Where'd Everybody Go...?

My laptop's acting up :(

This morning it was working just fine; then the monitor randomly turned itself off. Figuring it had just gone into power-save mode, as it does, I jiggled the mouse a little.

Nothing happened.

I hit ctrl-alt-delet.

Nothing happened.

I hit alt-F4, in case it was trying to run a programme that for some reason didn't agree with it.

Nothing happened.

I did a forced reset, the loading screens came up, then it all went dark again. I gave it time...

Nothing happened.

I closed the 'puter to put it on stand-by in the hope it just needed to cool down.

Fifteen minutes later, it was back. Hurrah!

A minute after that, it went off again :/

Getting into a bit of a panic now (since it was looking like I wouldn't be able to access my work) I plugged in my memory stick and quickly copied over my Work file. The monitor went off again right before the transfer was complete, but I gave it a minute or two and stick's light ceased flashing to indicate the completed transfer. I then got it running again so I could safely detach my external hard-drive and disable the network, removed all the cables and closed it up for the day.

Tonight, I opened it again, just on the off-chance. It stayed on!

I thought, perhaps, there might be a corrupted file on my external HD that was sending things screwy, so I opted, to plug the rest back in and possibly see what was what.

I plugged in the power-pack first and, before I could even get the thing plugged into the wall, the monitor went off...

So I went to stand-by, unplugged the power pack and turned the 'puter back on. It has so far lasted through the latest episodes of Marvel/DC: Happy Hour, The Daily Show and Never Mind the Buzzcocks, as well as this post.

Though it's heartening to know there's life in this thing yet, the near-dead battery and the fact that I seemingly can't charge it and use my 'puter at the same time is troubling.

Hence, I may be quiet for a little while...