Thinkpads Forum

Hi. Any ideas on what might be wrong? The machine's an R50 running XP Pro but I don't think that's relevant. This started as an intermittent fault but is now solid.

It powers on just fine, from battery or AC. The usual array of lights comes on, then just the power light (and battery light if installed). That's normal - but that's the way it stays. The fan keeps running, but nothing appears on screen, not even the Centrino logo that usually pops up before anything else. There's no HDD activity at all.

I tried typing my password, in case it's the display that's faulty, but nothing happened.

The HDD looks fine when attached to another machine. I've taken out everything that is user-removable, tried booting, replaced it, tried again, but it makes no difference.

I've tried booting from CD and even FDD, but no luck (I don't think it gets as far as trying to boot).

Help!

Dave

MrGumby wrote:Hi. Any ideas on what might be wrong?

Help!

Dave

There is a diagnostic mode you can activate in the bios if the machine gets as far as the bios, that is.

When the machine first comes on, hit the function key needed for that (I think it is F1; you don't want the boot sequence, you want the bios setup). Alternatively, you could try booting into the service partition by holding down the "Access IBM" key or holding down F11 when you boot.

When in the bios, change the bootup from "quick boot" to the other choice (I think it is "diagnostic," something like that). If the machine is going as far as the bios, you will then be able to see on the screen each check as it progresses before the bios would turn it over to the hard disk to boot up.

You might find a memory flaw or some other easily fixable thing.

If the boot up is not even getting to the bios, then I don't know what to suggest. I'd think it would be quite serious in that situation, perhaps a dead mobo, don't know.

IF you are able to boot up into the service partition with F11/access ibm button, then there may be tools in there to help you diagnose the problem; I've never had to use them so I'm not familiar with them, if there.

Another possibility if you have a blinking cursor in the upper left is that your MBR (Master Boot Record) has been corrupted. There is an ibm download page I link in my thread entitled "blinking cursor blah blah blah" that will make you a bootable floppy or CD you can use to repair the MBR.

Ken Fox trim your quotes to relevent points.

Ken Fox wrote:
There is a diagnostic mode you can activate in the bios if the machine gets as far as the bios, that is.

Thanks for the quick reply, Ken. I don't think it's even attempting the POST, certainly not getting to BIOS, and there's no cursor on the screen.

Sounds like dead mobo then. I don't suppose you have any idea how difficult it is to replace, if I managed to get a broken machine with a good mobo on eBay?

MrGumby wrote:

Ken Fox wrote:

Sounds like dead mobo then. I don't suppose you have any idea how difficult it is to replace, if I managed to get a broken machine with a good mobo on eBay?

It could be something simpler, but I have no experience at working on the parts in a laptop other than communication cards, RAM, hard drives, and one screen swap (on a dell).

It sounds to me as though whatever it is, you are not going to be able to fix it yourself easily. It would be a huge pain to buy a new mobo then find out that swapping the mobo didn't fix the problem. I think you should take or send it to someone who can diagnose it (and maybe fix it), or use this as an upgrade opportunity and then unload the machine on ebay or elsewhere. The R series are the least expensive Thinkpad line, and probably the least worth fixing a an expense if they have any age on them.

One more thought would be to download the hardware maintenance manual for your machine from the lenovo website (put the machine type into the search box, and you'll find the link). Remove the screws that would give you access to both sides of the mobo (remove the keyboard for the top, and however you would take off the bottom to see the underside, I"m not familiar with your machine). Inspect everything carefully to be sure that there aren't any cables that have come loose. Look for scorch marks on the circuitry. Take the RAM out and inspect it, blow the dust off everything, put the RAM back in. Make sure that all the parts are fitting correctly, like the drives are in right, nothing is loose. You could then try rebooting to see if it reboots. It is possible that you might find something simple that is at fault, something unconnected, and maybe the machine isn't really broken afterall.

Ken Fox wrote:
One more thought would be to download the hardware maintenance manual for your machine from the lenovo website....

Ken - thanks again.

I'll do exactly as you suggest and let you know how I get on. I just wish I'd gone for a machine with a 3-year warranty. I bought it for my daughter - my T60 warranty is 3-years.

I'd trying taking everything removable off including the RAM. Try booting and see if you can get the beeps (1-3-3-1 ?) indicating that there's a problem with the DIMM. If there are no beeps then it's an issue on the motherboard. See how you go without the RAM first.
Cheers

vlyne wrote:I'd trying taking everything removable off including the RAM. Try booting and see if you can get the beeps (1-3-3-1 ?) indicating that there's a problem with the DIMM. If there are no beeps then it's an issue on the motherboard. See how you go without the RAM first.
Cheers

Thanks, vlyne. Good thinking. I won't be able to try it for a couple of days, but will do so at first opportunity. Dave.