Motherboard failures on a laptop are a serious issue. Due to the nature of the failure of your computer, actually replacing the motherboard is not a viable or suggested option, as the motherboard replacement itself can simply cost too much, with the value of a new motherboard either matching or outstripping the value of the used laptop, especially if the laptop is out of warranty. Troubleshooting your computer before biting the bullet on a motherboard is recommended first.
Instructions
1. Check the "lid closed" switch of the computer. The lid-closed switch is what sends the signal to the LCD monitor of your laptop that it should go dark/turn off when closed. Sometimes this switch can become locked into the lid-closed position, even when the lid is open, making you believe a deeper problem (like the motherboard) exists when it does not. The lid-closed switch should be located near the hinges of your laptop monitor, where it meets with the base of the computer when closed.
2. Switch out the power adapter on your laptop and try multiple power outlets. Sometimes, the power adapter's indicator light is off, which could represent a problem with your adapter and not with your laptop itself. Or, the error could lie with the power outlet, so try multiple outlets before assuming your motherboard is broken.
3. Listen to your laptop when it is powered on, even if the screen is blank. Can you hear the laptop fan? If not, then this could be your problem, and it is a far more economical fix. Send your laptop to a professional to get the fan replaced.
4. Hook up your laptop to an external monitor via a VGA cable. Plug one end into the port on the side of your laptop, and the other into the external monitor, and power both on. If the external monitor works, then the problem lies with your LCD display on your laptop, and not the motherboard/video subset.
5. Ensure that your hard drive is in good working order. If you have doubts on this front, refrain from replacing your laptop and instead purchase a new, compatible hard drive (make sure it is the right size). Most laptops have a single-screw access point to the hard drive at the bottom of the base of the laptop. Unscrew the screw(s), take off the cover, and slip out the old hard drive, carefully replacing it with the new one by sliding it in.
6. Refrain from replacing the motherboard if none of the above steps work. While this should indeed narrow the problem down to just your motherboard, as mentioned above it is uneconomical and actually a fallacy to purchase and install a replacement motherboard. If the above troubleshooting steps do not yield results, your best bet is simply to buy a new, replacement laptop altogether.
Tags: your laptop, hard drive, external monitor, with your, from replacing