Need some advice!

@SydneyJ (902)
United States
January 7, 2012 8:54pm CST
Today I went to a pawn shop to buy a few movies and spontaniously decided to buy a laptop. At first it worked just fine and everything but then i turned it off to let it charge but when i came back it stoped working. It tries to turn on and almost gets to the start up screen then turns off. I have 15 days to return it but I was wondering if i should just try buying a new charger or battery for it online and see if that works or if i should go to a computer place to see if they could tell me whats wrong with it before i just go to return it. If i just bout new things for it online and it didnt work i could always return them.. What do you think I should do? Please help!
2 people like this
12 responses
@beamer88 (4259)
• Philippines
8 Jan 12
What's the return policy of the pawn shop? Will they replace the defective item you bought with another one as is customary to regular shops? If so, then just return it within the given time period. But if they'll just return your money and not replace the item, I think it's better to have the unit checked first by someone who's knowledgeable in laptops. Just do it within 15 days so that if the cause is really a defect in the laptop you bought, then you could return it within the given time period and have your money back :)
1 person likes this
@SydneyJ (902)
• United States
8 Jan 12
They will just return it for cash but there is also other laptops I would be able to pick a new one with the returned money. Do you still think i should just return it or is it still better to have it checked first?
1 person likes this
@beamer88 (4259)
• Philippines
8 Jan 12
I think you should have it checked first. I mean, if it's just a battery problem, it wouldn't be that expensive to replace. But if the defect would be a little bit expensive to fix, I think you should just return the laptop and choose another one instead. Or you could just take your money back.
1 person likes this
@SydneyJ (902)
• United States
8 Jan 12
I actually did check and it worked to begin with sadly it stoped agter not very long thank you for sharing advice with me though
1 person likes this
@sumanadep (1228)
• India
8 Jan 12
First I would say if this is an old computer and that you are not a tech savvy person.. should return the computer and get another one.. if you want to try making this work.. you can try to use it only on power adapter and removing the battery.. if it works it would a problem with the battery.. if it does not check if the batter is getting charged or not.. also try doing power flee( remove battery and power adapter.. press an hold the power button for 10-15 seconds.. connect the battery and restart the computer) this some time works..
1 person likes this
@SydneyJ (902)
• United States
8 Jan 12
You are right I am not a very tech savvy person just someone looking for a new computer. Last night I left it pluged in and it did get some what of a charge and i was able to use it for about an hour so im still thinking it is a charger problem because if you adjust the charger to certain spots it works but it wont work all the time.
1 person likes this
@himzey (1321)
• India
8 Jan 12
I guess you should contact their support and tell them about your problem. You should ask them to replace the one you have with a new one, cause it sounds like its a hardware problem; not any charger fault. Its better to replace it now than waiting for things to settle. Who knows what difficulties it may pose in future if you stick to it.
1 person likes this
@SydneyJ (902)
• United States
8 Jan 12
This is true that it could just cause many more problems later on.. Thank you for responding.
1 person likes this
@pahak627 (4558)
• Philippines
8 Jan 12
I guess you have to return it to the store and be refunded of your money. That's what came into my mind to return it. Use the money to buy a new laptop considering that brand new computers have a warranty of one year wherein they will change any damaged parts of the computer..
1 person likes this
@SydneyJ (902)
• United States
8 Jan 12
Well i am not really in the need for a new computer I just wanted an inexpencive one i could use for typing. I just bout a very nice computer a few monthes ago so i am not yet wanting a new one, thank you for responding.
1 person likes this
• Indonesia
8 Jan 12
If the screen off (but the power still coming in) before you boot into windows/operating system logo, then just return it. It might be motherboard or graphic card fault. If the power itself turn off before the same aforementioned thing, just return it. If it is already enter the windows/operating system, it might be driver problem. But also can be memory (RAM) problem. A lot thing to be checked if you want to know the exact thing happen to your laptop. Because I experience this with my own laptop.
@SydneyJ (902)
• United States
8 Jan 12
I am glad I am able to get some advice from someone who has also gone through similar problems with thier own laptop, thank you for helping advise me!
1 person likes this
@Queen_11 (307)
• Philippines
8 Jan 12
You could try this: - Remove the battery as well as the laptop charger - Turn on the power button for 30 seconds - Connect the charger to the laptop Do not immediately purchase anything. As far as I know, a brand new laptop battery may cause a fourth or fifth of a new laptop. Get in touch with the pawnshop or the person that pawned the laptop and verify if the device is still covered by warranty. This may save you more time and money :)
1 person likes this
@SydneyJ (902)
• United States
8 Jan 12
Thank you for the advice, I've tried some of these things already but Im going to try again.
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@carolbee (16230)
• United States
9 Jan 12
Best Buy or another large competitor should be able to check it for you at no charge. I would suggest you do that first before returning it. Good luck with it. Hope it's something minor that can be fixed for next to nothing.
@SydneyJ (902)
• United States
10 Jan 12
Thank you, I also hope it is just a little something because I got it to work enough to type up an article last night and put it on triond and i really liked how it worked and all.
• Philippines
8 Jan 12
First, you need to check with the battery. If you have a friend with the same laptop or a laptop with the same type of battery, maybe you can borrow and check. Try this also with the charger. If you don't have any friends, then try buying new stuff. Also, you can try checking it with the customer service of the manufacturer of the laptop. Tell them what happened or ask them to try repair the laptop. If you don't want any hassles, you can just return the product.
1 person likes this
@SydneyJ (902)
• United States
8 Jan 12
Sadly I do not know anyone with the same laptop or even one like it. Thank you for responding.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
8 Jan 12
hi sydneyj return it to the pawnshop and get your money back then go buy a new one as the pawnshop has bilked you giving you a faulty laptop. putting good money into something that was probably pawned knowing it was faulty. Put other money with that youo s pent for a wrecked laptop and get a new one that has a guarantee on it., 'a lot of stuff pawned is old and may be on its last legs so I never buy anything electronic or electric in a pawnshop. get your money back then buy a new one with a guarantee. thats my advice
@SydneyJ (902)
• United States
8 Jan 12
(also in responce to your other responce) I wanted a cheaper one so that i could use mostly for typing so i could easily transport it from school, work and hope with less of a worry that anything might happen to it. If i had a small light weight one i could use it for typing out school papers, articles and i would not be using a bunch of desk space for it. But i like my bigger computer for surfing, chating, research, music and the like.
• Indonesia
8 Jan 12
I write about this issue, hang laptop or blue screen. Please check out on my blog masterfixer.blogspot.com Hopefully useful !!
@SydneyJ (902)
• United States
10 Jan 12
Thank you
• United States
8 Jan 12
Return it now, why do you think it was pawned in the first place? Invest your money better and buy a new top of the line laptop, that'll atleast last you 1-2 years before something even better comes out. Old laptops with problems just arn't worth the time, money, and frustration.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
8 Jan 12
but sydney still why keep a piece of junk, they ripped you off so go get your money back. and also bewar3e too cheap stuff too., get a laptop with guarantee so if anything goes wrong its up to the seller to get it fixed for you.how come if you have one good one cannot you use it for typing? I do not understand why two ones?
@SydneyJ (902)
• United States
8 Jan 12
Well there is a few reasons why i didnt buy a new one to begin with.. I dont heave the money for a new one at the moment I was just looking for a cheap one I could use for typing on. And my other reason is I have a very nice laptop i am on at the moment that was about $800 or so i just bought a few monthes ago and a kindle fire i can get online from i got for christmas so im not worried about geting some new piece of tecnology just a smaller, cheaper laptop for typing.
1 person likes this
8 Jan 12
it's best just to get a new one, but do get a charger just in case, you have 15 days to return it, so if the charger isn't the problem it's best to get another one, maybe you could also take it to a PC shop if you think it will help but it may cost more than you bought it for, try the charger first, if that doesn't work, maybe take it to the shop, but i would get a new one, at least you won't have to worry about it breaking down
@SydneyJ (902)
• United States
10 Jan 12
Thank you for replying, I think this is what I am going to do.