Acer Extensa 5210 MXM no video

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Have this laptop which is acting weird. No video, no HDD activity, no nothing. Just power LED and fan. All voltages ok, CPU and video card heat up.

Replaced MXM card with a known good nVidia 8600m and still no go.
Reflowed existing MXM card (some old ATi) and still no go.
Flashed BIOS and still no go.
Hooked up my POST card to the LPC bus (had to solder the wires directly to the KBC) and it doesn't show anything useful.
Replaced CPU, and still no go.

By now, everything except the SB, NB and KBC have been ruled out. Ideas guys?

[atsio]

Re: Acer Extensa 5210 MXM no video

Hooked up my POST card to the LPC bus (had to solder the wires directly to the KBC) and it doesn't show anything useful.

Does it actually posts anything?
If not, what is the voltage of B1 and D6 of U41?

[momaka]

Re: Acer Extensa 5210 MXM no video

Hooked up my POST card to the LPC bus (had to solder the wires directly to the KBC) and it doesn't show anything useful

I'm not surprised. POST cards are nearly useless.

Aside from the NB and SB like you said, I don't know what else could be wrong. I mean, it could be something random too - like a shorted ceramic capacitor on a non-power line. Or tin whisker growth? Rare, but it happens. Or, have there been any liquid spills on the laptop?

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: Acer Extensa 5210 MXM no video

No liquid spills. And the POST card is definitely not useless, it's just that some systems don't expose the LPC bus, or don't communicate anything useful on it... It works great with other PCs and laptops.

I have since removed the NB, will reball and put it back on when i get to it again, then i'll update you with the results.

[dellxps15]

Re: Acer Extensa 5210 MXM no video

nothing also on external monitor?

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: Acer Extensa 5210 MXM no video

Nope, didn't display anything anywhere.

Anyway, good news. Finished re-attaching the Northbridge. Got video.

[momaka]

Re: Acer Extensa 5210 MXM no video

And the POST card is definitely not useless, it's just that some systems don't expose the LPC bus, or don't communicate anything useful on it...

I know I have less experience than you do, but I just never had one do anything useful for me. So I don't bother with them.

Glad to hear you got it running! Your reflow machine is paying itself off, isn't it?

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: Acer Extensa 5210 MXM no video

Well, this one's from work, so let's hope this guy actually comes back for it and pays... I was informed he came to the shop and made a racket today about his laptop (give me a break, it's been Easter holidays), so it's likely he'll come pick it up. Got a story for you but i'm too lazy to type it right now.

Yes i've been slacking off from work... "Slacking off" means "arriving at 2 hours before closing time" instead of "arriving at lunch time" which i usually do, but it's not like anything interesting has been going on lately. No customers, no work, no money. And the ones which do come, never come back to pick up their stuff. This is getting kinda depressing. I'd be better off staying out and drinking beer all day - that is, if i had the money to drink. So, i'm working on a couple projects which may bring in more $$ than work.

It's funny that all the idiots only come into the shop. I've never had that happen with people that call me from the ads i have on forums, it's always worked out well with those guys.

[momaka]

Re: Acer Extensa 5210 MXM no video

No customers, no work, no money. And the ones which do come, never come back to pick up their stuff.

In that case, if it sits there for more than a month, it's yours to keep and sell. (unless it's summer and people are on vacation ).

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: Acer Extensa 5210 MXM no video

And the Acer has left the building. Hooray! This one was a tough bastard, i'm glad to see it go. Working nonetheless.

In that case, if it sits there for more than a month, it's yours to keep and sell. (unless it's summer and people are on vacation ).

That's exactly what's gonna happen to a Compaq CQ62 that's over the 1 month mark already.

Guy brought it in, saying he spilled wine on it and it no longer powers on. Required a new power button and a new keyboard. We bought the keyboard from our own pockets. Called him and he also wanted a replacement wifi card (someone else had stolen it from the laptop), and another 2GB of RAM. We had the RAM lying around the shop, and i got the wifi from a friend of mine who parts out laptops.

He said he'll come pick it up in 2 days. Owes us around $140 for all the work and parts. It would have been just $80 if he just wanted the keyboard and power button fixed... But anyway, it seems he isn't interested to paying even that. The 2 days quickly turned to 5 weeks...

We already told him that in a couple days his laptop's getting auctioned off if he doesn't come pick it up. He said he isn't in town and will send someone... Well, long story short, nobody came to get it. I already have the pictures taken on my phone complete with the login screen asking for his password...

Other people come for their cellphones after MONTHS. Then when they hear the price, they say "i'll be right back" and never come again. God i love this place...