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DieCommie

Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Laptop - Blank Screen - GPU or something else?
#14078474 - 03/06/11 10:24 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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My laptop recently crapped out on me. When I boot it I get a blank screen. No BIOS, no OS - but the back light does still light. I tried the external VGA to a monitor, and got garbled patterns.
So I presume the GPU is bad and I would need a new motherboard to repair it. I really like my laptop, and would spend the money to repair it. But I wonder if you think it could be something else other than the motherboard?
Is there any other part other than the motherboard that could be causing this problem?
Thanks!
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mexicanjewlucas
sleep, save, blow stuff up




Registered: 12/11/10
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Re: Laptop - Blank Screen - GPU or something else? [Re: DieCommie]
#14078516 - 03/06/11 10:30 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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sorry, i just got high and have to say this...
its not broken too badly if your still posting on shroomery.
-------------------- "We can get 2 birds stoned at once."
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koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,672
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Re: Laptop - Blank Screen - GPU or something else? [Re: mexicanjewlucas]
#14079434 - 03/07/11 02:09 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Do you know if it actually boots into the OS? I know you don't have display, but can you tell from the harddisk activity if the system does start?
Does it boot if you insert a bootable cd, perferably a Linux live CD?
If it's a hardware error, you're probably screwed. In a laptop, more or less everything is integrated in the motherboard; if it's the GPU, then you'll most likely have to replace the mainboard.
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Seuss
Error: divide byzero



Registered: 04/27/01
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Re: Laptop - Blank Screen - GPU or something else? [Re: koraks]
#14079562 - 03/07/11 03:13 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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^^^ What he said. With external video hooked up, if you don't see the BIOS messages on the external monitor when it boots, it is almost certainly hardware. (Some laptops require special keystrokes to switch video to external.)
Garbled video is usually bad GPU or bad video memory. I've seen a bad GPU cause the OS to fail to boot.
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koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,672
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Re: Laptop - Blank Screen - GPU or something else? [Re: Seuss]
#14079584 - 03/07/11 03:38 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Garbled video is usually bad GPU or bad video memory. I've seen a bad GPU cause the OS to fail to boot.
Agreed. With the addition that recognizable pictures with lots of artifacts usually point towards video memory, while completely garbled image or no image at all often suggests a more fundamental defect in the videocard (possible GPU burnout). Repair of either of those defects is usually not economically feasible for laptops that are void of warranty.
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Baby_Hitler
Errorist




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Re: Laptop - Blank Screen - GPU or something else? [Re: DieCommie]
#14079597 - 03/07/11 03:53 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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-------------------- Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ (•_•) <) )~ ANTIFA / \ \(•_•) ( (> SUPER / \ (•_•) <) )> SOLDIERS / \
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mycomyst
Alchemist

Registered: 12/30/10
Posts: 167
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Re: Laptop - Blank Screen - GPU or something else? [Re: Baby_Hitler]
#14079769 - 03/07/11 06:45 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Sorry to read about your laptop. The strange thing about it is you aren't getting the same data, garbled or not, on both the lcd and external. I would check the data cable to the lcd first. Where it plugs into the motherboard and around the hinge area where it passes up to the top. HP/ Compaq had models (dv2000/6000/9000)with a gpu issue. I found a repair facility in Chicago that does reflow work. For less than $100 (including my shipping cost) they fixed my notebook. Their work even comes with a warranty.
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Seuss
Error: divide byzero



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Re: Laptop - Blank Screen - GPU or something else? [Re: mycomyst]
#14079851 - 03/07/11 07:20 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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> I would check the data cable to the lcd first. Where it plugs into the motherboard and around the hinge area where it passes up to the top.
If external video is hosed, the LCD cable is irrelevant. If external video is hosed, it is one of two things, bad video circuitry (GPU or video memory) or a problem with the OS (assuming a known good external monitor). If external video is hosed at BIOS, we can rule out the OS.
> dv2000/6000/9000)with a gpu issue
There is a 'recall' on many of these models where HP will fix them even if they are out of warranty.
-------------------- Just another spore in the wind.
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DieCommie

Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Re: Laptop - Blank Screen - GPU or something else? [Re: Seuss]
#14080137 - 03/07/11 09:15 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Yes, it does still boot into the OS. I can tell by looking at the harddrive light when I enter in the password.
Also, the GPU is soldered onto the motherboard.
Since there isnt really anything else that could cause these symptoms, Im gonna go ahead and start looking for a replacement mobo.
Thanks guys!
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DieCommie

Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Re: Laptop - Blank Screen - GPU or something else? [Re: DieCommie]
#14080514 - 03/07/11 11:41 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Looks like Im getting my laptop repaired for free!
I found info on the web describing this as a pervasive problem of Nvidia's which affects many laptop brands. They fucked up the soldering or something.
I read that they are fixing the issue post warranty because of this. I called them up, they said I was out of warranty. I told them I read they are fixing it out of warranty, but was told that was not the case and then got hung up on. I found a post elsewhere in which somebody posted a script you should read the customer service representative which references an internal document number.
I felt like a tool reading the script, but I did it: "Lenovo has now agreed to honor it's world-wide committment to high quality customer service by repairing defective T61/T61p units containing Nvidia discrete graphics built before August 1, 2008 in accordance with Lenovo's MIGR-75087 internal support document at no charge, even though they may be beyond the warranty period."
After that I got no hassles, and am getting a prepaid box to ship the laptop back in! Lenovo is the bomb!
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Baby_Hitler
Errorist




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Re: Laptop - Blank Screen - GPU or something else? [Re: DieCommie]
#14080700 - 03/07/11 12:16 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Damn, nice job.
-------------------- Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ (•_•) <) )~ ANTIFA / \ \(•_•) ( (> SUPER / \ (•_•) <) )> SOLDIERS / \
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koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,672
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Re: Laptop - Blank Screen - GPU or something else? [Re: Baby_Hitler]
#14080815 - 03/07/11 12:33 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Hah, well done! Indeed I remember something about certain Nvidia cards literally melting when overheating, but I wasn't aware that it applied to mobile solutions as well.
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Seuss
Error: divide byzero



Registered: 04/27/01
Posts: 23,480
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Re: Laptop - Blank Screen - GPU or something else? [Re: koraks]
#14081664 - 03/07/11 03:14 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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> but I wasn't aware that it applied to mobile solutions as well.
Yep... Apple got burned by nVidia on the 8600M used in the 15" macbooks a few years back.
-------------------- Just another spore in the wind.
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