T30 - no indicators and GPU issue - works though

[thomaslp]

Hi,
I got an damaged T30 today. The laptop would shut down just before the backlight would power on. I replaced a few fises and the laptop showed me the IBM logo. Now I have installed XP but there are a few issues left:

1) No indicators lights up at all - no disk, caps lock, num lock or power and no battery indicator. The laptop works though. Anybody who knows the solution to this issue.

2) Suddenly my monitor will start to flicker (A LOT) and the screen becomes unreadable. The system continues to run fine though and after a while the screen again will become quite readable. This is also the issue when using an external monitor. Did anybody experience similar problem with the T30. I wonder if a GPU reflow will fix the issue. I already checked the inductors.

Finally one of the memory slots needs to be soldered.......this machine is in a bad condition

[RealBlackStuff]

1) Check that the LCD cable is properly slotted in (both on mobo and on back of LCD). Replace if needed.
2) See above. Run it without any main battery/modem/wifi/NIC/drives and just 1 RAM stick. Swap RAM if possible.
GPU could well be the (notorious) problem.

[thomaslp]

Hi,

I will try making a reflow of the GPU to see if it makes a difference. Regarding my question no. 1. I tried replacing the LCD cable but the issue is still the same. I also tried with a second T30 LCD screen and the result is the same with this one. I am rather suspecting some bad IC, fuse or similar.

Thomas

[thomaslp]

Hi,
a reflow of the GPU solved the issue. The laptop has been running fine all day.

I also solved the problem with no indicator leds. I noticed a very small fuse just next to the blue fuses near the LCD plug on the mobo. The fuse was marked with F. The fuse is appr. half the size of the blue fuses. I checked the fuse and it was dead. Carefully I replaced this fuse and at power on all my indicators were working fine again.

I now thought that this laptop was ready but no way.....when running on battery the LCD flickers a lot - so now I am looking for a new inverter og LCD assembly