I've been using an a13p as my only home computer for years now, and I've been quite happy with it. Sure I keep it plugged in (I've given up on replacing the batteries), and there's lots of plastic stuff that's broken off, but it's still my main and only computer at home. Heck, it's still a better sc...

I added a 'wireless' antenna to one of my A31p machines. It was pretty simple, just adding a couple of * wires * to the lid. But the signal strength is not as good as with one of the other built in 'wireless' machines. So the quality of the wireless wire does matter. And, there is no problem using f...

If you want to replace the hard drive in your A31p, you need to get a PATA/IDE drive. A SATA drive won't work. A 2.5 IDE enclosure is cheap (under $10). You'll want one that's USB 1.1 compatible. This means you only have to copy once. USB 2.0 won't work on the A31p (unless you get a $40 cardbus adap...

Hello there, On the point of booting from a USB on the A31, still no success and I don't think there will be. The only thing you can boot from the USB ports are USB diskettes - CD/Floppy and I reckon that's the final word on that. Shame. I did boot one of my A31p machines from a USB once for fun - ...

Thanks, I will try that utility. But I must get both hard drive recognized by the computer at the same time before I can do any data transfer. Honestly, once both drive are recognized simultaneously by the computer, I am golden, as I have copied data from one drive to another tens of times. I just ...

I've replaced the hard drives in my Thinkpads a number of times, and the simplest way I've found to swap/upgrade is to put in both drives like you did, but boot from a UBCD (ultimatebootcd.com) instead and use one of the utilities on that copy the old to the new. You'll need to extend or add partiti...

the laptop would not start up I wonder if it's a matter of patience? When I've made changes to the system, it's taken a really long time to start up. I think that sometimes the CMOS needs to reset itself. Des that make sense? In my case, after a change (after disconnecting the cmos battery), the sy...

My Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG card is working in my A31p without any modifications or hacks. If it makes a difference, it's a standard Intel card, not an IBM version. I've swapped it between my H3U and N5U and it's worked fine in both.

I've had good experiences with Intelligent Batteries for replacement batteries for my ThinkPads. They have online stores in both the US and Canada. So these guys want $58 (plus shipping) for a battery for an A31p (or A3x). Why is this better than an ebay seller that asks $26.99 (free shipping)? Ser...

Which 2.4 chips did you end up using? I thought that the SL6VC was the only 2.4 chip that would work (the others seemed to have different specs). The only 2.5 I've thought of getting is the SL6WY and the 2.6 is the SL6WZ. Seriously, I thought that the SL6L* chips were a completely different family. ...

Simply put, is the 320GB (or 250 or 160) offered by Seagate (or WD or ...) going to work in an A31p? Comments about A30, A30p, A31, also welcome. I see discussion about T* (and error codes) but not A*. Is the A series reliability limited to 120GB? Has anyone put a >137GB drive in an A3x series lapto...

So far so good -- NOW, can anybody tell me if I can integrate my secondary A31p so that I can use it as an external display to my primary TP? How would I go about doing this? Frank K-F So going back to one of the original questions... You want to use the second A31p as a display for the first A31p?...

Take it from someone who has owned many A3x units in most shapes and configurations imaginable, they are addictive... For most people who use XP, don't do games, and have average needs (Office, web browsing, photoshop...) a souped-up A31/p is still pretty hard to beat when properly set up. And pric...

My A31p is running around 80c but I've been advised that it's because it has an old fan. I know I need to upgrade, but it appears fine. I have a pre-R version and the CPU was upgraded from 1.7 to 2.4 without thinking about the fan. If you have a model 26P9630 or 46L4697 fan instead of a 62P4092 and ...

I've given up on the System Update (or whatever the latest version is called) for my A31ps. I've installed updates individually, since I doubt they're thinking about me any more. I do go to the ibm/lenovo website to see what's available, but there is stuff I'm sure I don't need, and other stuff I'm ...

Maybe I didn't do something right so I'm looking for advice. I started running my 2.4 A31p on Boinc/Seti, and I was seeing really hot CPU temps, 81C+, so I stopped doing that. But I have to wonder if the constant 100% CPU should be producing those heat levels. When I put the 2.4 in ( replacing a 1.8...

I'm using 2x1gb and a DVD burner (UJ-850S) in my main A31p and they work fine. Although, I don't think I actually need the 2GB most of the time. I don't know that 4GB would be all that useful. The DVD burner has had trouble lately burning regular CDs, but that may be because I bought a bad batch. It...

I purchased a R9U which turns out does not have the recovery partition. I'm not sure if that's bad or not. I don't think I've actually needed it on my other A31ps, but it *feels* right to me that it's there. So do I need it? Should I have it? Is it more than a comfort thing? If I want one, is the pa...

Unfortunately I lent it to my mom to use. I'll need to get over there and check it out (I don't expect her to open it up) next weekend. However, I'm thinking now that it was not an IBM card, but just a generic Intel 2915ABG card. I know I also swapped it in to my N5U at one point to see if it had be...

What is a 2653-BU6? Where does this model number come from? I can't find it in either the tawbook or the HMM. Really, I'm very curious, I've seen BU6 mentioned before, and really wonder where it comes from. You say based on a 2653-RU5 (sic),but what does that mean? That it is basically a R5U as mark...

Harryc wrote:My opinion is that a 2915 card does not work on an A31P..

I didn't have to do anything odd to get it to work in my H3U. No 1802 error or BIOS issues. I'm using the Intel drivers.

I'm looking at the tawbook, and it's way too much information. Has anyone summarized the information for A31p (and A3xx in general)? Right now I'm looking at the 2653-H*U, -D*U and -N*U units with the 64MB ATI 7800 chip. I don't see much difference between them besides the chip speed (1.7, 1,8, 2.0)...

Thank you both for the advice. A new system board it is then... or perhaps a stripped "for repair" box off ebay. I see now that the extra pc board the chip is on is just a ruse.

I accidentally plugged the power cord into a damaged USB slot (the connectors are bare), when not looking (reaching behind with the cord). So now the system won't power on. I thought I smelled something as if a chip had burned, so took it apart hoping something minor like a fuse might have blown. Un...

tbartold wrote: What kind of evidence is that? Two of the pictures clearly show A31p. Another clearly shows 2652. All that means is that at least one is A31 and at least one is A31p. I'd cut him some slack (although I still wouldn't buy them). Well, some of us have owned A31s that were badged A31p....

"All A31p laptops onboard are currently being loaded with [the] latest [Norton AntiVirus] software and updated definition files for increased protection," said NASA. I just think that's a mistake. When I was using "the latest Norton AntiVirus" on my A31p it slowed the system unacceptably. I'm using...

Excellent catch, sparta.rising (BTW A31p units are either 2653 or 2654)...there's one more hint... What kind of evidence is that? Two of the pictures clearly show A31p. Another clearly shows 2652. All that means is that at least one is A31 and at least one is A31p. I'd cut him some slack (although ...

I'd say sell the LCD you have and just buy the correct one. Buying the cable for the lower res won't be as satisfying.. You might lose something on the trade but it's better than using the external monitor (does that even do UXGA?).

olex126 wrote:Inspected the board and soldering joints with a tiny metal pick, good lighting and a 10x jewellers' loupe, Couldn't find any obvious broken joints.

Sorry if I'm asking the obvious, but are you sure there are no hairline fractures in the board or traces, not just the joints?

I did find this about the A2x and T2x, but I was sure I had read something similar that applied to the A3x also: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-4R4SC9 I know running on AC and pulling the battery out of my A31p (running Windows XPSP2) slows it do...