T30 with a dead type problem

[XonOFF]

I've a recently purchased T30 (from eBay) which has worked perfectly for several months.

The other day, while plugging up a USB HDD, it kind of went out. Don't know if it exactly at that moment, though.

Anyway, now the thing randomly boots or not depending on ?? mood ??.
Seems the more I try, the less it wants to. Anyway, I've not got it to boot at all recently.

It's running XP sp2, 1GB (1 stick), 80GB HDD

When I hit the power button, it seems to do a short POST, the 4 right lights on the keyboard come on for second, then the battery and moon cresent along the bottom edge of the display. It then settles in with only the power light on the keyboard and the battery idicator lit. The CPU fan runs, but nothing more. It never hits the HDD at all that I can tell, no light, no spin.

I've removed all the power, battery and restored with no change.

I've removed all devices, including SODIMM, DVD, WiFi, HDD and even the CMOS Battery and reinstalled. No change.

When I remove the one stick of SODIMM, it does give me a 1-3-3-1 beep code (no RAM, or is that bad mother?). Anyway, when I reinstall the SODIMM, the beep code no longer occurs.

There's never anything on the display, no light at at all, no cursor, nothing. Almost like (o.k., exactly) no power.

I'm thinking the MB is blown, but how can I tell for sure?

TIA,
XO

[XonOFF]

Come to think of it, sometimes the CPU fan fails to blow.
Is there some chance the CPU has overheated and burned up?
I was thinking there was some temp control on the T30 which would shut it down on overheat.

[XonOFF]

One other incident to report.
Once, when it did finally boot, it somehow gave me the impression it may have been 'stuck' in suspend mode, or hibernation, some combination or in concert with the display energy saver timeout.

....just another clue.

[rkawakami]

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

Well, you could have one of several issues. Some T30 systems will develop a problem with one of the memory slots (typically the "front" one). So if that's where you've been installing the module, try the other slot. If you are certain that the problem occurred when connecting the external hard drive via the USB port, then it could be that the Southbridge chip has burned out. Would that lead to the power problem you are describing? I don't know, but it's certainly a possibility. Some other things to consider would be a defective inverter or burned out backlight (aka, CCFL). That can usually be verified by attaching an external monitor and seeing if you get a proper display there (press the Fn+F7 key combination to activate the LCD or external monitor). If you are sure that the hard drive is not spinning or being accessed, then the issue is nothing to do with the inverter and/or CCFL.

Have you tried removing all items you mentioned (HD, WiFi, DVD, etc.) but keeping the module in place and seeing if the system boots? I can't be sure that you've tried that; you said you removed all devices and reinstalled them but no mention of attempting to power up the system when those things were removed.

[XonOFF]

Thanks for the reply.

The SODIMM is in the center-most slot, away from the edge.

I did try to swap the SODIMM to the other slot. The one closest to the edge and received the 1-3-3-1 beep code. So, put it back in the other one.

Should a single stick really work in either slot? Seems the 'first' slot must be filled before the second, at least as I used to understand things.

Today it seems the HDD _may_ be spinning (it's very quiet), can't tell for sure over the fan. But, the light never comes on.

[XonOFF]

Can this T30 be powered up from the cord without the battery installed?

Didn't want to try. But I did attempt boot with everything else removed, except the SODIMM. No change.

Without SODIMM, beep code 1-3-3-1

[RealBlackStuff]

You can start up without battery, no problem.
The T30 can run on a single stick in either slot (provided both slots are working).
If -without anything installed at all- you get 1-3-3-1 beep, it means: no working RAM is present.
You installed RAM in the 'middle' slot and got no beeps, so that slot is working.
With only RAM in the 'edge' slot you still got beeps, so that slot is NOT working and (at least the outer 6 contacts on each side) needs to be resoldered.
Have you tried an external monitor (hit Fn-F7 a few times), and does that work?

[XonOFF]

So, guess at least the edge-side sodimm slot is bad. Probably has been all this time.

I tried to power up with the battery removed. Same thing, except now no battery light.

I attached an external monitor and used Fn+F7 in as many ways as I could and nothing shows up anywhere. External monitor stays in stand-by mode (blinking light).

Now thinking the HDD never spins up. Definitely no light.

[RealBlackStuff]

Sounds very much like a now motherboard
In the miniPCI bay, on the bottom, is a white piece of plastic. On it is a sticker with the P/N or FRU number of the mobo that you need.

[XonOFF]

Yeah, I believe it dead. Or, at least part dead. Just the parts that make it work.

So, since a new MB is around $150, this becomes a parts machine. Anyone need any T30 parts? It's a 1.6MHz with touchpad and wifi. Good condition otherwise.

Thanks all for your help.

Slugging along on my T23, as usual.

[XonOFF]

btw, this might be a good time and place to seek some advice on a replacement.

I'd be looking for a good used ThinkPad with does everything (:)).
I liked the T30 fine, would've upgraded it to 2GB and a 320GB HDD, but other than that, it would suffice for my needs. WinXP is fine.

Would any of you recommend another model as being semi-equivalent, dependable and in that price range?