ac adaptor won't work

I have a Compaq presario f700. I've had this laptop for 3-4 years, and the original AC adaptor lasted until maybe 9 months ago. The first replacement AC adaptor stopped working after just a few months so I bought another replacement. This one has lasted much longer than that previous replacement, but it is now also starting to have problems working. I have to keep adjusting the plug into the laptop at a very precise angle to get it to work. But now, it looks like its also about to give up. These adaptors worked great at first, so I don't why they're dying so quickly. Yes, the cords do get tangled up and twisted a bit, but my original AC adaptor was also. It only stopped working after my laptop fell to the ground. Before that, I didn't have problems with having to adjust the cord at a very precise angle to get it to work. Do I just have to make sure the cord is almost perfectly straight? Or did I just buy crappy used AC adaptors?

larry burns said:

I have a Compaq presario f700. I've had this laptop for 3-4 years, and the original AC adaptor lasted until maybe 9 months ago. The first replacement AC adaptor stopped working after just a few months so I bought another replacement. This one has lasted much longer than that previous replacement, but it is now also starting to have problems working. I have to keep adjusting the plug into the laptop at a very precise angle to get it to work. But now, it looks like its also about to give up. These adaptors worked great at first, so I don't why they're dying so quickly. Yes, the cords do get tangled up and twisted a bit, but my original AC adaptor was also. It only stopped working after my laptop fell to the ground. Before that, I didn't have problems with having to adjust the cord at a very precise angle to get it to work. Do I just have to make sure the cord is almost perfectly straight? Or did I just buy crappy used AC adaptors?

Click to expand...

Question : how or where did you purchase the replacements ?

Did you contact Compaq and ordered the proper replcement that was designed for your particular model ?

t-4-2 said:

larry burns said:

I have a Compaq presario f700. I've had this laptop for 3-4 years, and the original AC adaptor lasted until maybe 9 months ago. The first replacement AC adaptor stopped working after just a few months so I bought another replacement. This one has lasted much longer than that previous replacement, but it is now also starting to have problems working. I have to keep adjusting the plug into the laptop at a very precise angle to get it to work. But now, it looks like its also about to give up. These adaptors worked great at first, so I don't why they're dying so quickly. Yes, the cords do get tangled up and twisted a bit, but my original AC adaptor was also. It only stopped working after my laptop fell to the ground. Before that, I didn't have problems with having to adjust the cord at a very precise angle to get it to work. Do I just have to make sure the cord is almost perfectly straight? Or did I just buy crappy used AC adaptors?

Click to expand...

Question : how or where did you purchase the replacements ?

Did you contact Compaq and ordered the proper replcement that was designed for your particular model ?

Click to expand...

I got the replacements from amazon. I just contacted Compaq, and it'll cost $76 for a new one!

It's likely a combination of the adapter you bought and how you treat them. If you're going to buy a cheaper cord off the internet, I can almost guarantee it won't be as durable as an official one from the manufacturer. $76 is pretty expensive, but it will probably offer the same lifespan as your original.

Another idea: since you already have a couple cord that don't work (I'm assuming they don't work because they've been bent like you said, and this causes the wires inside to break) you can always try to fix them. Since you do (or will, if you get a new one) have access to one that works, it won't be a problem if you completely destroy the cord you're trying to fix, and if it works it'll save you some money. Basically you just cut the cord in half at a point between the break and where it plugs into your computer, strip the plastic off (be careful not to cut the wires more) and then twist the wires back together and hot glue the whole thing up. At least in theory. You can probably google it and find tons of web pages and videos showing you how to do it. That's how I fixed my headphones that had a similar breakage.

Please note: I'm not by any means an electrical technician of any kind. This is just my opinion about what I would try in your situation. I don't know if it will work, and it may even cause problems if you try it. Do it at your own risk, and use the internet for help if you do feel comfortable trying to do something like this.

Also, if you put hot glue over a cord that works well in areas that tend to break, it helps to strengthen them. I do it with all of mine.

larry burns said:

t-4-2 said:

larry burns said:

I have a Compaq presario f700. I've had this laptop for 3-4 years, and the original AC adaptor lasted until maybe 9 months ago. The first replacement AC adaptor stopped working after just a few months so I bought another replacement. This one has lasted much longer than that previous replacement, but it is now also starting to have problems working. I have to keep adjusting the plug into the laptop at a very precise angle to get it to work. But now, it looks like its also about to give up. These adaptors worked great at first, so I don't why they're dying so quickly. Yes, the cords do get tangled up and twisted a bit, but my original AC adaptor was also. It only stopped working after my laptop fell to the ground. Before that, I didn't have problems with having to adjust the cord at a very precise angle to get it to work. Do I just have to make sure the cord is almost perfectly straight? Or did I just buy crappy used AC adaptors?

Click to expand...

Question : how or where did you purchase the replacements ?

Did you contact Compaq and ordered the proper replcement that was designed for your particular model ?

Click to expand...

I got the replacements from amazon. I just contacted Compaq, and it'll cost $76 for a new one!

Click to expand...

$76 is HIGH ! You are sure you have the right model number ? I mean the adpator model number.
I took a look at google, there are many different ac adpators for Compaq presario f700. Some of them are as low as $17.

Anyway, consider these :
1. How much have you spent so far buying the replacements from Amazon ?

2. Buying from venues such as Amazon has this lingering uncertainty..... will you get the real " McCoy " or will you get a " refurbished " item ?

3. Buying it directly from Compaq may cost more, but you can rest assured that you will receive a brand new one, and maybe even with warranty ?

4. Have you consider perhaps the adaptor is not the culprite. Perhaps it is your battery ?
To check that.... Shut down your computer > remove the battery > plug in the adaptor without the battery > start your computer. Does it start ? If yes, then your adaptor is ok.

Decision is yours.

I don't remember what exact replacements I bought, but there were each about $8. But I just checked the reviews on amazon for similar replacements (such as Amazon.com: AC Adapter Charger for Compaq Presario F700 M2500Z: Electronics). I should've read them before. Turns out lots of people had similar experiences. They worked great for a few months and then stopped working. So the problems are probably with the adaptors, not my battery or the fact that I twisted and bended the cords a bit