Clevo W230SD issue : boot with back screen no bios

Hello,

I have a boot problem with my laptop : when powering on, it starts running (lights on), the fan is running, and the light of the hdd is on and I can hear the hdd. But the screen remains black, so I cannot access the BIOS.
Once in a while it started after waiting a long time after powering on, and when it started it ran ok, but it was more and more rare. Today I don't manage to start again.

I've tried to unplug everything except CPU/GPU/each one of ram stick.
What I will try to do next is replace CPU and put thermal grease again. What I would like to know is : is there any MB buzzer ? or is there any plug on this motherboard to put a MB speaker? I wasn't able to find one, and I have no beep error when the pc starts.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Config :
Motherboard : Clevo W230SD
Intel Core i5-4210M (2.6 GHz / 3.2 GHz Turbo - Cache 3 Mo
Chipset Mobile Intel HM87 Express
RAM : 2 x 8 Go DDR3L (1.35V) 1600 MHz (GSkill)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M 2 Go GDDR5

 

Check the panel connections.

 

I guess you are talking about a front panel connector. I'm not sure I can find anything like this on this motherboard.

here's the manual btw : http://s472165864.onlinehome.fr/anyware/manuels/W230SD_SM.pdf

 

If it's the LCD or video cable, the firmware won't throw an alarm/beep. Do you get a picture on any external display?

Love the avatar, BTW, "Tim."

 

I'm referring to the video connector cable, yes. It may have come loose either on the motherboard, or behind the panel itself. In the pic of the MB Overview - Bottom, the connection slot is on the upper right side above the curve.

 

@Prostar Computer > yes I tried to boot with an external monitor plugged, it was the same.

@Chastity > thanks I will check but since I tried with an external monitor I'm not sure it is the problem.

I will do some more tests tonight.

 

Can you try a CMOS reset (disconnect CMOS battery)? It couldn't hurt to reseat your memory, also.

 

I tried to start again after changing thermal gease for cpu/gpu. no change.
@Prostar Computer > yes I already tried that.

only the light of power is on, the screen remains black.

 

Sounds like it can't deliver a video signal to anything. Maybe ESD damage? Bad storage drives can cause similar behavior, but this is sounding board-related, or possibly RAM.

 

Could be a bad solder joint since it got worse with time.

 

@Prostar Computer > I don't think it's a storage problem because I tried to remove the hdd & the ssd and I could not boot to bios. Maybe the 2 ram sticks are broken at the same time. Or maybe it's something else.

@Meaker@Sager > yes maybe. Unfortunately in this case, I won't be able to find anything I guess.

I will try with another ram stick but I would expect the MB to beep if it would have been a ram trouble.

 

It depends how far it gets. Does it beep with no ram sticks in?

 

no it doesn't, if I remember correctly (I will try again tonight)

but the MB isn't totally unresponsive. For example I can still make the fan rotate at full speed by pressing fn+1.

 

I'm leaning towards a bad video chip. Sounds like it might be POSTing, but there's no video signal.

 

@Prostar Computer > you mean the GPU ? in this case I would be screwed, since it's soldered on to the board.

 

That's my suspicion, at least. Your seller might still be able to service it, even out of warranty, but probably depends on parts availability.

 

I confirm there is no beep wheen I try to boot without RAM, but I suspect the MB to not have a speaker.
And also I tried to boot with another ram stick from another pc and it didn't help.

 

It should beep warnings through the internal speaker. If it does not beep with no ram the board is not even trying to initialise it.

 

Try with internal display disconnected from board and a VGA monitor.

Reasons can be multiple, CPU, GPU, PCH or something with the PCB.

 

alright, I didn't tried to disconnect the internal display yet. I'll test it, thanks.

 

Maybe aslo try to reprogram the BIOS chip, just to be sure it has the good BIOS and EC FW.

 

@IllusiveMan > ok. but I dunno how to do that without accessing bios. also what is EC FW ?

 

Do you have a programmer such as CH314a? I meant to reflash the BIOS chip externally, maybe there is someone who has the complete and clean dump for W230SD model to help you with. EC FW is the special part for multi-controller (also called KBC, KeyBoard Controller) called Embedded Controller FirmWare.

Sorry for late reply, had a mod to do on my clevo P751DM2 this weekend.

 

ha ok ! Thanks for the info. I will look into that but maybe it'ill be a bit too complicated for me

 

Sorry that I can't help with anything more.