T43p motherboard replacement / repair options?

[madboyv1]

I replaced my fan recently it it works great, but my careful hand was apparently not careful enough, as I damaged the northbridge and the computer will turn on, but not boot. Blank screen, external monitor doesn't work, hard drive twiddling its thumbs...

Learn from experience I guess.

Anyone have motherboard replacement idea's, or rather, would it be worth considering all of these motherboard "repair" options I am seeing online and on ebay?

Spending $150 to fix a couple resisters or whatever is above the silicon on the northbridge is far better than replacing the entire motherboard for $500 (especially since my 2669 board seems harder to find than others).

If anyone wants a picture of the damage I'll be more than happy to oblige.

[ajkula66]

You may want to contact forum member jamiphar and see whether he can help you with this issue. He has repaired a couple of boards for me and they've been flawless ever since, knock wood.

If it comes down to replacement being the only option, there are forum members that will be able to help you with that if you post a WTB ad in the Marketplace section.

Good luck and let us know.

[Robbyrobot]

If anyone wants a picture of the damage I'll be more than happy to oblige.

I'd be interested in seeing how this looks. Put the picture on Imageshack and post the thumbnail here would be the best idea.

[madboyv1]

I'll still get this picture up; I've just been very busy. Sorry.

This post by the way was made from my T43; I got a new motherboard today.

Mine was a 39T0477, and the seller listed that it was the same, but it actually was a 39T0466, which is basically a lead free version of the same board, or so I read in the HMM.

Suffice to say it is working. My modem seemed to uninstall itself but I fixed that after a quick run to Lenovo's download center.

[sktn77a]

While RoHS became law in 2006, the directive was adopted in Feb 2003 (hmmmm............ right before the T4x manufacturing was started!) and many manufacturers began to introduce it prior to becoming mandatory.

So, anybody know if IBM/Lenovo waited until the last minute to adopt RoHS or is this possible the reason for all those T4x motherboard failures ("tin whiskers", anyone)?

[Tim M]

...is this possible the reason for all those T4x motherboard failures ("tin whiskers", anyone)?

I'd put my money on this, along with the increased risk of joint fracture with non-Pb solder.