1050,No Screen on Reboot, Wait, Then Normal Boot

My 1050 EB1 performs beautifully and has been plugging along for about three years with no problems. Has been upgraded with 2GB memory and a DVD Burner, New White cover and Window XP (MCE).
Encountered the following problem: After computer runs for about five or ten minutes and is rebooted, all systems seem to work CPU fan runs, panel lights on, not sure about HHD or sound (no windows start sound), but there is no screen, which is the problem. Try reboot five or six times: nothing. Tried external boot disk: Nothing. Let unit sit for about ten minutes and get perfect boot and unit will run forever! Dont think it is loose HHD (screwed in) or loose Memory (Clipped in). Unit was not dropped. Think it is heat related, but not sure where to look. Don't understand why if it is heat related if it will run continuosly after it boots?
Would appreciate any suggestions before I take the back cover off and do a through inspection.

 

Maybe the thermal cycling the laptop has been through for those 3 years has cracked a solder on the board and the laptop need to be warmed up for the solder to soften enough to recontact with the other part of the crack and for current to circulate again...

 

Sounds logicall, The computer has to cool off before it will reboot. When cool the solder will contract and pull apart and as it heats up it will expand and make contact. The suggestion does not meet the criteria, but thank you.
Afterburner

P.S. Thanks for the speed test. didn't realize what it was until I went back and reread your post. It's a pretty neat program. TUVM

 

If you have external monitor, hook it up to see the no display problem comes from where: motherboard or lcd. Fn+F2 or F4, I don't remember exactly which combination keys to switch from LCD to external monitor or display both, you can look on keyboard.

 

Took the back off and looked, but circuits are so minute it is hard to tell if there is a cracked printed circuit or cold solder joint. Did not make the monitor check, but feel it is in the motherboard. The CPU fan works on initial bootup and then cuts out in about two minutes. It doesn't seem to come on after that. Suspect thermal relay is not functioning and need to be replaced. But then again why does the computer continue to run? You would think it would cut out from overheat. Last night It ran all night and was fine in the AM. Turned it off and had to wait about a half hour to get it booted.
Has anybody had a similar problem with any computer????? Looking for ideas
or other websites!

Does anyone remember the free web site that tells all about what is going on inside your computer, Temp, CPU speed etc?

Afterburner

 

Beut
You put me on the right track! The problem was in the graphics card. I must have hit F3, F11, or F12 accidently with the Control,Alt keys. (How do you do a dumb thing like that?) Looked in User Manual and it walks you thru the Graphic card changes for two monitors. All I did was reset the defaults and the problem was solved...............I hope; sometimes these heat issues have a nasty habit of returning when you think they are licked. Anyway thanks for your imput you saved the day!
Afterburner

 

The nasty habit returned; back to square one. This time the unit would not boot. It was off for 24 hours (No heat) Could not get the number or cap lock lights to come on and could not get a separate monitor to function. Had to be the Motherboard or HDD. Ordered new 250GB HDD (wanted this anyway) and a used MotherBoard. Preparing for the arrival of the new parts, took back cover off of computer, still looked for problems, saw none and turn the computer on. Darn if it didn't boot up. I remembered from previous times it would boot up when the back cover is off. Right know I an cloning the old HDD and have not looked further into the problem. Oh yes, I did remove the HDD and the computer presented a screen that the HDD was not available. Never got that screen when I had the boot problem, so I can eliminate the HDD as a problem Where to go from here??????
Think I will call Greg House (House TV) he seems to solve all problems!

 

Probably you need a new motherboard. Your lasts 3 years is lucky. Some other users don't get that long. This model has CPU soldered to motherboard, so it's hard to know where is the problem. Make sure you got the motherboard with CPU at 1.1Ghz, as the same motherboard for 1020 has only 1.0 Ghz.

 

There was only one on Ebay and was priced right at $119.00. Looks like I got the 1Ghz (Averatec 1000 Series 1.0 GHz Intel SL8A4 CPU Motherboard F10DA1 GU-PM REV: C 37-A12082-00C. Includes PCMCIA Cage and CMOS Battery.)
Have seven days to look at it. Don't think I will quibble over .1Ghz.
The computer ran all night; back cover is still off. Rebooted several times. Seems to be working fine! Won't put back cover back on until I install the new HDD.
Was not aware that longivity on motherboard is an average of three years. I have a ten year old Compaq that just plugs along. Are you saying this is indicative of Averatec or because the Processor is soldered to the board?

(more post on page 2)

 

I meant it's more difficult to isolate problem from motherboard or CPU for this model. Nowaday, laptop is not built to last long as technology changes so fast, a recent laptop will be out of date within one year.

Motherboard for 1020 and 1050 are exactly, but the difference is CPU speed.
Have you tried to run a ram test ?

 

Now plan to sell 80GB original HDD, so formatted it and installed Windows xp mce. Differant from original OS. Put the back on with two rubber bands. Didnt want to go the 18 screw route. I will have to take the back off when the 250GB HDD arrives. Guess what? The sucker has been performing like a Swiss watch: booting and rebooting many times. Think it might have been the power OK signal sent to the motherboard to tell it is OK to boot???? Don't know if that signal comes from the OS?? Or, it's the two rubber bands holding the comuter together I tend to lean to the new OS.
My intent of posting is two fold. I need some fresh info and I want to be able to help another person that devopes a similar problem
Thank for your imput; will post final outcome
Afterburner

 

Frustrating problem, but I think I have licked it! (For the second time)
Since I am going to put a 250GB HDD in the computer, and sell the 80GB HHD I decided to format the 80 GB and Load Windows XP MCE on it. When all was accomplished, I put the HHD in the computer and fastened the back cover on with 4 hinge screws and two rubber bands. Turn the computer on and it booted right up. Everytime I go by it, I turn it on and off and after about 25 tries it has not missed once. I conclude from this: 1. The motherboard is OK, and the HHD is OK. 2. The problem could have been the software. (Not telling the computer to boot after it powered up, if that is a function of the OS) or 3. It could be one of the screws that I have not yet replaced shorting out something.
Will continue to post until the last screw is in and add finality to this thread.

For anybody interested I will resell the 80GHz HHD with XP MCE.
If interested PM me.

 

This isn't a function of the OS Afterburner1, but a function of the BIOS. At power-on, the BIOS is supposed to load basic device functions, search storage devices for boot code (typically a master boot record (MBR) on a hard drive), then run that code. The MBR in turn loads the OS.

To me it doesn't sound like the BIOS was recognizing the need to start the bootstrap process - - almost more like the BIOS thought it was in an already operating system. You may have hit the issue... the BIOS wasn't getting the right signal from the motherboard, perhaps due to a short, and the disassembly reversed this situation.

 

Thanks for the response, Jim, I do remember going into the BIOS to check the Boot Sequence and when I exited the BIOS I hit Default, Exit and Save. At that point I may have returned the BIOS to the appropriate settings. Don't Know. Right know it is working fine; been booting and rebooting without a problem. Still waiting for the HHD for final assemble and then I will have an outcome.
Did learn a lot from this exercise, not that I wanted this forced education. However, I can now field strip an Averatec 1050 back cover in less than three minutes; that must count for something!
Afterburner

 

Happy day! Altho I have no immediate need for the Motherboard it did arrive. Lo and Behold it was a 1.1 GB and not the 1.0Gb as described by the seller. Since I have two AV1050 I plan to keep the motherboard for a rainy day. Just hope it doesn't rain soon!
Afterburner

 

The 250 GB HDD arrived, placed in computer and OS loaded. Some other programs added. Booted and rebooted worked fine. Put the cover in place and added two or three screws at a time. Then booted and rebooted. Put the center screw in position (the one with the rubber cover) and the computer would not boot. Took the screw out and the computer booted and rebooted and has not stopped. All this trouble over one screw. I don't even know how the screw started it. I did not remove the back again to check. Figured if it was the screw and it shorted. At that point, there was no need to look further, as I did not replaced the screw. Besides I don't want to argue with success!
I thank you all for your contributions; this was an unusual problem and to me it is still a mystery. I would like to hear your comments, if you have any.

Still have the original 80GB HHD with an activated XP MCE (Professional) if anybody is interesed.
Afterburner

 

Hey Jim,

this post doesn't apply to the topic at hand, but I saw your other posts regarding the Averatec 2370 sleep coma. I just recently experienced this issue, and I was hoping to contact you about it, to see if you had any updates. I couldn't find any contact info for you, so I'm hoping this post reaches you. I wonder if reinstalling Windows will help. Did you ever figure out a solution for this?

Let me know

[email protected] - thank you

 

Had small problem with keyboard; skipping letters etc, Looked at driver; was OK. opened case and removed keyboard; soaked for an hour in 70% alcohol and it worked fine. While the case was off did look at the screw problem. The screw goes through the motherboard and into the keyboard. When tightened it makes a sandwich of the back cover, the motherboard, the dvd drive and the key board. As far as I could see it appeared that the corner of the DVD drive was drawn to the motherboard and caused a short. Mystery solved!