ASUS C90S; Screen wont turn on.

After being in hibernation one night I go to turn it on and the lights flash, drives spin, and the fans come on but the screen just sits there black.

I tried looking at it with a flashlight to be sure the backlight was not out, no dice.

I am pretty sure it never makes it to windows because I can't get an external display to work.

I have attempted to do a blind flash on the BIOS but it is either not helping or I am doing it wrong.

I want to know either how to fix this thing or find out if some piece of hardware is dead so I know what repairs will run me.

Thanks for anything you have to offer!

 

Might be the GPU, what do you currently have?

 

8600m Gt 512 Mb Ddr2

 

Yep, that one has a known fault (just google it, faulty G84 core).

You can fix it this way:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=385973

Since you have an MXM GPU, I would upgrade:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=316079&page=10

 

Mine used to do this until I changed my RAM stick.

Solutions that always worked for me:
Unplug/replug RAM
If does not work:
Unplug/replug CPU
If still not working
Unplug/replug video card.

RAM will clear the hibernation status.
CPU will force a BIOS/System reset
Video card will huh...dunno but it worked.

@moral_hazard: The C90S is a "special unit". Must be troubleshooted by C90S-veterans .
His issue is actually quite common and is probably not a dead video card.

 

Not ready to cook it yet, am I gonna have to repaste the CPU and gpu after?

 

CPU socket is Intel-dry approved so it is to your liking. No need for the GPU because there is a second metal plate under the heatsink one

 

Well sinces it's a "special unit", I agree you shouldn't cook it (that would be the last option). Also you would have seen strange lines on the screen before it died.

I know one of my ram sticks gets loose and I have your same problem, so yeah, re-seat the ram.

 

I will have to try this in a little while, on mobile ATM. Thanks for the tips though!

 

No problem. (And maybe a rep point? ) lol.

I was so used to the RAM tricked I stopped re-putting the crews on the back door lol.

 

Seemed like a good idea but no dice, I went ahead and repasted the CPU, turns out they had done a really sloppy job in the first place.

Is baking my last resort?

I forgot to mention, once while trying to fix it previously I had the HDD out and I got the splash screen and then of course it could not find bootable media. I put the drive back in while it was on because I figured since it was SATA it should be plug n play but it still saw no bootable media.

I am superbly confused as to whether something is actually broken or I am having some sort of BIOS issue.

Thanks for the replies so far.

 

If you can get into BIOS then nothing is broken.

Might be time to boot from a windows installation disk and select "repair the OS".

 

Put and OS disk in, it spins but I still get nothing on the screen. It was only once that I got the splash in maybe 40 times of trying to boot.

 

Ok, here are some stupid things to try if you want to see if the GPU is bad (and you dont have a spare one to test with):
1. Push down on the GPU heatsink while you try to turn the notebook on.

or

2. Turn the notebook on, put in on your bed and let it warm up, then restart it.

Those two things usually fix the GPU (if it has the BGA solder problem) for about 5 mins.

 

Or buy an 8400m for $20 and test it:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=446745

 

I'll give those a shot. If I didn't wanna buy another 8600 or better how is the 8400, my roomie has a 9300 which nvidia says is similar...

 

Pushing on it did nothing, heating it on my bed right now. Is 10 mins enough? I unplugged the GPU fan to speed it up.

 

Yep 10 mins should be plenty.

Don't let it get too hot though, and turn it on before it gets a chance to cool down.

EDIT: did you try booting without the HDD?

Also you might want to try it with only the min hardware needed to get to BIOS, just one stick of ram, no battery, no optical drive...

 

Should have kept that temp gun instead of giving it to my mom...

 

It shouldn't hurt to give it a few restarts while you're letting it get warm, maybe after 5 mins.

 

Tried it a few times to no avail. It's nice and toasty, should I try depressing it while warm?

 

Nah, it's probably not the problem. Let it cool and try some more troubleshooting.

Can you try booting with only 1 stick of ram and no HDD?

 

Hold on now. I tried pressing it while warm and I got a splash... but then I let go and it it pooped. Bake it?

 

Yep, bake away.

Make sure it's lead-free though, you don't want to poison yourself.

If the bake works, sell it on ebay for $100 and buy a 9600m from the NBR market place for $100 (free upgrade ).

 

Alright.

I've seen quite a few baking guides recommending anywhere from 200 F to 385 F for 5-20 mins. Do you have a preference? And how do I make sure it's lead free?

 

Somewhere on your motherboard or on the MXM card it should say "lead free".

If not, take it outside, use a heatgun and hold your breath...

Bake it at a low temp, I burnt one of mine.

If it isn't fixed after the first bake on the low temp, bake again at a higher one.

 

Thanks, gonna think on it for a minute. +Rep, you've been a great help.

 

Cheers, and yeah, it's a good idea to think before you bake electronics

 

I am just wondering what I could get for it...
Cause I would buy one of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220699
or maybe something with better battery life

Since I now have a monster desktop for gaming...

 

With a faulty GPU, Probably under $400. With a 9600m, probably under $600.
But I don't know really, just my guess.

 

Not all that bad considering it's 2 years old.

I made a post with all I've got to offer in it, we'll see what they say.