Strange smell from laptop (or charger?)

[StrangeSmell]

For the last few weeks, I have been getting a strange smell when using the laptop. It is only used for browsing, nothing intensive. It seems to come and go, like it will give off a brief whiff every now and then. It is kind of a burning smell although that might not be a perfect description. It is very nauseating, causing a cough, burning nose and headache, which as you can see is totally unacceptable. It is not excessively strong though and I just cannot place it (despite quite a sensitive nose), other than when the laptop is switched on, often with the charger switched on and fully charged. I have tried sniffing the charger and the air output vent but can't confirm it. The charger does not get any warmer that it would be expected to. Cannot detect anything sniffing the battery and that always remains cool. (and it holds a charge fine) Temperatures are fine, cpu currently 25C might get into the 30C's when busy browsing. (40's top) I have opened it up and there was almost no dust but I gave it a little clean regardless. No visible signs of burning etc anywhere although I did not take the motherboard off to look underneath. The fan is working fine and I have used "fan always on" enabled and disabled (makes no difference to the problem) in the BIOS and it does what it should do when it needs to. It sits on a wooden desk. All the features of the machine work, no crashes, or go slows. I do use sleep and hibernate often.  I have run various diagnostics and it indicated all fine.

I don't know where to go next. If I could determine it was the charger, I'd just buy a new one but I don't know if it is the laptop itself.

Anyone any ideas, or maybe someone recognises the problem?

Think the laptop is about 2 or 3 years old.

[asmita6658]

Hi @StrangeSmell

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[StrangeSmell]

Asmita, thanks but I was really hoping to get some ideas on what the problem might be rather rather than providing my personal details via pm and then potentially just being told to send it away for an out of warranty repair and as I have said, I ran the HP diagnostics and everything came back fine.

Do you (or anyone) else have any specific information that might help identify what is causing the awful smell? (perhaps this isn't the right forum for that)

P.S. I tried using the laptop without the battery fitted for a day, but the problem till occurs and I still can't identify if it is the charger or the actual laptop.

[asmita6658]

@StrangeSmell

Hi there, thanks for replying. 

I'm afraid, it might not be possible to tell you what's the exact cause without looking inside the computer. I'd suggest you Contact HP in your region regarding the service options

[StrangeSmell]

Probably better off buying a new laptop then. Won't be HP of course. Like many people, I had thought, "can't go wrong buying HP". Worst laptop I've ever seen. Even after just two weeks the keyboard went shiny and the trackpad practically has a hole through it and now it literally stinks and is making me ill. I look after my property and my Acer must be 10 years old and still looks brand new, except for having Windows XP, of course. Thanks.