X31 Problem

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LumberJack · #1 Post by **LumberJack** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 8:20 pm

Hey...

I's stumped... I am having a strange problem with my X31. This has never happened before.

Ok, so I boot up today and it gets into the IBM security screen. When I type in my password there is a loud click noise and the computer turns off. When I boot again the screen stays black and nothing happens but the power light is on. This pattern repeats over and over again.

The same problem occurs when I plug into a power outlet. BUT if I run on power with no battery everything works fine!

Anyone have any ideas? My laptop is only 6 months old so I still have warranty on it but Id rather not have to send it in if I can fix it easily.

Thanks

LJ

JHEM · #2 Post by **JHEM** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 8:55 pm

LJ,

BOOT without the battery installed and then install it once the unit is up and running.

Check the status of the battery as to WHs vs. design capacity.

Only other times I've seen something like this the battery was bad and prevented the unit from starting OR the DC/DC card had gone bad.

The first only needs a call to IBM and they'll send you a new battery in exchange for your old one. The second scenario requires a trip to EZServ.

Regards,

James

LumberJack · #3 Post by **LumberJack** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 9:02 pm

Hey...

Thanks for the responce. Ok I put the battery back it. Full charge capacity is 39.12 Wh and design capacity is 47.52 Wh. Only 20 cycles! but I guess its not too bad. The battery is at 85 % and charging now. I will let it charge and then see what happens.

Also, battery health is green.

I would think though that if it was a battery problem that it wouldn't boot at all.. weird that it waits for a keypress.

LJ

ychandrani · #4 Post by **ychandrani** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 7:37 am

On one of my two batteries, I am at 19 cycles on the battery for my x31 and i get a full charge capacity of 44.05 wh versus a design capacity of 47.52.

Is yours a Sanyo battery by any chance? I have a sanyo that came with the machine and it does not fit tightly. Every time I pickup the machine it moves around. So I brought a second battery from IBM and it turns out to have been made by Panasonic. This one sits very tight and does not move around. So check that first.

I ran into the same problem as you and IBM tech had me update the BIOS to ver 2.14 and embedded controller ver 1.04 for the x31; BIOS 2.14 supposedly has fixes for battery related problems. Ver 2.14 does seem to fix the problem when I use the panasonic, but the sanyo still does not recharge and gives me the blank screen. I have arranged for IBM to take it back and am waiting to see what happens with the replacement they send out.

If it is a Sanyo battery that you have, I think you should call IBM within the one year battery warranty and ask them if they can send you a replacement Panasonic or Sony.

LumberJack · #5 Post by **LumberJack** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 1:37 pm

Hey...

Well my battery just sais IBM on it and made in Japan. There are no other companies listed. The FRU is 08K8040 and 08K8049. The IBM web site sais this is a SANYO. So perhaps this problem is the same as the one you are having. I will call IBM and see what they say.

Thanks

LJ

LumberJack · #6 Post by **LumberJack** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 3:22 pm

IBM is sending me a replacement battery. Although on the phone they didn't seem convinced of my problem. They kept asking me to remove and replace the battery.

Anyway, I guess we will see what happens when the new battery gets here.

LJ

ychandrani · #7 Post by **ychandrani** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 6:20 pm

LumberJack wrote:Hey...

Well my battery just sais IBM on it and made in Japan. There are no other companies listed. The FRU is 08K8040 and 08K8049. The IBM web site sais this is a SANYO. So perhaps this problem is the same as the one you are having. I will call IBM and see what they say.

Thanks

LJ

Go to Thinkpad Configuration---->Battery Information---->Information tab, and ye shall see the brand name.

LumberJack · #8 Post by **LumberJack** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 6:24 pm

Update...

IBM called me back and told me to just take the laptop to a service centre instead of gtting the new battery. So I will go tommorow. Hopefully its not a big problem. Thanks for the battery tip, i didn't realise that info was there!

LJ

ychandrani · #9 Post by **ychandrani** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 6:48 pm

No problem. I am curious what you learn from the service center. Please keep the forum (and me of course ) informed.

LumberJack · #10 Post by **LumberJack** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 11:02 pm

UPDATE!

Ok... I went back to the IBM service centre today. Turns out the laptop is fine and it was just the battery. So, the good news is that the problem is not a big deal. The bad news is that now I need to wait 2 more days for a new battery.

Side point: Has anyone noticed how the technicians ask a lot of specific info? I mean they wanted my power on password, my windows password, my internet logon password, so they could run "tests" to check my battery. So I asked them if they could assure me they won't go through my private files and they said no. Just thought that was weird.

Hope that this helps someone out.

LJ

JHEM · #11 Post by **JHEM** » Thu Nov 04, 2004 12:08 am

LJ,

LumberJack wrote:Side point: Has anyone noticed how the technicians ask a lot of specific info? I mean they wanted my power on password, my windows password, my internet logon password, so they could run "tests" to check my battery. So I asked them if they could assure me they won't go through my private files and they said no. Just thought that was weird.

It WAS weird! There's no necessity for them to have anything beyond your Power On PW and perhaps your Supervisor PW.

CHANGE ALL YOUR PASSWORDS! Do it NOW, tonight, not tomorrow!

Regards,

James

LumberJack · #12 Post by **LumberJack** » Thu Nov 04, 2004 5:30 pm

Yeah...

That's the first thing I did after I booted it to make sure it worked.

Actually I read the IBM warranty agreemetn on the web, and the warranty is conditional on a bunch of stuff (ie you don't abuse your laptop, you don't remove the stickers underneath etc). It also sais that you are willing to provide full access to the computer (including passords) and you agree to create your own backup prior to service since they are not responsible if your data is lost. Here is the general matrix:

http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... A9HCE.html
for X31
http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-50091

LJ

LumberJack · #13 Post by **LumberJack** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 2:20 pm

ok...

I got my replacement battery in today. It's new which is good, but its a SANYO battery again. I hope this doesn't have the same problem because they said that this new battery only has the warranty left on the original battery.

LJ

leesiulung · #14 Post by **leesiulung** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 6:47 pm

I find it natural that they will ask for all that information. That is so that they have all the resources they need to fix your computer. They probably just ask for it in a "just in case I need it scenario". After all, they don't want to contact you everytime they need a piece of information for obvious reason.

I can't speak for IBM, but I believe any company you send your computer too will probably NEVER assure you that they will not go through your files. Most likely they will not, as they receive a lot of computers. But humans, are indeed curious... So how can they assure you that...

Just back up your data and delete it from the drive if you don't want them to see it.

I do find the internet logon password a little bit wierd. What is this password? Is a password to your internet account?... See what I mean, I am curious...

LumberJack · #15 Post by **LumberJack** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 9:23 pm

Yeah.. I agree.. they will need basic access to your machine. Part of the problem is that there may be a software problem, so they want to run your desktop as youwould at home; such as surfing the net. I'm fine with that...

The issue I had was that my problem was strictly a hardware problem. The IBM help desk suspected that the battery was defective and asked me to send it in. All they had to do was run a quick 5 minute test on the battery to know it was a dud. Absolutely nothing to do with my laptop whatsoever. Even if the mobo was fried I don't see what loggin the computer onto the internet would do to help find the problem.

I guess they just ask it as a general rule. It's just a pain to remove your private or corporate data, change ALL of your passwords.. and then restore it once they are done.

LJ

Out of curiosity, how many of you actually read the FULL warranty agreement? maybe we should start a poll.

#16 Post by **JaneL** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 11:43 pm

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=1689

#5

LumberJack · #17 Post by **LumberJack** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 8:25 pm

But do you even have a choice? I mean IBM told me I had to take it in.

LumberJack · #18 Post by **LumberJack** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 10:49 pm

AAAAAAAAA!!!! It happend again!

....

This is very frustratind

...

IBM is sending me another battery for the SECOND time.

ARG.

Has anybody experience similar problems with their system?

LJ

LumberJack · #19 Post by **LumberJack** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 9:52 pm

Well this really stinks... 3 batteries later and 2 visits to a service centre and the problem with my thinkpad still persists... I mean the service is fine, but this is getting anoying ... I can't rust this thing anymore...

Any advice from anyone?

Thanks

LJ

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