Is my laptop buggered?

**apollo1965** · 10th October 2003

I'm having a problem with an Advent laptop.
The problem started when the power socket became loose and I had to strip down the laptop to repair it.
I have reassembled the laptop but it wouldn't boot up properly it got to the boot screen and then froze. Each time I reboot it, it gets to a different stage but never past the boot screen.
I tried the memory and hard drive in a friend�s similar laptop and they worked fine. The processor also worked on his but when it got as far as the desktop his laptop closed down (he is running a Pentium 1000 mine is a Pentium 800).
I then tried removing the cmos battery and reinstalling it to try and reset the cmos.
When it starts up now it says the cmos settings are wrong and to press:
F1 to enter set up or
F2 to reset and continue
If I select F1 it goes into set up (sometimes others times it won�t respond) it will get in to set up then freeze.
When I select F2 it either does not respond or goes to a black screen with a blinking cursor in the top left hand corner.
If I then restart the computer it can come up with the same options or sometimes only gets as far as checking NVRAM or the screen flickers and does not come on at all.
Any ideas would be much appreciated

**rick2021** · 10th October 2003

It sounds like you could of done some serious damage here m8.
did you use antistatic precautions when taking apart ?
Have you double check all your cables are not damaged, if not this should be the next thing you do, and test your m8's cpu in your laptop to see if all is well with the machine using a different cpu

**Shotgunjim** · 10th October 2003

Be careful not to blow his cpu though if you have a short somewhere!!!

**b0b0** · 10th October 2003

OK ...
Seems to me that's it would be like if the CPU fan is not in place properly, or that there is no cooling going on at all...
Can U Hear any noise when you boot the laptop, or nothing at all ?

**apollo1965** · 10th October 2003

Cheers guys

My m8s cpu has the same problems when installed in my laptop.
The cpu fan is running fine.
Yes I used antistatic precautions.
I will check all the cables again.

**Wheeler777** · 13th October 2003

when you reseated the cpu did you replace the thermal compound, if there is even the slightest gap heat transfer will not occur and the cpu will shut down very quickly,

if the fan starts working as soon as you switch the system on all this means is the sensor has detected heat, you must make certain there is contact between heatsink and cpu.

i know with some laptops this is not easy to see, if this is the case put some fresh thermal grease between heatsink and cpu then assemble and disassemble the two, you should then be able to see where contact is made, as bobo says it's a probable heat problem. gl.

W

**apollo1965** · 13th October 2003

Thanks m8 I'll get some thermal compound and re-apply it and see if that makes a difference as I have noticed if I keep restarting the laptop it does not get as far as the last time before it locks up.

**Wheeler777** · 13th October 2003

firmly tighten the retaining screws evenly and make sure it's thermal grease, there is a difference the grease will not set, a solid compound will make it very difficult if you need to remove it again, you should find grease on the existing one, certainly does seem this is the problem from what you say. gl.

W

**apollo1965** · 16th October 2003

Wheeler m8 your a gem thats fixed it.

**Wheeler777** · 16th October 2003

pleased to help, thats what were here for.

W

oE · 16th October 2003

Now theres someting we dont see enough of on the forums.

PPL helping and solving problems - nice one wheeler, just gave u some Karma ;-)

oE.

**smack** · 19th October 2003

Hi there,

Hope you guys can help me too.

My Sony Z505HS has the similar problem except that when I try to switch it on, the lights come on for a second and switch off immediately. No booting, no HD activities. If I try to switch it on again, nothing would happen, not even the lights.

To get it start up, I'd have to unplug the CMOS battery for an hour + (otherwise the same would happen) then it would give me the CMOS setting error as apollo mentioned above. I HAVE to press F2 and do the time setting then it will boot and back to normal.

So, what do you guys reckon? I thought it was the battery, it's a bit knackered or something and was going to replace it and see if that solves the problem. However reading the above helpful advice, I am not quite sure that's the solution.

I really don't want to keep the computer on 24/7 so that I could use it whenever I want to.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Simon

**rick2021** · 19th October 2003

Originally Posted by smack

Hi there,

Hope you guys can help me too.

My Sony Z505HS has the similar problem except that when I try to switch it on, the lights come on for a second and switch off immediately. No booting, no HD activities. If I try to switch it on again, nothing would happen, not even the lights.

To get it start up, I'd have to unplug the CMOS battery for an hour + (otherwise the same would happen) then it would give me the CMOS setting error as apollo mentioned above. I HAVE to press F2 and do the time setting then it will boot and back to normal.

So, what do you guys reckon? I thought it was the battery, it's a bit knackered or something and was going to replace it and see if that solves the problem. However reading the above helpful advice, I am not quite sure that's the solution.

I really don't want to keep the computer on 24/7 so that I could use it whenever I want to.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Simon

Check your cpu fan if it is not working then your laptop would turn itself straight off to prevent cpu damage.

**b0b0** · 20th October 2003

This kind of problem could definitely be coming from the battery ...
Try to play with your laptop FROM THE MAINS !!!! And see if any changes comes !!!
If yes : Change your battery

It COULD BE THAT !

**smack** · 20th October 2003

Thank you both for the advice.

I hope it's the battery too as it's easy to replace. However I checked the battery with a multimeter and it shows 3.XV which is what it's supposed to be. I was hoping to see zero volt or something.

Just ordered one anyway, hope that solves the problem. If not, do you think I need to replace the fan??

Cheers,
Smack

**Wheeler777** · 20th October 2003

can't see it being a fan problem, not with it staying on for a considerable time, just change the battery first if as you say it's a bit knackered, a bad battery could well be your problem. gl.

W