t43 boot error

[jakeibm]

When i boot my laptop (2686-m5u) i get the following error:

Broadcom Base Code PXE 2.1 v1.0.1
..
..
PXE-E61 : media test failure, check cable
PXE0M0F: Exiting Broadcom PXE ROM.
Operating system not found

I suspect the hard drive is blown. When i try to reinstall windows xp, the installation software says there is no hard drive detected.

Any suggestions. I have a 60GB. I think it is IDE/PATA drive. What is the max size the 2686-m5u will support?

[RealBlackStuff]

For laptops the largest is the 2.5" 320GB PATA drive, such as the WD Scorpio Blue.
But before you go out and buy a new HD, see this:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=97661
and this:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=96089
Make sure to also check the last poster's signature there!

[jakeibm]

i tried flipping the laptop and installing the drive. that didnt work.

i am going to borrow a friends working hard drive and see if it works. now i just need to find an ide pata laptop hard drive

[RealBlackStuff]

You may also have a failing Southbridge chip.
Tons of postings about that on the forum.
Use this search (not the forum-internal search): http://www.google.com/advanced_search?q ... as_qdr=all

[jakeibm]

got a known working hard drive and windows install cd recognizes the disk. thankfully i backed up my data a few weeks back.

[jakeibm]

got a known working hard drive and windows install cd recognizes the disk. thankfully i backed up my data a few weeks back.

i might have spoke too soon. i tried booting again and windows complains there is no hard drive there. so i pulled the drive out and reinserted it. boot up and windows sees it. i reboot it again and now windows doesnt see it.

i also checked the bios and sometimes the bios sees the hard drive and sometimes it does not.

what the heck is going on?

should i try updating my BIOS Version? I am currently running 1.22 1YET57WW.

Should i update my Embedded Controller version? I am currently running 1.03

[ajkula66]

A T4x/R5x that intermittently fails to "see" the hard drive is most likely a victim of the SouthBridge failure, albeit in early stages.

BIOS/EC version has no bearing on the matter. I wouldn't be attempting an update on a machine that is already unstable, since you may end up bricking it altogether.

Good luck.

[jakeibm]

ok, i accept the verdict of a failing southbridge chip. where can i get it reballed in the new york city area?

i also read an article on how to reball the chip yourself. i recently bought a heat gun to defrost a pipe in my apartment. should i go for it? see link below. are there better instructions on how to do this?

http://www.ehow.com/how_12164502_reball ... rd-ic.html

[ajkula66]

You can't reball a chip yourself unless you have tens of thousands of $$$$ worth of equipment...

You can re-flow it...

Would I attempt a home-reflow on a SouthBridge? Heck, no. It controls way too many things on these machines. Chances of getting it re-flowed correctly are slim to none, especially on a T43 where it's held in place by epoxy that must be removed first...

Swap the board or just bury the machine with honours...

[RealBlackStuff]

If your T43 has an XGA LCD (1024x768) I can help you out with an R52 drop-in replacement motherboard.
PM me if interested.

[jakeibm]

If your T43 has an XGA LCD (1024x768) I can help you out with an R52 drop-in replacement motherboard.
PM me if interested.

i have a sxga lcd. 1400 x 1050.. appreciate the offer.

[jakeibm]

ok, can i use the following the motherboard off the following:

ThinkPad T60 (2007-59U)

[ajkula66]

No you can't.

You need a board from a T4x or R5x series ThinkPad with ATi graphics.

[jakeibm]

does anyone offer reballing services?

[jakeibm]

No you can't.

You need a board from a T4x or R5x series ThinkPad with ATi graphics.

Obviously if i got one of these boards, i would subject to the same southbridge chip error.

[ajkula66]

jakeibm wrote:

Obviously if i got one of these boards, i would subject to the same southbridge chip error.

Maybe. Maybe not.

But those are still the only boards that can be used in your chassis.

[jakeibm]

where can i get it reballed in the new york city area? What are the costs? Thanks for all the advice.

[ajkula66]

Nowhere.

It's really that simple, unfortunately.

[jakeibm]

a sad end to a wonderful machine.... thanks again for all the help.

any fatal issues on the t60 platform? a friend is looking to sell one.



sigh.

[RealBlackStuff]

If your machine is a 15" SXGA+, my R52 motherboard would also work, but unfortunately it does NOT on a 14.1" SXGA+.