My T42 Completely Broke - Blank Screen, No BIOS

Message

RogerPodacter · #1 Post by **RogerPodacter** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:53 pm

I hope someone can help me or guide me inthe right direction. In the last couple of days my T42 FVU-2378 started freezing up in Windows. After a few reboots and a system restore i thought it was fixed. But now when i turn it on i get nothing. No screen activity, no BIOS, nothing. When i press the power button, there is 3 beeps, one long and two short beeps, like this: beeeeep, beep, beep. My problem is i use this computer for work and i can usually fix a computer by workst case fresh installing windows. But i cant even get to the bios screen, and i am not sure if the screen crapped out on me or if its something else. Has anyone experienced this? The computer is about a year old. Where could i take it to get it fixed? Should i contact IBM and send it in for repairs? Thanks for any advice you have.

RP

#2 Post by **Kyocera** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 3:04 pm

System Board
LCD assembly
DIMM

I'd try removing the memory first.

lithium726 · #3 Post by **lithium726** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 3:32 pm

System board failure. Mine did that when the video chip failed.

Call IBM easyserve. They will send you a box overnight, with a return overnight hsipping label. they fix it the day it comes in and ship it back to you, overnight. Both time ive sent machines in i have been without them no longer than 3 days.

RogerPodacter · #4 Post by **RogerPodacter** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:02 pm

Thanks. So my next question is should i remove my hard drive? I want to recover the contents on there and i am wary of sending it to IBM. And also, i added bluetooth to my FVU-2378 and i dont want that card magically disappearing somehow, even if its accidental or from confusion on IBM's part. Should i remove that as well? And i wonder if this is under any warranty. Its been a little over a year brand new. If not, how much will i have to pay for repairs?

RogerPodacter · #5 Post by **RogerPodacter** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:04 pm

Also, does anyone know the number at IBM that i can call? I will look it up but was maybe wondering if anybody had the exact number handy, as i assume i will have to go through a million phone tree entries anyway before i talk to a real person.

Website · #6 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:17 pm

When they send you the box to return it, they will advise you to remove each and every Customer Replaceable part that you can (ie. ram, HD, Mini-PCI cards, Optical drives, etc.), UNLESS that part pertains to the problem.

I can't remember the phone number.

#7 Post by **Kyocera** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:52 pm

Did you try pulling out the memory and booting?

RogerPodacter · #8 Post by **RogerPodacter** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:06 pm

Kyocera wrote:Did you try pulling out the memory and booting?

No i didnt try that. You mean the memory that came with the laptop or the chip that i added to the extra slot? Thats a good idea, let me try to remove that and see what happens when i boot up. If it doesnt fix anything, how do i remove the main memory that came with the original laptop? its not located in the same spot as the extra slot i used...

Website · #9 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:17 pm

I would first remove the one that you added, and see if it works. If it doesn't then remove the second one. It is under the keyboard and can be found by using the Hardware Maintenance Manual.

RogerPodacter · #10 Post by **RogerPodacter** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:28 pm

Removing the memory and booting still does nothing. I even tried swapping out the mem modules just for the hell of it, but still nothing.

My problem is i still dont know what the failure pertains to. sounds like the mobo, but maybe its the lcd...how can i figure out what the problem is?

Website · #11 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:29 pm

Did you remove the original ram, from under the keyboard, and swap it with the one that you added?

JHEM · #12 Post by **JHEM** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:31 pm

tfflivemb2 wrote:I would first remove the one that you added, and see if it works. If it doesn't then remove the second one.

Won't work! No T, A or X series laptop will do anything if you remove all of the memory.

There's no default memory on the MB that would allow these units to BOOT after removing all added memory, unlike the "old" numbered Thinkpads.

Regards,

James

JHEM · #13 Post by **JHEM** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:58 pm

RogerPodacter wrote:The computer is about a year old. Where could i take it to get it fixed? Should i contact IBM and send it in for repairs?

Your unit came with a 1 year warranty, but just for the record, go here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... yle=lenovo and enter the pertinent information. Or just click on "Detect and continue".

If it's under warranty, call 800-426-7378.

Regards,

James

Website · #14 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:06 pm

JHEM wrote:Won't work! No T, A or X series laptop will do anything if you remove all of the memory.

There's no default memory on the MB that would allow these units to BOOT after removing all added memory, unlike the "old" numbered Thinkpads.

Yeah, I know. I realized afterwards that I left the rest of the sentence off in mid thought. That is why my follow up asked if he/she tried replacing the original ram with the one that he/she added.

Ryan T. · #15 Post by **Ryan T.** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:23 am

JHEM wrote:
RogerPodacter wrote:The computer is about a year old. Where could i take it to get it fixed? Should i contact IBM and send it in for repairs?
Your unit came with a 1 year warranty, but just for the record, go here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... yle=lenovo and enter the pertinent information. Or just click on "Detect and continue".

If it's under warranty, call 800-426-7378.

Regards,

James

Funny, my 2378-FVU is falling victim to a failing motherboard too. I called IBM, and they will extend your warranty, for a price. I believe the quote was $170 for 1 extra year of depot repair, or $200 for 1 year of on-site. On site seems to be a good bet there. It sure beats a new motherboard or a new Thinkpad!

RogerPodacter · #16 Post by **RogerPodacter** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 4:42 pm

tfflivemb2 wrote:Did you remove the original ram, from under the keyboard, and swap it with the one that you added?

Yes i tried that, and tried switching the chips into opposite slots, and tried with no memory at all. And still nothing. Very frustrating...

RogerPodacter · #17 Post by **RogerPodacter** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 4:46 pm

JHEM wrote:
RogerPodacter wrote:The computer is about a year old. Where could i take it to get it fixed? Should i contact IBM and send it in for repairs?
Your unit came with a 1 year warranty, but just for the record, go here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... yle=lenovo and enter the pertinent information. Or just click on "Detect and continue".

If it's under warranty, call 800-426-7378.

Regards,

James

Thanks for the link, but unfortunately my laptop is out of warranty according to my type and serial number i entered on the website. Could i call that number anyway and talk to them about still fixing it and me possibly paying for the repairs? Or what if i get some kind of extended warranty like a previous poster suggested, then using that and having the laptop repaired? i dunno...how much do you think i would have to pay out of pocket to have the mobo replaced?

Ryan T. · #18 Post by **Ryan T.** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:53 pm

RogerPodacter wrote:
JHEM wrote: Your unit came with a 1 year warranty, but just for the record, go here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... yle=lenovo and enter the pertinent information. Or just click on "Detect and continue".

If it's under warranty, call 800-426-7378.

Regards,

James
Thanks for the link, but unfortunately my laptop is out of warranty according to my type and serial number i entered on the website. Could i call that number anyway and talk to them about still fixing it and me possibly paying for the repairs? Or what if i get some kind of extended warranty like a previous poster suggested, then using that and having the laptop repaired? i dunno...how much do you think i would have to pay out of pocket to have the mobo replaced?

It'd be much better to buy an out-of-warranty extension.

I just had to do this today for my T42. They charge $170 for a 1 year depot repair extension, or $200 for a 9 to 5 Next Business Day on site repair. I went with the on site, and for $200 I don't have to worry for another year about my Thinkpad.

RogerPodacter · #19 Post by **RogerPodacter** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 11:46 am

Can i just call IBM and ask them for this warranty? And wont it look funny if i send my laptop in for repairs as soon as i get an extended warranty? How do i do it?

Ryan T. · #20 Post by **Ryan T.** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 2:09 pm

RogerPodacter wrote:Can i just call IBM and ask them for this warranty? And wont it look funny if i send my laptop in for repairs as soon as i get an extended warranty? How do i do it?

Yup, just call. They said it takes about a week for the warranty to be recognized, but after that, I even specifically asked, they don't care. They said 90% of people buying out of warranty extensions are those that have had something happen to their Thinkpad. It's all about customer retention.

RogerPodacter · #21 Post by **RogerPodacter** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 11:44 am

Well, i got the warranty and everything is going well so far. Thanks for all the help guys, worked out perfectly so far...

RP

br1 · #22 Post by **br1** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 6:54 am

i have the same model number, i think the motherboard is gone too ... heres my symptoms (http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=30723) ... i guess i'm going to buy the extended warranty too

My T42 Completely Broke - Blank Screen, No BIOS

My T42 Completely Broke - Blank Screen, No BIOS

Re: My T42 Completely Broke - Blank Screen, No BIOS

Re: My T42 Completely Broke - Blank Screen, No BIOS

Re: My T42 Completely Broke - Blank Screen, No BIOS

Re: My T42 Completely Broke - Blank Screen, No BIOS

Who is online