AJ32

My friend gave me his HP laptop, asking me to repair it, I told him I'd see what I can do.

So far, I can't figure out the source of the problem, it seems that when you power on the device, the HP logo screen comes up, but then it randomly shuts down some time after that, by randomly, I mean every time I try, at a random time, it just stops, and I have to pull the power plug out and back in to get it to start again.

Like I said, I can't find the source of the problem, maybe you guys can point me in the right direction!


*NOTE: I don't think it would matter, but my friend took the RAM and HD out of the laptop before he gave it to me, so I can't try booting all the way, just with a Linux Live CD.


Thank in advance for any help!

TriggerFinger

Hi,

put RAM into it and power it UP. if there is no RAM installed, it would not go past logo, not even into BIOS. so put one working module in it so you can test it well.

AJ32

Ok, I put some in, still does the same thing, it just stops after a while. :(

and with linux, it says:
"Loading stage 2"
And pauses there for a while, then stops.

TriggerFinger

hi,

stops? not shut OFF?

AJ32

Sorry, by stops, I mean shut OFF.

TriggerFinger

as said in first post of this thread.. HDD is removed right? do you have WiFi card? by the way, any beeps before it shuts OFF?

AJ32

Yes, the Hard Drive is removed.

There is no WiFi card, and there are no beeps when it shuts off.

TriggerFinger

hmmm strange but looks like motherboard... does it show any error on the screen before it shuts OFF?

i assume this has no history of a bad flash or liquid spill, that the CD drive is a working drive... is this correct?

have you opened the laptop up? if so, have you checked for any burnt smell or burnt components? if you have not opened it up, get hold of its service manual to guide you thru the disassembly. once opened, check the heatsink and vents. reseat the CPU. reapply the thermal compound. additionally, check and reseat each and every connector. check for bent pins making contact with each other. clean the motherboard, remove any foreign matter.

AJ32

No, there are no errors, in fact, sometimes it doesn't even make it to the first logo screen,

- I plug it in
- The power-plugged-in notification light comes on
- I press the ON button
- The CPU fan starts
- It just shuts down in a few moments, with no errors, beeping, etc.

That's all that happens.



I dissambled it, it doesn't look like any liquids etc. came into contact with it, the CD drive works too.

There are no burnt smells or burnt components.

The one thing I did notice, however, is that the CPU has no thermal compound, it looks like burnt solder, and it smells like it too when you start it (it heats up). This is on the top of the CPU, all the other areas look fine.

Thanks!

TriggerFinger

reapply thermal compound on the CPU and heatsink. test also the RAM with Memtest86+ (d/load link on my sig).

follow this for thermal compound application:
http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_s...structions.htm

AJ32

Ok, I'm back...

I just now got the Thermal Compound and applied it, I guess it is helping a little.

But now the same thing happens, I can't even get it to the HP screen, when I plug it in the light for power illuminates, but as soon as I press the power button, everything shuts off, and I have to un-plug it and plug it back in again for the lights to come on again, but the same thing happens.

It almost seems as though something is shorting out... or a fuse somewhere is going out.


Thanks for any advice, sorry for the long 'idle' time! :)

TriggerFinger

if it shuts down after a few seconds during boot (before logo), try replacing with a good working RAM. reseating may help but test with a new or working RAM is best to isolate. most often this is RAM related so best if you follow this first.