[Idea] Basic guide for troubleshooting laptop mainboards

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

One thing i would like to see in this section would be a guide to basic troubleshooting and checking of laptop mainboards, so we can avoid the "check this and that and that" posts that inevitably occur whenever a problem that has been discussed before, pops up again.

I would also like to limit this guide to be useful with basic tools that every hobbyist is likely to have, a basic multimeter and an adjustable power supply.

For example, let's take the basic symptom of "powers up, no video". Is there hard drive activity? If the system runs the hard drive and seems to boot, reball/replace GPU. If the system does not attempt to boot, reball/replace Northbridge (or PCH/FCH). You can also use a bootable USB drive if the system came in without HDD, the behavior will be the same.

I'm too lazy to add more. Please add your suggestions here.

[dj_ricoh]

Re: [Idea] Basic guide for troubleshooting laptop mainboards

i can`t say i reball but i can say reflow.

when do i reflow? how do i know i need to reflow ? is it ram problem, cpu?

ok let`s see!
this is for me the most used methode not to waste my time for nothing, because i use to do stuff for nothing and it was something small like dust on memory socket and did a big job for 0.

95% of cases from reflow i power up the notebook rap it up in a blanket.

15 min run ; shutdown and power up instant.

please don't laugh at me because it made my life much easier.

[senchire]

Re: [Idea] Basic guide for troubleshooting laptop mainboards

While the method is weird its indeed far easier to do then to open it up heat up with a fan or SMD station. So I can assure that this trick is very good and fast (though looking back at the dv series that one didn't cut it for me had to to full reflows to make them boot at all).
I am more curious how to determine when to reflash the bios (I know its easy to get it off save the old dump and put in a new), but that requires also some time.

[ktmmotocross]

Re: [Idea] Basic guide for troubleshooting laptop mainboards

to test if ic have cracked balls just heat it up to 100c. thats the temp for removing silicone that holds ic. no need to reflow and stressing ic with it

[bicalov]

Re: [Idea] Basic guide for troubleshooting laptop mainboards

There are general guides, is that interesting to post here?
Or you really want to make your own?