My son went to turn on his TI-84 Plus calculator and it wouldn't go on. He had used it in class a few hours before. We tried replacing the AAA batteries, but that didn't work. We tried replacing the button battery too, but that didn't work either. We even tried taking all batteries out for a while then put all back in, but that didn't work. We bought the calculator at the start of this school year (less than 6 months ago) so are a bit concerned. Do you have any advice for us?

TI calculators have an annoying habit of dimming the screen when the batteries are changed so that it appears as if the calculator isn't turning on. Turn the calculator on (or at least press the ON key). Press and release the 2ND key. Press and hold the Up-arrow key for a few seconds and see whether the screen becomes legible.


What do you mean by "changed the resolution"?

You might try taking out the backup battery. It is located above the AAA behind a little door with a screw. Leave all batteries out for a few hours. Reassemble. This might work. If not, you may also try getting a new backup battery if you haven't already. Hope this helps.

From TI FAQs:

What troubleshooting can I try if the TI graphing calculator will not turn on?

For the TI-83 Plus Family, TI-84 Plus Family:
Caution: The resets described in these troubleshooting steps will cause a loss of applications, programs and data. If at all possible please create a backup using TI Connect™ first.

1. Try a new set of AAA batteries.
2. Adjust the contrast by pressing and releasing the [2nd] key followed by pressing and releasing the up arrow; repeat as necessary. To adjust or lighten the display, use the down arrow.
3. Remove one of the AAA batteries. Press and hold the [CLEAR] key. While holding [CLEAR], reinsert the AAA battery and then turn the calculator on. The calculator should display the message "RAM Cleared". Release the [CLEAR] key and then press it one more time to remove the message.
4. Remove one of the AAA batteries. Press and hold the [DEL] key. While holding [DEL], reinsert the AAA battery and then turn the calculator on. The calculator should display "Waiting...Please install calculator software now". Follow the instructions for the TI-83 family or TI-84 Plus family to reinstall the calculator operating system.
5. Remove all of the batteries including the round lithium battery for 5 minutes. After the 5 minute period, reinsert all of the batteries and turn the calculator on. Adjust the contrast if necessary.

This is from TI FAQS:

Solution 11900: Troubleshooting a TI Graphing Calculator That Will Not Turn On.

For the TI-83 Plus Family, TI-84 Plus Family:
Caution: The resets described in these troubleshooting steps will cause a loss of applications, programs and data. If at all possible please create a backup using TI Connect™ first.

1. Try a new set of AAA batteries.
2. Adjust the contrast by pressing and releasing the [2nd] key followed by pressing and releasing the up arrow; repeat as necessary. To adjust or lighten the display, use the down arrow.
3. Remove one of the AAA batteries. Press and hold the [CLEAR] key. While holding [CLEAR], reinsert the AAA battery and then turn the calculator on. The calculator should display the message "RAM Cleared". Release the [CLEAR] key and then press it one more time to remove the message.
4. Remove one of the AAA batteries. Press and hold the [DEL] key. While holding [DEL], reinsert the AAA battery and then turn the calculator on. The calculator should display "Waiting...Please install calculator software now". Follow the instructions for the TI-83 family or TI-84 Plus family to reinstall the calculator operating system.
5. Remove all of the batteries including the round lithium battery for 5 minutes. After the 5 minute period, reinsert all of the batteries and turn the calculator on. Adjust the contrast if necessary.

Could be that your calculator needs to be reset. Take out the internal battery that is located in a tiny door with a screw right above the 4 AAA batteries. Leave this out for about 8 hours and put it back in. Put in the AAA batteries and the calculator will be reset and may work.

Has it been dropped recently? The screen may have cracked from impact. Press the Reset button on the back using a ball point pen.

This is kinda a weird situation. Because it's usually the other way around. Your ram will clear if your calculator is frozen. So take out all 5 batteries from the back. Even the back up battery. Then reset it again. 2nd then + then 7 then 1 Then 2. Good luck.

ON, 2nd, [up] arrow to change the contrast. Works 99% of the time....

Try the following

1) Remove one of the AAA batteries, hold down on the DEL key while reinserting the AAA battery. The handheld might display Waiting…Please install calculator software now. Ignore this message. Remove and reinstall one of the AAA batteries again This time, do not hold down the DEL key.
2) Remove one of the AAA batteries, press and hold the [on] key for 10 seconds, release, replace the battery, then turn the unit on. Adjust the contrast.
3) Remove the AAA batteries for three hours. After the three-hour period, reinsert the batteries and turn the handheld on. Adjust the contrast if necessary.

If needed, reinstall OS by downloading the OS from the TI site and ....
On your computer, choose Start, Programs, TI Tools, TI Connect, TI OS Downloader.

(I am not the one who came up with this answer, but found it on an other site. If this doesn't work, please let me know)

Gr Marijn

Try the following

1) Remove one of the AAA batteries, hold down on the DEL key while reinserting the AAA battery. The handheld might display Waiting…Please install calculator software now. Ignore this message. Remove and reinstall one of the AAA batteries again This time, do not hold down the DEL key.
2) Remove one of the AAA batteries, press and hold the [on] key for 10 seconds, release, replace the battery, then turn the unit on. Adjust the contrast.
3) Remove the AAA batteries for three hours. After the three-hour period, reinsert the batteries and turn the handheld on. Adjust the contrast if necessary.

If needed, reinstall OS by downloading the OS from the TI site and ....
On your computer, choose Start, Programs, TI Tools, TI Connect, TI OS Downloader.

(I am not the one who came up with this answer, but found it on an other site. If this doesn't work, please let me know)

Gr Marijn