Can I start the HP Zbook 17 G4 with the dedicated graphic card removed?

[Szabesz]

I have a HP ZBook 17 G4 Mobile Workstation with Quadro M2200 Mobile graphics card.

Graphic applications started to crash due video card failure, I could only start applications after restarting laptop. This happened like 2 times after this I started having windows 10 blue screen of death with "system thread exception not handled" stop code and nlddmkm.sys failure. 

After this I updated windows and drivers with HP support assistant. Nothing changed, so I googled it. I downloaded and installed the "nvidia experience" application. The application has fund a newer driver update for my video card and I've updated it. After this I was still having the windows 10 blue screen of death, but this time with "video dxgkrnl fatal error" stop code. After the 3th system crash my laptop is not starting. No error code no nothing. The led next to charger plug is not turning on when I plug it.  

If I unplug the laptop and hold the power button for at least 15 seconds to drain residual power, the led from the power button blinks, but the laptop is still not starting. 

I tried starting the laptop with windows+B and windows+V keyboard combinations, I tried cmos reset as well, removing the battery, but it is still not starting.

I am not a repair expert, I just want selfrepair my 6 years old workstation... My final thought is to try staring it without Quadro M2200 Mobile graphics card. And I not sure about it. Is it OK to remove graphics card and put back the heat sink without the graphics card? As a I saw in service guide the heat sink is smaller at models with UMA graphics memory... 

Looking foreword for advices, opinions, instructions on to continue this selfrepair project... Thx.

[Szabesz]

I just want to rephrase my question.

Is it safe to remove the Quadro M2200 Mobile graphics card and to start without it?

I just want to test if this is the reason of not starting. I ask this because I saw that the heat sink for models with UMA graphics are different like the one I have, whitch is a model with discrete graphics,

[erico]

Doing that shouldn't hurt anything.

If the Quadro M2200 Mobile graphics card failed, you should inspect the traces and components in the area where the card plugs in.

What is the specific Zbook 17 G4 that you have? 

What is the installed processor?

[Szabesz]

I've removed the heat sink... visually the graphics card and the area where the card plugs in it look like brand new...

Hardware specs:

• HP ZBook 17 G4 ZBook Mobile Workstation
• Intel® Core™ i7-7700HQ Processor 6M Cache, up to 3.80 GHz
• Hard drive
  • 256 GB HP Z Turbo Drive PCIe SSD
  • non-factory 1TB SSD in the 2nd slot (non-original HP products)
• Memory
  • 8 GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM (2 x 4 GB) Transfer rates up to 2400 MT/s
  • additional non-factory 2 x 4 GB GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM (non-original HP products)
• Graphics (integrated): Intel® HD Graphics 630
• Graphics (discrete): NVIDIA® Quadro® M2200 (4 GB GDDR5 dedicated)
• Network interface: Integrated Intel® I219-LM Gigabit Network Connection
• Power: 200 W Slim Smart AC adapter (external)

No error messages according to the service manual. The led next to charger its not turning on. Vents do not start... Only the residual power drain with the 15 seconds button pressing is functioning... 

Thanks for your advice. I've ordered the thermal pasta to test it without the video card. Still hoping that only this is the fault...

[erico]

The Intel® Core™ i7-7700HQ processor does have an on-chip GPU. 

You can remove the NVIDIA® Quadro® M2200 and power the laptop on safely.

If the laptop does not power on and inspection of the header on the laptop where the power adapter does not reveal and obvious damage, there may be a failure of the charging/power distribution circuit.

Usually that means a failed  smd resistor, capacitor or mosfet chip.

HP won't do a  troubleshooting to component repair   at service centers.

It is more cost and time  efficient  for HP to replace the complete system board.