Hey everyone! I have an older Lenovo Legion laptop that's been through a lot. Unfortunately, the keyboard isn't working well and 2 of my USB ports are dead. I'm currently using a USB hub connected to the only working port, which is pretty clunky but it gets the job done. However, now my power button has decided to join the malfunction party. It's getting harder to turn the laptop on each time, and after a recent 'repair' that lasted only a few months, it finally just won't turn on at all anymore.
Buying a new computer is not an option right now, even though I'm looking forward to building a proper one with my boyfriend in the future. My new job is starting today, so my budget is tight—hoping to afford a new machine in about a year.
What I'm really hoping to find out is whether it's possible to turn my laptop on with an external device, like a button or something? If I manage to get it on, can I set it up to turn on using a different input instead of the broken button? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
6 Answers
Before jumping to extreme solutions, consider a cheap keyboard replacement. They don't cost much, and they could easily be more reliable than your current setup.
Have you looked into a dock made for your model? Some docks come with their own power buttons that could help. Also, check if you can enable 'Wake on LAN' in your BIOS settings; you might be able to wake the laptop over the network, but that only works if it's in sleep mode.
You could really make use of Wake on LAN. I had a Lenovo in a similar situation and avoided the hassle of turning it on by sending WOL packets using an app on my phone when I needed it. Made life way easier!
You can actually bypass the power button by connecting the pins on the motherboard directly. This is similar to how desktop test rigs work—if you’ve got a screwdriver handy, you can short those pins to start up your laptop. Just be careful doing it!
Sounds like it's definitely possible! The power button just completes a circuit on your motherboard. Once you get it running, you could try putting it in hibernation mode by just closing the lid instead of shutting it down. That might save you a few hassles!
One thing to try is to check your BIOS power settings. Some laptops allow you to set a specific time for the laptop to turn on, or again, consider the Wake on LAN feature. And don’t forget, some keyboards have dedicated power or wake buttons!
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