M17x r2, no screen image flashing icons

Hey guys, So I desided to repaste and clean my old M17x today. Teared down the whole laptop including the motherboard and the dvd/blu-ray drive. Cleaned every single component very carefully and took my time to put everything back together. Pasted the cpu and gpu with some brand new thermal paste using the pea-method, and replaced the thermal pads on my 7970m as well. Reinstalled and screwed everything back together, but when I turned on the laptop I got myself a black screen and some flashing icons. Num and Caps are flashing while Scroll is constantly bright. Pretty affraid at this point because i don't have a clue what this means or how I can solve the problem. Maybe someone in here knows what's up?

 

The flashing LEDs indicates an error code. That particular one is saying there's a problem with the RAM. Either the SODIMMs are crooked in their slots and not making proper contact, or the RAM itself is faulty. Try removing and reinstalling the RAM. If that doesn't work. Take out one RAM module at a time and start up with the remaining one(s) installed. The idea is to test if one RAM module is bad, or if all of them have gone bad.

 

I will try to change the ram then. I will report back with what happens

update: Changed the ram modules to some spare ones I had that I know works with the system. The change made the icon code disappear so that they are now all off. Sounds like the system is booting up just fine now, with fans kicking in and the sound of the discs starting, but unfortunately I still got a black screen.. any ideas at this point?

 

I had a similar problem when I cleaned my gpu's (as far as the black screen on boot part). Not sure what the problem was, but when I took my m17x r2 apart and took out the gpu's again, then reseated them in the slots. This happen to fix the black screen at boot problem I had. Not sure what the problem was, but you could also try unplugging the cmos battery and pressing the power button for 20+ seconds. Will have to reset the time and date, but it might help.... I have seen this suggested when it comes to some graphic boot issues with gpu's.

good luck,

Nathan

 

I second what Nathan said. Also pay particular attention to your LCD cables. There are two of them as you know. Make sure they are properly seated and clicked into place. I've been had before thinking that my GPU or LCD died because I got a black screen after a rebuild and it was all because of those damn cables not being properly seated. Check, recheck, double check and Verify!

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Power drain did not work for me, gonna take apart the system again to check on the lcd cables and verify that. the gpu is installed right. Will update this post when I have finished

Update: Lcd cables were loose so happy that the problem was not the motherboard or the gpu. Thanks for the fast and helpful tips radji and nathan

 

De nada. It's why we're here.

 

Congrats on fixing your issue.

 

I'm glad you got it sorted out. +1 Rep to Radji for the help provided!