Is my NB 'shutting down' properly?

[skwerlbaitbev]

I'm not having any 'specific' problems, but I am wondering about this ... when I turn off my HP Pavilion NB (using Windows XP Home Edition, with cable as my ISP) for the evening, I log out of any websites I might have been using (AOL, Yahoo, etc.), close any IE windows, click 'Start', select 'Turn Off computer', click 'Turn Off', and Windows shows a 'saving your settings' message, then the screen goes dark. But, I never hear the sort of final 'click' sound that I used to hear, when shutting down for the night, with my old Compaq NB (which was running Windows Me with a dial up connection), or Compaq desktop (which was running Windows 2000, on dial up).

This nb does have a one problem that evidently would be costly to repair - the ac plug connection, on the nb (motherboard?) side, is 'faulty' - sometimes the connection will fail, even with the ac adapter plugged in, and the nb will switch to battery power. I have to unplug, and replug - sometimes several times, with various amounts of pressure remaining on the plug end - before it will 'hold' to the ac power. If the HP NB should be on battery, instead of AC, when I close up for the night, there will be a loss of about 15% or so of the battery's charge, overnight, as indicated by the 'lightening bolt' over the 'plug' icon, usually reporting '85% remaining (charging) when I 'start up' the following morning.

So I'm wondering, is there some programme that remains 'on' overnight, in spite of what seems like a 'turned off' NB? Is this 'normal' - or should I be looking to find out what remains 'on', when I think I've turned off my PC? Does a programme like McAfee run, even when the nb is 'turned off', because I'm on cable?

I'm trying to be very conservative, with my energy use. I used to just leave things like my printer 'on', but recently was advised that the printer is adding to my energy bill, just by having the little 'power' lights on, overnight. (I have considered actually unplugging my TV/DVD/VCR units, overnight, for the same reason.) With the NB, I don't 'hear' anything still 'humming', when I click 'turn off' - and the NB stays cold to the touch - so perhaps not hearing any sort of 'final' click is 'normal', and the nb has fully shut down. If anyone has ideas or suggestions, on this issue, please advise! Thanks!

[saphalline]

But, I never hear the sort of final 'click' sound that I used to hear, when shutting down for the night, with my old Compaq NB (which was running Windows Me with a dial up connection), or Compaq desktop (which was running Windows 2000, on dial up).It's quite possible that the final "click" you hear from your other systems is the modem finally hanging up the phone line. It's also possible to silence dial-up modems, but the sounds can actually be useful for diagnostic purposes.

This nb does have a one problem that evidently would be costly to repair - the ac plug connection, on the nb (motherboard?) side, is 'faulty' - sometimes the connection will fail, even with the ac adapter plugged inThat would be a loose DC jack, quite common for laptops and notebooks. And yes, you are correct - it would be very costly indeed to fix! If you're lucky, there's a power converter daughter board - as little as $30 to replace. If you're unlucky, the entire mobo needs to be replaced - as much as $450! Furthermore, these costs don't include labor or shipping! :eek: Make a decision as to whether or not you can live with the faulty DC jack. If you can, keep the notebook until it no longer works. If you can't, replace the notebook soon. Either way, be gentle with your DC jacks!!


when I close up for the night, there will be a loss of about 15% or so of the battery's charge, overnight, as indicated by the 'lightening bolt' over the 'plug' icon, usually reporting '85% remaining (charging) when I 'start up' the following morning.Sounds like the battery is giving out in terms of its charging capacity. If the battery is less than a year old, there's a good chance you can "repair" its capacity. If the battery is more than a year and a half old, it's too late. In between is iffy.

So I'm wondering, is there some programme that remains 'on' overnight, in spite of what seems like a 'turned off' NB?No. When a PC is shut down and turned off, there is no longer any processing activity. No programs are still running, no downloads are still going, nothing. The only thing that is still running is the RTC (real-time clock) which keeps the time during shutdown periods, but even this doesn't use much power. Certainly nothing you'd see on your monthly energy bill - not even a penny! Any loss in battery capacity during this time is due to something else, most likely an old or dying battery. And given the DC jack problems, I'm not surprised.

[skwerlbaitbev]

Many thanks, Saphalline, for your advice on the 'turning off' issue, and on the ac jack issue. I should say, in my own defense, that I rarely removed the jack plug (I essentially use the laptop in one place, only - I don't move it around the house, and I am the only user), so the connection problem is not from any constant plugging in and out, or rough handling.

I have found that wrapping a rubberband around the plug, then stretching the rubberband around the edge of the nb, keeps enough pressure on the jack plug to maintain, for fairly prolonged periods, the connection - not pretty, but certainly cheaper than replacing the mb.

The nb is now 4.5 years old - as is the battery - but I mostly use it for email, some forum correspondence, and occasional shopping/product research - I'm not a bit 'gammer', and don't use a pc in any employment related way. There doesn't seem to be a legitimate reason to blow a grand on a new nb pc. And, replacing the battery seems anti-ecosensitive, too - unless keeping a 'fading' battery in the nb is a potential problem to the unit, itself.

I'm glad to know that the pc is 'shutting down' as it should, anyway. Thanks again, for the info.