Thinkpads Forum

Hello,

After many years of good service, my T61 will not start up any more. I did get a modern replacement, but it can not be downgraded to run Windows XP which I need because of a driver issue with some old camera equipment.

T61 Type: 6460-8NG
Problem is that it will not start up, no error or start beep and no display. Initially it did start once after some 10 power ups. It will beep when I remove the memory


I tested the following:
Apply DC Power from AC Power supply => AC Power status is Green

Press Power button => Battery status turns ON and then OFF (no battery is used), Power On indicator turns ON and stays ON, Num lock and Caps lock turn on ON momentarily. No sound, no display, Keyboard inoperable, Num lock and Caps lock keys have no effect.
After about 90 seconds fan starts to run.
Press Power button => Fan stops and Power On indicator turns OFF.

Remove memory => Power ON => Fan runs 1 second and 1-3-3-1 beep, no display. After a while fan starts to run.

Remove all modules => Power ON => Fan runs 1 second and 1-3-3-1 beep. no display. After a while fan starts to run.
I also tested this with the display removed.

Install memory => Power ON => Fan run 1 second and no beep, no display. After some time fan starts to run.

Whenever the optical drive is installed, I hear it kick in during power up and I can open the drawer at all times.

Any suggestions, or is it time to give up?

PS I have no problem with some soldering etc

Welcome to the forum.
Your machine has an nVidia GPU, which has been the cause of thousands of failures.
On the bottom label, after the TYPE 6460-8NG S/N L3-12345 you'll find the production date as YY/MM
e.g. 07/12 means year 2007/month 12=December
If your YY/MM is older than 08/08, with 99.9% certainty your GPU has failed.
Only solution: replace motherboard, for best result: get one with Intel graphics.

But before you do that, remove the yellow CMOS-battery, and hope there is no Supervisor password on that machine.
That battery is likely quite dead or less than 3.0V DC (red+, black-)
Replace and try again.

There is also nothing to stop you running Windows XP on that computer. Do not bother downgrading, just backup your important files, then wipe the drive and install a fresh install of XP Pro OEM.

Thank you for the replies!
The production date is 08/05, 3 months into the problem period...
I did the tests with the backup battery disconnected, but connecting a new battery made no difference.
Thanks for the suggestion of a new motherboard. These are not so much in supply here, but then I did see complete T61's being offered which look interesting.

I have been running this T61 with XP from the day it was new. I tried to replace it with an inexpensive Lenovo B50-30, but I understand that the B50-30 can't be downgraded to run XP.

Best regards!