Laptop died on me when cleaning it? No POST or boot, turns on... Help?

So my Compal JHL90 decided to go AWOL on me while I was cleaning the dust out of the fan and heatsink... Showing classic signs of either a mobo or cpu failure... And I don't know why! I've tried a lot of research, and I still can't pinpoint my problem... So I did something very rare(for me) and started a thread here to see if I can get some help... lol... Anyway, I wanted to try reseting the bios, which requires reseating the CMOS battery if the computer won't POST, am I correct? So I was wondering if someone could tell me where the battery is, as well as maybe tell me how to reset it(that is if anybody is even on this area of the forums anymore... It's a fairly old laptop, even if still quite capable), as I believe that it is soldered into the board, no? Anywho, if someone would be kind enough to help me out, I'd much appreciate it. I want to try every option before I go and spend money(that I don't have) on expensive parts till I have exhausted every option.... Cheers!

 

Try opening it again and making sure all the wires are connected and tight.. Maybe reseat cpu while your at it

 

I have done both.... more than once... lol I can try it one more time though.

 

What model and make? That would sure help answering your question.

 

Oh sorry... Forgot to put the name in the Title.... It's a Compal JHL90.

 

Also, I may have found the battery....

 

What are your exact symptoms? Turns on when pressing power button, but screen stays black?

 

The power light stays on, yes. Also, the fan turns on for around 1 second, then shuts down. and the working light flashes almost imperceptibly once. Aside from that, nothing except I can hear what sounds like the hdd running, but nothing happens.

 

What graphics card is in there? A NVidia 9600M GT I think. Sounds like a broken GPU.

As far as I understand you turn it on, it stays on, but the display stays black, all the time, right?

Almost 100% a broken GPU. You might be able to switch it if has a MXM GPU. Try google to find that out.

Good luck!

 

Yes, it is MXM-based -> see from page 99 on for instructions http://www.google.de/url?sa=t&rct=j...h4hdDs7bMBgooZg&bvm=bv.46751780,d.Yms&cad=rja

If any MXM card will work, I do not know.

Good luck!

 

Yes, I have done some research into upgrades etc(or at least read this thread... lolhttp://forum.notebookreview.com/compal/441660-compal-jhl90-hardware-question.html) Yea, MXM2 if I remember right.... Yes, I can either replace it with another 9600m gt, or another non nvidia mxm2 card... Normally if the gpu was busted, would it show signs of still booting up, like the fan still running? Because the main fan actually stops running about a second after the laptop starts up? And would a downed GPU stop POST boot etc?
Thanks, jmls

 

Well, shoot. A new card is almost as much as mobo.... I will of course try the oven treatment on the card... lol

 

Well I found this card on ebay: AMD ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 MXM II 256MB GDDR3 Laptop Graphics Video Card | eBay
And here is another 9600M GT, except this is DDR3: NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT 512MB MXM II GPU Laptop Graphics Video Card | eBay
If I do end up having to replace the card, which would be better? I know the Nvidia has more memory, so it would be better, but as par with just about all jhl90's, I've had some heat issues. Never had the laptop shut down on me, but it has gotten pretty hot.... like 90C... I'm mainly wondering if buying the ATi card would help with the high temps? And how much of a performance hit(if I'd get one at all) I'd take if I got that instead of the compared to the ddr2 card I have now.

 

Oh and one other thing, the lcd isn't black pixels if you know what I mean... It looks the same as if it was off.

 

1. dead GPU can have many effects - strange pixel garbage, black screen but still posting and booting, or hanging before post with all black screen. I saw all of this with the FL90. Depends on how damaged the card is.

2. I would look for either an ATI 3400/3450/3470, but that is a downgrade - not really for gaming at all. Other than that, the ATI 3650 DDR2 512MB is the safest bet. Also, a bit slower than the 9600M GT. I would not go for an NvIdia card, as most of them will not work, perhaps. At least that's the case for the FL90, where only a 8600M GT taken from an FL90 would work, but no other NVidia card.

Look at ebay for cards. If i is too expensive, sell the laptop as defective - maybe in parts.

Good luck

 

There is this one for $60 AMD ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 MXM II 256MB GDDR3 Laptop Graphics Video Card | eBay Also, I don't think I could get enough out of parts to get even a used one... I'm I'm only 15 and I DON'T have a job atm.... , so buying a new computer isn't really an option right now. And I can't really get a job, because we live like 10 mi out of town in the mountains... But before I buy new parts I'm going to try out the oven baking treatment on the card. And about other Nvidia cards, you are right, it will only take a 9600m gt. Nothing else with the big N on it. Something to do with vbios.

 

Yeah, same as with the FL90.

The 3650 DDR3 could work. Some people reported problems with it, including myself. I could not get the external video to work, some didn't get anything on the internal but on external, some did get nothing. Maybe ask them if you can return it. If so, for 60$ this would be a good deal.

Good luck!

 

Are the problems with the JHL90, or the FL90? Oh, btw. That was the ONLY card I could find that would both fit and is even remotely affordable(for me). the others are all >$90... :/

 

May be there is still chance to fix your GPU, without to order a new one. Just see this article:
AnandTech | Hardware Tricks: Can You Fix a Failing Mobile GPU with a Hair Dryer?

 

The problem reported by my are all for the FL90 - but chances are high same might happen for the JHL90.

As I said, if the seller offers returns, go for it, otherwise ... well, up to you.

 

@Zar It looks like it has the same effect as baking the card.
@ Dr.Colossos I'll have to send the seller a message, and ask them about this specific kind of return. In the mean time, let's fire up the oven!

 

Progress report: Now have the laptop apart, mobo and graphics card etc are sitting in front of me.
Also, I have a question. If I cook the card, and it ISN'T dead, will it destroy it?

 

With cook I hope you mean bake

And yes, of course, he problem could be somewhere else, and then baking a working card might destroy it.

So, maybe wait for the reply of the ebay seller, and go from there.

 

Yes, I do mean bake, lol.... Yeah, I really would rather not destroy working parts... Yeah, I'll ask em, see what they have to say.... What I really need is a test card, just to make sure it is/isn't the graphics card. But if it isn't, it's probably the mobo.... :/ And I honestly don't have money to buy any parts right now, maybe a new cpu. But that's it... Maybe I'll just wait a year or so, when I have a job, of some kind..... :/

 

try to find another 9600 on ebay there should be a few cheap

 

Nope.... They are all around 100 dollars....

 

You could also try to find another JHL90 on ebay ... maybe with broken display, maybe fully working, and use that, or rip that apart.

You also could try to find a FL90 on ebay, and use the GPU of that. I could imagine that the 8600M GT from the FL90 might work, BUT I DO NOT KNOW!

Good luck!

 

That I could... I'll take a look. Also, I am almost sure the 8600M GT won't work... :/ Thanks for all your help btw. I'll think of something to do about this situation...
Edit: Well here's one parts/repair notebook http://www.ebay.com/itm/COMPAL-JHL-...79168577?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item19dcd59a41