one of the solder points on the motherboard. That's as far back as I've tested. (I find various different voltages across different pins ranging from 3 or 5 up to 18ish)
I know laptops are highly integrated and typically the solution is to just replace the motherboard but I can't afford to do that right now. I have a multimeter and I know how to use it!! Can someone suggest further troubleshooting steps? If it comes down to it I'm willing to actually replace individual semiconductors, if I can isolate the problem.
Any help is appreciated. PS is there such a thing as a service manual or even a detailed circuit diagram for this motherboard? I guess that sort of thing would be kept secret by Compaq.
My laptop is a Compaq Evo N610C.
After installing an internal antenna for my mini pci WLAN card, (I had the motherboard in and out several times) I put it all back together and the laptop now won't run from the battery. Both in Windows and in BIOS it says the battery is not present - when the computer is powered off and plugged in, the charge LED won't light up either. However, if it's running on AC, I can unplug it and it will run for (it seems EXACTLY) 8 seconds before it shuts off. Though if it's off and I have it plugged in, I do NOT have an 8 second window to turn it on after unplugging it - as soon as it's unplugged it wont turn back on. That means (unless there's some internal capacitor that can store 8 seconds of power to run the computer) the laptop IS getting the power from the battery when I unplug it but then after 8 seconds some part of the computer decides that it shouldn't be running right now so it shuts off.
I've checked the connections at the battery terminal and determined there's no problem with the connection - there's a voltage at every one of the solder points on the motherboard. That's as far back as I've tested. (I find various different voltages across different pins ranging from 3 or 5 up to 18ish)
I know laptops are highly integrated and typically the solution is to just replace the motherboard but I can't afford to do that right now. I have a multimeter and I know how to use it!! Can someone suggest further troubleshooting steps? If it comes down to it I'm willing to actually replace individual semiconductors, if I can isolate the problem.
Any help is appreciated. PS is there such a thing as a service manual or even a detailed circuit diagram for this motherboard? I guess that sort of thing would be kept secret by Compaq.
