x220: wont turn on - what causes this.

[rsutoratosu]

Basically one of my user came back with a "dead" x220. I had ask them to try battery removal and hold the power button on. They told me they did. First thing I tried when it came in today was take the battery out, hold the power on, it flashed after 2-3 seconds, put the battery in and it turn on.

What causes this and whats this condition called ? Any way to prevent this ?

[GomJabbar]

This is how I've done it (successfully). Disconnect the AC power supply and remove the battery. Press and release the power button 10 times, then hold the power button down for 30 seconds, then release. Reinstall the battery and reconnect the AC power supply. Press the power button and see if it turns on.

If that doesn't work, try turning the laptop on with only the AC power supply connected and the battery removed. A bad battery could prevent the laptop from booting up. Happened to me a long time ago with a 600E.

[emeraldgirl08]

The longstanding theory is that one should try draining the capacitors when one has a laptop that will not power-on. The steps GomJabbar gave are the trick to discharging the capacitors. There is no way to prevent the capacitors from storing residual charges. That is a byproduct of their job in regulating electric current. In the words of Wiki "capacitors are widely used in electronic circuits for blocking direct current while allowing alternating current to pass and in electric power transmission systems for stabilizing voltage and power flow" (Wiki). The simple trick of pushing the power button repeatedly (while all power sources are removed) is a simple application to drain the capacitors of the residual charges and enable a laptop to hopefully power up again. Hope that helps

[Neil]

BTW...a single press of the power button for a few seconds with all power removed will just as effectively drain the capacitors as multiple presses.

[barrywohl]

BTW...a single press of the power button for a few seconds with all power removed will just as effectively drain the capacitors as multiple presses.

I never knew that part. EasyServ told me to press 10 times, wait, hold for 30 seconds AND say "Abra Kadabra." I've always done it that way. I thought the only essential thing was the "Abra Kadabra" to drain the capacitors.

Anyway, I've had to use this trick on R50's, T61's, R500's, R520's and several other laptops. I never had it happen on the 1995 through 2003 ThinkPads I used.

[Neil]

I thought the only essential thing was the "Abra Kadabra" to drain the capacitors.

Well...there ya go...I forgot about that part.

[bill bolton]

BTW...a single press of the power button for a few seconds with all power removed will just as effectively drain the capacitors as multiple presses.

Since the power button initiates a command action, rather than a direct mechanical action, related to power, holding it down will not necessarily achive that outcome

Cheers,

Bill B.