Clevo M860TU Black Screen

I'm really not having much luck with my laptop. After weeks of hassle with Kobalt Computers I finally got my laptop back.

Noticed that it was heating up quite a bit and so decided to clean out the vent and the fan. I waited to the falling day to do this (meaning the laptop was powered off for several hours).

I removed the fan (not the heatsink) but 1 of the screws fell into a space in the bottom right (if you have the laptop turned so that the fan is at the bottom) and there was a very small spark of electricity.

I put the fan back and re-screwed everything and tried turning my laptop on but it's now just a black screen. The blue power light goes on, I hear a slight squeak noise and can then hear the continuous power noise a laptop makes when it is turned on. The fan also does not turn on automatically, I am able to turn it on briefly using the control above the keyboard but it just turns itself off again.

Could whatever the spark was had damaged the motherboard or another component?

 

Without seeing it, it's hard to tell. But you may have crossed traces or had a static discharge from the screw. It's entirely possible that something is fried. I'd pull out the battery and the CMOS battery to see if a reset fixes anything. Otherwise, the board or one of the components might need replaced.

 

Irony is that I was already planning to upgrade my Processor, Ram and Hard Drive in the near future. Kinda hope that I wont need to replace the motherboard as well though.

Will try the CMOS thing tomorrow, unfortunately think it would require quite a bit of dissembling to get to on this laptop model.

 

bit late now but its always best to take out battery and press power button for 20 seconds to discharge any remaining power.

if you could post a picture showing where the screw went and where the spark came from the experts might be able to advise further.

 

Have highlighted the area the screw fell. The spark came from the top of the yellow circle, in that little space under the heat sink.

 

Based on the area, any thoughts?

I'm still waiting on a new processor being delivered (which I had already ordered before this happened since I was planning to upgrade) but what are the chances that the issue is processor related?

 

Honestly- probably quite slim compared to the motherboard. I've only rarely seen processors fail, and it's usually in production rather than after use.

 

Well I took my Laptop to a local laptop repair shop (who actually said that it was the first time they had ever had a Clevo model, which didn't exsactly fill me with confidence). I mentioned that the problem could be with the motherboard beforehand and they said that they would take a look at it.

A few days later they called saying that they think that the graphics card needs replaced, that I should buy one myself and then take it to them to install.

I'm not really confident in their diagnosis so I plan to take it somwhere else for a second opinion, but just wondering what are the chances that it is indeed an issue with the graphics card rather than the motherboard?

 

It could potentially be a failed graphics card as well. Typically when they fail, they start with artifacting or driver crashes/BSOD's. However, due to the possible electrical damage it's not beyond reason that it was totally fried. The easiest way to test would be to swap out the GPU for a known good model, or to take it to a shop that could. However, this is not always possible. It is however, a cheaper part to replace than the motherboard.

 

I read your WTB thread but I wanted to post about this. I have a little story about an m570ru I repaired for a guy, get this; I was contacted through ebay by a repair shop who was local. And they referred him directly to me.
That part is strangely honest but seems incredibly unprofessional... I think they had already taken 200$ from him for "diagnostics".
It turned out to be the motherboard that was dead, not the graphics. Of course, where would they have another reliable laptop to test the card it already had? I had maybe 2 or 3 at the time.
I just so happened to have a complete m570tu. Coincidentally I broke his graphics card, an 8700m GT, but in the end charged him 200$ for the new motherboard and a 3700m card that was slightly broken and would not go above 3d clocks. Worked perfectly locked to 3d mode and probably better than a 8700m GT. He was happy either way... and there isn't a chance in hell he could have found anyone else with a replacement motherboard for that price.

Point being, most local repair shops are AWFUL. There are 2 kinds that can actually help you if you have removable graphics, 1 the rare type that has experience with these laptops, or 2 people who are generally very professional and do board level and BGA repair.

Anyway, funny how we both agree they probably jump to the "graphics failure" conclusion too easily. I think with the m570ru there are many many more motherboard failures however and the m860tu would rarely fail.

 

Unfortunately that isn't really an option for me, don't have another laptop that's compatible with the card and most people I know are desktop users.

Battery wasn't in but I forgot to hold the power button for a bit to discharge any remaining power.

Yeah actually now considering maybe sending my laptop to these guys: Goldenstar Computers Ltd they're the only company in the UK that I've seen who I would be confident in providing me with an accurate diagnosis (as well as having replacement parts at hand).

Though have been a little reluctant in sending my laptop to another part of the country after an experience I had with Kobalt Computers (they went bust while in possession of my laptop, had a good scare that I might not have got it back).

 

You should try posting in the marketplace or off topic section to see if there is anyone nearby with an MXM 2.1 laptop. I think there's probably someone out there is just a matter of getting in touch with them.

You could also try buying a mPCIE diagnostic card and try to learn how to use it.
Or... you could even make an attempt at setting up your machine with a remote desktop over a network, of course, it would be impossible if the motherboard was fried and unless you had someone very experienced helping you it would be hard to tell if you were doing it right or not.

Last suggestion, the opposite of what you're trying but I think it makes more sense... Sell your graphics card within your country and see how it works out for the buyer.