Acer 7520G *totally* dead

Hi,

I got a Acer 7520G from ebay. The seller said it had gfx issues (8400M GT), and since I have an extra ATI 3650 MXM II laying around, I went for it.

I unwrapped it, plugged it in, hit the power button - stared at it - it stared back. Nothing, really nothing happend.

No fan running, no sound going, no display showing. The only thing I see is, that the light of the battery is lighting (red-ish) and with the power plug connected, I sometimes hear a light sound - I think it comes from the CPU (maybe GPU).

I already tried the battery-out--power-plug-off--30-sec-power-button-pressing routine without success.

Anybody got an idea?

I know this laptop is total and I feel that 50% of them had issues during warranty ... however, somehow has an idea ...

Cheers

 

Even if it was the card i think it would turn on.
Sure there arent any loose cables?

 

Exactly! Even if the CPU is fried or the memory smoked, it at least would turn on - it would not get far, but it would turn on ... unless it's something easy like a wire or something, I fear the motherboard or swichboard are gone - but I do not know how to find that out ...

I don't know ... any specific one you have in mind? I did not yet dig deep, as I am hoping the seller will at least reply ... so far he did not ...

Any clues how to proceed? Yes, I have a trash can, but I won't go there just yet ... any other options?

Cheers

 

@Dr.Colossos

May be it is up to the Northbrigde which is based on nvidia nforce 560 chipset...

Just google for how to fix nforce unibridge BGA issue...

There should be guide on youtube how to do it...

Cheers

 

Thanks, I try that and report back.

Thanks guys!

 

Hi there - I looked around for a bit, but I did not find the information I was looking for.

Any more pointers would be helpful, but I doubt I will try any soldering - I am lacking the equipment and the experience, obviously!

Any further help is very much appreciated - I just might rip it apart and sell what's left ...

Cheers

 

I would look for a cheap replacement board on ebay.

 

Meaker`s advice is probably the best solution...

But anyway, I find this guide very easy to be done... The guide is for Acer Aspire 5520 G...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBy7rOiQw18&playnext=1&list=PL965AC7FE51524624&index=11

and this one more detailed video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hba5Ad879cI&feature=related

Cheers

 

Thanks again! However, I think my problem is different, I am not facing the reboot loop, the laptop does absolutely nothing when I press the power button.

No light, no display, no fan, no sound, no nothing.

Could that also be due to the same problem? Well, of course it "could", but do you know any case where the 7520 did not start at all, but could be revived with hot air.

So far I only saw the reboot loop problem or the NVidia 8400/8600 problem being fixed. In both cases, the laptop at least showed some sign of live - mine does not ...

Cheers & thanks again!

 

Power button working?
Power adapter working?

Shorts anywhere?

 

@Dr.Colossos

Well I have seen some HP machines with nforce chipset and it wouldn`t start at all, just as you are reporting for your Aspire...
But after this "treatment" it would work like a brand new...

So that is why I suggested it...

Cheers

 

First off, let me say, you guys are the best, thanks for your help!

No idea? How could I check? Remove cover and pres on the switch board?

Green light is on - battery gets charged when I plug it in - I guess it is.

Sure, in my wardrobe. But I prefer long ones in winter ... ahh, you meant the board, hehe. Well, again, how could I check that?

Thanks moral hazard!

Okay, I might get a heat gun and give it a try. I got it for 120€, so I also just could take it apart and resell the parts .. I'll see.

I am off for celebrating new year now, I will come back when I have news.

Have a Happy New Year!

Cheers

 

Yeah, remove the cover, press the power button and test it with a multimeter.
Don't know if there is a real chance of it failing.

Just seems so strange that the notebook wont turn on at all.

I once bought a dead toshiba tecra m9 on ebay, I took everything out of it (CPU, RAM, HDD, screen, keyboard, battery), just had a motherboard and the power strip with the power button. When I tried to turn in on, the green light would go on as if the notebook was on, then it would turn off again.

In fact that notebook had a G86 based GPU, so I thought that was the problem, heated it up twice with a heatgun, no result.

In the end I bought a new motherboard, powerboard and CPU.

Guess the fastest way would be just to eyeball it, see if any pins are bent and touching each other. One repair guy told me he had a notebook that wouldn't turn on, he found that two pins on the docking port connector were touching.

 

Removed CPU, GPU, memory, HDD, switch board cover - pressed power button directly on switchboard and ... nothing, still.

Naaah, I won't quit yet. I have no multimeter and heat gun, yet, I am thinking about getting these.

Instead, smart (exchange that for "plain stupid" if you like) as I am , I got a new (broken that is) Acer 7520 from ebay for 100€ - it comes with a "black screen". I see if I can get it working when flipping components ...

I hope I do not get screwed again ...

Apart of that, any other pointers would be very much appreciated!

Off topic: I just got uncle, as we (I) speak, yeah!!! The little one will get a Acer 7520 for his 1/2 birthday, hehe!

Btw, I also found the service manual and disassembly guide for Acer Aspire 7520/7220 Series - I hope google finds this so others can find it here.

 

dead laptop - check
screw driver - check


disassembly down to its under pants - check

pluging in power - check

power light on - check ... double check ... yeah, a sign of live!

I did plug in power from time to time to check if its working after removing some parts, it never did. Then I just continued until having it stripped down, reconnected switchboard and power - voila.

Reassembling it now to find the source of the problem ...

 

Reassembled - it justworks !?!?! Maybe something was not connected correctly, maybe a short, who cares ... but the grafic card is gone ... strange display ... luckily, I got myself a heat gun ...

Thanks all for your help ... too bad my news won't be much help for all those poor Acer 7520 owners ...

Have a good one!

 

Laptops commonly wont start at all.

This can be due to a fuse going on the motherboard or a short in the CPU power system or any number of similar symptoms.

 

I think the previous owner (got it from ebay) just screwed up (no pun intended) taking it apart, and failed even more reassembling it.

I am sure the just forgot some connection, or made a short circuit somewhere.

Anyhow, it works again ... away it goes back on ebay ... I really don't like the 7520 ... taking it apart is the most fun, to be honest.

Cheers