Broken Graphics Card?

[Rendezvous15]

Hi, I own a Sony Vaio VGN-FS315S notebook. Recently I have had trouble with my laptop after accidently dropping it. Since using it from the incident, my screen has been coming up shaky with loads of lines across the screen in all sorts of colours. Once this happens I have to turn the computer off and restart. It then appears fine, but happens all over again (when placed on flat surface, otherwise it occurs straight away). Although, the other day the notebook turned on but will not get to the welcome screen since it shows I didn't shutdown windows correctly last time. I'm given options but the computer crashes when I touch a key.

I once had a problem with the notebook before, and after taking it to a computer repair store, I was told there was a 'hair-line fracture' in the graphics card. That was at least 2 years ago though! I'm thinking the impact of the fall of the notbook has totally broken the graphics card now.

Can anyone please give me advice on whether this is the most likely problem. Also is replacing a graphics card with a new one, a job I can do at home (I've only changed a hard drive in my laptop before), and where I can get the replacement:

NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 6400 with TurboCache™ supporting 128MB graphics card?

Thanks for any help.

[Thalamus.]

Hi Rendezvous15,

unfortunately you can't replace the Graphics chip as it's soldered to the mother board..

Try connecting your Vaio to an external monitor, do you still have the same problem.?

Do you get the same problems when in safe mode.?

To enter safe mode restart your Vaio and when you see the Vaio logo press the F8 key repeatedly..

[Rendezvous15]

Hi Rendezvous15,

unfortunately you can't replace the Graphics chip as it's soldered to the mother board..  
 
Try connecting your Vaio to an external monitor, do you still have the same problem.?

Do you get the same problems when in safe mode.?

To enter safe mode restart your Vaio and when you see the Vaio logo press the F8 key repeatedly..

Thanks for replying.

In safe mode, nothing changes and I continue to get a set of error messages before the computer restarts.

I conected the laptop to an external monitor which worked. However, after having both screens on, the same problem occurs.

AHHHHH! What else can I do? I really can't afford to fork out for a new laptop!

[Thalamus.]

I conected the laptop to an external monitor which worked.

Hi Rendezvous15,

did you try pressing the Fn and F7 keys to select monitor only.?

If everything seems to work on an external monitor then I doubt it's the GPU, I would suggest asking a local repairer to try an establish the exact cause, it could be a cabling, inverter problem or a more expensive replacement screen..

Get a quote before proceeding with a repair as you may find it's cheaper to buy a notebook..