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One or more pixels are stuck on the wrong color or don’t work at all.
The first thing you should do is try one of these free programs that can repair stuck pixels: UDpixel, LCD, Online Monitor Test, JScreenFix (be aware that these can take a while). If this doesn’t work, you can try to fix it yourself by turning off your laptop and applying gentle pressure to the location of the stuck pixel for about 10 seconds until you have turned it back on again.
The dark pixels are likely dead, which unfortunately means you can’t fix it yourself. However, it could also be a pixel stuck on a dark color, in which case you can try the methods listed under “Pixels are Stuck on a Bright Color” to try to repair it.
The battery drains rapidly when not plugged in.
There are several different ways to change the brightness of your screen. The easiest way is to use the shortcut keys. To do this, press Fn + Home to increase the brightness, and Fn + End to decrease the brightness. Alternatively, you can change your settings in Windows. To do this search for “Display”, then click “Display settings” and use the slider to change the brightness.
To check if there are any unnecessary background programs running, go to “Settings”, then “Privacy” and select “Background apps”. From there you can choose to turn off the background features entirely or select individual apps you’d like enabled/disabled.
Batteries wear out over time and need to be replaced. Your device may give you a warning suggesting that the battery needs to be replaced, this warning will appear as a red x over the standard battery icon at the bottom right of your screen in the taskbar. Another key sign of a faulty battery is overheating. For help on replacing your battery check out this replacement guide.
The laptop takes a long time to load files and programs have performance issues while running.
Use the task manager to check the utilization of the CPU, Memory, and Graphics. To open your task manager, press CTRL + Shift + ESC. If any are over 70%, go through each list and close unnecessary programs with high utilization. If only necessary programs are running, reduce their impact (for example, closing tabs on an internet browser).
If memory is consistently running at close to capacity, consider upgrading your RAM. Some signs that your RAM needs to be upgraded are your device frequently freezes, gives you the BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death), or reboots. See this guide for how to do so.
Slow running speeds can indicate that your computer has downloaded a virus. Find and run a trustworthy antivirus program, and delete any programs that are flagged as being suspicious or dangerous. Avoid downloading suspicious files from untrustworthy websites.
Your computer makes a loud humming or buzzing noise while running.
If your laptop is seated on a cushion or blanket, or the vent is dirty, the fan might not be getting enough air to work properly. Make sure the laptop is seated on a solid surface with no material sitting close to the vent. Use a cloth or compressed air to clean the vent of any lint or dust that might restrict airflow.
Use your task manager to check the load on your CPU. To open your task manager, press CTRL + Shift + ESC. If the load seems unreasonably high, close any unnecessary programs that are taxing your CPU. Check what programs you have set to run on startup to ensure this does not remain a problem in the future.
If the fan itself isn’t functioning properly, it will run faster to compensate. Ensure the conductor connecting the fans to the CPU is connected properly and that there is a layer of thermal paste between the CPU and the heatsink. Clean the interior vents of dust to ensure proper airflow. Check the fan blades are intact and that there are no loose objects in the fan area. Fans can be replaced using this guide.
The laptop either has no sound or the sound is distorted.
If no sound is being produced from your laptop and you don’t have headphones plugged in, a Bluetooth device connected or your volume muted your speakers need to be replaced. To do so follow this guide.
If your laptop is producing sound but the noises sound fuzzy or like static then your speakers may be damaged and need to be replaced. When you increase your device’s volume the distorted sounds should also grow louder. To replace your speakers follow this guide.
The computer is unresponsive and will not turn on.
Try plugging your computer into the charger. If it doesn’t turn on right away try giving the battery 5 to 10 minutes to build up a charge.
Plug in the power adapter and ensure that the power light is on. If the adapter is properly plugged in and there is no light then the adapter is faulty and needs to be replaced. You should consider purchasing a new adapter.
If the power adapter is properly working and the computer only powers up when plugged in then the battery is faulty and must be replaced. Replace the battery using this guide.
