T41 - 2 Beeps No Display

[Harryc]

I just built a T41 with an R51 systemboard. When I power it up I get 2 beeps and no display, although the backlight comes up and the brightness is adjustable. If I pull the RAM I get the usual 1-3-3-1 beep sequence. The RAM and CPU came from a working T41 machine, although it had a GPU problem. The systemboard came from EBay, and the seller said it was tested, but who knows. The only items plugged into it currently are an 802.11b mPCI card and a DVD drive, both of which came from the T41. Any ideas? I am grasping at straws here, hoping someone has seen this. If I were to reply to this thread I would say;

Two short beeps and a blank screen.

1. System board
2. DIMM

..and I know it isn't #2

[Harryc]

OK, making progress. I hooked up an external LCD and I get a display and can get into BIOS. The (2) beeps are due to having to reset date/time. So, the LCD is the next target. I had not personally tested that either.

[MnR]

Hi Harry,

I was taught to look for the simple things. You sure the LCD cable is all the way plugged in? I surmised that you did the routine GPU Test? The only other thought might be the LCD itself.

Well I am out of thoughts for now. Let us know if and when you solve it..

MnR

[Harryc]

Hi Harry,

I was taught to look for the simple things. You sure the LCD cable is all the way plugged in? I surmised that you did the routine GPU Test? The only other thought might be the LCD itself.

Well I am out of thoughts for now. Let us know if and when you solve it..

MnR

Yes I reseated the LCD connector at the systemboard, and that did not fix the problem. As far as the GPU, this is an Intel board so that would be a remote possibility. I am going to disassemble the LCD and check the connector at the back of the LCD next.

[Harryc]

Well, I found the problem. I took the LCD apart and looked at the back. The FRU# on the LCD is 11P8348. Anyone want to guess?

[Neil]

It's an SXGA+ LCD and the Intel board can't drive it.

[RealBlackStuff]

XGA and SXGA+ use the same LCD cable but different inverter.

[ajkula66]

Samsung SXGA+ panel, according to HMM...

[Harryc]

It's an SXGA+ LCD and the Intel board can't drive it.

Bingo, Neil wins the day . Here's the original machine specs, and what threw me for awhile;

Product: ThinkPad T41 2373-W5R
Original description: Based 2373-CTO: P M 1.5GHz, 512MB RAM, 40GB 5400rpm HDD, 14.1 XGA(1024x768) TFT LCD, 32MB ATI Radeon 7500, 16x10x24x/8X CD-RW/DVD, option, Modem, 1Gb Ether, UltraNav, Sec Chip, 6 cell Li-Ion batt, WinXP Pro

I put an R51 Intel board in the above machine. So someone, (possibly me) had one too many LCD's and was playing swap around and got confused. It needs an XGA LCD.