T30 Problem - BSOD - Will not boot

Message

calkeith · #1 Post by **calkeith** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 12:44 pm

TP 236681U, WinXPP, SP1

My daughter's T30 has been giving her a BSOD. Brought it to me and I turned it off with the 5 second power button. Apparently, this is the 3rd occurance since purchase last October. BTW, no manual with this unit.

Now, I cannot get it to boot back up for diag. Everything lights up, then just the power light stays on (diagonal Z in cirlcle.)

Isn't the setup/test program like my 600E, hold F1 at power on? This does nothing... Now what?

Well, now I see that the following has been advised before. But would any of these steps void the warranty???

1) Change CMOS (RTC) battery.

2) Reseat RAM.

3) Reseat CPU (common failure in the T23 and T30 for the CPU to work itself out of the ZIF socket due to heat cycling!).

Thanks for any help, suggestions, etc.

KC

sktn77a · #2 Post by **sktn77a** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 1:38 pm

Do you have a second RAM stick in the second socket? Short circuits in this area have caused problems with the T30s (bad design). Usually this just kills the memory socket but I have heard of it trashing the motherboard. There's a fix but it may be too late

calkeith · #3 Post by **calkeith** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 1:57 pm

sktn77a wrote:Do you have a second RAM stick in the second socket? Short circuits in this area have caused problems with the T30s (bad design). Usually this just kills the memory socket but I have heard of it trashing the motherboard. There's a fix but it may be too late

Yep. That's exactly what it was. The 2nd 256MB stick was noticeably askew and upon reseat problem resolved!

I see what you mean about the design. Much flimsier "friction" holding mechanism than on my 600e. In fact, everything's flimsier these days.

Thanks mucho for the response and the info here at TP.com!

KC

sktn77a · #4 Post by **sktn77a** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 5:22 pm

Call IBM Tech support and let them know you've had this problem. Ask for the T30 spacer kit they have developed to prevent shorts in the region of the second memory slot and the hard drive caddy.

RRHODY · #5 Post by **RRHODY** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 5:54 pm

There is an Engineering "FIX" for this problem. I have a T30 with on-sight warranty. I called IBM and the next day a technician came and replaced the MB. I don't remember the number, but it was posted here about a month ago. If your unit is under warranty, I'd sure have them change-out the MB while it is still covered. Sorry, I can't remember the exact number. Just tell them it is a problem with the memory slot.

sktn77a · #6 Post by **sktn77a** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 7:59 am

The spacer is the "engineering fix". If the motherboard/memory slot does not work, they will swap the mobo (if the unit is under warrantay - maybe even if it is out of warranty as a goodwill measure for a known defect). If the mobo/slot are still working, they will provide the "engineering fix" (spacer) to prevent this happening.

Call Tech Support - sounds like your mobo and slot are still working....... for now.

calkeith · #7 Post by **calkeith** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 5:45 pm

sktn77a wrote:The spacer is the "engineering fix". If the motherboard/memory slot does not work, they will swap the mobo (if the unit is under warrantay - maybe even if it is out of warranty as a goodwill measure for a known defect). If the mobo/slot are still working, they will provide the "engineering fix" (spacer) to prevent this happening.

Call Tech Support - sounds like your mobo and slot are still working....... for now.

Yes, the unit is under warranty until 3/2006. All seems fine now. I guess I should call for the spacer fix just in case.

Thanks again, all, for the assistance and heads up.

KC