[TRS-80 vet]

At least, I think that's the problem.

I've been using this laptop ( http://forums.techguy.org/showthread.php?t=512140 ) as a secondary desktop in another room. It has begun to shut down with increasing frequency - I hear the fan power ( this is the only time it does it) up, then a 'pop', and it's off. Completely off. Boots right back up every time, just won't stay powered up as long, and it's happening more often.

It was turned off when it took the hit, so no parts were warm, that might be the first place to look. I don't believe it's a componenet; rather a power 'link' between components.

It happens when on A/C, even with a full battery. Any ideas?

I'm not gonna' scrap the thing like the other thread said; too much still works...

 

[Jedi_Master]

I hear the fan power ( this is the only time it does it) up, then a 'pop', and it's off.

Assuming you've tried it AC only (without the battery), it sounds like it may be heat related...

Don't know which laptop you have but some of them used "Green Technology" in other words the fan would only kick on when it reached a certian temp, or it would change speeds...

Some also would shut dowm when a certian Max temp was reached...

What may be happening is that, it is shutting down because the Max temp is set below the threshold that is set for the fan to come on and the pop you are hearing is the heads on the hard drive parking before shutting down...

Check in the BIOS for any settings related to any max settings for the CPU or temps ( the Green Tech I think is hard coded and can't be changed)...

Just a out there guess off the top of my bald head ...

 

[JohnWill]

Well, I'd first attempt to blow out the cooling passages and fan with canned air. I'd also set it up on some rubber support feet for added cooling, or get a laptop cooler, which is a platform with a couple of fans. See if that helps...

 

[TRS-80 vet]

I did neglect to say that the fan speed has become highly variable, whereas before the accident, it was not. And I don't know for certainty that amp draw is the problem... That's the moment is shuts down, is immediately when the fan powers up.

???

Dirt is possible, JW, but not likely - I'm pretty meticulous about such stuff.

Now, I've found a few frames on ebay, and will attempt to transplant my entire viscerae into another frame. I want to know where to physically inspect my own unit for shock damage, as I disassemble it...

Tips for where to look upon disassembly, please...

 

[Jedi_Master]

I did neglect to say that the fan speed has become highly variable, whereas before the accident, it was not. And I don't know for certainty that amp draw is the problem... That's the moment is shuts down, is immediately when the fan powers up.

Well...

A couple of things off the top of my head...

In the accident the board might have shifted, causing a short somewhere around the fan control...

The board itself might be cracked causing a bad connection...

Kinda hard to tell without looking at it, when you take it apart look for any board damage, loose wires, ect...

 

[JohnWill]

Dirt is possible, JW, but not likely - I'm pretty meticulous about such stuff.

Unless you've disassembled the machine or actually blown the dust out recently, I'm not sure why you'd think this isn't likely. It's a very common issue, since the dust gets sucked in and deposited on the passages and fan.

 

[TRS-80 vet]

Well...

A couple of things off the top of my head...

In the accident the board might have shifted, causing a short somewhere around the fan control...

The board itself might be cracked causing a bad connection...

Kinda hard to tell without looking at it, when you take it apart look for any board damage, loose wires, ect...

Yeah, one corner of the board did break loose from the holddown screw, the rest of the mounts 'leaned', as the board moved, intact.

Now, where's the best tutorials for disassembly/transplant procedure???

 

[Jedi_Master]

Yeah, one corner of the board did break loose from the holddown screw, the rest of the mounts 'leaned', as the board moved, intact.

Now, where's the best tutorials for disassembly/transplant procedure???

Did the board itself break?

And I'm not sure what you mean by "the rest of the mounts 'leaned'" ( sorry kinda tired right now ), do you mean the motherboard mounts to the case them self shifted?

If so that was a hard hit, suprised the hard drive didn't kick the bucket...

Still don't know which laptop you have ( make and model # ), so you can try a Google search for any manuals/disassembly docs of your laptop...

Something to think about...if it took a hit that hard it may have damaged the motherboard itself...

You see motherboards are made up of multiple layers ( some 10+ layers of connections, some less ), if it took a hit that hard it could have seperated somewhere on one or more of the layers. But then again if I'm reading right the board has shifted ( maybe even broken ), and could be shorting out, or a inter layer short is happening...IMHO...

JMHO of course...

 

[TRS-80 vet]

Did the board itself break?

And I'm not sure what you mean by "the rest of the mounts 'leaned'" ( sorry kinda tired right now ), do you mean the motherboard mounts to the case them self shifted?

If so that was a hard hit, suprised the hard drive didn't kick the bucket...

Still don't know which laptop you have ( make and model # ), so you can try a Google search for any manuals/disassembly docs of your laptop...

Something to think about...if it took a hit that hard it may have damaged the motherboard itself...

You see motherboards are made up of multiple layers ( some 10+ layers of connections, some less ), if it took a hit that hard it could have seperated somewhere on one or more of the layers. But then again if I'm reading right the board has shifted ( maybe even broken ), and could be shorting out, or a inter layer short is happening...IMHO...

JMHO of course...

No, board didn't break. Just the 'stilts', into which the mounting screws screwed.

I googed the gateway mx6131. First hit was the Best Buy sale item from 02/06, when I bought it. eBay has 850+/- a few G'way l'tops. None are mx6131.

It will just be an unplug 'n' play, I guess.

 

[TRS-80 vet]

Well...

A couple of things off the top of my head...

In the accident the board might have shifted, causing a short somewhere around the fan control...

I think you hit the nail here, Jedi...

I disassembled the unit to inspect/repair, and saw no scorch/short marks. The base is re-assembled, with the ODD pulled (it was destroyed) and the screen off. It is working with no problems, even when fan throttles up.

 

[Jedi_Master]

Glad you got it sorted...:up:

 

[TRS-80 vet]

And I don't know for certainty that amp draw is the problem... That's the moment is shuts down, is immediately when the fan powers up.

QUOTE]

UN-solved. I know for certain that amp draw is the problem.

This thing now freezes on occasion when the fan powers up. ONLY when the fan powers up. Not every time, but that's the only time. Just after it powers up.

I know that if I disconnected the fan power, and created auxilliary cooling, it would patch the problem. I'd prefer to get into it again, and look for the problem...

Anyone?

 

[TRS-80 vet]

And I don't know for certainty that amp draw is the problem... That's the moment is shuts down, is immediately when the fan powers up.

UN-solved. I know for certain that amp draw is the problem.

This thing now freezes on occasion when the fan powers up. ONLY when the fan powers up. Not every time, but that's the only time. Just after it powers up.

I know that if I disconnected the fan power, and created auxilliary cooling, it would patch the problem. I'd prefer to get into it again, and look for the problem...

Anyone?

Nobody with any other [testing] ideas?

Anybody ever use a POST 'diagnostic card', like the ones advertised on ebay? What exactly do they tell ya???