Motherboard failing?

[hazel123]

I did a clean install recently (within the last 3 months) following on from the issues in this thread (windows corrupt and BSOD's using graphic intensive tasks).

sfc /scannow - What is ndfhcdiscovery.dll?

Recently had a few bsod's and then laptop got stuck at login. I couldn't even run Kaspersky boot antivirus as it came up saying Windows was corrupt and it could damage my files if I ran kaspersky. Eventually took the hard drive out and backed up all my files then reinstalled from System Image. Ran CHKDSK and all ok. Ran Memtest and laptop turns itself off.

Memtest doesn't complete - computer shuts down. It's not overheating.

It could be power supply. Battery doesn't hold a charge for more than a few minutes so it's constantly plugged in and noticed PSU only works if cable is at a certain angle. I have sent for a new power supply.

But - I don't think it's the memory (ran memtest on previous thread). And even if it's the PSU, is it possible it could have short circuited and damaged the Motherboard? Assume the shutdowns due to loss of power are causing the Windows to corrupt.

Unfortunately don't have any bsod logs as reinstalled System Image.

Laptop turns on and runs Windows, but shuts down if PSU cable moves slightly. Ensured power cable was in working position before doing memtest.

Am using memtest 86+

At the start it says 4 CPU's, 2 started, 1 active - is that normal?

Thanks.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Hazel,
pretty common with lappys--
power Jack point faults.

Had to get my Mrs fixed, laptop not her, exactly same problem as you
£58 in my local repair shop.

As for Memtest shutdown, could be faulty RAM
If its got more than 1 stick
pull 1 run test then swap them over
Note
Different brand RAM can also cause problems.

Roy

 

[torchwood]

Hi Hazel,

no thats not normal.
open device manager
Anything have a small down arrow, or !
and unknown device
(suspect co-proccesser driver missing)


Roy

 

[mrjimphelps]

Hazel: Motherboard failures can be caused by a dead CMOS battery. Unfortunately, with a Sony Vaio you have to remove the back cover to get to the CMOS battery. It's not that hard to do, if you take your time, and if you are careful not to touch any metal parts in the computer while working on it (so as not to get static electricity on them).

After you have tried what others have suggested here, if it's still not fixed, replace the CMOS battery, to see if that fixes it.

The CMOS battery in a Sony Vaio laptop is smaller than other CMOS batteries, so don't buy one until you have removed the one already in the computer and gotten the part number off of it.

 

[Megahertz07]

Where is the PS bad contact, at the laptop DC input or at the PS AC input?
How do you know it isn't overheating? do you have a temperature monitor?

 

[hazel123]

Thanks all. PS bad contact is at the laptop end. Hope it isn't the CMOS battery - the back is a pig to take off. Ram sticks are both same brand (Crucial) brand new four years ago when I bought it used (it's 7 years old now). Memtest was fine 3 months ago. Could be the ram though I guess. Off to check device manager.

Ok - the not overheating is based on instinct not science lol. It isn't hot. I have had speccy on it and it runs at normal temperatures. It was cleaned out a year or so ago, which is how I know the back is a pig to take off.

As it has unexpectedly shut down a few times due to the power supply and blue screens I just wondered if this could have shorted and damaged the Motherboard.

I did try resetting cmos (battery out and power disconnected and holding start button down for 25 secs or so) but it made no difference.

Maybe it's just a nearly dead laptop?

 

[mrjimphelps]

If the laptop was overheating, you would either have (1) no air, or (2) extremely hot air, coming out of the side vent.

"No air" will be the case if the vent is clogged and therefore air can't get out, resulting in a very hot laptop.

If the air coming out is extremely hot, likely the bottom of the laptop will also be extremely hot.

Sounds like your power supply is definitely a culprit here. Hopefully it is the only culprit.

 

[hazel123]

Checked device Manager - no exclamation marks and all four processors showing. Decided to try Windows memory test and ran mdsched.exe . That ran and completed on start up and found no errors.

Yes some kind of hardware issue - hope it's not a number of hardware issues!

 

[hazel123]

I think there must be more than one hardware issue as it still blue screens with a few windows open and heavy graphics useage. So charger and graphics card maybe? I'll see what happens when the new charger comes.

It runs quite cool so not overheating

 

[torchwood]

AS i said before

Dont believe its a PSU problem, as your jack positioning is the critical factor.
(its an internal fault)

note
power interruption during updating WILL cause major problems.

Roy

 

[Megahertz07]

Boot from a windows installation disk go to repair and launch a CMD window.
I know you already ran check disk and system file check, but do it again
Type
chkdsk c: /f

then run system file check
sfc /scannow

I have seen a laptop that the soldering of the power jack was broken. Just melting the soldering with a soldering iron has fixed it.
As you intend to open the case, have a close look.

 

[hazel123]

AS i said before

Dont believe its a PSU problem, as your jack positioning is the critical factor.
(its an internal fault)

note
power interruption during updating WILL cause major problems.

Roy

Thanks. What is jack positioning please? Socket where PSU goes in? Also when you say power interruption will cause major problems - could this mean motherboard or other components being fried? I'm aware it can corrupt windows as had that twice now.

 

[hazel123]

Boot from a windows installation disk go to repair and launch a CMD window.
I know you already ran check disk and system file check, but do it again
Type
chkdsk c: /f

then run system file check
sfc /scannow

I have seen a laptop that the soldering of the power jack was broken. Just melting the soldering with a soldering iron has fixed it.
As you intend to open the case, have a close look.

Will do. Yes it could be the socket.

 

[mrjimphelps]

I think there must be more than one hardware issue as it still blue screens with a few windows open and heavy graphics useage. So charger and graphics card maybe? I'll see what happens when the new charger comes.

It runs quite cool so not overheating

I had a bad graphics card once, which caused all sorts of problems on my computer. I ran a program called Speedfan (http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php), which shows you the various internal temperatures in the computer. The graphics card was running super hot, so I replaced it, and the problem went away!

Speaking of temperature, make sure your internal fan is working. You should be able to hear it running. If you can't hear anything, then shut down the computer, put your ear to the computer, and turn on the computer. See if you can hear when the fan starts running.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Hazel.

YES, if when you plug in the power jack and it ONLY works in that >>exact<< position.
(dead giveaway)

This fault will not affect the internal electrical working ie fry the motherboard etc.
BUT it will cause major OS problems.


Roy

 

[Megahertz07]

much better than speedfan is openHardwareMonitor

Use open hardware monitor - Open Hardware Monitor - Core temp, fan speed and voltages in a free software gadget
Download , extract to a folder (C:\Program Files (x86)\HardwareMonitor) , run the exe file.
Under options tab set it run on start up.
If the CPU or GPU temp goes higher than 80ºC you will have to open and clean the heat sink.

 

[hazel123]

Boot from a windows installation disk go to repair and launch a CMD window.
I know you already ran check disk and system file check, but do it again
Type
chkdsk c: /f

then run system file check
sfc /scannow

I have seen a laptop that the soldering of the power jack was broken. Just melting the soldering with a soldering iron has fixed it.
As you intend to open the case, have a close look.

chkdsk from terminal saysno problems - although after that, right at the end, it said "Failed to transfer logged messages to the event log with status 50"

When I tried to run sfc /scannow it said there was a system repair pending which requires a reboot to complete. Restart Windows and run sfc again.

Rebooted twice and still get that message. It won't run sfc /scannow from installation disk. I'll try running it within windows.

Running now within Windows.

Torchwood - thanks - excuse my terminology! Will see if the new PSU has the same issue in the socket and have a check of socket.

Mr Phelps and Megahertz, thank you. Will try out Open Hardware monitor

 

[hazel123]

sfc /scannow fine. It says Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations. Funny it wouldn't run from repair disk.

 

[hazel123]

The install is a system image (reimaged 2 days ago) of a clean install. So Windows should be ok, although it did blue screen earlier today when I tested it running heavy graphics websites.

Run Open Hardware monitor from start up. Temps look ok but I'll check again later. CPU core 1 54c cpu core 2 51c. GPU core 56c. Hard disk 40c.

Reckon it's the psu and/or socket then.

 

[torchwood]

not really
when you started the repair disk, your in a pseudo X drive not C

Roy