Laptop Powers On - Fan Turns On - HDD Spins - No Display on Screen or External Monitor

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anwix

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Jul 9, 2012
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To sum it up, a friend of mine gave me his laptop. Having a look at this, I suspect that the motherboard may be to blame.

I've done all the basic things such as removing the battery and holding down the power button for 60 seconds. Hooking it up to an external monitor. Even checking the RAM sticks.

Nothing seems to fix the issue. The HDD will spin when you turn the computer on, there aren't any beeping noises, and the fan will spin. The capslock key or numlock keys don't send a signal to the corresponding LED lights. Just looking for a second opinion before I strip the laptop down, remove the parts and throw it in the bin.

For those wanting the model it's a Sony Vaio VGN-FW31E.

EDIT: Just noticed that the first couple of times you turn the laptop on it'll quickly turn off, but the third or fourth time it will manage to stay on - no display of course.
 
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EDIT
really depends on what make and model of laptop and how severe the damge is. some do that some don't
 
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The owner was fairly careless, this laptops been replaced 3 or so times, previously due to water damage etc.

The laptops almost certainly been dropped, and if I had to guess I'd say on multiple occasions, because having tilted it just upside down I can hear plastic going from one side of the laptop to the other.

What happens if the heatsink isn't in contact with the cpu?
 
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It wont bootup to prevent itself from overheating..

Basically the cpu detects that there is abnormal increase in the rate temps go up.. Similar to thermal throttling, but stops itself altogether.

Re applying thermal paste could fix the problem, if not...

Yeah, its a dead laptop.
 
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Cheers, will try disassembling it soon but, before I do -

Is there anyway of knowing for sure that the heatsink is the problem - like will I notice anything different with the temp. Don't want to spend ages disassembling everything just to find that the heatsink is fine.

Laptops been on for the past 15 minutes, obviously no display just the fan and the hdd spinning.
 
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Quite a few rattling things in there. '-' Honestly, don't even know whether it's worth my time opening this up, it seems so badly damaged.

Anyway, I'll leave you guys an update if I figure out what the problem is. In the mean time if anyone else has any other suggestions please post them below.

Cheers.

EDIT: Picture
The light on the right (shown in the pic) doesn't turn on either. Right before the laptop powers off though it flashes.
 
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Here's an update. Disassembled everything - uses some compressed air to get rid of the dust inside.

There was a fair bit of dust under the heatsink though - specifically on the thermal paste.

Just cleared that up.

For some reason I suspect the laptop has been opened before. I found the casing that covers the bluetooth antenna loose inside along with some screws. I put the casing back on and put the screws in place. Put everything together but it still doesn't turn on.

I'm beginning to think that the screws may have shorted the board?

To summarise: laptop turns on- keyboard doesn't respond, no display - doesn't work with external monitor, fan works, hdd spins. Chargeable USBs don't work - e.g. MP3 players won't charge. Processor LED won't turn on either - or whatever the hell this LED on the right hand side is. When you first turn the laptop on, it will turn on, then quickly turn itself off again and then automatically turn on again - this time though it will stay on.

Here are some pictures for those that want to examine the inside board:
http://i.imgur.com/vc1KB5H.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/gYiMPHu.jpg

I know this may very well be a lost cause but I'm determined to try and get it fixed if I can at all.

If anyone has any suggestions please post them below =)
 
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No lol. The laptop is five years old. Not my laptop either. As far as I know it's been replaced a couple of times. At the time it was purchased it was a high end laptop so the specs aren't all that bad even for 2014.
 
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That's how it came from the factory lol, I heard they don't do the best job at applying thermal paste though.

What's the downside to having the excess? I mean it's not on any of the contacts on either the left or the right hand side.
 
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I'd RMA it then as qazzi suggested. Should be possible if it was replaced as you said and warranty is still valid. You want as thin of a layer of thermal paste as you can get, while still covering the part of the heatspreader that hides the actual chip. Too much can greatly affect the temperatures on the CPU and that's not even the worst case...
 
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Alright I guess I'll make this risky five quid investment in the hope that it does solve the issue haha. Cheers for the help by the way. I'll keep you updated.

Here's a video just showing what the laptop currently does:
http://vimeo.com/109686332


Pretty sure I said this haha. Basically the laptop had 3 years accidental cover or something like that, this is when it was purchased in 2009. Since 2009, the laptop has been misused thoroughly and has been repaired very frequently.

Now that the warranty's over, I've been given the laptop by the owner who's basically said fix it and keep it if you can, else bin it.
 
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Convinced that it's a dead laptop now. Put in some new paste and still no luck. It just does the same thing - fan and hdd spins but no display either on screen or on a external monitor.

Might just strip the parts and sell it for exorbitant prices on eBay since they came out a Vaio....
 
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Ah. Found something else. Turned the laptop on and put in a Windows 7 disc --it sounds like it's able to get to the installation screen because the disc does spin - whereas other CD/DVD's don't make that type of noise. Utterly confused now, it may be the GPU but that's integrated into the motherboard...
 
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yes it is...a good laptop tech can use hot air to un-solder the video card and replace it.
 
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yes it is...a good laptop tech can use hot air to un-solder the video card and replace it. (as i stated in my first reply)
 
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