Help.. black screen.

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Vasant56 · #1 Post by **Vasant56** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 6:47 pm

Help, all I'm getting is a black screen when I turn on my computer. Sometimes when I boot up, I see the IBM logo, and a black screen, and in the odd occasion I can get into windows before it randomly goes black. Sometimes the backlight stays on, and sometimes it doesn't. I've tried hooking up an external monitor, and changing the display options, but nothing it showing up on either screen.. in fact

I turned on my computer this morning, and it started by showing the IBM logo, and then going black, I restarted, and got a little bit more, before going black. Sometimes when I reboot I get a normal bootup, but the screen will die eventually, but now It's mainly just a dead screen (looks the same on as off).

I work troubleshooting computers on a regular basis, but this has me stumped. IBM support has told me that if it doesn't work with an external monitor, then it is a software related issue (although it could be a mobo, AFAIK), and to take it in for servicing. But if it's a software thing, then it won't be under warranty.

Has anyone experienced this problem before? How would you go about resolving it? Also, would it be faster to send the thinkpad in a box to IBM, or send it to one of their servicing centres? I know that some servicing centres just send it to IBM anyways.

Thanks a bunch

edit: forgot my specs: 2373-8xu with a 2200b/g wireless card.
P-M 1.7ghz, 64mb Radeon 9600m, 512mb RAM,

#2 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 6:55 pm

If it's black even going into the BIOS (by pressing F1 at the beginning of the boot sequence), then it definitely isn't a software problem. I believe it most likely is the system board.

Vasant56 · #3 Post by **Vasant56** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 7:23 pm

Yep, no luck going into the BIOS. Should I call IBM and ask for a box?

eri7154798 · #4 Post by **eri7154798** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 8:05 pm

try resetting your memory. take out the batteries and ac power, remove your RAM, and then place it back in. then try it out...that might solve the problem. i had the same issues before, and that would fix it

davidspalding · #5 Post by **davidspalding** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 8:23 pm

Software, my eye. If it's black right after the IBM logo, then your OS has nothing to do with it.

Just curious, if you hit ESC right at the logo, do you see any of the Ethernet or other device BIOS things get announced? How about if you press your blue Access IBM button, does it go black before entering the R&R partition?

If you CAN get into BIOS and read it, I'd suggest resting BIOS to default. Since the system video is a basic component, that might clear the problem. If not, service is probably a good idea. But if they tell you it's software, get a detailed, explicit explanation.

BTW, have you tried booting from external media (like Recovery discs, Windows discs, Ghost or Partition Magic or other utilities discs)?

Vasant56 · #6 Post by **Vasant56** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 8:29 pm

Is there a guide anywhere to reseating the memory (not the accessible one at the bottom of the computer). It's probably somewhere under the keyboard, but I want to make sure that I'm doing it right.

Vasant56 · #7 Post by **Vasant56** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 9:09 pm

Okay, I reseating the harddrive, ram and battery. It brought up the IBM menu before going black..

I'll try the cd's when I can get some, but if I can't get into BIOS it dosn't look like they'll work.

Help.. black screen.

Help.. black screen.

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