Thinkpads Forum

Hi Everyone,

Happy New Year!

However, I still need your help since my thinkpad (signature) refuses to start this morning.

I pressed the power button and I get a blank screen with 4 groups of 4 beeps each and then nothing happens.

I checked on Lenovo's site and it appears to be a Security Chip problem. I dont think my machine is still under warranty. Is there anything I could do?

Please help, I really need to know how to reset it or at least boot.

Thanks all

Enigmatist

Enigmatist wrote:Hi Everyone,

Happy New Year!

However, I still need your help since my thinkpad (signature) refuses to start this morning.

I pressed the power button and I get a blank screen with 4 groups of 4 beeps each and then nothing happens.

I checked on Lenovo's site and it appears to be a Security Chip problem. I dont think my machine is still under warranty. Is there anything I could do?

Please help, I really need to know how to reset it or at least boot.

Thanks all

Enigmatist

Check out:
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardwar ... 94541.html

Scroll down to see the answers.

Chris

Chris,

Thank you so much for the link. However, I dont have the premium membership and cannot access that site (hence can't see the responses). Would you mind copy and pasting the responses for me?

Thank you

Enigmatist wrote:Chris,

Thank you so much for the link. However, I dont have the premium membership and cannot access that site (hence can't see the responses). Would you mind copy and pasting the responses for me?

Do a Google search for the thread title (in quotes) :
"Thinkpad T60 Beeps 4 times then Shuts down"

Then click on the link derived from the Google search.
Again, scroll down to the end to see most of the answers.

Here's a hint :
"....but the reseating of the ram worked like a charm!!"

If it is't the RAM chips, it probably cannot be fixed

ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mo ... 844_04.pdf


page 54

Hi

I had the same problem, its the tpm chip.
You have to replace the motherboard.

killigrew wrote:Hi

I had the same problem, its the tpm chip.
You have to replace the motherboard.

oh.....thats horrible...guess i'll have to figure something else out then.

Thanks everyone.

I just encountered the same problem on my IBM T42p (~6 years old), and fixed it by reseating the memory module. I'm not saying reseating the memory will fix any machine with 4x4 beeps, but it's worth a shot, and is certainly DIY-able.

I’ve had the same startup problems (no video, but fan and battery and power lights) for about a year; every time that happens (~once a week), I use IBM’s mystical “static discharge” procedure (remove AC adapter and battery, press and release power button 10 times, then hold for 30 – 60 seconds) to bring my machine back to life. It worked pretty well… until today, when it took a really long time to start up, then powered off and wouldn’t turn back on (although each time I tried I’d get the fan and a couple lights). A couple times when trying to turn it on it gave me “Four cycles of four short beeps and a blank screen.”, which indicates: “System board (Security chip)” (http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/supp.....6018.html). Lenovo offered out of warranty repair (~$500), but I searched around a bit and I agree, “the reseating of the ram worked like a charm!!”

For reseating instructions (for my T42p), I used:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 46513.html
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-46515
and a video, which reminded me that there was one more screw to remove(!):
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 50227.html