MAJOR Problem - Help Please

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IBMorBust · #1 Post by **IBMorBust** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:09 pm

Hey everyone. I haven't been around in a while.

I have a T42 with the fingerprint reader. It's a 1.6Ghz Pentium M.

I love it and use it extensively. And all my important files are on it.

Anyways, today, I had a major problem.

When I went to turn my laptop off, a static charge went off and the computer froze. I had to reboot it.

When I rebooted it,

1) the USB Mouse no longer functioned;

2) the fingerprint reader wasn't detected (says it's not present), and I had to log on with my password, which I've never had to do, and;

3) the sound card is no longer recognized (says it's not present).

I have tried all day to fix any of these problems with no luck at all. I've downloaded drivers for the sound card with no luck - no sound card is listed under device manager.

Has anyone had these problems before, or does anyone know what happened, or what to do?

Thanks in advance.

spotter · #2 Post by **spotter** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:29 pm

this happened on a regualr motherboard I had once, where I seemed to have basically killed the pci bus (everything attached to the pci bus disappeared, while everything on the pci-e bus was fine).

Something similiar could have happened here.

I know the fingerprint reader is on usb (hence relationship b/w that and mouse). sound card isn't usb, but perhaps there's some relation b/w it and usb to explain why they died together.

IBMorBust · #3 Post by **IBMorBust** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:00 am

That's my biggest fear. If this is the case, and because the sound card is integrated, I'm screwed. I don't know what to do if I somehow fried the pci bus.

Anyone else? Opinions? Options?

spotter wrote:this happened on a regualr motherboard I had once, where I seemed to have basically killed the pci bus (everything attached to the pci bus disappeared, while everything on the pci-e bus was fine).

Something similiar could have happened here.

I know the fingerprint reader is on usb (hence relationship b/w that and mouse). sound card isn't usb, but perhaps there's some relation b/w it and usb to explain why they died together.

IBMorBust · #4 Post by **IBMorBust** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:42 am

By the way, IF my integrated Sound Card is fried, along with my fingerprint reader and USB ports, can I replace entire motherboard, or should I not bother and just buy a replacement laptop?

This sickens me.

My part number is 2379R1U.

Thanks for everyones help. I am so bummed right now.

iamdmc · #5 Post by **iamdmc** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:52 am

Sounds like a mobo replace job

Sorry to hear your bad news. GL

#6 Post by **bill bolton** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 2:38 am

Turn off your T42, remove the power dapater plug, remove the battery, then presss the power button 10 times in sucession, then finally holding it down for 30 seconds.

This will force a hardware reset on the ThinkPad.

If you are still having problems after that, it needs to go in for service.

Cheers,

Bill B.

IBMorBust · #7 Post by **IBMorBust** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:19 am

bill bolton wrote:Turn off your T42, remove the power dapater plug, remove the battery, then presss the power button 10 times in sucession, then finally holding it down for 30 seconds.

This will force a hardware reset on the ThinkPad.

If you are still having problems after that, it needs to go in for service.

Cheers,

Bill B.

Bill,

Tried it, no luck.

Thanks.

djThinkbad · #8 Post by **djThinkbad** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:50 pm

re-format the hardrive

lithium726 · #9 Post by **lithium726** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:13 pm

If the hardware is not telling windows it's there a format isn't going to do anything.

Sounds like you need a new mainboard man

user17600 · #10 Post by **user17600** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:51 pm

Have you considered trying one of the Linux Live CDs to see if your hardware is still detected?

IBMorBust · #11 Post by **IBMorBust** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:32 pm

I haven't tried the Linux Live CD yet.

My USB ports no longer recognize plug and play (or any) devices, my sound card is no longer present and my fingerprint reader is no longer present.

This is such a bizarre issue. I have no idea what caused this or how to fix it.

#12 Post by **Johan** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:38 am

I am sorry to say that I some time ago experienced a very similar problem: Both USB-ports and the fingerprint reader stopped working in a T42 - at the same time (I don't know/remember about the sound-card... is it an internal sound card, you mean, or an "external" PCMCIA slot sound card?). The cure in my case... was a new motherboard

More details in the thread T42 report 1802-error after being repaired? (with new mobo!).

Good luck with getting your T42 back on its feet again - I guess it is out of warranty (did you check this?), since you ask in this forum.

Best regards,

Johan

SteveS · #13 Post by **SteveS** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:21 am

In T40 series, the data pins (2 and 3) of the USB connectors go directly into the Intel Southbridge chip. The PCI bus, and I suspect the sound card bus also are driven by the same chip. An ESD hit to the USB can damage this chip, which would explain why some of the other things don’t work.

The Southbridge chip is a huge BGA package, similar to the GPU. It is not really user replaceable, so a new system board would be the only fix.

IBMorBust · #14 Post by **IBMorBust** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:01 pm

Steve and Johan, you're EXACTLY right.

This is EXACTLY what happened. I am positive.

I actually heard and felt the static discharge, and immediately afterwards, my USB ports, sound card and fingerprint reader no longer work.

I do not understand why PC makers have not thought to come up with a solution that would divert static discharges away from critical components, so as not to cause such catastrophic failures.

And get this - my T42 was exactly 27 days out of warranty.

Sometimes, life sucks.

#15 Post by **richk** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:27 pm

Before deciding it is a throw-away, I would check a fuse (F16). It is on the underside of the board right under the PS2 connector

IBMorBust · #16 Post by **IBMorBust** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:35 pm

richk wrote:Before deciding it is a throw-away, I would check a fuse (F16). It is on the underside of the board right under the PS2 connector

Will do, Rich. Thanks.

I'm keeping the T42 for backup duty. It works fine with the track/nav pad.

ulrich.von.lich · #17 Post by **ulrich.von.lich** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:34 am

And get this - my T42 was exactly 27 days out of warranty.

I heard sometimes Lenovo would also repair machines that JUST went out of warranty. Result non guaranteed but it still worths a try I think.. Try to be nice on the phone. Good luck

IBMorBust · #18 Post by **IBMorBust** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:36 pm

ulrich.von.lich wrote:
And get this - my T42 was exactly 27 days out of warranty.
I heard sometimes Lenovo would also repair machines that JUST went out of warranty. Result non guaranteed but it still worths a try I think.. Try to be nice on the phone. Good luck

Merci beaucoup, mon bon ami.

MAJOR Problem - Help Please

MAJOR Problem - Help Please

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