Laptop won’t turn back on after sleep. Power drain and battery/charger tested.

Troubleshooting a Laptop That Won’t Resume from Sleep Mode: A Case Study with MSI GE75 Raider

Experiencing a laptop that fails to wake from sleep mode without any prior signs of hardware failure can be both perplexing and frustrating. In this article, we explore a systematic approach to diagnosing such issues, illustrated through a real-world scenario involving an MSI GE75 Raider running Windows 11.

The Scenario

The user reported that their MSI GE75 Raider, after entering sleep mode, would not power back on. Notably, there were no indicators beforehand to suggest impending hardware failure. The device remained unresponsive despite standard attempts to wake it.

Initial Observations and Symptoms

The laptop entered sleep mode normally.
It refused to wake or turn back on when prompted.
The power indicator lights briefly illuminated until the charger was plugged in, then ceased.
No previous warnings or errors had been observed prior to the issue.

Troubleshooting Steps Undertaken

1. Power Drain and Battery Testing

The first step involved physically removing the battery to perform a complete power drain. This process helps clear residual electrical charge that might interfere with normal operation.

Method:
Power off the device completely.
Remove the battery carefully.
Connect the charger without the battery.
Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds to discharge any residual power.
Reconnect the battery and attempt to power on the device.
Results:
No change in behavior; the laptop remained unresponsive.

Additionally, both the battery and charger were tested independently:

Battery Testing:
Checked the battery’s physical condition and capacity.
Charger Testing:
Confirmed the charger’s functionality with an external tester or alternative device.

Both tests indicated they were functioning properly and did not reveal deficiencies.

2. RAM Inspection

Memory issues can sometimes cause boot or resume failures. The user removed, inspected, and tested individual RAM sticks—reordering them to rule out a faulty module or slot.

Result:
No impact; the laptop remained unresponsive.

3. CMOS Battery Consideration

Resetting the BIOS/UEFI settings via the CMOS battery can resolve certain startup issues. However, due to the CMOS battery’s placement underneath the motherboard, removal was challenging. As a result, this step was not performed.