Thinkpads Forum

Hi

Here's what happens when I start up my T400, does anybody know if there's a fix or something for it?


Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHpwXzfQ1MU



Regards, Frederik.

Can you provide more details of what is happening? Does the T400 actually proceed to boot? How does the T400 start up with a battery installed? Are there any known problems with the T400? Drops, spills, etc? Does it at least boot to BIOS?

Nothing happens except what the video shows, ie. it flashes the lights, then dies, requires that I reseat the power cord into the jack before I can even make it do the flashing lights again.

I suspect spillage in it, somewhere around the mbo. It starts up when the display is not connected, though It wont completely install any OS.

Its looks like motherboard defect. What you mean it s ttarts up when the display port is not connected? Please more details. Do you have switchable graphic cards or just integrated?

Sent from my Lumia 900 using Board Express

It's a 6475-ZPH, so Integrated graphics only.
What I said, was that the laptop wont do anything but what I wrote in OP, EXCEPT if the laptops display is not connected to the motherboard.

The laptops starts up and I can enter BIOS and install an OS on it, if an external screen is connected. Though it fails to install completely every time. Only reaches the place where it has to restart windows to make final configurations, then shuts down. HDD is OK.

Have you tried installing on another hard drive? What other symptoms do you observe? Heat? Extreme fan noise? Abnormal sounds? Have you tried running a Linux Live OS? Have you run some type of bootable diagnostic CD? Not sure if PCDoctor is available for your T400 but I know for certain other members might have suggestions for diagnostic programs. Check back soon

emeraldgirl08 wrote:Have you tried installing on another hard drive? What other symptoms do you observe? Heat? Extreme fan noise? Abnormal sounds? Have you tried running a Linux Live OS? Have you run some type of bootable diagnostic CD? Not sure if PCDoctor is available for your T400 but I know for certain other members might have suggestions for diagnostic programs. Check back soon

No heat, no extreme fan noise, only abnormal sound is the sound from the hard drive which makes a little click sound when the laptop shuts down.
I have tried a Linux Live boot disk, doesn't get me anywhere though. Haven't tried bootable diagnostic CD, can you recommend me something, and a guide for it? I'm not really into bootable CDs and stuff, except for my USB stick, which I use as a bootable drive for installing windows.


Thanks for your reply!

Just looked through the Driver Matrix for the T400 and there is a notice that states "Lenovo is discontinuing PC Doctor and Lenovo ThinkVantage Toolbox" and there is no link at all for a downloadable PC Doctor program.

Not sure what you mean by you cannot get anywhere with a Linux Live medium? Have you tried installing Windows using a DVD or CD instead?

Did you look in bios settings. Which one you have enabled? There must be option enable external internal something like that. If still not working your connection between card and internal monitor has defect.

Thanks for your replies.


Emeraldgirl08:
With the Linux live boot CD/DVD, I put it in the drive, it shows the Ubuntu logo in the bottom of the screen, and shortly after, it shuts down.
I have tried installing both x86 and x64 versions of both Windows 7 and Windows 8 (as trials), it manages to install onto the hard drive, but after it restarts the first time and it reaches the point where it "configures" (See pictures below) windows, Always shuts down with the static/metallic 'click' sound.

http://i.techrepublic.com.com/gallery/6 ... 20-465.jpg
http://www.ovy007.ro/wp-content/uploads ... ge_077.jpg



iThinkSL:
I've reset the bios multiple times, and checked through everything in there. And everything is OK. This is definitely a hardware issue.

Well not looks good. Its looks the problem starts at (drivers for your video card is installed.) If video card drivers still not installed than its works good. Can you go safe mode?

Hmmm... can you go into BIOS and look at the permissions you have as an administrator? I am thinking maybe there is some sort of security feature that is preventing any changes to the system. It seems that either you have a damaged motherboard, something hardware (perhaps a mismatched component is installed), or some secure feature at the BIOS level is preventing you from making alterations to the system.

I am leaning toward hardware but take a peek at the administrator and security controls. I do not have a BIOS screen handy because I am practicing some problems for school. Is anything supervisory enabled?

Something along the lines of this picture might halt your attempts at alterations.

emeraldgirl08 bios password works only on: Password on Power, Password on Boot, password on HDD. There is no sence with video card.
Its looks more like this:
http://www.wfu.edu/~yipcw/is/t400/issue ... isplay.jpg

Have you tried starting with the ac adapter plugged in, but without battery attached? I know sounds strange, but I had a bad battery cause a T60 not to boot. When I tried on ac only, with the battery out (and later with an undamaged battery installed) the machine booted right up.

Thanks for your replies!

Emeraldgirl08:
I can only get into BIOS without the laptops screen connected, and I've tried looking all over the settings multiple times, as well as resetting the BIOS multiple times. I'm very sure that this is not a software nor BIOS-caused problem.


iThinkSL:
Nope, safe mode comes with Windows, and without Windows completely installed, I can't get into it.


Emtee3511:
Actually, I only tried it with the ac adapter and without the battery, since I do not have a battery compatible with the T400.

"Actually, I only tried it with the ac adapter and without the battery, since I do not have a battery compatible with the T400"

If it was a damaged battery (similar to what happened to my T60) then it would have worked on ac only with no battery installed. So most likely not a damaged battery.

@Cola.

You sure there was no alcohol that might have been spilled on the laptop? Seems a little disorderly and belligerent

Emeraldgirl08:

Haha
But to be honest I don't know, as I bought it online hoping that it just needed reseating of the ram and CMOS battery, but oh well.