Inspiron 9400 - overheated GPU and dead

Hi everyone,

My english is quite poor, so please be understanding.
Here is my problem:
I have a Dell Inspiron 9400 with GeForce 7900GS GPU. A few days ago it fellt from a table (something about 40cm height), but was still working, so I was not worried about.
Two days ago I have turned it on, and everything was ok, but shortly after I saw the windows desktop, both fans began to spin at full speed. Everest showed that the GPU and CPU temperatures were 96C and 25C. It was strange because i didnt do anything, and besides the temperatures everything else seems to be ok (voltage, frequency etc.). After that the laptop shuted down automaticaly.
I tried do turn it back on, but didnt work. The power LED turns on, but only for a 1 or 2 seconds. Also HDD tries to start, but stops after that time. No other LEDs are lightened.
I have no warranty so I disassambled it (a few times). Ralely(three or four times for two days) it succeeded to boot it up, but shortly after that was always the same situation (GPU temperature grows and... dead).
I tried to turnt it on without the graphic card on board and it worked, but of course the OS didnt load. At least the power LED and HDD worked and it didnt shut down. Also when the graphic card is pluged in the battery is not charging.
I am not sure witch part is faulty, the motherboard or the graphic card.

I cannt work without my laptop. I need it fixed as quick as possible, but I am not sure witch part to replace.

Hope someone help me. Sorry again for my english.
Thanks in advance.

 

Are the GPU/CPU heatsinks firmly attached to the card/components? It sounds like it's overheating and shutting off before it fries.

 

Well, I replaced the CPU a few months ago to Core 2 Duo T5500 (oryginaly was a T2300), but I didnt touch the graphic card. Besides after that the CPU and the GPU were normally working, without any overheating. And a few days after this accident with table it still worked as always. The temperatures were something like 50-65C at the CPU, and 60-80C at the GPU.

Just after overheating I removed the GPU heatsink to see if it was fried, but everything looks fine. Then I've lubed the GPU chip with AS Ceramique and put everything together. I am sure I've done it good. But it was after all...

 

I'm having the same problem. I haven't dropped my laptop but the other day it just suddenly cut out and wouldn't boot. I've tried removing everything except the graphics card but it still wouldn't boot even into the BIOS. Then this morning it did boot but cut out again after about 20 minutes.

My PC is also just out of warranty and I would like some help with this.

Thanks.