CF19 Catastrophe

Hi Folks!
Im not too sure what ive done, but any help would be greatly appreciated!
I use a CF19 M2, my keyboard has been playing up, so in all my wisdom i removed the keyboard thinking it could possibly be a loose ribbon! when i was gently tweaking the holders, my small screwdriver fell in! I managed to retrieve it and when i switched the machine back on! "NOTHING" ! black screen and thats it! im thoughts are that maybe the driver has bridged and blown? has anybody any thoughts or shall i cry myself to sleep tonight!
Thanks in advance!
Scott.

 

Did you take out the battery before you do the job of removing the keyboard? Let me know. Maybe you still have hope.

ohlip

 

No! Battery still attached!

 

Thats the big problem now. When the screw driver fell on the pcb and the battery still there it may coz some seriuos short circuit. Now take out the ram, harddrive and battery. Then power it up using the AC with one ram at a time. Then report back.

ohlip

 

Thanks Ohlip!
I'll try that in the morning! just gone midnight and -7 outside! Dog needs to walk and i need some sleep! I'll report back as soon as i try out your suggestion!
Many thanks!
Scott.

 

Hello Ohlip!
Tried it with the ac/ no battery along with the hard drive and ram 1 at at a time. Still dead!
Am i looking at a new board or spares on Ebay?
Much appreciate your'e input.

Much Thanks

 

ALWAYS remove the battery before doing ANYTHING to the insides of your Toughbook.... I know it is too late for you but others may benefit from this when reading it.

A couple of things.... What size screwdriver? Was it large enough to have possibly popped off a needed SMD resistor or capacitor from the keyboard? You may have only blown a fuse and there are several on the motherboard. This may necessitate that you totally remove the motherboard to examine it.

Is this still under warranty? If so... You may want to put it all back together as cleanly as possible and try for a claim....

 

Don't give up so early. Can you show us a photo where exactly the screw driver fell on. Maybe we can narrow it on which circuit to look on the schematic. As Rick said, there are multiple fuses as a protection on its high risk circuit on the board. You can also look for a burned area using a magnifying glass.

ohlip

 

Hello again!
After much deliberation and screwdriver pointing, i think ive managed to near as damn pinpoint the exact area of contact with the driver, ive marked this on the photo. Pin no 24 on the chip looked a little tarnished under the mag glass! Not sure if this is much help! either way i really appreciate your comments!

Many thanks
Scott

 

Looks like the BIOS chip Ouch! Unfortunately with these multilayer boards the burned trace could be anywhere between the layers or on the opposite end of the board you are most likely better off quietly putting it back together and see if they will repair it on warranty. DO not volunteer any information as to how it happened.

 

Im all out of warranty!
After examining the schematic for a black screen it suggests replacing the inverter board! am i kidding myself or is it going to toughbook heaven!
The very thought would make a grown man cry!

 

What about putting it back together like you never opened it up and send it in to have Panny diagnose it for you. Yes, it will cost you a little bit but at least you will know exactly what the problem is. If they come back with something you feel comfortable doing then get the parts and do it.

Heck, you might be suprised what they come back with. Ask very nicely for some type of good will assistance. It's too bad you already opened it up, they will know for sure. Say your prayers

 

No light, no sounds of the HDD??? Nothing?

 

Yes! its powering up green lights and then black screen of death!

 

Can you connect an external display and see if it shows anything?

 

If his HDD is dead, it's not going to do much of anything. You don't have a external drive you can boot your OS from do you? Grabbing straws at this point.

 

It should/might boot to the bios screen with an external monitor as Zakalwe suggests


Alex

 

Alex, what the hell do you know about this stuff?

 

Therefore; you still have hope of fixing the unit.


ohlip

 

Thank you all!
I really appreciate your words of wisdom & techy savvie!
I'll try the external monitor tonight at 1 point and report back!

 

I"m sure you already know this but remember that you can switch between external monitor and laptop monitor via function F3.

 

Sorry for the delay on an update "Work Issues"!
Ive tried hooking my machine up to an external monitor! still nothing! power definitely getting to the board but no display!
Im not willing for Panasonic UK to remove my arm and leg to look at it!
Are the motherboards expensive?