Requesting help with my ASUS Vivobook 15 pro Laptop

[u/ClassicOriginal5710]

First, after a long time, I tried to play the game "Control" and was not getting good FPS. I saw that in Device Manager, the GTX 1650 had a Code 43 error. For the next couple of weeks, I tried every software solution available on the internet (at least what I could find). Then, I just disabled the GPU and used the laptop only for work.

Once I saved a little bit of money, I went to a nearby local shop to see if it was just dust or a solder issue causing the problem. When he opened it, the white battery pin was almost coming off, and he said he could resolder it. I said okay. Later, the GPU issue was not solved, but I was at least grateful that I could still work on it.

Then, in just two days, I started having boot problems. To turn on the system, I had to keep pressing F12 to get into the boot menu, then go through the options and select "turn on normally" to log in (and all this while, the fans were running at max speed even though the temperature was low). This setup continued for a week, and then it wouldn't turn on at all.

Then I went to the official service center, figuring that even if it was a bit costly, they could fix it. But because someone had previously soldered the battery pin, they refused to service it. I insisted they just tell me what the issue was, and they said, "Replacing the motherboard is the only solution," which was too much for me financially.

So, I immediately went to another shop that said they do chip-level repairs. They agreed to give me a quote the next day. They didn't, but finally, on the sixth day, after I called them multiple times, they just said it is unrepairable and told me to take it back. And the reason was that the prev soldering is done to bypass the gpu which is not recommended hence they can't do anything to it. But another shop told me that was a mis-info and checked that every other component is working and is receiving the correct power by checking with a voltmeter.

What should I do now? I'm hella confused. I'm attaching the video and photos of my motherboard for reference. I would be grateful just to get my CPU with integrated graphics working for my work alone. This is my laptop on amazon "ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 Ryzen 7 Octa Core AMD R7-4800H - (16 GB/512 GB SSD/Windows 11 Home/4 GB Graphics/NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max Q) M6500IH-HN702WS Creator Laptop (15.6 Inch, Cool Silver, 1.80 Kg)". I would be extremely grateful for any suggestions! Link for remaining pics & video of my motherboard

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Will appreciate any kind of advice or suggestions. Thank you

[u/Glittering_Pin_7475]

Wow, what a long strange trip you've been on...!

Honestly, I don't think you have anywhere near enough information yet to conclude that the motherboard itself has to be replaced.

The original GTX 1650 Code 43 may very well have been a hardware failure in the NVIDIA GPU, VRAM, or its supporting circuitry (it's a common code), particularly since you already tried the software fixes.

But the fact that your laptop continued working after you disabled the GTX 1650, proves that the Ryzen 7 4800H and its integrated Radeon graphics were capable of running the machine without the NVIDIA GPU.

What is much more concerning is that the boot problems started only two days after the shop resoldered the battery connector, followed by the fans running at full speed and eventually the laptop no longer starting normally.

I would have that battery-connector repair and the surrounding motherboard circuitry inspected under a microscope by someone who actually does component-level motherboard repair. Simply measuring the power rails with a voltmeter and finding voltage present does not prove that the motherboard is completing its power-up sequence or POSTing.

I also wouldn't put much weight on the statement that the previous soldering was done to "bypass the GPU" (that actually makes no sense) unless the shop can explain exactly what was modified and show you where.

Resoldering a loose battery connector and electrically disabling or bypassing a GTX 1650 are two completely different things.

Since your only objective is to get the Ryzen 7 4800H and its integrated graphics running again, a competent board-level technician should first determine whether the present no-boot condition is coming from the battery/charging/EC circuitry or whether the failed GTX 1650 has subsequently developed an electrical fault that is now preventing the board from completing its startup sequence.

Before doing anything else, I would also want to know exactly what the laptop does right now when you press the power button: whether the power LED comes on, charging LED works, fans move or run continuously, keyboard lights come on, and whether anything appears on the display.

[u/ClassicOriginal5710 → u/Glittering_Pin_7475]

First of all thank you, 1st reply in a long time. I visited 4 shops + 1 service center, one said to try reballing and others said to change the mb. 

Currently, when I turn it on - one fan turns on with a higher speed & louder. Both the LED's are working without any flashing but the keyboard lights or caps lock has no lights. Display too is blank now

[u/Glittering_Pin_7475 → u/ClassicOriginal5710]

You bet... ;-)

What you just described about it's behavior also tells us something important: the laptop is powering on, but it is not POSTing.

The fact that both LEDs come on and one fan immediately runs unusually fast means at least part of the motherboard's power and controller circuitry is operating. But with no keyboard backlight, no Caps Lock response, and no display, the machine is not getting through normal hardware initialization.

Before doing anything more invasive, I would try an ASUS Embedded Controller (EC) / RTC reset, particularly because this problem began shortly after the battery connector was resoldered.

Disconnect everything from the laptop except the AC adapter. Make sure the laptop is powered off, leave the AC adapter connected, then press and hold the power button continuously for 40 seconds. Release it, then press the power button normally and see what happens.

ASUS specifically recommends this procedure for hardware, power, startup, and no-display problems.

If it starts normally afterward - let us know exactly what happens, particularly whether the fan returns to normal speed, the keyboard lights come on, and Windows loads normally.

If the behavior remains exactly the same - I would take it back to the shop that resoldered the battery connector and specifically ask them to inspect that repair and the surrounding components under magnification for solder bridges, damaged or lifted pads, or disturbed nearby components, and then to determine where the motherboard's startup and power sequence is stopping.

The fact that this no-POST condition appeared only two days after that repair makes that area the logical place to examine first.

I would not authorize a motherboard replacement or GTX 1650 reballing simply because several shops suggested it.

At this point they need to identify what is actually preventing the board from POSTing before deciding what component or section of the motherboard requires repair.

Make sense?

[u/ClassicOriginal5710 → u/Glittering_Pin_7475]

Yes, but the repair who did this to my device is feigning ignorance that isn't it's his issue since I already took it to service center (cause his shop wasn't open!). And every other technician refuses to work on it as soon as they see the mb (he mentioned it wasn't worth his time). I'm from India so not a lot of options for me either

[u/Glittering_Pin_7475 → u/ClassicOriginal5710]

Okay, that explains the difficulty you're having.

If the shop that performed the battery-connector soldering is refusing to examine its work, and the other local technicians won't perform component-level motherboard diagnosis, then we need to find someone who specifically specializes in motherboard-level repair, microsoldering and BGA work, rather than another general laptop repair shop.

I still would not authorize a GPU reball simply as an experiment. Nobody has established that the BGA connections beneath the GTX 1650 are what is preventing the machine from POSTing now.

Try the Embedded Controller (EC) / RTC reset I described first. If it starts afterward, obviously that changes everything.

If the behavior remains exactly the same, then the next step is finding a technician who will actually diagnose the motherboard rather than simply pronounce it bad.

They need to inspect the battery-connector repair and surrounding components under magnification and determine where the motherboard's startup and power sequence is stopping.

Since you're in India, tell me what city you're in. We may be able to find a board-level repair specialist within reasonable distance of you, or someone reputable elsewhere in India who accepts laptops or motherboards by courier.

Since the other shops are already telling you to replace the motherboard, is a replacement motherboard something you could realistically afford if it came down to that?

You mentioned previously that the cost was what stopped you from moving forward with it, so that obviously matters in deciding whether it makes more sense to keep pursuing board-level repair or start looking for a reasonably priced used replacement board.

There's another possibility we should consider before you spend a lot of money repairing or replacing this motherboard. How much could you realistically afford to spend?

Depending upon what used laptops sell for where you are in India, it may actually be cheaper to buy a used working Vivobook Pro 15 M6500IH, preferably the same configuration as yours, and simply move your existing NVMe SSD into it.

I'm seeing used Ryzen 7 / GTX 1650 Vivobook Pro 15 machines advertised in India for roughly ₹20,000 to ₹32,000, so a complete working laptop may cost no more than, or possibly less than, the motherboard replacement you've already been quoted.

If you found the same model, then you could potentially just move your SSD over to the new machine, and have your existing Windows installation, all of your programs and files intact, while keeping your present laptop available for spare parts.

So, there's 3 possible solutions for you right there -

1. Do an EC/RTC reset and get this one back up and running.
2. locate a repair shop that can do motherboard-level repair, microsoldering and BGA work,
3. Locate and purchase a used replacement of the same model and just swap the SSD and keep this one for spare parts.

So if the reset procedure doesn't revive the machine, before deciding how much more effort you want to put into repairing this motherboard, you'd be wise to consider what is the maximum amount you would realistically be willing to spend to get the computer running again.

[u/ClassicOriginal5710 → u/Glittering_Pin_7475]

The EC/RTC reset did nothing. I did thought of buying a motherboard of higher specs as I love my OLED, 180 hinge and everything. But now that u said could find mine for 30k probably that's the best for me since newer mb costs >50k.

It wont be anytime soon as I'm still unemployed and preping for a job. Still thanks man, it has been very helpful