Power issues with HP laptop

Hardware
1

Have a strange problem with a HP laptop

Works fine on battery but when connected to mains the screen fades and impossible to see.

Internet connection on wifi signal comes and goes as if on a whim, yes connected, oh no its not, yes it is …

Stopped wifi and tried a ethernet cable same issues

Yes i have a fibre connection and other devices connected no issues.

Originally on windows 10 so converted to linux mint 21.3, same issue.
Tried LMDE same issues
Tried linux Mint Mate 32 bit version

Same issues with both power and internet.

HP built in tests all pass without detecting an issue, windows reinstalled from new version, all updates done, no fix.

Its a broadcom internet connection and in mint tried the driver updates no better with or without.

If I had hair to start with I dont have now been pulling it out all week for a solution. Think its just a end of life machine at 10 years old.

2

I think failing power supply

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3

All the problems listed happen upstream from the motherboard and, as Neville states, that’s the power supply.

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4

I was going down the same lines, of course I dont have the same size adaptor for power in my stock of reclaimed ones, will try to hunt one down locally. Always meant to have a stock or a adaptor pack but never got around to it.

What about internet issues ?
Broadcom issue ?
Wifi and ethernet same card or drivers ?

5

Is the adaptor a transformer? That is the most likely point of failure. In a desktop that is internal…in the power supply box… where is it in a laptop?

6

They are malfunctioning because of fluctuating voltages.

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7

Thanks never thought about that.

My test meter just shows a voltage offered by the supply, need to get better equipment to run more of a test over time.

Thanks

8

I think you need to test it on load.

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9

Its rare for me to get power supplies issues so I got rid of a lot of suitable test equipment a few years back. Will try to find another power supply instead. Issue is the number of different sizes and shapes of connections as usual.

10

22 euros

Screenshot_2024-06-02_08-39-19

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11

Thanks for the suggestion, yes will have to organise myself one, the last i sold on to another client in a repair and had not got round to replacing like a lot of my equipment when i was going to retire, something i keep putting off.

In the end, having talked to the client, they are buying a new machine they have more money than sense so not an issue, they prefer to spend 700 against 20 …

Such is life for some

Been another interesting learning curve for me

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