Fixing some T43's for a nonprofit and need some help

[phoenix34]

Hi, I have been browsing and using the helpful posts on this site for awhile and I wanted to officially join the thinkpad community. I have fixed a few T4xs and R5xs for a nonprofit and I have 2 right now that have issue I can not figure out.

1. One computer (T43) has a touchpad that will not work. I have opened up the laptop and re connected it a couple of times and that hasn't solved the problem. In the device manager there is a driver for "Synaptic trackpoint ps/2" but no UltraNav driver even though the ultra nav driver is in the add/remove programs list (synaptic is not). Track point works fine. It could be a bad touchpad but I thought the driver situation was a little fishy.

2. Another T43 has a fan that runs moderately quiet (for a t43 lol) but the bottom of the laptop is getting REALLY hot. Any suggestions for that?

Thanks a lot!

[underclocker]

Welcome to the forum.

I'd try the following;

1) Assuming you've tried more than one palmrest to rule out a bad touchpad, there is a BIOS setting under Config that disables the touchpad, some people don't use touchpads and use this feature. Pressing F9, then F10 at the first BIOS screen also will reset this to Enabled.

2) Assuming you've cleaned out the dust from the fan already, the bottom can get hot from a bad or almost bad WiFi adapter. You could try another. I suppose you could also try to reapply thermal grease to the CPU, but you did say the bottom. Of course, if it's a T43p, it will be hot on the bottom no matter what.

Good luck.

[phoenix34]

Thanks for the response. I have really cleaned out the fan and the wifi is working great. Could there be any other solutions to the heat issue? TP fan control says the CPU is usually runing at 73-76 C. It is not THAT bothersome but I just want to make sure I am not giving someone a notebook that will overheat or soon die.

[craigmontHunter]

1st, did you replace the thermal compound? it dries up over time. Second, in power manager, make sure the cpu is set to adaptive - saves lots of energy and you loose very little performance for it (I don't even notice a diffrence).

Good luck

[phoenix34]

I have never bought thermal compound or thermal paste before. Is there a good kind to get?
On a T43 what other contact point would use the paste other than the GPU?
Also, by power manager do you just mean the power options on the Control panel? I see an option to set cpu to automatic or disable.
Thanks, I know I am asking some basic questions.

[craigmontHunter]

The cpu definitely needs it, and the discreet graphics (except for MR7500) need it.

The cheapest stuff is what I use, and it works for everything I ask of it (normal use, no overclocking...) It should work fine it it is just for buisness use laptops.

Jack

PS. (edit)
For the power I meant the thinkvantage power manager. If you are going to install anything off the list @ http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-58597, I would reccomend power manager, and Active Protection system..

[ajkula66]

Arctic Silver in your local Radio Shack...never an issue...

[SMA]

1. Try to swap the palmrest with the palmrest of another t43. See if the error goes with the touchpad or the motherboard.
If the error is with the motherboard, then check fuse F15, located on the top side of the board, close to the touchpad connector.

2. Try putting your fingers on the 2 power inductors belonging to the VCore Voltage Regulator.
They are located on the top side of the board, to the left of the ram socket and above the fan/heatsink.
If they are the source of the heat, then termal paste on the cpu will not be enough.

[phoenix34]

If it is the fuse what should I do?