CPiA dead - looking for diagnostic hints

Question

Was onboard a large yacht recently running the CPiA via AC power circuits in the dining room (shore power connected). No surge suppressor was attached on the AC line - so you can guess what happened next :-(

Skipper disconnected shore power and started up the on-board diesel generator. When he switched the boat inverter into the 'on' position, the CPiA died and has not functioned since.

Here's what works or at least appears to work:
a) The AC battery charger still seems to work (green power light is on).
b) When the battery charger is plugged into the CPiA, the power light on
the laptop glows green.
c) When I press the laptop 'on' button, the 'Power' light on the laptop glows
green for a few seconds and then goes out.

The CPia makes no attempt to illuminate the screen or do a POST, the fan doesn't go on, no beeps from the speakers.

While this is an old machine, I'd consider replacing a couple of parts to see if I can get it cgoing again if the price was right. The big question is - which parts are likely fried and which order should I look to be replacing them, ie. what's the most likely dead part(s)?

Thanks for any feedback

AussieChris · Answer

Hi,

If you are sure it was power related, the motherboard is the starting point. They are less than $40 from Parts-people. I would still reseat the memory and try with an external monitor first.

Regards Chris

philosophist · Answer

i too am having the problem detailed above.  taking the CPU out and putting it back in (removing and reseating?) did not fix the situation.  i would like to try the other suggestions offered in this thread:   http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=latit_general&message.id=39248   alas, i cannot identify which parts of the laptop are what, nor how to properly disassemble the outer casing and get at them.  could someone please recommend (or link to) the user guide(s) or some other resource(s) that would best show how to fix the components discussed in that thread?   thank you!

linetest · Answer

Sounds like a processor reseat is in order. Common problem. The other solution may be replacing the memory. I've cured many with a cpu card reseat though. And Dell had released a retrofit retainer clip to hold the module in place better.

dp2005 · Answer

Hi, read about your problem, it seems that if you had a power interrupt while the CPiA was running and is now dead, go to Dell's site to download the service manual...   (0813pbk2.book) http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?k=latitude+cpi+service+manual&ira=False&s=gen&ec=&l=en&cat=sup&cs=&c=us This will tell you how to open the case.   or here for the users guide... http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ppun/en/index.htm   1. Try taking the keyboard off and look for any burn spots, or black areas around any surface mounted chips on the video board left of the CPU.   2. Try reseating the video board by pressing down on the part by the keyboard zif connector and on the righ side close to the CPU, if it came unseated in those areas you will hear it 'CLIP' back into place.

AussieChris · Answer

Philosophist,

You should be able to see a service manual from the product support tab above. ( a number of steps ) The CPU clip should be in a CPiA, it was a retro-fit to earlier models. Apart from an exta screw, the CP and CPi were the same to take apart.

Regards Chris

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CPiA dead - looking for diagnostic hints

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