Is it dead?

Mar 19, 2018
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toshiba X75 laptop.
Wont boot. Black screen. From reading around i have a problem where i have no post. It was intermittently not booting until it doesnt now.
Tried:
Removed HD, RAM, dvd drive, wifi adapter.. still no boot.
Tried all the tricks with taking battery out, holding power button, etc.
tried warming up the case really hot with a hairdryer. Was considering putting it in the fridge to see if the opposite is my issue. Unsoldered pins etc.
Think I’m narrowing it down to motherboard.
Sometimes i get a fan, most times i dont. If i get a fan it will boot, every now and again.
any other way to diagnose motherboard? I dont have an external monitor, but conisdering that sometimes it boots up fine im taking the monitor to be fine.
Just practically taken the motherboard out to get the serial number, sonim happy to swap it, if i can get a confirmation its that.
Interestingly after i took a lot of bits off it and started it offered me f2 to get to bios. Did that. Reset system time, booted. Now wont again.

How do I verify the power supply brick is supplying the right juice?

If I manage to get a boot should I try to flash bios? Or would that compromise swapping motherboards if it gets to that.

Thanks.
 
Solution
I had multiple laptops with integrated graphics chips which had intermitted booting. Exactly same issue as yours.
The freezer trick aint really safe for electronics when your booting it up after can be condensation etc and risk hurting your components.
You can try mild reflow on gpu like i said and it that makes issue away for awhile its defindetly gpu, and you said freezer does same thing just makes it more obvious.

Its rare laptops have changable graphics, if reflow makes it work you can try oven method but dont use too much temperature like some guides say 200-210 THIS IS TOO MUCH. 190c is absolute max and 180c better because temperature inside oven can change and be -30/+30.

The point here is not fully melt solder anyway that...
Mar 19, 2018
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Update. My bios is the latest version. 1.50

I’m holding off flashing it, assuming the likelihood of it being corrupted is lower than other issues.

I know this because I managed I boot it. Now I’m wary of turning it off. I need to solve this with it powered on.

Updating all kinds of virus/malware programs to give it a thorough clean.

Any advice at this stage would be amazing.

I should see if it starts in safe mode.

Anything else?
 

fagetti

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Mar 1, 2018
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First. If you get black screen and NOTHING on bootup, not even toshiba screen and cant enter bios this is not a software or driver issue so trying malware scans wont do you any good.

Same thing with anything Windows related.

Usually intermitted booting is gpu faulty, but can be sometimes else less often.
First thing is download latest bios which is 1.50 like you said, disable´antivirus and Windows firewall and flash it. Always keep charger plugged when flashing bios. If this wont solve issue then:

test charger with multimeter to see if voltage is fluctuating, check google for info how

When disassemblying look Graphics card and try very mild reflow, remove it from motherboard to do this. ONLY GRAPHICS CHIP ! dont "reflow" anything else
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VM-dGerj0U
dont use high temperature and not too long or too close. You just want to test if issue is in gpu, if it is then better reflow ask me how or replace gpu (better choice)

1. remove power cable and battery and press power button for 1min just hold it. Attach only power cable and try to boot, does it boot everytime with only cable without battery?
2. Try boot with no ram(do you get any lights / beeps), with 1 ram stick only, switch places
Reseat GPU and look if thermal paste is old then replace
3. disassembly (look video for your model) until you can remove screen cable and other connectors, dont remove motherboard completely out yet, try now boot with power cable. If you see fan spinup screen is the issue, íf fan starts every boot i mean
Test dc jack with multimeter and see if it works (plugin charger)

Look for bios round battery, remove it and try to boot few times with power cable, or replace it with new cr2032 3v battery
4. continue disassembly until you have only motherboard, 1 ram, cpu, fan, dc jack and cable to external monitor,(or not needed because you can see if fan turns every time) , power button cable (if needed some motherboards have button)
Try boot with only these, put motherboard to cardboard or wooden table without any dirt and look nothing is shorting.

reseat cpu

 
Mar 19, 2018
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Many thanks for a thoughtful reply. Very helpful.




Correct. Nothing but black screen, no logo, no bios. Also no fan.... If the fan starts the pc usually boots. Is no fan a huge indicator?



I have the latest BOIS already installed. I'm wary of risking a flash in case of issues during.




I'm prepared to try to reflow the GPU. Ive read about it, and will certainly study more before attempting. Right now, i have the 'put it in the freezer for 5 minutes' trick, which seems to work all the time. If i can definitely blame the GPU, ill try that before purchasing a new one.



Ive had the GPU out to try and spot anomalies. Nothing to see. Reapplied paste, blew out the slot with canned air, cleaned everything i could see.

So, the fan, if i dont get a fan when it fails to boot, does that mean anything specific?

Thanks again.

 

fagetti

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Mar 1, 2018
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I had multiple laptops with integrated graphics chips which had intermitted booting. Exactly same issue as yours.
The freezer trick aint really safe for electronics when your booting it up after can be condensation etc and risk hurting your components.
You can try mild reflow on gpu like i said and it that makes issue away for awhile its defindetly gpu, and you said freezer does same thing just makes it more obvious.

Its rare laptops have changable graphics, if reflow makes it work you can try oven method but dont use too much temperature like some guides say 200-210 THIS IS TOO MUCH. 190c is absolute max and 180c better because temperature inside oven can change and be -30/+30.

The point here is not fully melt solder anyway that would mean all your components fall off board. you can only do that with ir station or heatgun but its harder and fails more often.

Remove all tapes and thermal paste before oven, use multiple qubes of tinfoil underneath card so it wont touch anything. After oven dont let temperature drop too quickly. Just open oven door for a little with 100degrees and then put it 0degrees and door little open, leave it like that for 30mins before touching
 
Solution
Mar 19, 2018
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Looking into replacement GPU’s. I’d be happier with that, if it was a new one over reflowing, although don’t doubt its a valid solution, albeit temporarily.

Can I drop in any GTX770m? They all seem to have the code N14E-GS-A1. Although other serials don’t tend to match.

Most of them are listed for Dell or Alienware. I’m assuming they are all good to go.

I’m after a brand new one as I don’t trust the history of a used. I could quite easily be buying a reflowed one which I can do with my own.

Also, is there any issue with swapping this? Will my BIOS recognize it?
 

fagetti

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Mar 1, 2018
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Before bying new gpu do mild reflow and see if that makes gpu work for like a week or so.. This means its defindetly gpu faulty.

Dont but new one before your absolutely sure. I would make a weak reflow then see how long it works or does it affect it at all. Dont do freezer tricks etc while testing this. If reflow works perfectly for some time and then back to same issue then lets discuss new gpu or better reflow.

There is different possibilities depending on your laptop but like i sais later.
 
Mar 19, 2018
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So, medium heating from a heat gun revived the GPU.

The laptop was working every day as long as I only started it once, and only rebooted from very cold. But then that stopped being effective.

I did try the freezer trick which didn't work, but the heat gun did revive it. I would say i didn't heat it enough to melt solder, and i believe the heat gun trick is doing something to the chip itself, whatever that could be.

So, i need a new card as i cant have the threat of it going out again over me.

How do i find a new card for a Toshiba X75-A7298? Someone advised me I cant just drop one from another brand of computer in. There are plenty for sale for Dell or Alienware machines.

Any advise greatly received.
 

fagetti

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I will look into it. Are you happy with same graphics card model or want a upgrade while at it? Upgrading might be also possible. This depends on few factors.
Btw never seen toshiba laptop with removable graphics and cpu, this is a diamond model really. Almost all toshiba i try to fix end up in the trash :D
 

fagetti

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Also dont put it in freezer again mate this is not a good idea. And about reflowing if you really did melt solder below whole chip it would been killed probably. You need preheater underneath motherboard and very slow heating. Thats why whith just heatgun dont go 220c temperature or it wont work anymore.

One way you could revive this for abit longer time is "oven fix" because you can set temperature. You should cover big capacitors with thermal tape or aluminum tape <= eeven better

If you still want to try this while searching for new gpu i can help tutorial

EDIT: found alot of threads about x70 x75 overheating leading to gpu failure. If you buy new gpu or oven old one then you need very good thermal paste so this wont happen again, do you remember what temperatures you had while gaming? Also vrm cooling should be better., you might need cooling pad and add more holes to bottom. lapping heatsink is a good idea too
 
Mar 19, 2018
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I’m not looking for more oven,heat gun fixes right now. I’ve identified the GPU as the cause of my issue so want to replace it. As fast as possible.

This Toshiba was a pretty decent machine a few years ago. It’s still doing everything i need of it right now, i work with a lot of video, as well as gaming.

I’d be interested in an upgrade to the GPU.

Where do I find a card?
 
Mar 19, 2018
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Ive never monitored the temps while stressing the GPU, although have thought things are warm. I’d be keen to increase cooling for sure. Looking forward to getting this laptop back on its feet, its been great to me. It’s a bit big to carry around, i got the 19” version which i dont think are made anymore. But It’s nice to have the screen size at times.

Ive been using something called TG-7 while reassembling, its what was available at Best Buy, so it certainly wont be great.

More holes in the bottom would be easy.

Thanks for your help.

 
Mar 19, 2018
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Not sure if this is relevant.

Laptop has stopped booting again.

I completely removed the GPU card, to see if there was any onboard graphics chip that might let it at least boot. Still doesnt boot, but the fan now starts up when the on button is pressed. Since having problems, the fan has also not been acting normally.


 

fagetti

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Mar 1, 2018
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Look ebay.com (or if you live in eu then maybe ebay.co.uk) or amazon / aliexpress. These have cheapest prices. And i wouldnt go for used because it could be reflowed / reballed.

If you have stock processor for this model .i7-4700MQ it has intel hd 4600 integrated graphics. Thing is you maybe have to select this in bios, which brings this again to reflowing your old gpu if you want to use integrated graphics while waiting for new gpu. Just reflow again same heat dont over do it, put it back to motherboard and when you boot go to bios and change option there to integrated graphics and save with f10.

What do you mean fan not acting normally? You should btw open fan casing and clean it well, if you think its not working well that could be reason your gpu died in the first place cause of overheating.
 

fagetti

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When your testing laptop without everything connected remmeber that you wont short anything out. forgot screen connector example?

If you go for toshiba 770m exact model price is not that bad.. i find price from 100 to 200 euros : https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.X770m+toshiba.TRS0&_nkw=770m+toshiba&_sacat=0

If you want to upgrade i think 780m would be best option since vrm:s look to be on almost same places, this is important for cooling. It still requires some modding so you can cool all vrms with pads. Its also clocked alot higher on memory and slightly higher on core, this will increase heat aswell.

If you can find thread somewhre about people upgrading toshiba x75 or x70 to 780m and it works then you could go for it.
Or just go with 770m for less heat and no modding required and overclock it slightly. Laptop cooling pad would be nice also it will decrease temperatures.
 
Mar 19, 2018
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All the cards i see on EBay are used. Where can i find a new one?

Eurocom.com have loads for sale, but not mine listed.



 
Mar 19, 2018
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I’m just not sure I trust a used card hasn’t been abused, and ill be in this same situation in 6 months time.

Speaking to Eurocom, they say the new Alienware ones can be configured for my Toshiba. But at $600...... ouch.