new lcd causes gateway laptop to turn off immediately

Gateway nv50a02u Laptop came in with a broken LED/LCD screen Cracked across the center. Booted machine up and using an external monitor determined that everything else seems ok. Quick hardware test with MRI bootable cd confirmed that everything was fine. (we use this to determine if machine was dropped or stepped on) Confirmed with customer that he jerked the lid open from the right corner and the screen snapped. Opened lcd cover and using model number off of the old screen we ordered a new one. After new LED/LCD arrived I pulled battery, memory, hard drive, wifi card, and dvd drive out of machine as well as clearing all static charge on the mobo. I used a wrist strap connected to a grounding wire that runs to the ground strap on a nearby wall plug. after replacing the led/lcd I plugged in only the power adapter. apon pressing the power button the power light comes on for 2 seconds and goes off. I then placed memory and dvd drive to see if it would post but to no avail. I pulled the bios battery for 3 hours (as I could not determine where the clear cmos pads were) and still no boot. I have asked gateway and they are telling me to pay them 130.00 and they will walk me through troubleshooting it. (they are horrible now that they are owned by Acer). There does not seem to be a lid switch that I can Identify but I am unable to determine if there is one built into the lcd or not.

Anyone have an Idea?

Anyone???

Anyone know of a support forum for Gateway? I looked at their site and there's nothing, I also looked at Acer's website but that's worse than nothing.

mohavepc said:

Gateway nv50a02u Laptop came in with a broken LED/LCD screen Cracked across the center. Booted machine up and using an external monitor determined that everything else seems ok. Quick hardware test with MRI bootable cd confirmed that everything was fine. (we use this to determine if machine was dropped or stepped on) Confirmed with customer that he jerked the lid open from the right corner and the screen snapped. Opened lcd cover and using model number off of the old screen we ordered a new one. After new LED/LCD arrived I pulled battery, memory, hard drive, wifi card, and dvd drive out of machine as well as clearing all static charge on the mobo. I used a wrist strap connected to a grounding wire that runs to the ground strap on a nearby wall plug. after replacing the led/lcd I plugged in only the power adapter. apon pressing the power button the power light comes on for 2 seconds and goes off. I then placed memory and dvd drive to see if it would post but to no avail. I pulled the bios battery for 3 hours (as I could not determine where the clear cmos pads were) and still no boot. I have asked gateway and they are telling me to pay them 130.00 and they will walk me through troubleshooting it. (they are horrible now that they are owned by Acer). There does not seem to be a lid switch that I can Identify but I am unable to determine if there is one built into the lcd or not.

Anyone have an Idea?

Anyone???

Hi mohavepc,

It could be the new faulty LCD causing the system not to POST. Have you removed the new LCD and just connected the old one to check if it POST fines with the old one.

There are times when an incompatible part installed on the system also causes the motherboard to short. So check with a different AC adapter first and then with the motherboard.

Keep us posted with the results so we can advise you further.

SandeepP said:

Hi mohavepc,

It could be the new faulty LCD causing the system not to POST. Have you removed the new LCD and just connected the old one to check if it POST fines with the old one.

There are times when an incompatible part installed on the system also causes the motherboard to short. So check with a different AC adapter first and then with the motherboard.

Keep us posted with the results so we can advise you further.

I have tried the old led/lcd, an aftermarket power adapter and with everything but memory, power, keyboard disconnected. I even tried with the onboard keyboard disconnected and again with a usb kb plugged in. I don't understand wit all the precautions taken how this could end up a mobo issue. I still think it has something to do with the lid switch that I cannot locate.

mohavepc said:

SandeepP said:

Hi mohavepc,

It could be the new faulty LCD causing the system not to POST. Have you removed the new LCD and just connected the old one to check if it POST fines with the old one.

There are times when an incompatible part installed on the system also causes the motherboard to short. So check with a different AC adapter first and then with the motherboard.

Keep us posted with the results so we can advise you further.

I have tried the old led/lcd, an aftermarket power adapter and with everything but memory, power, keyboard disconnected. I even tried with the onboard keyboard disconnected and again with a usb kb plugged in. I don't understand wit all the precautions taken how this could end up a mobo issue. I still think it has something to do with the lid switch that I cannot locate.

Hi mohavepc,

I understand you have checked with a different LCD and also power adapter as well and system still doesn't POST.

It would be better if you check the system with a different motherboard to isolate the issue. Also, let us know if you are getting any beep codes or any diagnostic lights on the system.

Sometimes while connecting the LCD cable to motherboard can also damage the system. I understand it highly unlikely but it is possible.

I am sorry I have not heard for an LCD switch to enable the LCD of a laptop. I have worked on various systems you need to connect the LDVS cable and aux cable if any and it should work fine.

Keep us posted with the results so we can advise you further.

Thanks Sandeep P,

The switch I am after is the sleep, hibernate lid switch which puts the machine to sleep when the lid is closed. Usually it takes 3 forms.
1) A switch mounted on the hinge that is engaged when the lid reaches a certain degree from the keyboard.
2) a switch mounted along the edge below the screen between the hinges which is also engaged when the screen reaches a certain degree from the keyboard.
3) a magnetic switch in a tiny glass tube that when the lid is closed a magnet mounted on the lid causes the bimetal switch to close.

I have found none of those three on this machine, there has to be a lid switch somewhere. I have had faulty lid switched cause this issue in the past when the machine gets the signal from the power on switch but turns off seconds later because the bios believes the lid is closed. I was able to replace the switches or at least bypass them and the machine would function just fine with the bypassed ones not sleeping when the lid was closed.

The NV52a has a few Google hits relating to having to move the lid to it's most open position in order to boot. this is an nv50a so I am not sure if it has the same switch. all in all Highly frustrating.

*Edit* oh and no beeps even with all memory out. I don't believe it is on long enough to post. it turns on count 1,2 and off.

mohavepc said:

Thanks Sandeep P,

The switch I am after is the sleep, hibernate lid switch which puts the machine to sleep when the lid is closed. Usually it takes 3 forms.
1) A switch mounted on the hinge that is engaged when the lid reaches a certain degree from the keyboard.
2) a switch mounted along the edge below the screen between the hinges which is also engaged when the screen reaches a certain degree from the keyboard.
3) a magnetic switch in a tiny glass tube that when the lid is closed a magnet mounted on the lid causes the bimetal switch to close.

I have found none of those three on this machine, there has to be a lid switch somewhere. I have had faulty lid switched cause this issue in the past when the machine gets the signal from the power on switch but turns off seconds later because the bios believes the lid is closed. I was able to replace the switches or at least bypass them and the machine would function just fine with the bypassed ones not sleeping when the lid was closed.

The NV52a has a few Google hits relating to having to move the lid to it's most open position in order to boot. this is an nv50a so I am not sure if it has the same switch. all in all Highly frustrating.

*Edit* oh and no beeps even with all memory out. I don't believe it is on long enough to post. it turns on count 1,2 and off.

Hi mohavepc,

Thanks for the detailed information. I was aware about the sensor which detects whether the LCD is closed or not. However, when you mentioned LCD switch it wasn't clear.

This kind of information can be provided by the manufacturer only. So it would be best to reach them out through email and check with them.

And, as you are not getting any beeps on the system as well with memory removed I believe system is not even complete POST.

If the power button led goes off in 2 seconds you should check the system on AC adapter only. You can also check with a different power port( if port is a replaceable part) also ensure power button is secured on the hinge.

Keep us posted with the results so we can advise you further.

SandeepP said:

mohavepc said:

Thanks Sandeep P,

The switch I am after is the sleep, hibernate lid switch which puts the machine to sleep when the lid is closed. Usually it takes 3 forms.
1) A switch mounted on the hinge that is engaged when the lid reaches a certain degree from the keyboard.
2) a switch mounted along the edge below the screen between the hinges which is also engaged when the screen reaches a certain degree from the keyboard.
3) a magnetic switch in a tiny glass tube that when the lid is closed a magnet mounted on the lid causes the bimetal switch to close.

I have found none of those three on this machine, there has to be a lid switch somewhere. I have had faulty lid switched cause this issue in the past when the machine gets the signal from the power on switch but turns off seconds later because the bios believes the lid is closed. I was able to replace the switches or at least bypass them and the machine would function just fine with the bypassed ones not sleeping when the lid was closed.

The NV52a has a few Google hits relating to having to move the lid to it's most open position in order to boot. this is an nv50a so I am not sure if it has the same switch. all in all Highly frustrating.

*Edit* oh and no beeps even with all memory out. I don't believe it is on long enough to post. it turns on count 1,2 and off.

Hi mohavepc,

Thanks for the detailed information. I was aware about the sensor which detects whether the LCD is closed or not. However, when you mentioned LCD switch it wasn't clear.

This kind of information can be provided by the manufacturer only. So it would be best to reach them out through email and check with them.

And, as you are not getting any beeps on the system as well with memory removed I believe system is not even complete POST.

If the power button led goes off in 2 seconds you should check the system on AC adapter only. You can also check with a different power port( if port is a replaceable part) also ensure power button is secured on the hinge.

Keep us posted with the results so we can advise you further.

Thank you Sandeep,
I checked with battery out, different power adapter, DC jack is solder on but I am getting the 19v through the motherboard and 4.3 at the battery. I have a feeling it is a lcd lid switch issue or a mobo. I have reached out to gateway ans have been told that for a measley $150.00 US they will help me troubleshoot it and if it is the motherboard out of warranty replacement is $350.00

mohavepc said:

SandeepP said:

mohavepc said:

Thanks Sandeep P,

The switch I am after is the sleep, hibernate lid switch which puts the machine to sleep when the lid is closed. Usually it takes 3 forms.
1) A switch mounted on the hinge that is engaged when the lid reaches a certain degree from the keyboard.
2) a switch mounted along the edge below the screen between the hinges which is also engaged when the screen reaches a certain degree from the keyboard.
3) a magnetic switch in a tiny glass tube that when the lid is closed a magnet mounted on the lid causes the bimetal switch to close.

I have found none of those three on this machine, there has to be a lid switch somewhere. I have had faulty lid switched cause this issue in the past when the machine gets the signal from the power on switch but turns off seconds later because the bios believes the lid is closed. I was able to replace the switches or at least bypass them and the machine would function just fine with the bypassed ones not sleeping when the lid was closed.

The NV52a has a few Google hits relating to having to move the lid to it's most open position in order to boot. this is an nv50a so I am not sure if it has the same switch. all in all Highly frustrating.

*Edit* oh and no beeps even with all memory out. I don't believe it is on long enough to post. it turns on count 1,2 and off.

Hi mohavepc,

Thanks for the detailed information. I was aware about the sensor which detects whether the LCD is closed or not. However, when you mentioned LCD switch it wasn't clear.

This kind of information can be provided by the manufacturer only. So it would be best to reach them out through email and check with them.

And, as you are not getting any beeps on the system as well with memory removed I believe system is not even complete POST.

If the power button led goes off in 2 seconds you should check the system on AC adapter only. You can also check with a different power port( if port is a replaceable part) also ensure power button is secured on the hinge.

Keep us posted with the results so we can advise you further.

Thank you Sandeep,
I checked with battery out, different power adapter, DC jack is solder on but I am getting the 19v through the motherboard and 4.3 at the battery. I have a feeling it is a lcd lid switch issue or a mobo. I have reached out to gateway ans have been told that for a measley $150.00 US they will help me troubleshoot it and if it is the motherboard out of warranty replacement is $350.00

I've had more or less the same problem with a Toshiba laptop, and unfortunately the problem was the motherboard. There was a magnetic switch/connection/bar in the bezel of the screen that when closed somehow made contact with a sensor on the motherboard just left of the touchpad. This went faulty so the laptop kept thinking the lid was closed, no matter what power settings are used the laptop continuously thinks the lid is closed. The only workaround was to connect an external monitor, so the laptop is now a PC .... cheaper than throwing it away