Help My kids dropped the T23 and now it's not working !!!

[papollonia]

Hello:

Great forum, I have not posted in a while..

I was upstairs and I heard " BANG "... I yelled downstairs "What was that Bang?"

They dropped the T23 off the table..

This is what I have so far:

Pulled the Hard Drive and put it in a another T23.. It is Fine, works great..

Put the hard drive back in the Dropped T23 and pressed the power button..

It power on, but the hard drive tries to spin up but it just rev's up and down about one second each rev up..

I do have another t23 I can use for parts..

So what do you guys think it is???

Thanks in Advance..

[rkawakami]

Most likely one (or more) of the inductors has fallen off the motherboard: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=21979

[RealBlackStuff]

If that's the only 'problem' showing, you were very lucky.
To repair it, you need to take it completely apart, as described in the post Ray referred to.
If that is too technical for you, I could put you in touch with another forum-member in Raleigh, who might be willing to fix it for you.

[papollonia]

I could put you in touch with another forum-member in Raleigh, who might be willing to fix it for you.

Please get me the name?

I am going to atttempt to do it..
I have had another t23 apart a few times, I got the doc.. from the ibm site and that helped out very much..

Three days weekend coming up the perfect time to do it... Great Just what i wanted to do this weekend!!!! LOL!!!

[RealBlackStuff]

I sent the person in question a PM.
If he agrees he should be in touch shortly through the forum or PM

[papollonia]

Thank you

[jronald]

Contact me
You have a PM

Ron

[papollonia]

Well, I spent about two hours on it...
Got down to the last screw to take the system board out and it seems that the screw has been messed around with !!!
I am tired and can't find a larger Philips screw driver..

So far it has been easy, i just followed steps...

Will update you guys when I get this screw out!!!

[RealBlackStuff]

You can also try a small straight screwdriver, put it in the groove and press down while you turn.

(And I'm glad to notice that you have been contacted).

[papollonia]

HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got the screw out!!!

Now I need to figure out how to take the connectors for the wifi antenna off the wifi card..

Those antenna wires have to be threaded thru a hole in the mother board!!!

Sure I can figure out, just my eyes are getting crossed!!!

If after i get the board out and there is nothing loose, what are my options?

I saw boards on ebay Untested for $19<>$30,,, or I guess I really should check here first.....

Just trying to make the dollars stretch, if it were another time I would just buy a nother used Thinkpad for them..

Wait I just remembered I have a another t23,, but do I really wnat to spend the time to take out the board.

Too much to think about LOL!!

Thanks

[rkawakami]

If you haven't already figured it out, the two WiFi antennas simply snap off the wireless card; you can typically lift up the side with the wire and "lever" it off. My problem with those cables has always been putting them back on. You have to line it up just right and then gently push them straight down. Feeding the wires through the slot in the motherboard has to be done at just the right angle. The "cap" fits in one way and with a wire already in the hole, the second antenna lead just fits through.

When you have the motherboard out, check out the two inductors on the bottom just on the opposite side of the PCMCIA area. This thread:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=37956

has a link to a scan I made of the bottom side of the board. The two inductors are located at map locations D9 and E8. Even if they look like they are attached, try lifting up one side of the inductors at a time with a toothpick and see if it finally breaks loose. Assuming that one or both are loose, be sure to clean (scrape) both of the metal contacts of the inductor before re-soldering it back on. There is normally a black or grey layer of oxidation which keeps the part from being firmly re-attached. Best technique I've found to do that is to apply a tiny amount of solder onto both metal contacts of the inductor, use solder wick to remove any remaining solder on the motherboard and then put the inductor in place, while heating up the side of the metal contact in order to get the solder to melt. You have to work on one side at a time and you may not be able to get the inductor to sit totally level, but as long as the new solder flows, you should be in good shape. After both contacts have been re-soldered, test the strength of the bond by again using a toothpick to pry up the corner/sides.

Good luck!

[RealBlackStuff]

Have you contacted Ron (jronald)?
He'll be able to help you.

[papollonia]

Have you contacted Ron (jronald)?
He'll be able to help you.

Yes I did via PM.. I told him that I would give it a shot, and if i had problems I would get a hold of him.

Cash is tight right now.....

Thanks

[papollonia]

If you haven't already figured it out, the two WiFi antennas simply snap off the wireless card; you can typically lift up the side with the wire and "lever" it off. My problem with those cables has always been putting them back on. You have to line it up just right and then gently push them straight down. Feeding the wires through the slot in the motherboard has to be done at just the right angle. The "cap" fits in one way and with a wire already in the hole, the second antenna lead just fits through.

When you have the motherboard out, check out the two inductors on the bottom just on the opposite side of the PCMCIA area. This thread:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=37956

has a link to a scan I made of the bottom side of the board. The two inductors are located at map locations D9 and E8. Even if they look like they are attached, try lifting up one side of the inductors at a time with a toothpick and see if it finally breaks loose. Assuming that one or both are loose, be sure to clean (scrape) both of the metal contacts of the inductor before re-soldering it back on. There is normally a black or grey layer of oxidation which keeps the part from being firmly re-attached. Best technique I've found to do that is to apply a tiny amount of solder onto both metal contacts of the inductor, use solder wick to remove any remaining solder on the motherboard and then put the inductor in place, while heating up the side of the metal contact in order to get the solder to melt. You have to work on one side at a time and you may not be able to get the inductor to sit totally level, but as long as the new solder flows, you should be in good shape. After both contacts have been re-soldered, test the strength of the bond by again using a toothpick to pry up the corner/sides.

Good luck!

Ray:

Thanks for the great info... Will attempt it tonight,,, I hope

[papollonia]

Ray:

UPDATE:

Got the @#$%#$@% wires off the wifi card..
Got wires threaded thru the hole....

Then I was looking at the board via magnifying glass..

I touched the one located in D9 and it fell off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I really need to find the soldiering pencil !!!!!!!!!!!

Taking a break for a bit....

[jronald]

If it helps any
I was not planning on any charges
To be quite honest Im not even sure I could have fixed it!

Anyway, lets talk about soldering irons
IDEALLY you want a 3 wire soldering iron, this is one with the grounded plug
Not real easy to find, but not impossible either.
Mine is a Weller.
I have used both 2 and 3 wire irons and fixed just about everything I started out to fix
The 3 wire is technically safer to use on Static Sensitive Devises
I picked it up after several failed memory repairs, did not make a difference, but what the heck.
My memory repairs last 90 days or so and quit again (hence the 3 boards to Hammerhead with additional issues other than the memory slots)
I picked my Weller up from Grainger, behind Capital Ford on Capital Blvd, but I was in a hurry, Im shure you can get it on line cheaper
Here is what I bought, but also picked up additional tips and heaters
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/2AC09
Note the 3 wire connector

Make sure you remove all power, and I would cycle the on off switch a couple of time, dont forget the CMOS battery, little yellow battery under the primary battery
Clean everything up and work quickly. If it does not reattach the first time, let it completely cool before trying again

Call me if you need to

Ron

[papollonia]

Ron:

Thanks for the info..

At one time I had a soldering pencil around here, but it may of been tossed.
I did find a weller SP40L, which is 40 watts..

I tried using it, but did not like how warm that piece was getting so i stopped !!!

Maybe I can borrow one from somebody, or find a cheaper one...

FYI:
I am having that Memory issue with another t23 I have, that will be the next project...

[RealBlackStuff]

Get a 25W iron from RadioShack, they do a fine job. Cost less than $15.-
If you need to save the pennies: go to Dollar General and the like, around $2 or $3

[papollonia]

Get a 25W iron from RadioShack, they do a fine job. Cost less than $15.-
If you need to save the pennies: go to Dollar General and the like, around $2 or $3

I just called a friend to borrow one, but heck for $15 I think i may just buy one.....

The problem i am going to have is once the solder is on the part then using my big fingers and placing on the board !!!!

Thanks

[papollonia]

Another UPDATE:

Got the borrowed soldering pencil today..

I was in the process the tinning solder on to the connectors of the piece, holding it ever so gently with needle nose pliers.

My plan was to hold it with the needle nose pliers, while tinning then press it on to the board.

Well as all good plans go, I just got done tinning the connectors and was getting close to pressing it on to the board when the piece broke open...

FYI: I did not over heat the piece tonight,
last night it was getting a little warm, but not hot with the larger pencil i was using..


Great so i guess i need to find a system board after all.........

[rkawakami]

I believe that both mouser.com and digikey.com stock the Sumida inductors. The series number is CDRH104R and the one at location D9 should have a marking of "5R2" on top (5.2uH value). Search for the full part number of "CDRH104RNP-5R2NC" at those sites. If it would help, I might have a spare one on a dead T23 motherboard - I'll have to check in the morning.

I generally flip the inductor upside down on an old towel in order to tin the leads. Then when placing the inductor in position on the motherboard, I use whatever is handy to gently push the part down as I heat up one side (screwdriver, tweezer, etc.). When the solder has flowed, the inductor settles down slightly. Heat up the opposite side ASAP and you can usually get it fairly close to parallel with the board. I don't particularly care if the part is not flush with the motherboard; as long as both connections are firmly attached, then the job is done.

[papollonia]

Ray:

WOW... Thanks for the info, I will order it.. I threw the hard drive into a another t23, it came up fine, now I am tiring to get a older belkin wireless card to work.... the t23 has a wifi card but no Antenna wires??? Weird!!

I have to get the wife a up and running computer!! I want her OFF MINE!!!!!!

[RealBlackStuff]

Both types in your signature came with built-in wifi.
Do both have the plastic "Sergeant stripes" on the short sides of the lid?
If you take the keyboard off the one with the wires missing, do you see antenna wires coming from the lid?
Maybe they just need to be fed through the hole next to the CPU fan...

[papollonia]

Both types in your signature came with built-in wifi.
Do both have the plastic "Sergeant stripes" on the short sides of the lid?
If you take the keyboard off the one with the wires missing, do you see antenna wires coming from the lid?
Maybe they just need to be fed through the hole next to the CPU fan...

Thanks, I just checked and I see no black and white wires being feed from the screen..DARNIT

and I am at my wits end with the belkin card,, no belkin drivers are working with this card!!

What sinks is that I just sold an old t600 and was being nice and left my linksys wireless pcma card in it!!!!

[RealBlackStuff]

What's the Belkin model no.?
IIRC, with Belkin you need to install drivers before you insert the card.
Have you tried both upper and lower PCMCIA slots?

[jronald]

I have a Linksys you are welcome to
Or a "B" internal card you are welcome to
Call me tonight on the cell number I gave you (local for you)
And I will bring them to work @ RDU tomorrow for you to pick up

Ron

[papollonia]

What's the Belkin model no.?
IIRC, with Belkin you need to install drivers before you insert the card.
Have you tried both upper and lower PCMCIA slots?

Belkin model no.? F5D7010

Yes I installed the driver first.

Yes I did try both slots, the bottom one seems to be the that works..

[papollonia]

I have a Linksys you are welcome to
Or a "B" internal card you are welcome to
Call me tonight on the cell number I gave you (local for you)
And I will bring them to work @ RDU tomorrow for you to pick up

Ron

I just left you a voice mail on your cell..

Thanks

[jronald]

They will be @ my office tomorrow
Im downloading the drivers now

Ron

[papollonia]

Ron:
I will call you around 8am ish

Thanks