[Help] T42p video card failure

[Cecilia76]

Hi all,

after more than 4 years of unleashed work, my T42p died.
Well, actually the video card died; a technician told me that the only way I have to fix it is to change the motherboard. So, that's my questions:

1. Which kind of motherboard does it have (brand, model, etc.)?
2. Which is, eventually, the FRU number for the motherboard?
3. Do you know any place where to buy that motherboard?
4. Is there any other solution?

My machine:

ThinkPad T42p - 2373HTG, july 2004
Dothan 745 - 1.8 GHz
2 Gb ram
60 Gb HD 7200 rpm

I really do hope someone of you can give me a hint!! I could able to change the motherboard myself, but have no clue on what to buy



Thanks a lot, Cec

[ashat]

Hi all,

after more than 4 years of unleashed work, my T42p died.
Well, actually the video card died; a technician told me that the only way I have to fix it is to change the motherboard. So, that's my questions:

1. Which kind of motherboard does it have (brand, model, etc.)?
2. Which is, eventually, the FRU number for the motherboard?
3. Do you know any place where to buy that motherboard?
4. Is there any other solution?

Hi,

I couldn't resist to aswer to another italian girl on this USA-based forum.

1. 2. just reach the Lenovo support and downloads page

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... eLenovo.do

and put inside the complete 7 digit code of your machine.
On the "parts information" subtopic you should find all the spec of your model.

But really I don't know if it is still possible to buy it new somewhere.

Annalisa

[Cecilia76]

Ciao Annalisa!

Thanks for your answer.
So the Lenovo/IBM page for my machine is: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... y=2373-HTG

There you can find detailed info for my ThinkPad. Anyway, I found a dealer in the States but the price for the mobo (FRU 93P4159) is about 440$ and I don't really know if it is worth.

I just saw the sticky GPU Reflow, and was wandering if this case apply to me and if it is simple to perform the fix.

Any hint?

Cec

Admin edit: Shortened URL to prevent horizontal scrolling

Reply to Admin: Thanks a lot

[yak]

Tell us more about the symptoms.

If, for example, the screen stays blank when starting the laptop and it won't boot, try taking off the keyboard and apply some pressure (with your finger) to the GPU chip while turning the laptop on. If it starts then yes, you got the issue from the sticky thread. Or if you get a trash on the screen, it's also possible to be the case.

[madkat]

Hi Cecilia

- take a look at this two threads:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=33952

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=57021

maybe you'll figure out if thats your problem or not - ad maybe go with the machine to a better technician - eg when i asked around for the GPU fix - only one of almost ten technicians told me he could fix it "the right way" not by changing the entire motherboard

good luck

[Cecilia76]

Hallo,

thanks a lot for you support.
Regarding the symptoms:

1. When I turn the machine on, I hear a beep and no images appear on the LCD
2. Seldomly I only see the IBM logo for a while, the it freezes and finally disappear

I will take back the T42p these week and then I will try to push manually the GPU to see what's happen.

Stay tuned!

Cec

[madkat]

sounds like the infamous gpu issue
can you connect an extarnal dsiplay to the T42? (via VGA connector on the right) - see if it does the same

moreover - remove the keyboard (screws are marked on the back) and tru starting the TP with pressure on the GPU (see the threads i've posted - it's explained there how it looks like, and where it's located

at the T41 i've bought (knowing it has that issue) the reflow wasnt succesful... and i've replaced the whole mobo with a R51 one...
but first try reflowing...

good luck!

[Cecilia76]

Hallo madkat,

I also tried to connect an external LCD but no output at all. I think this makes sense, isnt't it?

Cec

[Tim M]

There you can find detailed info for my ThinkPad. Anyway, I found a dealer in the States but the price for the mobo (FRU 93P4159) is about 440$ and I don't really know if it is worth.

You should be able to find a good motherboard for about half that price. I purchased one from forum member Brad for my T42 about half a year ago and it's still working perfectly.

[seaweedsl]

I also bought one from Brad and that's a very safe bet. First, though, since you are in Europe you may want to see if somebody can do the reflow there.

There may be a technician in Italy that is willing to try. What can you lose?

Ask around who works on thinkpads the most? They will know.

It seems that it would be too much shipping to send it to the US for reflow, better to get a used one (Brad).

You should not have to pay more than $200 (US) for a motherboard.

Don't worry about the exact part numbers in anycase. Main thing is to specify that it's for a T42p or R50p. Or if buying used, came from one of those two. To keep the same performance, you want one with the ATI 128 graphics, which the "p" versions had.


"but first try reflowing... " Yes. You can find diagrams and instructions in the hardware manuals- links on this site. Be sure to take off the fan and CPU before you give anyone your board for reflowing . You will probably need these for your replacement motherboard.

Steve

[sktn77a]

You'd probably be better off getting it repaired - most likely the very common "GPU" issue. A replacement motherboard will probably develop the same problem unless it's been fixed. There are several places in the US who do Thinkpad T42 GPU repairs. Google for an italian site or look on ebay Italy under Thinkpad T42 GPU repairs.

[suba]

Also consider buying a secondhand T4X

Swap over the hard drive and add memory from yours plus you now have some spares too! - screen, keyboard etc.

[seaweedsl]

Also consider buying a secondhand T4X

Swap over the hard drive and add memory from yours plus you now have some spares too! - screen, keyboard etc.

Wince. I can't agree. For the same money, it seems far better to have one good working T42p than say, a working T41 and a broken T42p. Especially if you are used to a flexview screen - the other screen will be a noticable downgrade.

Cheers,
Steve

[Cecilia76]

So guys,

I think that I'll try to fix it by myself, before throwing away the motherboard. It is not so easy in Italy to find technicians that can do this kind of things: usually the answer is "throw it away"...
So, in case I will fail, I will buy a new motherboard: I love too much my TP and I really want to keep it alive.
I think makes no sense to me to buy a used one...
Anyway, if you know about some italian/european techinician and/or a place where to buy chep motherboard please let me know.

In a few days I will try to fix it and let you know.

Cec

[suba]

The reason for suggesting considering a secondhand machine was to get your data retrieved and accessible asap.

There is a company in the UK who can try and reball your existing motherboard......

[Cecilia76]

Hallo,

I finally decided to send the TP to a UK company suggested by a user of this forum to do the reflow.

I'll let you know.

C.