Please Help - T23 with a mind of its own.

Message

Hodge · #1 Post by **Hodge** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 5:05 pm

I have a T23 running XP, 20G Hard Drive, 512 Memory. It has started not booting up, sometimes all the lights flash then the hard drive light goes on once. Other times though not very often it boots up then windows freezes.

I have tried the following-:

1. Removed the motherboard out and checked all components for looseness even re-soldering the inductors.
2. Removed memory and replaced one at a time.
3. Removed Hard Drive
4. Removed DVD Drive.

Rebooted after each of the above but to no avail.
Do I need a new motherboard?

Any help would be gratefully received.

#2 Post by **rkawakami** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 5:46 pm

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

My first suggestion would be to run a memory diagnostic such as memtest86+ available from here:

http://www.memtest.org

Download files for creating a bootable floppy, CD or USB thumb drive are there; just pick one according to the hardware you have. If your 512MB of memory is two sticks, test one at a time in both memory slots. You could have a problem with one (or both) of the modules or there might be a problem with one (or both) of the memory slots. It's not as common a fault as on a T30, but it can and does happens at times for a T23. I'd let memtest86+ run at least two or three complete passes before considering it "good".

Assuming none of the memory tests reveals a problem, then I would try pulling out the MiniPCI card, be it the modem or modem/wireless combo card. I seen some power up problems associated with a bad MPCI card. In fact, now that I think of it, that would be a faster check to perform than the memory tests but I'd still run them regardless.

edit: I'm assuming that you've checked the two inductors on the bottom of the motherboard (opposite side from the PCMCIA area) AND the one just "above" the CPU. Those three seem to be the ones which causes the most power problems.

Hodge · #3 Post by **Hodge** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 11:45 am

Thanks for your reply Ray I am going to re-check the inductors and then see if the machine will boot. I cant run any diagnostics until I get it to boot properly. I have already removed both mini cards you mentioned with no success. Its a shame because it is such a lovely compact laptop which until about a month ago was running perfectly.

Chris.

Hodge · #4 Post by **Hodge** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 5:32 pm

Tonight I took my T23 apart and checked and re-soldered the inductors. I then stumbled on an interesting situation the computer will only boot up when tilted towards me at about 45 degrees and the Ultrabay 2000 light goes on. When put it back to the correct position it wont boot and the light goes out. I then removed the DVD drive but i still have to tilt it to boot.

#5 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 5:46 pm

There's a little micro-switch between CD-cage and back of the laptop.
That might be faulty.
It gets 'closed' when you close the laptop's lid.

#6 Post by **rkawakami** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 5:48 pm

Hmm... given that condition you could have a problem with a loose connection on the motherboard or I/O card (the thin circuit board which has all of the rear panel connectors). Motherboard areas to check would be to re-seat the CPU and apply some pressure on the memory modules (bad memory slot issue). The I/O board (FRU 26P8006) has a tiny microswitch which swings in when the Ultrabay is occupied; yours could be broken which normally means that you'd have to replace the entire I/O board (fairly cheap on eBay but might cost some to get it to the east side of the Atlantic).

Hodge · #7 Post by **Hodge** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 6:26 pm

Thanks for your ideas I shall check them out and get back to you both. I am so glad I stumbled on your Site.

Hodge · #8 Post by **Hodge** » Sun Nov 16, 2008 3:40 pm

Well I pulled the IO board out and checked for any loose components without success. I even resoldered the mini switch but this did no good. Put the laptop back together again ( i'm an expert at dismantling and putting it back togather) still the same problem. I did notice though that the angle at which the screen is placed makes a difference so whether it is the angle or the fact that it is moved that makes it work I don't know. If I run a diagnostic program will this show me any problems as when the laptop is used at an angle it runs perfectly. Thanks again for your input on this as I haven't a clue

Chris.

#9 Post by **rkawakami** » Sun Nov 16, 2008 4:51 pm

If it appears that movement of the lid assembly causes the T23 to freeze up, then one of the things that I would look at is the LCD ribbon cable. It could be shorting out.

However, after re-reading everything you've written, there might be one other thing you can check out on the motherboard. Read this:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=40648

and see if it makes any sense. In particular, try the upward pressure on the front left corner and see if that makes the system functional. If so, then there could be a component on the motherboard which has a badly soldered connection. In the case I referenced above, that part was a crystal which had tiny microcracks on two of the pins. I had cause to look for anything to do with the timing circuitry since the system failed the Real Time Clock (RTC) test in the PC Doctor for DOS diagnostic program.

It might be possible with the movement of the lid and/or the tilting of the laptop, the motherboard is being flexed just enough to break a connection.

Hodge · #10 Post by **Hodge** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 2:30 am

Hi Ray

Thanks once again for all your input on this problem.
You were right about the upward pressure on the motherboard. I checked all 3 of the crystals and just heated the conections up to make sure. This still hasn't cured the problem so i'm taking the motherboard out and checking both sides for any suspect looking components (got to find that magnifying glass I have somewhere). Will let you know how i get on. If you place something under the laptop case and apply a little pressure on top it runs beautifully so I am also going to run PC Doctor to see if anything comes up.

Hodge · #11 Post by **Hodge** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 3:43 pm

Hi Ray

Thanks for all your help I now have nice little T23 up and running perfectly. It turned out to be a very dry joint on one of those crystals as you said.

Many Thanks for your help again.

#12 Post by **rkawakami** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 5:39 pm

By any chance was it the "Y6" crystal; the long black one near the speaker connections?

Hodge · #13 Post by **Hodge** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 9:37 am

Yes it would appear that Y6 was the offending component. There seems to have been quite an issue with the soldering of components on T23 boards.

Thank you once again.

Chris.

Please Help - T23 with a mind of its own.

Please Help - T23 with a mind of its own.

Further Update on T23 with its own mind.

Further Update

Still Looking

Success

Who is online