X40 power failure - anyone know how to fix?

[spasticteapot]

A while ago, my X40 (NOT A TABLET!) lost its ability to power itself. It used to work intermittently and make a funny whine, but one day, it stopped altogether. Putting a charged battery in the laptop will make it function, but only until the battery runs out.

Anyone have any idea what caused this problem, and if I can fix it with a bit of SMD soldering?

[aboveliquidice]

When you say "ability to power itself" - are you referring to the laptop's ability to recharge its battery???

If a battery does not recharge - it could be a number of issues - but typically the charging of a battery is built in - and is the sign of a defective battery.

I am unclear however, if that is your problem - can you elaborate on this issue???

~above~

[spasticteapot]

The laptop won't power itself off of the A/C adapter. (I've tried three A/C adapters, all of which functioned with other X41s.) A battery (which I bought pre-charged) allowed it to power on until the battery inevitably ran out of juice.

[rkawakami]

Symptom:
laptop does not operate when powered solely by the AC adapter, nor does it recharge the battery

Causes:
- bad AC adapter; since you have verified other adapters work with another system this can't be your problem
- bad DC power jack
- blown fuse protecting DC power jack
- other power issue on the motherboard

If you have a media slice (UltraBase), does the laptop work when docked to it and powered via the AC adapter? If so, then I would guess that you have a problem with the DC jack, fuse or perhaps a loose inductor (since you mentioned a whining noise). Any of those areas would require that you take the system apart. Here's a copy of the Hardware Maintenance Manual for the X41:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 59181.html

[aboveliquidice]

Symptom:
laptop does not operate when powered solely by the AC adapter, nor does it recharge the battery

Causes:
- bad AC adapter; since you have verified other adapters work with another system this can't be your problem
- bad DC power jack
- blown fuse protecting DC power jack
- other power issue on the motherboard

If you have a media slice (UltraBase), does the laptop work when docked to it and powered via the AC adapter? If so, then I would guess that you have a problem with the DC jack, fuse or perhaps a loose inductor (since you mentioned a whining noise). Any of those areas would require that you take the system apart. Here's a copy of the Hardware Maintenance Manual for the X41:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 59181.html

I agree with this - if you can dock your laptop - and it runs fine - then you can be certain you have an issue either with your DC jack, or part of the ac/dc powering system on the mobo

~above~

[spasticteapot]

Symptom:
laptop does not operate when powered solely by the AC adapter, nor does it recharge the battery

Causes:
- bad AC adapter; since you have verified other adapters work with another system this can't be your problem
- bad DC power jack
- blown fuse protecting DC power jack
- other power issue on the motherboard

If you have a media slice (UltraBase), does the laptop work when docked to it and powered via the AC adapter? If so, then I would guess that you have a problem with the DC jack, fuse or perhaps a loose inductor (since you mentioned a whining noise). Any of those areas would require that you take the system apart. Here's a copy of the Hardware Maintenance Manual for the X41:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 59181.html

From the high-pitched whine, a loose inductor/transformer seems possible.

If I can get this thing fixed, I'm ditching this stupid X61. Better to have things work slowly than to not work at all.

[spasticteapot]

Someone mentioned that tap water's impurities may cause problems to a computer long after the water itself has dried. Considering that I live in an area with water so hard it's rated on the Mohs scale, I tried the following procedure, reccomended to me by an electronics guru:

1. Remove motherboard. Remove all stickery-things that may be trapping moisture, or covering water residue.
2. Wash with distilled water and 98% rubbing alcohol, using a toothbrush for cleaning off the exposed copper test points.
3. Dry with paper towel. Wait a day to dry.
4. Spray out as much remaining water as you can with compressed air.
5. Dry in a 170 degree fahrenheit oven for an hour.


AND IT WORKS NOW!

It is now called the LazarusBook.

[aboveliquidice]

Someone mentioned that tap water's impurities may cause problems to a computer long after the water itself has dried. Considering that I live in an area with water so hard it's rated on the Mohs scale, I tried the following procedure, reccomended to me by an electronics guru:

1. Remove motherboard. Remove all stickery-things that may be trapping moisture, or covering water residue.
2. Wash with distilled water and 98% rubbing alcohol, using a toothbrush for cleaning off the exposed copper test points.
3. Dry with paper towel. Wait a day to dry.
4. Spray out as much remaining water as you can with compressed air.
5. Dry in a 170 degree fahrenheit oven for an hour.


AND IT WORKS NOW!

It is now called the LazarusBook.

Wow - I love it - congrats man - way to think outside of the box. Recently - I fixed a weird clicking mouse problem with a cut piece of sock - I would explain - but I dont think anyone would believe me.

Nice job and congrats... curious - you said you have an x61??? what's wrong with the x61???

[spasticteapot]

Wow - I love it - congrats man - way to think outside of the box. Recently - I fixed a weird clicking mouse problem with a cut piece of sock - I would explain - but I dont think anyone would believe me.

Nice job and congrats... curious - you said you have an x61??? what's wrong with the x61???

Battery life is not as good, and linux simply does not run as well on it.