My system is down... Need help with a diagnosis

[sb14blue]

A couple of days ago, my laptop began crashing. I would get a quick blue screen with letters and numbers and then the system would shutdown. At first I was able to reboot, but now I cannot. The only thing that seems to be functioning when I power up the system are the fans. No BIOS, no spinning hard drive. At first, I thought the LCD went dead, but then I tried plugging in an external monitor. Nothing. My first quess is the motherboard is dead. My second quess is the video card is dead. The system is five years old with very heavy use. What do you think? Thanks.

Averatec 3200
1ghz, 512mb ram

 

[kh4130]

Try removing the battery, RAM, and HDD and see if you can even get to BIOS or an error code. That will help you figure out if its the mobo.

 

[gsaldivar]

Process of elimination: remove the battery, try booting with only the ac adapter - does the problem still exist? remove/swap out the RAM - does the problem still exist? remove/swap out the hard drive - does the problem still exist? etc etc...

 

[sb14blue]

Thank you kh4130 and gsaldivar for your advice. I tried everything except swapping the RAM. I do not have another RAM stick. I swapped the HDD. I removed the battery and tried powering up using only the power cord. I still have the same problem. The only thing that works are the fans. There are no motherboard error beeps nor can I get to BIOS since the LCD is not working. Does this sound like a RAM problem or a motherboard problem? I would like to go to Craiglist or eBay to buy a replacement. What should I buy first? A RAM stick or a motherboard. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Paperlantern]

Id bet money its the video or proc. The behavior is classic for a thermal problem, or capacitor problem. Multiple shutdowns over the course of a period of time, each time the problem occuring and the hardware is shutting itself down to avoid damage and finally it caught up to it and damage was not avoided. Scrap the laptop and buy a new one.

There is a minor chance it could still be RAM, the machine only has ONE stick? If there are two try running the machine with only one at a time. If only one you have no choice but to purchase or borrow a stick to rule it out before going with the above diagnosis.

 

[gsaldivar]

I agree with Paperlantern. Try swapping out the RAM next - beg/borrow/buy if you have to. There is still a small chance that is the problem and it is one that is easily fixed. If the problem persists after swapping the RAM, and you have ruled out everything else, you'll be spending way more time & money than bringing a 5-year old laptop back to life than its worth. Time for a new laptop!

Sorry & good luck!