Sony Vaio VGN-NW20EF Laptop going dead !

[pchealthpoint]

I have a clients sony vaio VGN laptop that keeps going dead, i have used the laptop in safe mode while i did the usually de-clutter and virus scan and found no major issues, ccleaner worked a treat as i always usually find, but i have run into the other problem that the customer was having aswell as the computer seeming slow, every so often the laptop can go completely black screened give no warning, then shutdown and boot back up but sometimes you have to manually have to press the power button, i have tested the battery by unplugging the charger and just trying the on button to turn the laptop without being plugged in and this works fine so im under the conclusion that the battery seems ok, no blocked vents and good cooling all round the laptop.


any ideas

Thanks
Dan

[kisk]

Need more info. Have you checked the memory? Did you literally open up the laptop and clear the dust from the inside of the vent? With most laptops you can't see vent blockage unless you actually open up the machine. Have you checked temps and/or done any temp stress tests?

[DanF]

I would also check the memory (put in a good working module). Check the temperatures (clean the cooling fan, vents, and heat-sink off dust). Also, the blank screen part is kind of strange, and in this case I would also update the system's drivers just in case the problem is related (you'd never know).

[drake3d]

Sounds like a heat related issue. At least from my experience. Does it black screen in safe mode? I have seen issues with a system running great in safe mode but once it goes into regular mode it craps out. From my testing it was a bad video chip/card issue. And most where from heat, both laptop and desktop, amazing how much crap builds up in a system. As suggested clean out the fan depending on setup you may only need to remove the keyboard, if lucky, if not split the case and removing debris will help cooling. Start testing again, I like D7 since you have all tools in one main program. Run hardware monitor and stress test watch those temperatures. What seems like good cooling and airflow may not be effective cooling. Bad heat sink tube or dried out thermal paste could be an issue. If issues manifest again damage may be too great, if no issues you may have lucked out but future issues are possible.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

[jfmiller52]

next time it happens you could try plugging in an external monitor to see if it's maybe just the lcd backlight/inverter. otherwise you are looking at most likely a bad board, be it either the board failing or the cooling failing. ram would be a slim possibility, but you could check that off by just using a known good stick to test.