blank screen on startup

I have a generic laptop that I inherited as part of a trade for fixing someone's computer. Problem is it will not boot all the time. Most of the time when I start it the fan will start running and half of the battery indicator will show up on the status bar (above the keyboard, not on the screen). this is all that happened. nothing else. However when I push the button to turn it back off I need to hold it for about 5 seconds before the fan turns off.

I have tried reseating all the components, I have checked the conductivity of all the wires (especially the ones going to the display). and nothing seems to help.

Occasionally the computer will start, and when it does, it runs fine (no visible problems). It does not matter if the computer is warm or cold. It is an equal opportunity bug.

Any Ideas???

I had this problem the battery was so dead the laptop was upset. I left the thing on charge overnight, lo and behold it worked. The lappy battery may need reconditioning.

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Ian Lincoln Independent I.T Consultant
"Steve Danhof" <> wrote in message news:z2_La.66072$R73.9042@sccrnsc04...
I have a generic laptop that I inherited as part of a trade for fixing someone's computer. Problem is it will not boot all the time. Most of the time when I start it the fan will start running and half of the battery indicator will show up on the status bar (above the keyboard, not on the screen). this is all that happened. nothing else. However when I push the button to turn it back off I need to hold it for about 5 seconds before the fan turns off.

I have tried reseating all the components, I have checked the conductivity of all the wires (especially the ones going to the display). and nothing seems to help.

Occasionally the computer will start, and when it does, it runs fine (no visible problems). It does not matter if the computer is warm or cold. It is an equal opportunity bug.

Any Ideas???