m860tu GTX 260M Problem

Hey, so I was having problems with my video card that I listed on another thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sager-clevo/472582-gpu-issue-np8660-please-help-2.html#post6175030 and decided to buy a GTX 260M to replace my 9800M GT with. With the 9800 I couldn't boot into windows with the graphics drivers installed, but at least I could see the screen at low res. Before ordering the 260 I tried baking the 9800 and this resulted in me being able to see nothing but black. I could tell my PC was booting because the black lit up, I heard windows start, and I could hear windows log in with my fingerprint reader. I figured I just baked the card too long and everything would be fixed with the 260. I ended up having to pay over $500 for the 260m and after installing it, I tried booting my computer up and still see nothing but a black screen. I could really use some help as I don't have the money to buy another laptop, just spent $500 on this card which I can't return and desperately need my computer up and running for school next semester. Any and all comments/advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

edit: by the way, before even removing the 9800 I flashed the bios and everything continued to work as it did beforehand

 

Since you said you flashed the bios, I'm assuming it's the latest version. If you're unable to POST, your graphic card may not be fitted in properly, try repositioning your mobile gpu. The last time I faced this problem with my NP8660 is because of not completely locking the CPU into its socket.

 

did you use thermal paste?

 

Yep I flashed the bios with the latest version. I'm using the same gpu casing as for the 9800, but after baking it the left screw that goes through the casing and gpu and into a little nut that fits in the main internal casing no longer will line up correctly and fit. Is having the gpu fully plugged in the only thing that would matter for it to be recognized? And yes I used arctic cooling MX-2 on the gpu and cpu.

 

Bump.. desperately need some help

 

Your computer is posting 'cause you hear windows....

These are total shots in the dark but:

1 - remove CMOS battery for 20+ mins if possible on your notebook. I've seen this fix identical problems with a desktop

2 - It might be your display inverter. I've seen bad inverters produce many symptoms...yours is the most common...this would of course mean your GPU was fine all along...oops

EDIT: After more thought...I really think its your inverter...I'd look into getting a replacement...shouldn't be to expensive, although the repair is definitely more advanced...

 

If it is the inverter then shining a torch at the screen will reveal an image - can you see anything by doing that?

 

Hmm I tried finding the inverter online, but the only one I could find was over $100 and out of stock. Whats this about shining a torch at the screen though? How would you be able to do that close enough without wrecking the screen?

 

If you shine a torch at the front of the screen and look closely to see if you can see the image on the screen (obviously with the laptop booted up). Basically the inverter is for the backlight, so if only the inverter is faulty then the screen will be fine and there will simply be no light for you to see the display.

 

Torch = Flashlight I believe.

 

Yeah, I don't mean a flaming torch... Sorry if that caused confusion - british here...

 

Well the backlight seems to be on as the screen lights up, but it stays black... don't know if that changes anything. After you said torch I tried putting a lighter as close to the screen as I could without burning it and didn't see anything. I also tried using my phones flashlight and that didn't work either. I can't seem to find a more powerful flashlight around the house, I'll have to pick one up.

 

So I tried the flashlight to no avail. Hypothetically speaking, if the problem were somehow the slot the GPU is inserted into, could that be replaced?

 

What a bummer!

Did you try connecting an external monitor/display? This should exclude the possibility of a fault with the internal display/display-connectors...

Resetting the bios by removing the cmos-battery(-connector) seems to be a good idea, but you have to disassemble the whole machine because it´s on the topside of the mainboard under the metal plate under the keyboard... :-(
On Acer-Laptops with bootup-problems is a solution to remove the powerplug and the battery and pressing several times the powerbutton...

I´ll keep my fingers crossed for you to get the machine running!!!

stinker

 

Update: Hey, so I've tried everything I could think of and everything that's been recommended and still was not able to get picture on the screen. I managed to return and get a refund for the video card though, so that's a plus. I've decided that within the next week I'm just going to get a no-interest loan through my company to purchase a new NP5125. Now that I no longer use my laptop for heavy gaming it looks like it will suite all of my needs just fine.

Now my only two questions are:

1. What would be the simplest/cheapest way to get my music/documents off of the np8660's HD? (And also wipe any personal information)

2. I'm going to attempt to sell it on craigslist/ebay. Does anyone have an idea of how much I could get for it? While I don't know what's wrong with it, I do know a lot of what isn't, so shouldn't I be able to get at least a couple hundred for it?

Thanks again!