[coastie65]

My Brother-in-Law just came and brought his lappy over. Said he had nothing at start up. I went to check and the battery was dead, so hooked up the adapter. When I hit the button to start it it went fine. The lights al lit and it went through post and then I felt the Hdd kick in to load the software. I shut it down and hooked it up to my monitor. I only have a DVI & VGA connection. No adapters that go from the DVI cable to the VGA connectoe on his laptop. He also had HDMI and ati gave me a DVI to HDMI adapter, so used that. I got nothing on my monitor. I figure that the onboard GPU is gone and will have to replace the motherboard. Man, I don't want to get into that in a laptop ( I know there is a first time for everything ). As it is, I'll need to go in there and get the serial number from the MOBO to match it up, or he will need to get another OS as well. Any other thoughts?

[LiveBrianD]

Sometimes you need to push Fn+some F key to make it display on the external screen. That laptop has HDMI and VGA, so go ahead and use VGA if it's easier (since this is only for testing; normally though I'd say use a digital connection so that you don't get slightly blurred text and such).

[coastie65]

LiveBrianD, on 21 February 2012 - 05:22 PM, said:

Sometimes you need to push Fn+some F key to make it display on the external screen. That laptop has HDMI and VGA, so go ahead and use VGA if it's easier (since this is only for testing; normally though I'd say use a digital connection so that you don't get slightly blurred text and such).

I didn't know that about the Fn key thing. He left it here so I'll play with it. I thought I had a VGA cable around here but can't find it. I'll probably have to dig into this rats nest and see what turns up. It isn't any problem going the way I went with the hook up. He has a lot of stuff in the bag, but I didn't see a user's manual for that thing. We'll try it again later with what you suggested and see what happens. My first thought was the screen, considering it went through post and the fans and everything were working as they should, including loading the OS and stuff.

[LiveBrianD]

Also, maybe you should clean the battery terminals. If those are dirty, the machine might think the battery's dead.

[ElfBane]

coastie65, on 21 February 2012 - 05:47 PM, said:

LiveBrianD, on 21 February 2012 - 05:22 PM, said:

Sometimes you need to push Fn+some F key to make it display on the external screen. That laptop has HDMI and VGA, so go ahead and use VGA if it's easier (since this is only for testing; normally though I'd say use a digital connection so that you don't get slightly blurred text and such).

I didn't know that about the Fn key thing. He left it here so I'll play with it. I thought I had a VGA cable around here but can't find it. I'll probably have to dig into this rats nest and see what turns up. It isn't any problem going the way I went with the hook up. He has a lot of stuff in the bag, but I didn't see a user's manual for that thing. We'll try it again later with what you suggested and see what happens. My first thought was the screen, considering it went through post and the fans and everything were working as they should, including loading the OS and stuff.

Yeah, if this lappy needs the FN key to display externally, then the FN key involved "may" have a little international monitor symbol on it. I've seen them before at the shop.

[waldojim]

coastie65, on 21 February 2012 - 05:04 PM, said:

My Brother-in-Law just came and brought his lappy over. Said he had nothing at start up. I went to check and the battery was dead, so hooked up the adapter. When I hit the button to start it it went fine. The lights al lit and it went through post and then I felt the Hdd kick in to load the software. I shut it down and hooked it up to my monitor. I only have a DVI & VGA connection. No adapters that go from the DVI cable to the VGA connectoe on his laptop. He also had HDMI and ati gave me a DVI to HDMI adapter, so used that. I got nothing on my monitor. I figure that the onboard GPU is gone and will have to replace the motherboard. Man, I don't want to get into that in a laptop ( I know there is a first time for everything ). As it is, I'll need to go in there and get the serial number from the MOBO to match it up, or he will need to get another OS as well. Any other thoughts?

OK, I am confused, did it start OK on the built in display or not?

[coastie65]

ElfBane, on 22 February 2012 - 01:44 AM, said:

coastie65, on 21 February 2012 - 05:47 PM, said:

LiveBrianD, on 21 February 2012 - 05:22 PM, said:

Sometimes you need to push Fn+some F key to make it display on the external screen. That laptop has HDMI and VGA, so go ahead and use VGA if it's easier (since this is only for testing; normally though I'd say use a digital connection so that you don't get slightly blurred text and such).

I didn't know that about the Fn key thing. He left it here so I'll play with it. I thought I had a VGA cable around here but can't find it. I'll probably have to dig into this rats nest and see what turns up. It isn't any problem going the way I went with the hook up. He has a lot of stuff in the bag, but I didn't see a user's manual for that thing. We'll try it again later with what you suggested and see what happens. My first thought was the screen, considering it went through post and the fans and everything were working as they should, including loading the OS and stuff.

Yeah, if this lappy needs the FN key to display externally, then the FN key involved "may" have a little international monitor symbol on it. I've seen them before at the shop.

The Fn key is juast Fn, but the F4 key does have the Monitor Icon on it and something I missed last night when checking it on my monitor.

[coastie65]

waldojim, on 22 February 2012 - 02:07 AM, said:

coastie65, on 21 February 2012 - 05:04 PM, said:

My Brother-in-Law just came and brought his lappy over. Said he had nothing at start up. I went to check and the battery was dead, so hooked up the adapter. When I hit the button to start it it went fine. The lights al lit and it went through post and then I felt the Hdd kick in to load the software. I shut it down and hooked it up to my monitor. I only have a DVI & VGA connection. No adapters that go from the DVI cable to the VGA connectoe on his laptop. He also had HDMI and ati gave me a DVI to HDMI adapter, so used that. I got nothing on my monitor. I figure that the onboard GPU is gone and will have to replace the motherboard. Man, I don't want to get into that in a laptop ( I know there is a first time for everything ). As it is, I'll need to go in there and get the serial number from the MOBO to match it up, or he will need to get another OS as well. Any other thoughts?

OK, I am confused, did it start OK on the built in display or not?

Yeah, it posts and then the Hdd kicks in, apparently loading the OS and stuff from what I can tell. I have the fan a nd all lights ( It all appears normal with the exception of no screen image ). I tried it again this morning and this time used the Fn + F4 keys to change the display to the external monitor and my monitor never came out of standby. It would appear that the GPU is gone. This thing is coming up on 5 Years old and he just bought an ASUS lappy. He said that he has replaced the MOBO in it once, but I wonder at that as he pulled out a memory stick and asked if that was the old MOBO. He would like to keep it, but he said if it is going to run to $300 - $400 for parts, he will just find a cheap one instead. It is a nice lappy though, at least for what he uses it for. I hope the MOBO number is on the CPU side of the board, as I don't want to have to pull that thing all the way out to get that. LIke I said, I have never dug into one of these things before and I am not overly enthusiastic about doing so.

[mjd420nova]

Coastie: Laptops would require complete dis-assembly of the bottom half to replace the MOBO. The number should be under the keyboard. Five years ?? That may put it beyond the service parts date. It would run only $150. or so if available.

[coastie65]

mjd420nova, on 22 February 2012 - 07:33 AM, said:

Coastie: Laptops would require complete dis-assembly of the bottom half to replace the MOBO. The number should be under the keyboard. Five years ?? That may put it beyond the service parts date. It would run only $150. or so if available.

Hey mjd, Yeah, I know about the disassembly aspect. I can find a MOBO for it with no problem and at around $150 ( I checked last night ). I want to match it so as to avoid the OEM OS issue, so I need the number to do so. I was hoping it would be just the display as that is a bit less problematic in changing, but that appears to be not the case. Appears to be GPU related which means a new MOBO.

[coastie65]

Man, this is getting scary now. The step by step said to gently pull ot the ribbon cable under the keyboard. I did and it came out of the connector and I'm thinking is this right? I was able to slip it back in, so I guess so. Not sure of the audio connections though as they aren't even mentioned. All I'm trying to do at the moment is get the MOBO number, I don't want to completely disassemble it until I have a replacement MOBO as there are a LOT of screws to keep up with to say the least. Haven't remeoved the section with the touch pad and I don't think I need to. Fortunately, although he would like to keep the thing, he is prepared to write it off, but I sure don't want to completely trash the thing.

[coastie65]

I'm unable to get the cover off with the touch pad for some reason. Something appears to be holding it and I can't find what it is and that thing is aluminum and I don't want to bend it out of shape. If I could remove that, then I would have a clear shot at the motherboard for the most part. Whatever is holding it, is to the right of the touch pad and I have removed all of the screws. I don't mind unplugging things, but those thin straps called cables are a royal pain trying to slip them back in. I am getting an education that I didn't particularly want.

[ElfBane]

If you've never done a MB on a laptop, you're in for an unpleasant experience. And probably a broken connector or two. Good luck.

[coastie65]

ElfBane, on 22 February 2012 - 12:41 PM, said:

If you've never done a MB on a laptop, you're in for an unpleasant experience. And probably a broken connector or two. Good luck.

Got it back together with two screws left over - OOPs. I know where they go. It has already been unpleasant. Back to square one again. I noticed the the fan starts and stops so that can't be good either. $157 for the MOBO plus another $77 for the cooler. That is even if I could get down the MOBO, which was prevented by that aluminum cover with the touch pad that I couldn't get off.

[coastie65]

I need to go back and put the two leftover screws back in, but will probably do that tomorrow. I know where they go so that isn't a problem. Everything is pretty well anchored down as it is.

[coastie65]

I am of a mind that it would be best if he just scrapped this thing. It is coming up on 5 Years old and he has replaced the MOBO once before. I found a thread on these things ( HP dv9000 ) and it seems that this was an issue. One guy had had the GPU go out on his for the third time and had had it. Got this from TigerDirect this morning: http://www.tigerdire...ampaign=WEM3017 and it is about what he said he wanted for what he does with them ( he just bought an ASUS laptop of some description ). About the same specs as the Gateway I bought in December ( little faster Processor & RAM and bigger Hdd as mine was 500 Gb ). It is the same price as the Gateway, but that had a $50 Rebate that took it to $399.99 ( I didn't fool with it ). Guess if he decides to scrap that HP ( which also has the old HD format on the Optical drive and not BluRay ), I'll have to transfer anything he may want to keep from that thing.

[rgreen4]

While many of the dv9000's had video problems, most were later and had the Nvidia 8400 chip in them. The HP dv9260nr has the Nvidia GeForcd Go7600 video chip. I had a dv9500t (custom order) that had the Nvidia 8400 chip. The problem with the chip was that it got HOT! And I can tell you I could not use it on my lap without a towel or board to protect my legs. When I purchased it new, I also ordered the extended warranty (2 years) and never had a problem. When the warranty was close to expiring they sent me a e-mail to extend it for one more year (for a fee of course), which I did. At the end of the third year when the warranty was again expiring, they would not offer a second extension. About two months later, the 8400 chip went haywire with the display being about 2" wide in the center of the screen and it looked like a kaleidoscope. Same thing on an external monitor (thought the screen had gone).

Oh, Snap!

I replaced it with a refurbished HP dv7-2043cl which is actually a much nicer laptop and has an ATI video chip.

The only thing I see on the Lenovo is that it is a 15.6" display vs the 17" of the dv9260. That make take some getting used to.

[coastie65]

He isn't concerned about the 15.6" screen. He said he was only looking to spend about $400 - $600 anyway, as he just bought an ASUS with an i3 anyway. He had replaced the motherboard once already, so I would think it is time to retire it, not to mention the age and it did a lot of use.