Aspire E15 Is there a way to power on without a power button?

NP99

Hello, I have an Aspire E15 with a dysfunctional power key. The power key's keycap and keyswitch have fallen off and it is very difficult to turn on the laptop with the remaining components. Even when they were in place, the laptop sometimes required me to press them many times to turn on. I have no experience or tools for computer repair and I am not in a position to find a repair shop any time soon.

Basically, my question is whether there is another way to turn on the laptop. After searching for an answer on other sites, I have found that some laptops can be turned on by opening the lid or pressing another key, after a bit of fiddling with the BIOS system. However, these tutorials don't seem to be working for my laptop, since its BIOS doesn't have a "power on by keyboard" or "power on while open lid" option. Is there any alternative power-on option available which does not require dismantling the laptop?

Thread was edited to add model name to the title

JackE

>>>Is there any alternative power-on option available which does not require dismantling the laptop?>>>

Probably not. What's the full E15 model number? For example, E5-576G.

NP99

The model is E 15 E5-576G-5762, I have owned it since Fall 2018.

JackE

>>> The power key's keycap and keyswitch have fallen off >>> Is there any alternative power-on option available which does not require dismantling the laptop?>>>

From your description, a small pushbutton should still be visible & functional down in the recess exposed where the keycap & its switch retainer fell out. The easiest fix to try without dismantling and replacing the whole power board is to cut a piece of dry kitchen foam sponge a bit larger than the keycap recess. Then press the foam in the recess as if it was the keycap. It should provide enough stiffness and alignment to more easily activate the pushbutton when pressed. If it's a light-color translucent foam, enough LED light might get through to illuminate the foam. 

Easwar

Hi @NP99,

If you put the unit in sleep mode you can get the display once you open the lid. But it will lowdown the battery capacity. Seems it is a physical damage it's better to contact acer support.

JackE

>>> The power key's keycap and keyswitch have fallen off >>> Is there any alternative power-on option available which does not require dismantling the laptop?>>>

From your description, a small pushbutton should still be visible & functional down in the recess exposed where the keycap & its switch retainer fell out. The easiest fix to try without dismantling and replacing the whole power board is to cut a piece of dry kitchen foam sponge a bit larger than the keycap recess. Then press the foam in the recess as if it was the keycap. It should provide enough stiffness and alignment to more easily activate the pushbutton when pressed. If it's a light-color translucent foam, enough LED light might get through to illuminate the foam.