ADVENT Roma 3001 wont power up correctly-On-Off loop

[markmc68]

Hi forum members,

my Advent Roma 3001 has always overheated badly and turned itself off no matter how much I cleaned it even bought a fan mat for it and kept it well aired when in use. I basically just put up with it, I had sent it back under warranty as the touch pad buttons also went which was repaired but broke again, anyway again I just put up with that as it still turned on and warranty ran out. The issue I have now is this.....

Recently the laptop wont start/boot up.

It powers up (blue light on power button comes on) but the screen wont come on, the fan starts to whirl and then the thing just cuts out and starts up again on its own and does this in a loop cycle until I remove the power lead and battery. The battery works for about 5 minutes so probably need a new one but even without the battery in the on-off loop cycle things just continues to happen.

Read a few things on google but nothing to pin point what it might be, I thought it may be overheating but it happens the same when cold start.

anybody else had this issue? any ideas?

Many thanks

 

mark

[KenB]

Hi Mark and welcome to ExTS

 

Can you start up in Safe Mode ?

 

Constantly tap F8 about once per second after switching on.

This will take you to an options screen.

Select Safe Mode.

 

If this doesn't work - take the battery out and try booting up off the Mains power adapter.

 

Let us know the results.

[markmc68]

Hi Ken,

 

thanks for the reply, it wont start in safe mode anymore, my dad somehow got it to load up in safe mode about a week ago once by tapping f8 i think he had the battery out then aswel, we ran an anti virus scan and then tried to restart but since then nothing but the loop on-off thing. Its almost like the thing is shorting out each time. it starts up for about 20-30 seconds then just cuts out and starts up again but each time nothing on the screen. we have had it apart twice now in bits, i took off a faulty usb port as sometimes that caused the laptop to short out, does the processor chip or board have a sensor on it that might think- this is overheating and cut out then try again? totally baffled and reluctant to start buying a new battery/charger etc if its the chip/board or even mains socket. 1 thing i did start using prior to all this was a wireless remote with a little usb dongle- could it be a virus from that new hardware/software?

 

thanks for helping!

[KenB]

Did you try booting up with the battery out this time ?

Sometimes an old battery can cause this type of problem.

 

it starts up for about 20-30 seconds

This could be overheating as you suggest.

 

nothing on the screen.

This is odd as it should be going through the BIOS setup and running POST checks during this time.

 

does the processor chip or board have a sensor on it that might think- this is overheating

Yes they do - but it doesn't explain the lack of anything on screen.

 

could it be a virus

Very unlikely.

 

Try taking the RAM out and switch on.

It will not boot but hopefully you should get something on screen.

If you do get graphics it could be a faulty module(s)

 

If that fails .....

 

If you have had it apart that often - try taking the CMOS battery out ( assuming it will come out ) and leave it for 30 seconds.

This will re-set the BIOS to defaults.

 

Whilst it is apart check that the fans are working properly.

[markmc68]

tried all of the suggestions so far and no joy (well my dad has today!) could it be anything to do with the heat sync? something must be fried somewhere...maybe the processor chip? even without the ram in its doing the same on off loop

[markmc68]

also tried connecting to tv through a lead and no output...

[KenB]

could it be anything to do with the heat sync?

It could.

 

If you take the hard drive out and switch on - does it still shut down ?

[markmc68]

yes it does the same with the hard drive out.

[KenB]

OK

 

It isn't RAM / Battery / Hard drive

 

The only thing left is the motherboard.

You could take it to a local tech ( small 1 or 2 man business ) and ask them to test it for you.

You would need to phone them first and ask a) if they can do it and b) how much.

 

Alternatively - find the exact same board second hand and swap it to try.

[markmc68]

Hi

 

That sounds like good advice and a little bit of bullit biting may b called for.

 

thankyou kenb for your help I will tell you the outcome when it Is sorted.

[KenB]

I don't think there is anything more that you can do.

 

Let us know how things progress. :)