T42 stalling during boot

[teepee]

My T42 has started stalling during boot up. It would get as far as having a small blinking cursor about 1/3 in from top and left of screen, and that's it. I figured I'd go to 'rescue and recovery' and work from there but can't seem to get to it. Pressing Access IBM hasn't got me there, Fn+F8 hasn't got me there.

All I've managed to do is change the start up options to make HDD 1st boot option and run with diagnostics so I can see how far it gets. After a mem check I see the Intel Boot Agent notification, followed by the Drive Protection notification, then it is bak to the blinking cursor again, no further.

There aren't any documents on the m/c as I've hardly used it in years and had actually been clearing docs and uneccesary s/w off when it started stalling. All docs were off first. Not sure what I did that caused the problem.

I've read the forums for advice and see other people mention recovery discs. I must have made some but the m/c is so old I seem to have mislaid them.

Any suggestions please on a way to try and restore the m/c?

[RealBlackStuff]

Recovery disks of whatever kind won't do you any good.
Your T42 is suffering from a Southbridge chip becoming "unstuck".
If you remove the palmrest, you'll see the wifi card.
Remove that as well, and you'll see a big Intel chip, the infamous Southbridge.
Put some pressure on that chip (try different corners) and try to start the laptop.
If it now works, that's your confirmation.
Remedy: a new motherboard, since the only motherboard 'reballer' that I know off in the UK has closed shop.

[teepee]

ah . never thought it would be a h/w issue.

anyway, thanks for the quick reply and fix details RealBlackStuff. much appreciated . will give it a go and keep my fingers crossed! even though i barely use the m/c (hadn't touched it for 6 months prior to this) it is very hnady for some things.