Urgent T42 Fan replacement problem..

[J Fletcher]

T42 Fan replacement issue
My T42 recently came up with a fan error so I googled 'fan error', read various forum entries and also watched a couple of videos on youtube showing you how to replace a fan on a T42....it all sounded and looked relatively easy so I decided to try and fix it myself... but its all proving more tricky than I had hoped! I hassen to add I am a TOTAL NOVICE.
My problems started when I couldn't remove the fan despite removing every screw, palm rest and keyboard. I then read more forum advice and decided to try to warm up the black stuff(as suggested in one) in the hope that it would come away more easily... so I reconnected the keyboard & power, started it up and pressed the ESC key. I was really pleased when it booted up (previously it had turned itself off after a few seconds shortly after showing the fan error message) BUT then stupidly the keyboard slipped from my hand and all of a sudden my computer has no sign of life at all!!! Now no power lights, nothing...I can only assume when it slipped the keyboard made contact with the TP inerds and mahybe shorted/blew a fuse or something.
I REALLY, REALLY hope I haven't killed it totally, even though it's old I love it and can't afford to buy a new laptop.
I'm really hoping someone can help/advise... if you think its a fuse what should I do/how do I test/replace etc. I have no tools other than a screw driver.
If I end up having to take it to a computer repair shop I'd at least like to sound like I know what Im talking about (even if I don't really) so I don't end up getting ripped off.
By the way prior to all this happening, in haste bought a replacement fan on ebay which was listed as a T42 fan, its just arrived BUT I've now realised that it's similar but not the same as the original one. This 'new' one is much shorter...its possibly not relevant now given what's happened but WOULD it have been ok to replace a long fan with this shorter one? (all the screw holes are in the same place it's just shorter.}
Hope to hear from someone soon...I'm having to use my sons PC in the meantime which he isn't pleased about (and I much prefer my old T42!)
Thanks a million. Janet.

[EOMtp]

Janet,
Welcome to the forum. I am sorry to hear your story. It does not sound good, but even the worst case is not bad. Read below.

First thing first: you should not use the short fan in place of the original long fan. The T42/T42p fan/heat-sink assemblies come in two "flavors", depending on the graphics chips on the motherboard, and yours needed the long fan/heat-sink assembly.

There are no fuses on the motherboard that you can replace ... and I doubt your nearby repair shop has that ability or inclination. If, indeed, the motherboard is dead, then you can find an inexpensive replacement motherboard -- but swapping out the motherboard may not be as efficient in time and/or money as simply buying a whole new T42 or T42p, which you can easily do for under £50. Look below at eBay completed listings (items in green):
http://www.ebay.co.uk/csc/i.html?_nkw=% ... =1&_ipg=50

Good luck!

[poshgeordie]

Hi Janet

You've had a rotten time with this and we've all been there.

I'd say the fan fuse has failed and is replaceable - OK with the right tools!

A link to help you dismantling your laptop.

Also here's a link showing a typical T4x board fuses location.

Fortunately help is at hand and I should be able to sort your T42 out for you - PM on its way.

Cheers