Fujitsu laptop dying

[Hammerman]

My wifes 17" Fujitsu Lifebook N6410 with the integrated ATI radeon mobility x1400 is slowly puking out... Looks like the graphics chip/card is dying and reboots or goes into VPU recovery mode. As far as I know, the x1400 is integrated and not replaceable. Anyone know of a place where I can pick up a new Fujitsu motherboard or is the x1400 able to be replaced? Fujitsu says it may run $500 or so to fix and the damn laptop is worth only that now. Thanks..

 

[mpilchfamily]

Time to just throw it away. The GPU is integrated on the main board of the laptop. So basicly you would be replacing the bulk of the unit and spending well more then what its worth. Save that $500 and att another $200 and get a new laptop.

 

[MichaelD]

I'll bet this old notebook is choked full of dust. Blown out the heatsinks lately?

 

[Hammerman]

It looked clean when I cracked it open..... having to toss it is what I don't want to do right now.... I really need to save it.

 

[richierich1212]

Originally posted by: Hammerman
It looked clean when I cracked it open..... having to toss it is what I don't want to do right now.... I really need to save it.

Well how much can you sell the dying laptop on ebay for? Even if you manage to fix/replace the mobo who knows what will go out later on.

 

[Slugbait]

Oh, good gawd, people...

In the majority of situations, VPU has absolutely NOTHING to do with "dying hardware". Tons of people get VPU with cards as new as the 4870, this is a common issue. Basically, your graphics processor is no longer able to respond to display driver commands.

In other words, it's your drivers.

You've got two options:

a) Uninstall Catalyst drivers and do a driver sweep in Safe Mode. Then install the L&G Catalyst drivers.
b) Back up, system restoration, L&G drivers (this will also give you a significant perf increase, since the system will be completely cleansed).

Have fun.

 

[PeanutButter]

Some issues have also happened with my N3510. It would start normally up until the Starting Windows screen and the display would crap up showing lines everywhere. It would eventually boot into Windows with the lines everywhere, but would eventually bluescreen mentioning video drivers crashing. I gave it to my dad to look at and he figured out that holding down on heatsink (I believe, and i'm not sure how he's putting pressure on it) stopped the issue and he was able to install reinstall Windows. I figured it could be a heatsink mounting problem if that's the case.

 

[Hammerman]

I have an extra hard drive I popped in and re-installed xp.... It works in basic mode without any video drivers installed but the moment I install the catalyst drivers (the latest ones on AMD's site) , it flips out. Ubuntu run from usb runs very nice... ARRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!!! In regards to Slugbait, what is L&G??

 

[Slugbait]

Originally posted by: Hammerman
In regards to Slugbait, what is L&G??

"Latest & Greatest"

However, I forgot to point one thing out...you can't always use standard drivers with portable computers. For example, a laptop I used to have had an nVidia chip, but the only way I could install the latest standard drivers was to hack an INI file that would allow install...then promptly lost the ability to hibernate when I closed the laptop, and burned thru the battery.

So I should have specified the L&G drivers for your laptop directly from Fujitsu's download page.

 

[Hammerman]

It is not a driver issue.... I believe the memory on the graphics chip or the memory chip itself is going bad or possibly overheated.. For about a month, blue and green dots started appearing all over the screen... Then about 2 weeks ago, it would just turn black (the screen) and she would have to reboot. Last week, it was black screen/locking up AND having the VPU recovery..... This week, it would reboot itself or lock up constantly..... I did the driver update from Fujitsu a few days back and that really made it act up and flip out... Looks like a toast? Should I get the butter out?

 

[Slugbait]

Ahhh, well, that's nice info to know. Thanks.

Scrape the toast with a flat knife before you put the butter on...

 

[mpilchfamily]

So it is a heardware issue. Unfortunatly the hardware is not on a seperate card so your forced to replace the entire main board as mentioned before. So just like the manufacture said it will cost you about $500. In which case your better off getting a new laptop. That or find a fuctioning one of the same model on ebay and swap the boards.

 

[Hammerman]

I am going to pull the motherboard and see if the graphics chip is soldered or socketed.... I might be able to rescue it one way or the other... (chip or ebay motherboard) Thanks.... appreciate the help.

 

[mpilchfamily]

If the chip isn't on a separte card then it can't be removed. Be it on a seprate card or on the main board itself. So if its not on a seprate card you won't be removing it from the system.

 

[Hammerman]

Anyone know where I might be able to pick up a motherboard for the Fujitsu n6410 without paying $$$$$$$$$$ ? Thanks...