Thinkpads Forum

Many of you are probably familiar with the 1,3,3,1 beep error code of the bad system board. I have a FrankenPad project of a rescued T60 (Type 2007-5BU). It was in terrible condition, but got juice. Unfortunately it gave the bad board code. Yesterday I received a "known good" Intel GPU'd, R60 board and swapped it in there today. After I got it back together (w/o smashed screen), it gave the 1,3,3,1 error code.

Since then, I've swapped, RAM, CPU reseated all the various connections. Still the same code. Anyone have thoughts on this?

This thing is threatening to ruin a very nice afternoon home with a sick child!

1-3-3-1 is a bad RAM module (or no RAM indication).
Swap them around, try others.

5 RAM modules, in both slots, same result, so I guess it's something having to do with the board, which is a complete mystery since it's a different board as well! The only thing that didn't get changed is the interposer. I guess it is possible, however unlikely given that it only interacts with drives.

Maybe insignificant (or not), but is there a battery involved? If so, see if it makes any dif without the battery. I know it's a long shot, but something has to be at fault here.

A *very* long shot: unplug the LCD cable and see what happens...

Good luck.

ajkula66 wrote:A *very* long shot: unplug the LCD cable and see what happens...

Good luck.

Actually, I started with no LCD attached, but tried plugging it in....still, no go.

Being a memory test engineer....

- Verify that all of the modules you have plugged into either motherboard (T60 and R60) during this swap will work in a totally different PC2-5300 system. If the modules do NOT work in another system, then you may be looking at a board that kills modules. This could happen with a voltage out of spec and/or a short on the board. It's also possible, but fairly unlikely, that they have become damaged through handling (i.e., static discharges).
- If they do work in another system, then it's safe to assume that either motherboard has not damaged the memories and that there's some other issue with the R60 board. The usual troubleshooting advice then applies: remove all socketed hardware from the motherboard except for one known good memory module and see what happens.

rkawakami wrote:Being a memory test engineer....

- Verify that all of the modules you have plugged into either motherboard (T60 and R60) during this swap will work in a totally different PC2-5300 system. If the modules do NOT work in another system, then you may be looking at a board that kills modules. This could happen with a voltage out of spec and/or a short on the board. It's also possible, but fairly unlikely, that they have become damaged through handling (i.e., static discharges).
- If they do work in another system, then it's safe to assume that either motherboard has not damaged the memories and that there's some other issue with the R60 board. The usual troubleshooting advice then applies: remove all socketed hardware from the motherboard except for one known good memory module and see what happens.

....And the craziness continues, now that I've checked all the modules that I had previously used and confirmed on my daughters X61 that they are indeed good and that the T60 has killed them either. So, on to the next thing; removing all socketed items from the board. Remind me again why we love this!?!

No joy. All drives, socketed hardware removed.....same sad beeps. The now the only thing left that was attached to the old MB is the interposer, and the keyboard.

schen wrote:received a "known good" Intel GPU'd, R60 board

Known good by whom? And, how was it tested? Sure is beginning to seem like a second bad board...

Neil wrote:Known good by whom? And, how was it tested? Sure is beginning to seem like a second bad board...

Yup, it's sure sounding that way. It came from another Forum member, but I haven't quizzed him on how he tested it. About to do that. I'm about out of other things to try.