Did I fry the motherboard?

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Wakrak

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#269728 4-Apr-2020 21:11

I recently opened up a Toshiba Satellite c55-a-5100 laptop, cleaning out the CPU fan/heatsink and re-applying new (Cooler Master high Performance thermal compound kit, possibly conductive?) thermal paste. I did not take the CPU out of its socket. I also cleaned the top of the chipset, otherwise nothing else was majorly tinkered with. On putting everything back together (twice now), the power button comes on, but I'm met with a blank screen. I've tried connecting to an external monitor with no luck either. The laptop fan doesn't spin at all now.

Any thoughts?

snnet

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#2454676 4-Apr-2020 22:27

Try unseating the RAM and reinstalling it. If there's a spare slot, try moving it to that. You might have knocked it somehow

Wakrak

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#2454679 4-Apr-2020 22:35

Tried both ram sticks in both slots, individually and together. Tried with and without ram, with and without SSD, with adapter plugged in, and just with battery.

No beeps, but a few computer grunts. Got about 20 tabs open (PC desktop), so hopefully I find an answer. Seems to be a common problem. Maybe re-seat everything a few more times and see what happens.

Guessing it's something to do with motherboard or a cable, considering that no beeps come through.

wellygary

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#2454686 4-Apr-2020 22:54

You were wearing an anti static strap or at least regularly grounding yourself ?

Wakrak

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#2454687 4-Apr-2020 22:57

I was not. I'm guessing a laptop may be more sensitive to that sort of thing? I've never done so building desktop computers. Didn't feel any sort of shock or jolt either. But could be the answer considering the predicament I'm in.

I'll try rebuilding again and see how I go.

lNomNoml

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#2454691 4-Apr-2020 23:23

Wakrak:

I was not. I'm guessing a laptop may be more sensitive to that sort of thing? I've never done so building desktop computers. Didn't feel any sort of shock or jolt either. But could be the answer considering the predicament I'm in.

I'll try rebuilding again and see how I go.

You won't feel it even if you think you are not doing any damage in reality you are, static and computers/laptop don't mix.

Redo everything you did and make sure everything is connected, if still no joy sorry to say but's sounds like it's dead.

Wakrak

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#2454704 5-Apr-2020 02:00

Sorted it out. Took everything apart again and double checked everything. Probably was the ram as the first person mentioned. Quite finicky things in a laptop. Difficult to tell when it's in the socket correctly.

Thank you all for your help. Slowly but surely teaching myself about computers.

Lenovo

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Lias

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#2454708 5-Apr-2020 03:10

Always use static precautions, because ESD usually causes subtle degradation and modern electronics are very susceptible to ESD damage because of miniaturization.

Video is a bit cringy, but basic guide to avoiding static when working on PCs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5FswkQ4bi0

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