pc and electricity

That's definitely one of the weirdest stories I've ever heard. Is this a joke or does your cousin happen to have a background indicating "interesting" behavior or an overactive sense of humor, etc.?

Anyway, I would try the voltmeter. Check the voltage without the laptop plugged in and then check it with the laptop plugged in. To check it with the laptop plugged in, plug the voltmeter probes into one outlet and then plug the laptop into the other. Also, if the laptop plug is polarized (one plug wider), note polarity on the meter.

When you check the laptop and voltage at your cousins house, I would take a couple of big technician friends with you. If the the laptop actually does work at his house, I would have one big guy hold him while the other one is slapping the hell out of him.

| My cousin has a laptop that will not power up at his house. It powers | up find at my house. I have switched it to different outlets in both | houses. Every outlet in my house works, while every outlet in his house | will not load the computer. Other things such as lamps, and kids toys | will load on those outlets. Is it possible that the flow of electricity | to these outlets is insufficient to power up a computer, but will power | a lamp? Is there something I could do to check the electrical flow to | these outlets? I am not an electrician, I am a PC Technician. Should I | use a voltmeter to check the voltage reading (i think i have one laying | around my house somewhere).

Does this power convert have 2 prongs to plug in or 3 prongs? If 3 prongs, then go to the hadware store electrical section and get one of those little circuit testers with 3 prongs and 3 lights. They are marked with which 2 lights should be on and which 1 should be off for a correct circuit. If the power converter only has 2 prongs, try it both ways (e.g. upside down). Still not working? Get the voltmeter and test voltages on that circuit and other circuits, too. Test WITH a lamp plugged in and turned on in the same circuit (usually the other outlet in the same duplex receptacle). The voltage should be around 120 volts plus or minus 5% or maybe 10% if in a more remote location. The voltage should be very close to the same in all outlets. If you find voltages dramatically different (some high, some low) in different places in the house, shut off the MAIN breaker only and call a licensed electrician. Let is know.

this reminds me of the story of the man who's new car failed to start only when he bought vanilla ice cream.

the legend has it that after a short trip to the grocery store when he bought vanilla ice cream that car wouldn't start yet if he bought anything else or even another flavor of ice cream the car would start.

turns out that the vanilla was kept in a freezer right up near the checkout and the other flavors were deeper in the store so it took longer to get.

problem turned out to be a vapor lock issue.

question 1: is the battery pack in the laptop functional?

question 2: when attempting to boot, are you hooked to a LAN? a modem?

question 3: is there a large temperature difference in the environments?

question 4: is the problem location in a strong FR field? (i.e. a TV transmitter within block or 2)

question 5: what about other locations then the 2 mentioned?

question 6: have you tried customer support from either the maker or retailer where you bought it? have you tried a users group for that brand to see of others experience this?

question 7: have you checked to see if this is one of the "exploding" batteries that we were all warned about recently?

question 8: when transporting is the unit subjected to significant vibration? bumpy ride?

question 9: is the power supply warmer at either location?