VAIO VGN-AR21s won't boot

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mousi

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Apr 26, 2014
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Hello guys. Some time before my VAIO AR21s had a problem with it's Graphics card so I bought a new motherboard from ebay and replaced it. After replacing my laptop doesn't boot with the new or the old motherboard. The leds turn on, disks and optical drive spin, but monitor won't turn on and fans won't spin. I get no beeps at all. I checked all the cables, I put my old m/b but nothing. Do you have any ideas?
 
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If it still doesn't work after a hard reset then the BIOS is probably corrupted. Can you boot from a USB or CD? Try an OS that isn't designed for UEFI: Puppylinux, Ubuntu etc. The only other practical way to flash BIOS is on a bootable USB. Otherwise it's back to the manufacturer.
I am a bit doubtful because your old mobo doesn't work as well. 2 corrupted bios on the same day? Is there any change when you put your old mobo back? same symptoms?
Has your power supply been damaged in any way? Is the connector attached to the mobo or is it on a seperate board?
Are there any visibly blown out components on either board?
Test the fan by hooking it up to a power supply (make sure to get the voltage right).
This is a stupid question, but are...

ttjambe

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Sep 7, 2013
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Did the motherboard come with the BIOS flashed? Often these replacements are taken straight off the assembly line before several other steps down the line and are meant for repair shops. Sony service guides are hard to find online as they are often not published because they don't want end users doing DIY repairs. If you do manage to find one it should give you instructions for other things that need to be done. You have checked the WXGA connection for the monitor and the plugs for the fans right? Also, does the motherboard have a CMOS battery?
You said the previous motherboard had a problem with the graphics card, is it soldered on? Did you move it onto the new motherboard? Are you sure the monitor itself actually works?
 

mousi

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Apr 26, 2014
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Hello, thank you for your reply. I don't know if the BIOS is flashed but the old m/b doesn't work either so I guess it's not a problem with the new one. I've checked all the cables, I opened and closed the laptop 3-4 times.

The graphics chip is soldered on the m/b and that is why I replaced the whole m/b. The monitor also worked before, I saw the POST messages but there were horizontal black lines and after that I got random letters on the screen and when windows started loading it freezed (I saw the logo with horizontal black lines). Also, even if the monitor didn't work shouldn't the fan spin, or play a beep, or sounds?
 

ttjambe

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Can you actually get into the BIOS? (I think one Sony's Vaios you just press the ASSIST button whilst shut down). Do the lines appear in the BIOS or only when loading windows? Are you on UEFI bios? I can't seem to find your specs online, could you please post those as well?
If you can get into the BIOS, are there options to configure fan speed and vcores? Laptops (or at least recent ones) don't usually have POST beepers.

Did you use a service guide? Check your steps against something like this:
http://tim.id.au/laptops/sony/vgn-ar.pdf
You don't need to mess with the inverter and speakers on the monitor, just make sure everything is properly connected.

Chances are, if BIOS doesn't have issues, then all you need to do is reinstall windows. If you are on UEFI, you may have to purchase a new license for windows 8 or call microsoft and get a new key.
 

mousi

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Apr 26, 2014
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Hello, here are the specs: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Sony-Vaio-VGN-AR21S.2738.0.html (CPU and Graphics card).
Now I can't get into the BIOS, the screen won't even turn on. The only thing I can think of is that the CPU was damaged somehow when I changed the motherboard. I was really careful though. The pins on the bottom are not damaged. Even if I take out the CPU and turn it on there is no beep. I even tried with a different PSU that works on another laptop (a universal one).
 

ttjambe

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There are hundreds of things that can go wrong. Thermal paste may not be conducting enough heat, the inverter may be damaged. The motherboard itself may be faulty. Lets start with the monitor. Do you have an LCD logic board handy? perhaps from an older computer? I can't think of any other ways to test the monitor and inverter.
Did you ground yourself when you were replacing the motherboard? Any chance of short circuits from static?
Can you do another full power reset? Unplug everything, including any batteries (especially CMOS) and wait a bit.
 

mousi

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Apr 26, 2014
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I tried unplugging everything, I held the power button for 30 seconds but it wasn't it. I don't have an LCD logic board but it really doesn't seem to be a monitor problem. I mean the disks spin but that's all they do. The disk activity led stays off and the disks don't do anything (I can tell by feeling them). I tested another fan, still nothing. I used a multimeter to see if there is power on the fan "plug" and I get a reading (5V I think). So it's just the m/b that doesn't "want" to spin it.
 

ttjambe

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Sep 7, 2013
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If it still doesn't work after a hard reset then the BIOS is probably corrupted. Can you boot from a USB or CD? Try an OS that isn't designed for UEFI: Puppylinux, Ubuntu etc. The only other practical way to flash BIOS is on a bootable USB. Otherwise it's back to the manufacturer.
I am a bit doubtful because your old mobo doesn't work as well. 2 corrupted bios on the same day? Is there any change when you put your old mobo back? same symptoms?
Has your power supply been damaged in any way? Is the connector attached to the mobo or is it on a seperate board?
Are there any visibly blown out components on either board?
Test the fan by hooking it up to a power supply (make sure to get the voltage right).
This is a stupid question, but are you sure the mobo is for the right model? The VGN-AR21 from where I'm looking has different specs for different countries and has different variations at different prices all with the same model number with the exception of a letter at the end. Where did you order the replacement mobo?
 
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mousi

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Apr 26, 2014
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Hello, I tried booting from usb but it won't boot (the flash drive led doesn't even blink). There is a seperate board for the power supply. The motherboard is powered though (I measured it and I also see the power LED is on and of course the disks are spinning). Anyway there aren't any blown out components.
I bought the motherboard from ebay after sending a photo of my old motherboard. The new one has exactly the same model number.
Thank you for your replies and for trying to help me. I think I will return the new motherboard for a refund.
 
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