faulty laptop graphics card?

[Vavs15]

Hello,

I'm trying to fix a friends laptop. When the Laptop is powered on everything spins up, the optical disk drive can be opened and closed, all the LED's work such as HDD power light and the charge light. When I turn the laptop off and run my hand against the back of the case, I can feel the heat which I'm assuming must mean there is some life.

What I have tried:

Connecting an external monitor: No signal thus far.
checking the RAM: Both sticks seem to be fine, or atleast there is no change when removing/ swapping their slots.
Clearing any static charge: I took out the battery, held the power button down for one minute and then placed the battery back in and the charger. No luck, same result.
Back light test: I shon a torch (it was a dim torch in honesty) but there was no image to be seen.

What else should I check?


Edit: The laptop is an Acer Aspire 5532

Note: I'm pretty sure the graphics card is soldered onto the motherboard, therefore I can't replace JUST that one part, and would need to replace the whole motherboard. Correct? Thanks in advance

 

[boosted1g]

Most laptops just use the integrated graphics in the cpu.
If it does have a dedicated GPU and it is soldered to be board then yes you will have to replace the entire motherboard.

 

[Vavs15]

Most laptops just use the integrated graphics in the cpu.
If it does have a dedicated GPU and it is soldered to be board then yes you will have to replace the entire motherboard.

Edit: I will look into this

 

[Tom Tancredi]

5 Year old laptop. Hardware guaranteed for only 3 years, after that you run the risk per the manufacturer. New generic laptop at Walmart $249.
Cost for replacing the Mobo on this laptop > then $249. Answer: Replace with new Laptop.

If they want the data on the drive just remove it and put it on a USB - Sata cable. Done.

 

[Vavs15]

5 Year old laptop. Hardware guaranteed for only 3 years, after that you run the risk per the manufacturer. New generic laptop at Walmart $249.
Cost for replacing the Mobo on this laptop > then $249. Answer: Replace with new Laptop.

If they want the data on the drive just remove it and put it on a USB - Sata cable. Done.

Do you believe that it's also a GPU problem?

 

[Tom Tancredi]

Can be the CPU died, can be the screen itself died, can be the cabling from the Mobo to screen failed, can be the GPU died, etc.

Honestly the effort and cost exceeds value at this point. If you want to keep going then yes you can spend the excess money and swap out the Mobo, replace the screen and the cabling that connects the two to 'resolve it' but again will cost MUCH more then the $249 for a new laptop.