View Full Version : Diagnosis Please
1 semi-broken laptop.
Mates Toshiba something or other running XP.
Turn it on sometimes the screen has verticle lines on it, if you move it a bit they go away or become worse (suggests a loose connector yes?)
Won't load up windows though, doesn't even get to the welcome screen 9/10 it will just go black and you have to restart.
If you restart you can boot in safe mode and everything comes up although still with the verticle lines, sometimes they are there sometimes not.
Would the boot problem be to do with the dodgy connector or is the graphics card fried? If so would reinstalling the driver help, or does it sound like a hardware fault rather than software.
Ta people
for me I would format the hard drive and reinstall windows to see if its software related as they usually are, but to be honest it sounds like a hardware fault so could be either a faulty motherboard and if so then the laptop is fcuked or a faulty graphics card in which case (depending on whether the card is on board or not) will either mean the laptop is fcuked or the card is fcuked and you need a new one. Which are expensive.
Yeh I'm going to format it all tonight, he's already bought a new one so basically if I can fix this one I think he'll pretty much give it to me.
Will keep you posted, not that you probably care but maybe you're interested in knowing if you diagnosed it correctly.
http://www.corsa-c.co.uk/gallery/files/2/8/5/9/Photo0071.jpg
That's how it's looking at the moment.
It is either the motherboard or the graphics card, do the lines change depending on how you hold the laptop?
90% faulty graphics card mate. Had the same on mine not long ago. Is anything broken on the current card? laptop fan ok? overheating?
I replaced the graphics card and all was good.
Not sure how you'd do that on a laptop, but for the desktop it was easy.
NOTE: Don't forget to uninstall the current graphics card first, then plug in the new one and install the software.
It should be fine :thumbs:
If I hit it the keyboard they change, there are still the same 4 lines but the lines break up and go blue then change to something else.
DannyRst
25-06-2008, 23:09
this happened to my uncles laptop...he bought a new one. laptops aren't worth the effort of repairing as you basically have to buy a new one.
90% faulty graphics card mate. Had the same on mine not long ago.
I replaced the graphics card and all was good.
Not sure how you'd do that on a laptop, but for the desktop it was easy.
NOTE: Don't forget to uninstall the current graphics card first, then plug in the new one and install the software.
It should be fine :thumbs:
Alright mate cheers, can't really be arsed as it's not actually mine but i'll let him know. I just wanted to be a hero really and give it back to him in perfect condition when the PC shop said it was a write off.
check my edit about the overheating ;)
check my edit about the overheating ;)
Well it does it from startup usually so would that still occur ? will download speedfan and check out the temp
Do you know if this :
PCI Express graphic card based on MXM
AMILO M1437G:
ATI MOBILITY RADEON X700 up to 512MB
HyperMemory™ 2
This means it can be changeed or not ?
well thats the graphics card and what slot it is running on on the motherboard
well thats the graphics card and what slot it is running on on the motherboard
No idea......When I go to device manager it doesn't come with "display drivers" on the tree.
It does have Video Controller (VGA compatile) down as PCI bus 3 but i'm not sure if that's the right thing?
Other ways of checking?
JustMitch
25-06-2008, 23:26
if it does it from startup i seriously doubt it is an overheating issue, unless it gets worse for the longer the laptop is on?
it's most probably graphics card, but it's probably a bit of a bitch to change on the laptop.
what laptop is it? what toshiba model?
I don't get what you're trying to do? The current graphics card is installed and running.
if it does it from startup i seriously doubt it is an overheating issue, unless it gets worse for the longer the laptop is on?
it's most probably graphics card, but it's probably a bit of a bitch to change on the laptop.
what laptop is it? what toshiba model?
well it could have overheated... melted the heatsink and ****ed the card thus giving the lines.
I don't get what you're trying to do? The current graphics card is installed and running.
Yes but if it's fubar'd I need to know if it's one I can replace ? I thought somebody might know from the description I gave ?
if it does it from startup i seriously doubt it is an overheating issue, unless it gets worse for the longer the laptop is on?
it's most probably graphics card, but it's probably a bit of a bitch to change on the laptop.
what laptop is it? what toshiba model?
When I said Toshiba
I actually mean Fujitsu Siemens (typo) and it's an Amilo M1437G
Yes but if it's fubar'd I need to know if it's one I can replace ? I thought somebody might know from the description I gave ?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120211445750
ahhh i see... not sure on hardware gotta be honest but that ebay link would suggest you could buy a new one. Expensive though :\
any hardware for a laptop is expensive, a motherboard is hundreds.
And its not 100% whether its the graphics card could be the slots.
Gazza_DJ
25-06-2008, 23:43
I had 1/3 of my screen do a similar thing to this, ended up having the LCD screen and connector ribbon replaced.
Well my mate did say he was pissed and stood on it one night but can't remember if it stopped working straight after that or a few days later.
Gazza_DJ
25-06-2008, 23:47
Problem is, its difficult to say exactly what the problem is, and whatever the problem is it is probably going to cost £100+ with no certainty of it being fixed. It could simply be the screen and ribbon connector, it could be the graphics chip, it could be a heat problem.
I just hooked the laptop up one of my monitors and I still got the problem, so can that rule out the screen and ribbon connector?
I'm not convinced about a heat problem (unless as Jon says it's already done the damage) as the screen is funny when you turn the power on.
Gazza_DJ
26-06-2008, 00:00
If it is like that with an external monitor, then it is almost certainly the graphics chip itself mate. If its outside of warranty, then i would look at getting a new machine. You will be looking at near £100 for a replacement card, which are difficult to source anyway as laptop GPUs are not generally commercially available. You would have to open up the machine to see if it is possible to replace the GPU, or do some google searching to see if anyone else has done it. Even if it is replaceable, it will be a fiddly job.
Well it does it from startup usually so would that still occur ? will download speedfan and check out the temp
Do you know if this :
PCI Express graphic card based on MXM
AMILO M1437G:
ATI MOBILITY RADEON X700 up to 512MB
HyperMemory™ 2
This means it can be changeed or not ?
MXM im fair sure is the kind that can be swapped out.
Most laptops have a built in on the motherboard graphics solution... basically as they dont need dedicated cards for gaming as they are only laptops. BUT in your case im sure MXM is the dedicated swappable solution.
Thing is tho, parts are not easy to come by! :( Might get lucky on ebay or something, check google for specilists.
Oh and defo looks like graphics card issues, by looking like that id actually say the graphics cards ram is damaged. Which would be on that MXM board.
Yes I can confirm it will come out.
I have it in my hand.
Now I just need to find out if my mate wants to pay £80 for a new card :|
yeh I'd put money on it being the graphics card itself mate.
Another idea is just shove it on ebay as it is, just explain the fault and say ya dunno what it is.
Laptops are very sellable on ebay, and usually fetch a damn good price :D
None of the components on it look fried but then I guess if it goes wrong it's going to be the actual processor itself ?......unfortuantely I can't determine that.
Another idea is just shove it on ebay as it is, just explain the fault and say ya dunno what it is.
Laptops are very sellable on ebay, and usually fetch a damn good price :D
Yeh that's what he was going to do then I said "nah i'll fix it" :|
Gazza_DJ
26-06-2008, 00:16
theres on on ebay at the moment for £100 from a fujitsu.
Yeh that's what he was going to do then I said "nah i'll fix it" :|
Just get it on ebay then :)
Yeh that's what he was going to do then I said "nah i'll fix it" :|
well you can fix it... for £70. 90% sure.
Right well i'll have to speak to him really and see what he wants to do. I'm 90% certain ....because Jon says so that this is the problem and that changing it should fix things.
Ta everybody.
SaladFingersUK
26-06-2008, 00:37
dude, have u tried re-seating the card u have in your hand, it might of come loose
You do know that handling chips with your hands fcuks them up? lol
Also don't touch the motherboard.
SaladFingersUK
26-06-2008, 00:40
You do know that handling chips with your hands fcuks them up? lol
Also don't touch the motherboard.
not all the time, only if theres a static charge in your hands
CorsaNut
26-06-2008, 00:41
try changing the resolution down to the lowest setting as well see if that helps
my old 15" monitor could not cope with the refresh rate and looked like that it also made a wineing noise if i changed it
play around with it
You do know that handling chips with your hands fcuks them up? lol
Also don't touch the motherboard.
I'm not handling the chip though, just the board, at the sides. No oils from my skin getting on anything and it's a pretty moist evening so I doubt static charge is likely.
dude, have u tried re-seating the card u have in your hand, it might of come loose
Ha ha I was thinking that when I took it out, can't be arsed to put it all back together tonight though.
try changing the resolution down to the lowest setting as well see if that helps
my old 15" monitor could not cope with the refresh rate and looked like that it also made a wineing noise if i changed it
play around with it
I'm fairly confident it's not that but I will try.
SaladFingersUK
26-06-2008, 00:47
Ha ha I was thinking that when I took it out, can't be arsed to put it all back together tonight though.
id give it ago tomorrow b4 u go ordering anything, if it had completely fried it wudnt just be lines it wud be a black screen of death, the booting up problems sound like sumthing wasnt sitting right, put the 2 things together and maybe it just needing re-seating :dontknow:
id give it ago tomorrow b4 u go ordering anything, if it had completely fried it wudnt just be lines it wud be a black screen of death, the booting up problems sound like sumthing wasnt sitting right, put the 2 things together and maybe it just needing re-seating :dontknow:
Well, just put it back together now.........................
Edit.
No it's got a new colour scheme going on now, slighly worse than before.
CorsaNut
26-06-2008, 00:53
I'm fairly confident it's not that but I will try.
yeah try it, if your mate has messed around with it and the refresh rate is set wrong it can muck up the screen or hes downloaded something and its changed it?
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/carimages/7569/refresh.jpg
play around with the graphics settings do those bars show up on boot up? or only when its in windows xp?
CorsaNut
26-06-2008, 00:54
looks like its sorted woot! :D
SaladFingersUK
26-06-2008, 00:54
lol nice 1, saved sum cash :thumbs:
lol nice 1, saved sum cash :thumbs:
I came to soon, as usual.
I booted up perfectly, no problems in windows startup or boot.
When it finally got into windows though it went mental with colour, like a scene from the 70s
SaladFingersUK
26-06-2008, 00:58
hmmm, pic?
I'll get one for tomorrow but i'm off to bed now.
CorsaNut
26-06-2008, 01:02
get into safe mode and see if its the same with the lower resolution enabled
that be the default also i would remove the drivers and let xp reinstall them
if the screen was fine during the bios stage then fine during the windows xp loading screen sounds like graphics settings are fecked lol
CorsaNut
26-06-2008, 01:08
i read they are there in safemode as well those lines?? even after u have resinstalled the card?
a) the card could be on its last legs and is dieing slowly
b) its set to high the refresh rate and the card can't cope
fook messing about with the settings... the graphics card itself is buggered you're just wasting time.
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