Table of Contents
Battery and Charging Problems:
Overheating and Thermal Management:
Battery and Charging Problems: #
- Chromebook not charging or battery draining quickly
- Issues with the power adapter or charging cable
Issue Indicators:
- Chromebook only stays on when plugged into a charger/AC adapter
- Charging indicator light blinks when plugged into a charger/AC adapter
- Battery loses charger quickly or never fully charges
Troubleshooting:
- Run battery diagnostics
- Check battery connection and/or reseat battery cable
- Check charging port for physical damage or compromised integrity
- Replace the battery or charging port as needed
Links
AG Repair Videos
Run Crosh Diagnostics – need to make AG
Display and Screen Problems: #
- Screen flickering, distortion, dim screen or not working properly
- Damage to the display or LCD panel
Issue Indicators:
- Physical damage/crack to the screen
- Liquid spread/discoloration of the display
- Image on the screen flickers when moved
- Image distorted on the screen
- Image on the screen is dim and difficult to see
Troubleshooting:
- Assess the Damage:
- Determine if the screen issue is due to physical damage (cracks, breakage) or software-related problems (flickering, color glitches).
- Restart the Chromebook:
- Try a normal restart to see if it resolves any minor software-related screen issues.
- Check Screen Brightness and Resolution:
- Ensure the screen brightness is not set too low, and the screen resolution is set correctly.
- Perform a Hard Reset:
- If a normal restart doesn’t work, try a hard reset.
- Update the Chrome OS:
- Check if updating the operating system resolves any software-related screen problems.
- Reset to User Settings or PowerWash:
- Reset Settings within the user account or
- Perform a factory reset (Powerwash) to address any software conflicts.
- Check screen connection and/or reseat screen cable
- Ensure the cable connection on the back of the screen is secure and properly aligned
- Repair
- Replace screen for physical damage or as needed
Screen Repair Videos
Keyboard and Trackpad Issues: #
- Unresponsive or malfunctioning keys on the keyboard
- Trackpad/touchpad not working correctly
- Damage to the keyboard or trackpad/touchpad
Issue Indicators:
- Keys are “mistyping” – typing the wrong letters/numbers/characters
- Keys are non-responsive when pressed
- Keys physically missing or loose
- Physical damage to the keyboard
- Trackpad/Touchpad is unresponsive or delayed
- Mouse is “missing” or “frozen” on the screen
- Physical damage to the trackpad/touchpad
Troubleshooting:
- Clean the Trackpad:
- Use a soft cloth and compressed air to clean the trackpad and remove any dust or debris that may be causing issues.
- Try gently tapping or “drumrolling” your fingers on the trackpad to dislodge any stuck particles.
- Check Trackpad Settings:
- Go to Settings > Device > Touchpad and ensure the settings are configured correctly, such as enabling tap-to-click, adjusting speed, and selecting the desired scrolling behavior.
- Check Keyboard Settings/Lanugage Input
- Go to Settings > Device > Keyboard Settings and verify the keyboard settings are configured correctly, particularly the “US keyboard” setting, to ensure proper responsiveness and display of characters:
- In the Keyboard Settings dialog box, ensure the “Language” is set to “English (United States)” and the “Input method” is set to “US keyboard”.
- Use Keyboard Shortcuts:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Spacebar to toggle through the keyboard types configured on the device until “US” is displayed in the status area.
- Can also adjust the following settings in Keyboard Settings:
- Auto-Repeat
- Key behavior (function keys)
- Input Methods (language)
- Go to Settings > Device > Keyboard Settings and verify the keyboard settings are configured correctly, particularly the “US keyboard” setting, to ensure proper responsiveness and display of characters:
- Run Keyboard Diagnostics:
- Run internal Chromebook diagnostic
- Restart the Chromebook:
- Perform a normal restart by powering off and then back on the Chromebook.
- Hard Reset
- If a normal restart doesn’t work, try a hard reset.
- Disconnect Peripheral Devices:
- Unplug any external USB devices like mice, keyboards, or hubs, as they may be interfering with the Chromebook’s built-in input devices.
- Update Chrome OS:
- Check for and install any available Chrome OS updates, as outdated software can cause input device issues.
- PowerWash (Last Resort):
- As a final troubleshooting step, perform a factory reset (Powerwash) to address any software-related problems.
- Reseat Cables/Connections
- Check the connections of the cables from the part (keyboard or trackpad) to the the mainboard
- Unplug and reseat (plug back in) to test
- Repair
- If the above steps do not resolve the keyboard or trackpad issues, the problem may be hardware-related, and you may need to replace the part and/or cables
Tip: Some repairs require a hardreset of the device once the cable has been reseated or repaired to pick up the “new” connection.
Keyboard Repair Videos
Trackpad Repair Videos
Connectivity Problems: #
- WiFi or Bluetooth connectivity issues
- Problems with the WiFi or Bluetooth hardware components
Issue Indicators:
- WiFi will not “turn on” when the toggle switch is selected
- WiFi drops shows “weak signal”
- Pages will not load or load slowly
- Bluetooth Won’t Turn On
- Bluetooth shows connected but not working
Troubleshooting:
- Forget unnecessary WiFi networks that may be causing interference
- Restart the Chromebook:
- Perform a normal restart by powering off and then back on the Chromebook.
- Hard Reset
- If a normal restart doesn’t work, try a hard reset.
- Run Connectivity Diagnostics
- Run the internal Chrome diagnostic to check for issues and singal strength
- Bluetooth related issues often require a Chrome OS software update
- Repair
- If the above steps do not resolve the keyboard or trackpad issues, the problem may be hardware-related, and you may need to replace the part and/or cables
WiFi Chip Repair Videos
Overheating and Thermal Management: #
- Chromebook running hot or shutting down due to overheating
Issue Indicators:
- Unexpected/unexplained shut-down
- Hot to the touch near the mainboard
- Screen freezes and/or becomes solid black
- Frame rate drops, freezing, or crashing when running intensive tasks
- Trouble charging or unable to charge properly
Troubleshooting:
- Close any unnecessary browser tabs and applications to reduce the workload and temperature.
- Unplug the power supply for a few minutes while the Chromebook cools down.
- Update Chrome OS
- As a last resort, powerwash the Chromebook to restore it to default settings.
- Repair:
- If the above steps do not resolve the issue, a hardware repair/replacement may be necessary.
- The cause of the issue is often times the mainboard/motherboard, however
- the LCD cable or Camera cable may be a cause of overheating due to faulty connection with the mainboard or an exposed portion of the cable.
Repair Videos
Hardware Failures: #
- Failure of internal components like cables, batteries, metal hinges, or motherboard
- Issues with the hinges, ports, or other physical parts
Issue Indicators:
- Damaged hardware is generally visible to the eye and can cause cracking, breaking, separation or displacement of parts on the exterior of the Chromebook
- Internal hardware damage may require a more in depth diagnosis and opening the Chromebook to find the damage
Troubleshooting:
- Hardware damage or failure often results in repairing/replacing the hardware component in order to resolve the problem
- Physically examine/diagnose the Chromebook to determine if a repair is needed
Repair Videos
Liquid Damage: #
- Damage to internal components due to spills or exposure to liquids
Issue Indicators:
- Signs of liquid damage on a Chromebook can include corrosion, discoloration, or fuzzy growth on the charging, headset, SIM, or memory ports.
- Self-Reporting
- Chromebooks users often report spills immediately out of fear of damage
- Won’t Power On
- Attempting to power on a Chromebook that has sustained liquid damage may not work, as the internal components could be damaged.
Troubleshooting:
- If a Chromebook has been exposed to liquid, it is important to immediately power it off, remove any removable components, and dry it thoroughly before attempting to power it on again.
- This can help prevent further damage.
- Chromebooks, like other electronic devices, have liquid damage indicators that can show if the device has been exposed to water or other liquids.
- The liquid damage indicator is different for every Chromebook model
- If liquid damage is determined there are top options:
- Repair affected Chromebook parts
- Use the Chromebook for parts
- Often times, it is not cost effective to repair liquid damaged devices, it may be a better decision to tear the Chromebook down for usable parts