ThinkPad T42 not working

[ard09]

Hi! I have an IBM ThinkPad T42. It was given to me by my uncle and he said that the only problem of the laptop was a missing RAM. So, I've inserted one. When I tried it using it's battery, the battery light flashes weak then after that nothing happened. I've tried with the AC adaptor, no luck. A week after, I've decided to try to turn it on again, and it work, but it prompted me a boot password. So I shut it down, then removed the CMOS battery. I've tried to turn it on, but it didn't turn on. It's battery light is flashing weak again. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Johan]

Welcome to the forum!

Try this old trick:

Unplug the AC adapter, remove the battery, the harddrive and media drives.

Press the "power" button ten times in a row, holding it down for ten seconds each time and thirty seconds the last time around.

Plug the AC adapter - but nothing else - back in and try to power the system on.

Report back, then!

Johan

[ard09]

Thanks Johan for your reply! I've tried it after I've read your post, Sadly, it didn't work

[ard09]

Additional Info: I've noticed that the orange light of the network card is turned on when I plug the AC adaptor.

@Johan: Sir, I've tried it again, but no luck.

Thanks

[Neil]

It's mostly guess work for any of us, but the T4x series are infamous for the solder balls that connect the Southbridge chip breaking down and failing. The T42 is not quite as bad as the earlies T4x machines, but it happens. Might be the cause of your troubles...or not.

[ard09]

It's mostly guess work for any of us, but the T4x series are infamous for the solder balls that connect the Southbridge chip breaking down and failing. The T42 is not quite as bad as the earlies T4x machines, but it happens. Might be the cause of your troubles...or not.

So sir, what do you think is the best thing to do in order to make it work? Thanks for your reply

[Neil]

Well, one way to test for Southbridge BGA issues is to place pressure on the chip (it's located underneath the wifi card). The theory is that the pressure will close the cracks in the solder. If it works normally under such pressure, that indicates that it is indeed a failing solder ball array. If the pressure on the chip makes no difference, it still doesn't rule out an issue there.

Some folks have been able to help the issue by heating the board enough to melt the solder in hopes that the joints re-flow. But that usually doesn't work, and often does more damage. A few years ago, when it was worth the cost to do it, there were some people offering a professional rework service on these boards, but today it seems to me that it's not worth the cost (in both time and money) to repair a computer as old as a T42.

[ard09]

Well, one way to test for Southbridge BGA issues is to place pressure on the chip (it's located underneath the wifi card). The theory is that the pressure will close the cracks in the solder. If it works normally under such pressure, that indicates that it is indeed a failing solder ball array. If the pressure on the chip makes no difference, it still doesn't rule out an issue there.

Some folks have been able to help the issue by heating the board enough to melt the solder in hopes that the joints re-flow. But that usually doesn't work, and often does more damage. A few years ago, when it was worth the cost to do it, there were some people offering a professional rework service on these boards, but today it seems to me that it's not worth the cost (in both time and money) to repair a computer as old as a T42.

Sir, I've tried pressing the SouthBridge chip but it still didn't work. I've also noticed that the orange light in the networkcard is sometimes on when the AC adaptor is plugged. Is this normal? Thanks again

[Johan]

ard09:

Just an additional suggestion - a long shot, and perhaps not even possible if you don't have the necessary equipment: Try to attach an external monitor through the VGA-connector at the right side of the T42. If, say, the internal LCD in the T42 is dead, or if the inverter (inside the internal LCD) is dead, you obviously won't see any image on the internal LCD. Also, I seem to vaguely recall (and sorry, right now I am too lazy to try search up where this infomation may come from) that it has earlier been reported that a partially defect T42 motherboard would not display anything on the internal LCD, but at the same time would however display an image on an external monitor.

By the way, are you confident that the RAM (what speed and what amount, by the way?) you've mounted is indeed functioning, and is correctly mounted?

And yes, I am also - just like you! - puzzled as why your T42 at some point (before removing the BIOS-battery) did indeed display an image (what image - the BIOS POST..."Power On Self Test" or what?), and since then... nothing?!?

Given the age (and value!) of T42's today, it may be a question of how much effort (and money!) it is worth putting into trying to get it to work. Please don't get me wrong; I am a long-time and very satisfied user of T42's and T42p's (actually typing this on my Mothers T42 right now!), but for certain applications, especially Flash-based web-content, a T42 is honestly beginning to lag behind e.g. T60's, and of course even more lagging behind newer laptops. My reason for nevertheless retaining my "fleet" (distributed to family, friends and myself) of T42's and T42p's is owing to its quality; its very nice 4:3 format, the outstanding FlexView/IPS LCD (only available as SXGA+ and UXGA on the 15" models), and the keyboard... and, admitted, I also very much like the "look" of T42's...

Hint: Have a look at the various ThinkPad's offered for sale by reputable, trustworthy and very knowledgeable sellers (enthusiasts!) via The Marketplace on this forum. That's actually where I have bough most of my own ThinkPads. A *highly* recommended place to shop ThinkPads and parts etc.!

By the way, if you don't already have noticed it: When you are logged in on this (fantastic friendly!) forum, then you're got access to all the old ThinkPad service-documentation (the so-called Hardware Maintenance Manuals, "HMM's"), and all the old drivers etc.; see at the top-banner, the links Drivers and HMM. Additionally there's a link to the --> MTM ("Machine-Type/Model") which will allow you to find the specifications of whatever ThinkPad if you know its MTM, such as e.g. 2373-Q1U. The MTM-lookup utility is very useful if you, say, wish to buy some laptop e.g. via eBay, and the seller doesn't know the exact specifications. With the MTM (which is displayed in the BIOS and at a label at the bottom of the laptop) information you can then easily retrieve the ab-factory specifications by yourself. Easy, isn't it - and look at the result: Now you're practically already an expert in ThinkPad's yourself!!

All this is for you freely to enjoy, brought to you by (Taa-Daah!), guess, Yes: The fantastic friendly forum.thinkpads.com

PS: If you need on-site help with getting this T42 back on its feets, then why don't you simply invite me to come to the Philippines - I've never been there, and I'll gladly come! Just book me a 1st class ticket on a nice '747, and I'm right on my way!!

PS2: By the way, there's really no need to "Sir" anybody around here; we're all just like you: Friendly folks sharing a common interest! Of course, being polite is never a bad idea - the World would actually do quite a lot better, if more people would be more relaxed and more polite. Or so I believe.... but that's surely way off topic!

Johan

[ard09]

Thanks for your reply! Yes, I was stuck at the after the BIOS POST because the computer asked for a boot up password. And yes, that the RAM I've mounted is still working because it came from our old laptop that the LCD broke down. I couldn't lso remove the cpu's heatsink because it is glued too hard so Icould see if the cpu is the only problem....

I also like the looks of the T42, and the reason why I want to repair that computer is that I want to use MacOsx on it.
I'm glad I've met guys so nice like you here in this forum

I'll still try to fix it.

Thanks for your reply Johan

[Eric Giles]

If you find you need a new motherboard, you won't find a better deal than this on ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/171537554628?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

Manufacturer refurbished T42p motherboards for $19.99 shipped. I've purchased 3 of these, and they were all in sealed IBM/Lenovo boxes with 2007 dates. They may be refurbed but they look brand new. I've only installed one so far but it works perfectly. This would get you a working machine with a better graphics subsystem. Just note that you will need the 'long' version heatsink for this board...your current T42 may just have the ATI7500 GPU which uses the 'short' heatsink that doesn't cover the GPU.

[Cigarguy]

If you find you need a new motherboard, you won't find a better deal than this on ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/171537554628?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

Manufacturer refurbished T42p motherboards for $19.99 shipped. I've purchased 3 of these, and they were all in sealed IBM/Lenovo boxes with 2007 dates. They may be refurbed but they look brand new. I've only installed one so far but it works perfectly. This would get you a working machine with a better graphics subsystem. Just note that you will need the 'long' version heatsink for this board...your current T42 may just have the ATI7500 GPU which uses the 'short' heatsink that doesn't cover the GPU.

You do realize that this eBay seller will only ship within the US. Won't even ship to Canada. Just saying cause the OP is from the Philippines.....

[Eric Giles]

Obviously I didn't. My extreme apologies for such an oversight.......

[GomJabbar]

You might try and see if it will boot without the battery attached.