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Help Needed - Sony Viao PCG-FX190 - No video out

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First post, by gryffinwings

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Hi guys, I have an old Sony Viao PCG-FX190, it has a Pentium III 850MHz, 128 MB RAM, 30 GB Hard drive. I've got a brand new CMOS battery installed and I've got good universal AC power adapter.

Symptoms I am getting:
1. No video out on the screen or external monitor during power up, but the power LED is illuminated.
2. Hard drive makes sounds but the hard drive LED does not blink.
3. Cap lock does not work.
4. No audible beeps.

My thoughts are that the CPU isn't functioning properly, I have been able to remove it, and the thermal compound is hard as a rock, I am going to apply fresh and see if reinstalling it has any affect.

Feedback and advice is much appreciated.

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Last edited by gryffinwings on 2023-08-02, 20:25. Edited 1 time in total.

Main Computer: Custom - Intel 12900K, Asus Nvidia 3080 Ti, 64 GB DDR5.
Retro Computer: Packard Bell Legend I - AMD 286, 640KB RAM
Retro Computer: Dell Dimension 4400 - Pentium 4 2.8 GHz FSB 400 MHz, ATi Radeon 9600XT, Sound Blaster Live!, 768 MB RAM.

Reply 1 of 4, by nfraser01

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Thoughts:

  • Is the power supply providing enough amps?
    Does the coolign fan spin up - if jammed may prevent a boot
    Possibly a DC to DC circuitry fault?
    Have you toggled the external display on using keyboard shortcut?

Start by removing components to troubleshoot...
Once down to the bare motherboard check for "hot" chips

HTH

Reply 2 of 4, by gryffinwings

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nfraser01 wrote on 2023-08-02, 16:18:
Thoughts: […]
Show full quote

Thoughts:

  • Is the power supply providing enough amps?
    Does the coolign fan spin up - if jammed may prevent a boot
    Possibly a DC to DC circuitry fault?
    Have you toggled the external display on using keyboard shortcut?

Start by removing components to troubleshoot...
Once down to the bare motherboard check for "hot" chips

HTH

Power supply provides 4.5-4.9 amps.

Cooling fans spings up then stops.

Not sure how to test DC to DC circuitry

I have toggled the external display on the keyboard, but it doesn't do anything, likely because the laptop isn't posting, as I'm not getting any response from the lock keys either.

Checking for hot chips would be down to touch, as I don't have an infrared camera, although I do wish I had one, they are expensive though.

Main Computer: Custom - Intel 12900K, Asus Nvidia 3080 Ti, 64 GB DDR5.
Retro Computer: Packard Bell Legend I - AMD 286, 640KB RAM
Retro Computer: Dell Dimension 4400 - Pentium 4 2.8 GHz FSB 400 MHz, ATi Radeon 9600XT, Sound Blaster Live!, 768 MB RAM.

Reply 3 of 4, by nfraser01

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gryffinwings wrote on 2023-08-02, 22:26:

Not sure how to test DC to DC circuitry

You'd need the schematics/hardware maintenance docs if they exist... Beyond my skills anyway, but someone here may know.

gryffinwings wrote on 2023-08-02, 22:26:

I have toggled the external display on the keyboard, but it doesn't do anything, likely because the laptop isn't posting, as I'm not getting any response from the lock keys either.

Good, just wanted to check you had done this...

gryffinwings wrote on 2023-08-02, 22:26:

Checking for hot chips would be down to touch, as I don't have an infrared camera, although I do wish I had one, they are expensive though.

I meant definately using your hands - thermal cameras are too expensive, even second-hand 🙁

Hope you get a break with this.

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