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Laptop dead

  • 23-10-2009 8:12am
    #1
    quarryman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,496 ✭✭✭


    Playing a game on the laptop last night the image on the screen became corrupted and pixelated. Assuming it was the game I exited only to find the desktop the same way. I went for a system restore and all seemed fine for a minute before it happened again.

    Then it started happening during POST so its definately hardware. Now it refuses to boot at all.

    The laptop is a Dell Vostro 1310.

    Should i try replacing the mainboard or graphics card?

    Do Dell supply parts as i think its out of warranty.


Comments

  • #2
    Gurgle
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,064 ✭✭✭Gurgle


    Need more info.
    quarryman wrote: »
    Then it started happening during POST so its definately hardware.
    When in POST?
    What do you see before it screws up?
    quarryman wrote: »
    Now it refuses to boot at all.
    What happens when you press the power button?
    Any lights? Any sounds?
    Does the fan start?
    quarryman wrote: »
    Should i try replacing the mainboard or graphics card?
    Not to put too fine a point on it: No.

    Has it been dropped?
    Does it (did it) get hot?

    Try connecting a desktop monitor, see what (if anything) shows up on the screen.


  • #3
    quarryman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,496 ✭✭✭quarryman


    Gurgle wrote: »
    Need more info.
    When in POST?
    What do you see before it screws up?

    Its very unpredictable. Sometimes it will boot to the desktop then the screen will screw up, maybe a BSOD then.

    Then other times it "screws up" when the Dell BIOS screen flashes up.
    Gurgle wrote: »
    What happens when you press the power button?
    Any lights? Any sounds?
    Does the fan start?

    Yep fan starts, normal boot procedure. Then it will either hang during boot or get to the desktop and die. No beeps or unusual lights.
    Gurgle wrote: »
    Not to put too fine a point on it: No.
    Has it been dropped?
    Does it (did it) get hot?
    Try connecting a desktop monitor, see what (if anything) shows up on the screen.

    Never dropped it.
    Always got reasonably hot under load but never caused an issue.
    I'll try hook it up to a monitor but the fact that very rarely boots now might make this pointless.

    thanks for the help.


  • #4
    Voodu Child
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,706 ✭✭✭Voodu Child


    Is it the model with the 8400M GS?

    If so, sounds like your GPU is gone. That is quite common for that model of GPU.

    Dell offered a 1-year warranty extension on the GPU only, and the Vostro 1310 is covered, so you might be in luck depending on how old the laptop is. You're covered for a GPU failure 1 year beyond the original warranty.
    LINK

    So ring them up and explain the graphical glitches etc. They'll know its a GPU failure straight away from the description. Don't take any crap from them, and don't take no for an answer.


  • #5
    quarryman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,496 ✭✭✭quarryman


    Voodu Child wrote: »
    Is it the model with the 8400M GS?

    If so, sounds like your GPU is gone. That is quite common for that model of GPU.

    Dell offered a 1-year warranty extension on the GPU only, and the Vostro 1310 is covered, so you might be in luck depending on how old the laptop is. You're covered for a GPU failure 1 year beyond the original warranty.
    LINK

    So ring them up and explain the graphical glitches etc. They'll know its a GPU failure straight away from the description. Don't take any crap from them, and don't take no for an answer.

    yep, that's the GPU i have i think. I'll contact the guy in the link you provided and see what i can do.

    thanks for the help!


  • #6
    Voodu Child
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,706 ✭✭✭Voodu Child


    quarryman wrote: »
    yep, that's the GPU i have i think. I'll contact the guy in the link you provided and see what i can do.

    thanks for the help!

    No, you don't need to contact anyone in the link above. Just ring whatever service line you normally would for the Vostro range.

    They will ask you for your service tag and tell you it is out of warranty (if it indeed is) and then make sure to tell them it is a GPU issue and insist that it is covered for another year. Just use the link as proof so they don't try and fob you off.


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  • #7
    quarryman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,496 ✭✭✭quarryman


    Voodu Child wrote: »
    No, you don't need to contact anyone in the link above. Just ring whatever service line you normally would for the Vostro range.

    They will ask you for your service tag and tell you it is out of warranty (if it indeed is) and then make sure to tell them it is a GPU issue and insist that it is covered for another year. Just use the link as proof so they don't try and fob you off.

    Rang Dell and to my suprise the girl on the other end informed me of the known issue with the card before I did and the extended warranty associated with it.

    Booked a call out for Wednesday. Fingers crossed.


  • #8
    Voodu Child
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,706 ✭✭✭Voodu Child


    quarryman wrote: »
    Rang Dell and to my suprise the girl on the other end informed me of the known issue with the card before I did and the extended warranty associated with it.

    Booked a call out for Wednesday. Fingers crossed.
    They'll just replace the motherboard most likely. Hopefully with a new one and not a refurb.

    After its working again, you should check for a BIOS update on the Dell download page. They put out some updates to try and prolong the life of the Nvidia cards by changing the fan behaviour to keep them cooler. You should also just try and keep as cool a machine as possible (it'll last longer) - clean dust out of the vents every so often, don't use it on dusty surfaces, etc. If you are gaming you should undervolt the CPU - it'll run cooler so its putting less heat onto the heatsink (this will allow the GPU to get rid of its own heat better).


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