Samsung NP540U3C-A02UB Troubleshooting

The laptop does not respond quickly to clicks and button presses, or applications take a long time to load.

Your slow system may be a result of your CPU being bogged down by a high number of programs, or fewer relatively CPU-intensive programs. You can check the CPU usage of individual programs in the task manager, reached by right-clicking the taskbar at the bottom of the screen, and selecting “Task Manager”. Programs that utilize more CPU are shown with higher percentages. If there are programs you are not currently using that are using up high amounts of CPU resources, it is recommended to close those applications.

When the computer starts up, it may be attempting to load large amounts of applications that have been designated to run on startup. By going to the Task Manager, and switching to the “Startup” tab, individual programs can be configured to stop automatically running by right-clicking the program and selecting “Disable”. Programs that are not necessary immediately upon startup may be disabled. This will require the program to be manually launched by the user if it is desired.

Software or data may be taking up the majority of your system’s storage space, which may slow it down. A solution is to remove unwanted programs from your system. To do so, navigate to settings, select “PC and devices”, then choose “Disk Space”. Here, you can select your drive and sort the programs by file size. It is recommended to delete unwanted programs and software under the “Apps and Features” section. Only remove software that you do not need to access, as the program and its data will be erased.

Older hard drives may have a difficult time quickly accessing memory due to normal wear and tear. This can be mitigated by using a newer hard drive or switching to a solid-state (SSD) drive. SSDs are more expensive, but offer much faster loading times. See our replacement guide for the hard drive to replace the hard drive with either a newer hard drive or an SSD.

The laptop shuts off or applications close without instruction to do so.

System crashing can occur as a result of overheating due to dust and other materials getting trapped in the vents and fans. Fans and vents can be cleaned using a soft cloth and cotton swabs and dust can be removed using a compressed air duster. Make sure airflow is not being restricted from fans and vents, and that fans are running smoothly.

If the system crashes during normal operations or memory-intensive tasks, this means the laptop does not have enough memory to run properly. Not having enough space to run programs is the result of bad RAM or not having enough RAM. Free diagnostic programs can detect if crashes are a result of RAM issues. See replacement guide for how to install new RAM into your laptop.

A faulty hard drive can be blamed for crashes, as the magnetic plates and other parts age and get worn down. Identifying hard drive issues is not always easy, though some giveaways are persistent clicking sounds and re-booting errors. See the replacement guide for how to install a new hard drive.

The laptop is experiencing either unexpected power issues, little use time, or overheating.

Leaving the charger plugged in for extended periods of time can significantly degrade battery quality. This may cause the battery to charge exceptionally slower than usual, or drain more quickly than expected. If you experience slow charging rates and fast discharging rates, you may need to replace your laptop battery, and practice better charging habits. See our replacement guide for how to replace the battery on your laptop.

Lack of proper cooling within the computer may damage the battery. Dying batteries or using the laptop on surfaces without proper air circulation may cause overheating. As a result, your computer’s fans will no longer be able to keep up with the rate of heating. You may start to notice your laptop getting noisy as the fans work to attempt to cool down. It is recommended to use your laptop on hard surfaces or a laptop cooling pad to prevent overheating, though a battery replacement may be necessary if permanent damage has been caused. If your fan has stopped functioning, follow the fan replacement guide.

If you're experiencing power issues with your device, it may simply be due to its age. Generally, laptop batteries become problematic after 1-2 years or 300-400 charge cycles. By using the Life Extender feature found in quick settings you can prolong the overall lifetime of the battery, as this feature limits the battery’s maximum charge. Older batteries are significantly more likely to require replacement. See our replacement guide for how to replace the battery on your laptop.

The laptop outputs audio that does not sound correct, or outputs no audio at all.

The laptop may be outputting the audio to the wrong device. Right-click on the sound icon on the right side of the taskbar at the bottom of the screen, and select “Playback devices”. Ensure that the Speakers device is selected, and set it as the default device if that has not already been done. There is also a “Test” button to test the speakers. If the speakers do not work during this test, this is likely not the issue.

The sound drivers may either be outdated or non-functional. To update or replace the drivers, go to Samsung’s official page on the NP540U3C, and download the file located in the “downloads” section at the bottom. Extract and run the installer, which installs Samsung’s software updater for your laptop. In this installer, select your model (NP540U3C-A02UB) and Operating System, select the driver labeled “Sound Driver” and install it. Upon restarting your system, the drivers will be updated.

The hardware may also be the issue. If the laptop sound functions with headphones plugged into the headphone jack, this indicates the speaker is not properly functioning or connected. See our replacement guide to replace the laptop speakers.

The laptop’s hinges are loose and result in the screen not remaining in an open position, or are broken entirely.

Rather than outright replacing the hinges, you can tighten the screws on the original hinges and see if the upper panel is no longer loose and stands rigid on its own. If this is not the case, refer to the replacement instructions below.

The laptop may not be able to open or close all the way, and there may be noticeable damage to the casing along where the screen meets the lower portion of the laptop. The hinges and interior of the laptop may also be visible due to gaps forming in the casing. If the laptop continues to run smoothly, then a hinge replacement can amend the situation. New hinges are available online and in hardware stores. It should be noted that the left and right hinges are separate parts and may need to be bought separately. See our replacement guide for further steps.