Received working X31 from eBay; time of death: 6 hours later

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samalander · #1 Post by **samalander** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 9:58 am

Hi,

Earlier this week, I bought and then received a used Thinkpad X31 (2672-PBU) on eBay. I loved it as soon as I took it out of the box. My first Thinkpad. Everything worked well, the screen didn't have a single dead pixel and the casing looked really good. A few of the keys had that finger-polished look but that's the only sign that it wasn't new.

Since it was used, I started testing its RAM (MemTest86+) and its hard drive (SpinRite). It passed those tests with flying colors so I backed up the drive's contents before installing Ubuntu 7.04. I did the backup in case I ever wanted to go back to XP or for when I wanted to resell/give away the laptop.

The install went fine so I figured the laptop was good to go. Since that was the case, I left positive feedback to the seller on eBay. Not 2 hours later, I was plugging in the USB CD-ROM drive when the computer suddenly shut down. It would never turn back on again.

When I hit the power button, the Caps Lock, Num Lock, Power and moon (I'm not sure what that one indicates, suspended status?) LEDs started flashing on and off for ever. I could also hear what I assume is the hard drive spinning up and then stopping repeatedly. That's the only thing that happened, nothing on the screen, no post beep(s). Hitting the power button again did nothing. To stop this I had to remove all power (battery and wall) from the laptop.

After a bit of a panic (deservedly so, it seems), I went looking for a solution online. Some people suggested removing all easily removable parts (battery, CMOS battery, RAM and HD) and letting the laptop sit unpowered for a few hours; then, still without power, holding down the power button for long periods repeatedly. Then reassembling everything and trying to start up again. At this point if somebody had suggested that a tribal dance would help, I would have obliged. It didn't work, unfortunately.

I checked Lenovo/IBM's website and the laptop's warranty ended last July. I still called them. The guy told me the system board was most likely fried, as I'd figured from my net research. Since a new system board is more expensive than what I paid for the laptop (!), it's not an option.

I tried contacting the eBay seller but since the only warranty in the auction was against DOA (Dead On Arrival) and I left positive feedback, I don't think that'll go anywhere.

If anybody has a suggestion of something I could try, I'm very open to it. That could be something to try on the laptop or something to get my money back without damaging my eBay reputation too much. (I'm in Canada, if that changes anything.)

At this point, I was mostly just looking to tell my tale of woe. *sigh*

DVormann · #2 Post by **DVormann** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:25 am

I guess you got unlucky.

You can look for a working system board. A machine with damaged or missing screen would probably do.

phool@round · #3 Post by **phool@round** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:16 pm

.....and moon

Moon=nite nite=sleep.

I'd bug the seller since it lasted only 6 hours.

Any beeps from it? Have you taken it apart yet?

Probably plugging in the USB CD caused voltage spike which is common to all older laptops. Did the USB CD come with the laptop?

I'd suggest removing everything but the CMOS and try to power it on. If that works then start adding devices one at a time.

Do you have another power brick to try with?

I'm sure it's the system board but you never know........

without damaging my eBay reputation too much. (I'm in Canada, if that changes anything.)

Too late..................LOL! (Just kidding)

samalander · #4 Post by **samalander** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:48 pm

phool@round wrote:I'd bug the seller since it lasted only 6 hours.

That's just what I did and the seller just replied telling me to ship it back and he'd send me another one! I'm really impressed since he could basically left me hanging and I wouldn't have had much recourse. He's going into my favorite sellers.

Any beeps from it? Have you taken it apart yet?

No beeps, nothing. I took it apart only as far as I mentioned in the initial email. Nothing further. If the seller hadn't come through, I would probably have sold it for parts.

Probably plugging in the USB CD caused voltage spike which is common to all older laptops. Did the USB CD come with the laptop?

The USB CD drive did come with the laptop. It was an IBM-branded one with it's little branded bag. I guess I'll only plug or unplug anything in the replacement laptop when it's off. Thanks for the tip.

Terrahawk · #5 Post by **Terrahawk** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 4:53 pm

Don't be too quick to blame hot-plugging a USB device for killing the motherboard. The USB specification specifically allows for that sort of thing, and it is written in there that you can actually short all the pins together without causing major harm.

I don't believe it's just older computers either - my R40 and X21 are older machines and they handle inserting and removing USB devices fine. I have used many old desktops from about 2000-2002 and they work fine with USB hot-plugging too.

I think you just got a motherboard that was on its way out anyway.

phool@round · #6 Post by **phool@round** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:18 pm

....seller just replied telling me to ship it back and he'd send me another one!

Excellent!!!

proaudioguy · #7 Post by **proaudioguy** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:29 pm

samalander wrote:
phool@round wrote:

COuld you please PM me the seller so that I may buy from them? Please only a PM, cause otherwise everyone will buy all the good deals up before I have a chance.

iamdmc · #8 Post by **iamdmc** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 12:17 am

No, post it - don't be greedy, we all want good deals!

cofreth · #9 Post by **cofreth** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 12:20 am

Could it be because of the benchmark test that causes the CPU got fried ?

Btw Samalander, have you got the lappy exhanged by the seller now?

godling · #10 Post by **godling** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 7:37 am

Yeah, and when you do get the laptop replaced ... what's the seller's name?

#11 Post by **Harryc** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 7:49 am

Who's the seller...we want to put his/her name up in bright lights.

samalander · #12 Post by **samalander** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 11:18 pm

I received my replacement laptop yesterday! I've been putting it through its paces and everything looks great so far.

Sorry proaudioguy

, by popular demand, here is the name of the eBay user who sold me my laptop: bestdealone.

cofreth: I don't think that the benchmarks/tests could have done it since it only died hours later.

Happy shopping, I'm off to tinker.

samalander · #13 Post by **samalander** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 9:37 pm

I just received a message from my eBay seller. He's found what the problem was:

Hi, I just want to let you know the laptop you return one USB port damage and plastic inside usb port is broken so pins are touching each thats why no power,bend the pins and I make it power up but its physical damage,I just want to let you know, if it is other seller the don,t replace the laptop, I just want you to leave a good feedback.thanks you

This makes me think that maybe he didn't realize that I'd already left him positive feedback, although I already told him that in my first email and that if he'd known, he wouldn't have replaced it. Maybe I got lucky in my bad luck. Still, I'm loving my laptop.

Received working X31 from eBay; time of death: 6 hours later

Received working X31 from eBay; time of death: 6 hours later

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