T43p boot problem

pino.giaquinto · **Posted:** Tue May 22, 2012 1:12 pm

Hi,
I have a big problem with my T43p: when I power on it, all seems works (fan, leds)... but the screen in blank and the OS not starts.
I tried to connect an external monitor, but it not works... no signal :-(

I removed BIOS battery for a long time (3-4 hours), besides I tried to remove from my T43 all RAM modules: there are some beeps on power on... I think/hope my MB works... or not?
Please help me, I love my Thinkpad :-(

Pino

Neil · **Posted:** Tue May 22, 2012 3:36 pm

Hi Pino, welcome to the forum!

It might help us diagnose your problem if we knew the seven character type number of your ThinkPad.

When you have the external monitor connected, did you toggle through the Fn+F7 options, to make sure the external is switched on? If yes, it very well could be that the GPU and/or Southbridge chip on the system board has failed.

pino.giaquinto · **Posted:** Tue May 22, 2012 3:49 pm

Neil wrote:

Hi Pino, welcome to the forum!

It might help us diagnose your problem if we knew the seven character type number of your ThinkPad.

When you have the external monitor connected, did you toggle through the Fn+F7 options, to make sure the external is switched on? If yes, it very well could be that the GPU and/or Southbridge chip on the system board has failed.

Thank you very much: I hope you can help me.
My T43p is a 2668-Q1G.

I used Fn+F7 keys but I'm sure that my T43p don't boot... but it beeps if I remove the RAM :-(

Do you think I must replace the MB?

Pino

thinktwice · **Posted:** Tue May 22, 2012 4:02 pm

Hi,

The beeps are a positive sign : it should indicate that your CPU is working.

Can you see the IBM logo displaying (before the OS starts) ?

Maybe your RAM sticks moved a little and not correctly plugged anymore.

Unscrew the screw that locks the small memory compartiment on the back of your laptop.
Touch a mass of metal so that the static electricity on you can go away and will not damage the RAM stick. Then, unplug the RAM stick. To remove the RAM stick, you'll need to apply an angle of about 30° relative to the back of your Thinkpad.

In a first time, try to reboot your laptop without the RAM stick you removed.
There is normally a second RAM stick below the keyboard, so, your laptop should start.
If your OS displays, it means the problem came from the RAM stick you removed.
Then, try to re-insert it correctly and see if your laptop still works.

If the problem is not due to the easily accessible RAM stick, replug it and unscrew the screws numbered "3" so that the keyboard is unlocked. A keyborad symbol is also engraved on the back of your laptop near those screws. Then, open your laptop and softly remove the keyboard. You'll find the second RAM stick. below the keyboard.
Do the same as for the first RAM stick.

If things still do not improve, this could possibly be due to a defect Graphical Processing Unit (GPU).

pino.giaquinto · **Posted:** Tue May 22, 2012 4:30 pm

thinktwice wrote:

Hi,

The beeps are a positive sign : it should indicate that your CPU is working.

Can you see the IBM logo displaying (before the OS starts) ?

Maybe your RAM sticks moved a little and not correctly plugged anymore.

Unscrew the screw that locks the small memory compartiment on the back of your laptop.
Touch a mass of metal so that the static electricity on you can go away and will not damage the RAM stick. Then, unplug the RAM stick. To remove the RAM stick, you'll need to apply an angle of about 30° relative to the back of your Thinkpad.

In a first time, try to reboot your laptop without the RAM stick you removed.
There is normally a second RAM stick below the keyboard, so, your laptop should start.
If your OS displays, it means the problem came from the RAM stick you removed.
Then, try to re-insert it correctly and see if your laptop still works.

If the problem is not due to the easily accessible RAM stick, replug it and unscrew the screws numbered "3" so that the keyboard is unlocked. A keyborad symbol is also engraved on the back of your laptop near those screws. Then, open your laptop and softly remove the keyboard. You'll find the second RAM stick. below the keyboard.
Do the same as for the first RAM stick.

If things still do not improve, this could possibly be due to a defect Graphical Processing Unit (GPU).

My T43p beeps if I remove all RAM from it.
With RAM (I tried using just one stick also) it don't beeps... just fan, leds and a blank screen: no boot, no IBM logo :-(

Can I replace just the GPU unit... or I need to replace all MB?

Pino

ajkula66 · **Posted:** Tue May 22, 2012 5:11 pm

You'd have to swap the board if it's GPU, but we don't know that yet...

Remove the keyboard, palmrest and wireless card. Re-attach the keyboard and power the machine on while pressing gently on the big square chip (labelled Intel) under the wireless card slot.

Does it boot now?

pino.giaquinto · **Posted:** Wed May 23, 2012 12:12 pm

ajkula66 wrote:

You'd have to swap the board if it's GPU, but we don't know that yet...

Remove the keyboard, palmrest and wireless card. Re-attach the keyboard and power the machine on while pressing gently on the big square chip (labelled Intel) under the wireless card slot.

Does it boot now?

I just tried to power on my T43p pressing on the big Intel chip: unfortunately it don't boot :-(

Must I replace MB? Do you have some other suggestions for me??

Thank you very much
Pino

ajkula66 · **Posted:** Wed May 23, 2012 12:15 pm

At this point it's fair to presume that the board is bad, I'm sorry to say.

pino.giaquinto · **Posted:** Fri Jun 22, 2012 4:32 pm

ajkula66 wrote:

At this point it's fair to presume that the board is bad, I'm sorry to say.

Hi,
today I have removed the system board from my T43p and I cooked it in my owen at 200C for 8'.
Now my T43p works again (I'm very happy!!!)... but if I use it for a long time and turn it OFF then ON (or make a restart) it don't work.
I must wait 2'-3' to use it... because it is very HOT :-(

Please note that I have a NEW fan and I have used white thermal paste on CPU and GPU.
I hope you can help me... please let me know.

Pino

RealBlackStuff · **Posted:** Fri Jun 22, 2012 4:50 pm

After your "home-cooking" also failed, the only solution now is replacing the motherboard.
Any T43/R52 motherboard with ATI graphics will work, but it will be very difficult and expensive to find a board with ATI FireGL V3200 graphics.
Have a look at this list (T43 and R52 sections) to see which boards are suited: http://www.theboardroom.info/ibm_list.htm
(And no, I don't have any board for you).

pino.giaquinto · **Posted:** Fri Jun 29, 2012 4:55 am

RealBlackStuff wrote:

After your "home-cooking" also failed, the only solution now is replacing the motherboard.
Any T43/R52 motherboard with ATI graphics will work, but it will be very difficult and expensive to find a board with ATI FireGL V3200 graphics.
Have a look at this list (T43 and R52 sections) to see which boards are suited: http://www.theboardroom.info/ibm_list.htm
(And no, I don't have any board for you).

I have found a 39T0477 board, but my broken system board is a 39T0466.
I don't see any difference on HW, can I replace my 39T0466 using a 39T0477?

Please let me know... soon ;-)

Pino

RealBlackStuff · **Posted:** Fri Jun 29, 2012 6:30 am

The ..466 has leaded solder, while the ..477 has unleaded solder, that's the only difference.
Yes, you can use that ..477 board as a drop-in replacement.

T43p boot problem

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