T21 boot problem

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plazma · #1 Post by **plazma** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 2:30 pm

My T21 doesn't boot up anymore. The HD led blinks once if I press the power button. Nothing else happens. I have tried without memory, HD and LAN card.

I tried some hints I found on the web (reseated the CPU, freezed the battery). These did not help. I measured 3.01V of the lithium button cell battery.

Does anyone know what is the problem?

#2 Post by **JHEM** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 3:09 pm

Replace the CMOS battery, regardless of the reading you got from the existing one.

Report back.

Regards,

James

plazma · #3 Post by **plazma** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 4:31 pm

Replacing the CMOS battery did NOT work.

-Pasi

treyster · #4 Post by **treyster** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 6:20 pm

Guys, the same thing is happening to me, I try to turn on, I get one flash, then two clicks (i think) and then nothing. At first I thought it was the battery, because it happened to one time unplugged. It just all of a sudden turned off. So I plugged it in and turned it back on. Now it won't turn on plugged or unplugged. My IT guys are telling me that it might be the motherboard. Does this sound right?

Orevin · #5 Post by **Orevin** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 6:30 pm

Try these tips:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=18351
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=20537

treyster · #6 Post by **treyster** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 6:38 pm

Thanks, I got both threads printed and will exhaust all possibilities when I get home!

treyster · #7 Post by **treyster** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:19 am

Here's what happened. I took the battery out, let it sit for a about an hour, and it actually started up. I kept it unplugged and worked online for about an hour. Then I left it on, and still unplugged (the indicator got to about 85%), then it went to it's "moon" phase, but would not let me get it out and totally turned off. And it would not let me turn it on again. What is going on??

Orevin · #8 Post by **Orevin** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:44 am

Replace your CMOS battery. If it still doesn't work, then your system board is gone.

treyster wrote:Here's what happened. I took the battery out, let it sit for a about an hour, and it actually started up. I kept it unplugged and worked online for about an hour. Then I left it on, and still unplugged (the indicator got to about 85%), then it went to it's "moon" phase, but would not let me get it out and totally turned off. And it would not let me turn it on again. What is going on??

treyster · #9 Post by **treyster** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 12:42 pm

I unscrewed the CMOS, but I thought it would come right out. I didn't get a manual when I got the laptop. Is there a thread showing how to replace??

Orevin · #10 Post by **Orevin** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 1:11 pm

Just pull it out. You can download the HMM here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4UYM3F

treyster · #11 Post by **treyster** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 2:13 pm

Orevin, and everyone, thanks for all the help

treyster · #12 Post by **treyster** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:16 am

Well, I have somewhat good news. I haven't had time to buy a new CMOS battery, but I did pull out the existing one and re-installed it. And it turned on! I used the computer all night with out a problem, but when I tried to turn it on this morning, nothing. Would it be safe to say that the problem is the CMOS and not the motherboard?? I'm getting a new one at lunch today

#13 Post by **JHEM** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:51 am

treyster wrote:Would it be safe to say that the problem is the CMOS and not the motherboard??

No, not yet, but it's the first step in the diagnosis process.

Get a can of compressed air when you pick up the battery and use it to give your fan a good blowj....... er....... cleaning.

Regards,

James

treyster · #14 Post by **treyster** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:56 pm

Alright james, I got the new CMOS installed, do I need to plug it in to turn it on? Or should it turn right on??

#15 Post by **JHEM** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 3:21 pm

Should turn on right from the primary battery provided it has sufficient charge.

Personally, I'd try it plugged in first several times, then try from the battery after it's fully charged.

Regards,

James

treyster · #16 Post by **treyster** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 5:15 pm

OK, that didn't work. I think it may be something else. any other suggestions?? I'm thinking about letting my IT guy have a crack at it!!

treyster · #17 Post by **treyster** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 9:56 am

Latest update, I took the CMOS and the regular battery out for about 3 hours, when I reinstalled, it started right up. I worked on it for an hour and then turned it off. When I tried to turn it on this morning, nothing. Does this sound like a bad power source??

Orevin · #18 Post by **Orevin** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 10:58 am

It makes sense to check the power supply and the power jack as well. However, these symptoms are well know and most likely caused by a bad system board.

treyster · #19 Post by **treyster** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 3:59 pm

Luckily the Ebay company I bought it from wants me to send it back for free (hopefully) repair

treyster · #20 Post by **treyster** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:46 am

OK, I think I got this problem narrowed down. If I take the main battery out for a few hours, and then install it, the computer starts right up. If I turn it off, and then try to turn back on, nothing, unless I take the main battery out for a while. Could the problem be the battery? I'd like to solve this myself so I don't have to send the laptop back to the company I bought it from. Please help guys!!

Orevin · #21 Post by **Orevin** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:11 am

Send it back... it's the board

Website · #22 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:29 am

Just curious, are you using IBM's Battery Maximizer program, or are you checking Window's settings for battery life?

I had a problem with a 600E that wouldn't always turn on, with or without the battery. It was very inconsistant. The only thing that was consistant was waiting a while before rebooting. I installed the Battery Maximizer program and then it was fine. I know that it most likely had something to do with having a program that reads the battery as a device and not just a battery, since there are "smart chips" in the batteries.

Not sure if this the answer to your problem or not.

treyster · #23 Post by **treyster** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:36 am

Orevin wrote:Send it back... it's the board

That's what I was afraid of

treyster · #24 Post by **treyster** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:40 am

tfflivemb2 wrote:Just curious, are you using IBM's Battery Maximizer program, or are you checking Window's settings for battery life?

I had a problem with a 600E that wouldn't always turn on, with or without the battery. It was very inconsistant. The only thing that was consistant was waiting a while before rebooting. I installed the Battery Maximizer program and then it was fine. I know that it most likely had something to do with having a program that reads the battery as a device and not just a battery, since there are "smart chips" in the batteries.

Not sure if this the answer to your problem or not.

I'm getting this from the Window's setting, but everyone is telling me that it's the motherboard, even my IT guys. I might be better off just sending it back

#25 Post by **JHEM** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 11:08 am

Treyster,

Please don't disable BBCode for posts or replies in which you quote text.

In addition, make sure you don't have BBCode disabled in your Profile.

Regards,

James

treyster · #26 Post by **treyster** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 3:04 pm

Sorry, never noticed it at the bottom. Not really sure what it does

treyster · #27 Post by **treyster** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 10:42 am

OK, here's the latest. This weekend, the laptop had no problems starting up. I didn't ever have to take out the battery. What is going on? Should I still send the laptop back??

treyster · #28 Post by **treyster** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 10:52 am

Well guys, it's been two weeks since my problems, the T21 is working like a charm, so I'm not sending it back. I guess the problem was CMOS after all, or that's my best guess!! Thanks for all the help everyone

T21 boot problem

T21 boot problem

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