Laptop keeps crashing - help needed!!

Nicci

Nicci

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Hi all,

I have posted a thread before and need help. I am about to loose it. For some strange reason, my laptop functions and runs apps (that requires a gfx card - i have a 512mb gfx card installed) only when the power supply is plugged out (not charging). As soon as i plug my laptop in, it freezes and crashes. Last night i got an error saying (after it froze again) that the gfx is not working as it should. but - why does the damn thing work when laptop is running on battery??

To cut it short:

laptop charger plugged in = not working
laptop charger plugged out - working

Has anyone had this problem?

It cant be overheating - i replaced the fan, AND i have a cooling pad.

Its really bugging me, and i dont want to pay R1500 for someone to tell me what the problem is, and then pay on top of that to fix it.

thanks for any help offered!!
 
It sounds like it might be something to do with either your power supply or the connector of the power supply, on the PSU side or laptop side.

Have you tried with another power supply? Booting with the power supply connected?
 
Niccia said:
Hi all,

I have posted a thread before and need help. I am about to loose it. For some strange reason, my laptop functions and runs apps (that requires a gfx card - i have a 512mb gfx card installed) only when the power supply is plugged out (not charging). As soon as i plug my laptop in, it freezes and crashes. Last night i got an error saying (after it froze again) that the gfx is not working as it should. but - why does the damn thing work when laptop is running on battery??

To cut it short:

laptop charger plugged in = not working
laptop charger plugged out - working

Has anyone had this problem?

It cant be overheating - i replaced the fan, AND i have a cooling pad.

Its really bugging me, and i dont want to pay R1500 for someone to tell me what the problem is, and then pay on top of that to fix it.

thanks for any help offered!!
Click to expand...

That sounds rather strange....Doesnt sound like overheating to me, Have you tried updating your GFX drivers?

It doesn's make sense that it only crashes with the power plugged in though..Best advice I can give is to update GFX drivers if you havent already.
 
Have you reloaded the system?

Do you plug it in while windows is loaded?
Have you tried plugging it in when the laptop is off and booting it?
 
Sounds like a driver issue for your power management. Can be when you plug in your power the driver executes and causes a conflict with your other software.

If you can connect / disconnect in safe mode without crashing - then its your driver. Upgrade (and even do the BIOS) too. Remember in safe mode non of your drivers are loaded.


If it still crashes then you have a hardware issue. Your power supply is most likely faulty - too much / too little juice. Also try a different wall plug.
 
Nod said:
It sounds like it might be something to do with either your power supply or the connector of the power supply, on the PSU side or laptop side.

Have you tried with another power supply? Booting with the power supply connected?
Click to expand...

Yes, i bought a new power supply - and the same thing happened - i thought it might be that - but the new one also does the same thing :(
 
Grimspoon said:
That sounds rather strange....Doesnt sound like overheating to me, Have you tried updating your GFX drivers?

It doesn's make sense that it only crashes with the power plugged in though..Best advice I can give is to update GFX drivers if you havent already.
Click to expand...

Yes, i have updated to the newest ones - uninstalled and installed the new ones, also updated directx 9.0.c or something. :(
 
I agree with cbrunsdonza. Sounds like a possible driver issue. Reinstall the latest drivers for the notebook chipset and if it came with power management utils, load them.
 
killadoob said:
Have you reloaded the system?

Do you plug it in while windows is loaded?
Have you tried plugging it in when the laptop is off and booting it?
Click to expand...

Erm, it just freezes, then i put it off and then on again.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
Sounds like a driver issue for your power management. Can be when you plug in your power the driver executes and causes a conflict with your other software.

If you can connect / disconnect in safe mode without crashing - then its your driver. Upgrade (and even do the BIOS) too. Remember in safe mode non of your drivers are loaded.


If it still crashes then you have a hardware issue. Your power supply is most likely faulty - too much / too little juice. Also try a different wall plug.
Click to expand...


I dont know how to make safe mode :( Can i download a driver for my power management? Maybe i can try that tonight. I have bought a new power supply - so i dont think its that. I will try a different wall plug too.

Thank you all for the help - i dont know how this quoting numerous things work - so i replied individually :) But - to everyone thanks! I will try download the power manager driver - and have a look see if that is not the problem! Huggs!
 
looks like your card is overheating when pushed hard.

ati and nvidia cards on laptops operate at different speed depending on whether you are on battery power or ac/dc.

in ati catalyst control center, look for a thing called "powerplay"...in nvidia option look for (damn...now i cant ermember teh name) but basically look there for the battery/plugged in options.

set it all to battery mode and then test again..if the problem is resolved then you know you need to clean the thing out.
 
werner said:
looks like your card is overheating when pushed hard.

ati and nvidia cards on laptops operate at different speed depending on whether you are on battery power or ac/dc.

in ati catalyst control center, look for a thing called "powerplay"...in nvidia option look for (damn...now i cant ermember teh name) but basically look there for the battery/plugged in options.

set it all to battery mode and then test again..if the problem is resolved then you know you need to clean the thing out.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much Werner! Oki, but if i set it to battery mode - do you think it will work when i plug the power supply in and continue with my apps? And yes, i have the ATI catalist one. Oki, what do you mean by clean the thing out lol! Apologies - im technologically challenged :P
 
itry it and see...basically, you graphics card wont go into high-power mode when tou plug in the ac/dc anymore...which (if what yousay is correct) workaround the problem.

and if it does then the problem is either
1) fan is messed
2) contact beween fan and gpu is messed
3) vents on laptop are blocked (NEEDS CLEANING)

i know you said you cleaned/replaced fan and contact patch in the first post, but , like you admitted, you are technically challenged so i have to assume that the fault could still be there.
 
Oki! Perfect! Thank you so much! i will definately try it - and will post here again tomorrow and let you know if it worked! You are kind! thank you so much!
 
oh goodness, i dont know where that is. can u guide me to check that? thank you!
 
Hey GreenPunkt. Its a Acer 8200. But, its fixed!!! Werner helped me! Thank you guys for everything and all the help! i really appreciate it! It was the setting in the catalist, i had to set it on battery! I dont know why, but it works! Thank you so much!
 
Niccia said:
Hey GreenPunkt. Its a Acer 8200. But, its fixed!!! Werner helped me! Thank you guys for everything and all the help! i really appreciate it! It was the setting in the catalist, i had to set it on battery! I dont know why, but it works! Thank you so much!
Click to expand...

That's cool Niccia ;)

As per Werner's posts, you can deduct that your vents are dirty or the fan might not be working.

It's basically working because you aren't using it at maximum capacity.

Werner should be able to help you to fix it.
 
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