[trvstrvs]

Hi there, here are the specs and comp. basics first to get them out of the way:
Averatec 5100A series
2GB RAM (upgraded 10 months ago)
Windows XP
No new software or hardware
No recent errors
I forget the SPU speed, but I think it's 1.8G (AMD)
The laptop, I believe is from 2005/2004
Feel free to ask me any questions.


I was playing games, etc. and my laptop overheated (that's not the problem, it's happened before). It crashed, I let it cool off, and it started up. At the log in screen, my wireless mouse worked and only a select few keys on the keyboard worked (L, A, arrow keys only when shift is held down, and that's about it). Since the keyboard wasn't working properly, I couldn't log in. I restarted the computer again, with the same thing.

I then took off the panel underneath on my laptop, exposing my RAM, heat sink, fan, etc. and cleaned the dust out of the vent. I took out the fan, wiped it off, took off the heat sink, wiped it off, took out the top slot of RAM to see if there was anything underneath, and put everything back.
I plugged my computer back in, hit the power button and I see the light ome on for 3 seconds, then I hear a power down sound, and it's off. The fan never started, the screen never came on. This happens several times.

Not knowing what the problem was, I researched it real quick, and with no avail, started taking apart my laptop, to search for a sign. After I put it all back together without finding anything, I tried the power again. Every couple of times I hit the power button, the power light turns on, after 10 seconds I hear the HD start to spin up and everything immediately powers down. The last (most recent) time I tried the power, the machine was on for about a minute and a half (nothing on the screen) just spinning the fan, faster and faster. Eventually, i see the HD light blinking about a minute 20 in, and I hear it spin up and the whole system is shot again.


This is where I am stuck. Can someone please help me?

I appreciate it.

Thanks,
-Travis

[DerekC]

I’ve only worked on one laptop in my life, but personally I think it sounds like its overheating. I'd reseat the heatsink/fan. If it's not mounted right, it will overheat very quickly (assuming you haven’t “cooked” it from overheating already). Also when you "took out the fan, wiped it off, took off the heat sink, wiped it off", did you reapply any thermal paste?

[trvstrvs]

Hey there,

I did put the heat sink and fan back on properly. I didn't put any fresh thermal paste on mainly because I don't have any around. However, there is still some thermal paste on there. NOt a lot, but some.

I just tried the computer again this morning. I don't know if it's a coincidence, but it wouldn't respond to the power button until I took out the battery, unplugged the power cord, then only plugged the cord back in. It ran for about 2 minutes, until it started reading the HD, then it crashed.

What I find strange about this is that nothing comes on the screen, so it's just sitting idle, not even starting the POST. Also, it waits two minutes to try and access the HD, which is very strange.