Laptop Help Needed On Midway

[Arthur Morris]

My laptop was working fine in Honolulu. When I arrived on Midway, I plugged it in. Ooops. There is no electricity getting to the laptop, an HP, I believe a Pavillion.... I took the battery out. Same thing. The laptop boots up fine on battery, but I have only 27% battery life left...

Any and all suggestions are welcome...

[Axel Hildebrandt]

To eliminate possible problems, I would try it in a different house (I guess you checked the fuse for the outlets). If this is not the problem, could you remove the last part of the cable from the outlet to the 'power brick' and replace it with one from an electric shaver or something different? Are there stores who could check if the cable is broken and replace it if necessary? Have you tried to turn the plug 180 degrees and or squeeze the pins or make them a bit wider?

Good luck!

[LouBuonomo]

Does it not boot with the power plugged in ?? or is it just not charging ? (no plug icon an d the charge light not going on)

As Axel it could be the power block... You should be able to get an aftermarket one at a best buy or raidio shack.

[Rocky Sharwell]

I think getting anything at Midway might be a problem as it is out in the middle of the ocean...

[Randy Stout]

Artie:

Does someone else with you also have a HP, perhaps their power supply could work on yours. Be sure to check the output voltage and polarity of the power supply before plugging it in, as different models require different voltages. Yours is a big laptop, so probably has a pretty substantial power supply.

I don't suspect there is much infra structure on Midway island for a Best Buy:(

I also wonder if your laptops recent trauma/fall has broken an internal connection from the power supply socket to the battery.

Have you checked with anyone else to see if they are having problem getting power from the mains? I suspect the island is set up for US style 110-115V operation, but you never know.

Randy

[Alfred Forns]

... lots of electronic there Rocky !!!!

Artie is that the same laptop you took to Ft Myers? btw there should be plenty people at Midway that know computers, don't know if you will get to mingle with some of the people station there !!!

[Mike Tracy]

Can you go to the airport and find a mechanic with a volt meter ? I believe you should be getting 18.5 volts constant at the point where the end plugs into the computer. If not your probably out of luck based on location as this once happened to me in the jungle. I have one here that you can have and would most likely work if I could get it to you.

Good luck.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks all for your suggestions. A miracle has occurred, at least for a while:

I was up at two am working on a plan to first call HP, then toFed-X one of my old laptops to Robert O'Toole who is coming for the second week, have him load CS-4 onto it, and somehow bring it up for the second week.

I took the battery out of my laptop, let it sit overnight, plugged it in this morning, and so far, another laptop miracle has occurred: it is charging. Be right back. Just went back to the room and checked: it is still charging. I tried not to get too down when it was not working and am trying not to get too, too excited now that it is "fixed." I do, however, want to impress Joe Van Os (this is the first time that I am working with him) by doing some slide programs for those in the group that want to see them, editing stuff with folks watching, and helping folks with Photoshop. So having the computer back for a while is indeed a miracle.

Just went back to the room again and the white power light is still on. I am loving it.

[Alfred Forns]

Good luck Artie Hope it continues working !!! .... btw why don't you copy your files to something external in case it craps out, I'm sure someone else has a computer there !!!

[Fabs Forns]

Glad to read of a happy solution. I like Al's idea of a backup. Something to carry all the time, like a small hard drive with your slide shows.
Have fun!

[Arthur Morris]

Good plan Alfredo. And Fabs. The eastern sky is beginning to lighten imperceptibly and I am getting more and more excited.

[Ilija Dukovski]

I'm glad things are OK now,
I just wanted to mention that
another way to back-up critical documents
when traveling (presentations etc.) is to store
them on Google Documents:

http://docs.google.com

Cheers,

[DonaldNel]

Good to hear you have a solution

The most common failure in these charger "bricks" is that the wall-to-brick cord isn't seated correctly - although it looks like it is.

But if that's not the failure point, consider cutting your brick's wires so you can attach your laptop power plug to exposed (bared) wires of another laptop owner's brick (between brick and their plug). Be sure the brick puts out the same voltage (20VDC is typical for Lenovo, others vary) Don't cut their wires. Ensure you are connecting their + to your + and - to - (meter or careful checking).

Be sure to insulate the exposed wires - failing to do so risks electrocution, fire at the exposed wires, or fire in the brick.

Yes, this is last resort --- but you're remote on a pacific atoll. You'll have to replace two power bricks when you return home...

And if it wasn't the brick, your next challenge is opening the laptop to fix the problem (loose wire? otherwise parts are a problem) or waiting until you are home.

[Reza Gorji]

Arthur: I hope when you return you can gives up some info on how you arranged for the trip. The last time I checked into going to Midway, it required permits.

How are the Albatrossses?

[Arthur Morris]

Arthur: I hope when you return you can gives up some info on how you arranged for the trip. The last time I check into going to Midway, it required permits. How are the Albatrossses?

The birds are insanely amazing. I will almost surely be returning for two trips next year. Best to sign up for our free Bulletins.

You can see some of the images that I have posted in Avian and some more on the blog this morning at: www.birdsasart-blog.com

Here's one more :)

[Reza Gorji]

THANK YOU very much for your reply from the middle of the Pacific.
I will check the blogs for information.
Albatrosses are my favorite birds. They are simply AMAZING birds especially when one reads about their behavior and habits.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks all. As it turns out, my power cord was bad. One of the guys on the trip had the right cord and we have been sharing. :)