Compaq Laptop wont boot

[TOR_LordRaven]

I have a Compaq Laptop here a friend gave me to fix. Cannot get it to boot.
The only thing that happens when I press the power button, is a little "Lightening Bolt" LED light on the hand rest blinks 3 times.

I cannot seem to find the FULL Blinking Codes from HP, they only give you a "Sample".

Anyone have any ideas?

Compaq Persario CQ50-142us

[Thenior]

Similar issues can mean that the battery is not charged enough to boot. Sometimes the cord isn't plugged in, or it's defective, so it tries to use the battery.

[Top Gun]

My mom has this old laptop with a completely dead battery that does a similar flashing-symbol thing whenever it's plugged in. It still works just fine on the adapter, but it cuts out immediately if you unplug it. I'd suspect a similar cause here, unless it's doing this while it's still plugged in.

[TOR_LordRaven]

thats the hard part to troubleshoot. The adapter is frayed at the plug itself. Cannot splice it as it is frayed up inside the tip.

that might be the whole issue then, its just dead and no way to charge it at the moment.

Thanks guys

[TOR_LordRaven]

i got a replacement cable, but it still won't change.
Makes me think that a.) Because the original was frayed so close to the tip, it put lots of stress on the plug on the laptop itself, causing it to go bad.

Data is recoverable though!

[Krom]

Yeah, often the solder that holds the socket to the motherboard cracks, its usually fixable if you are decent with a soldering iron but is a fair amount of effort.

[jacen3]

Can somebody advice me, what went wrong with my laptop?
I properly shutdown the system, then the following morning SL Series Keyboard and stationary pad is no longer working?