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T500 doesn't start. Tried the usual power button tricks.

T400/T410/T420 and T500/T510/T520 Series
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mbr12
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Posts: 82
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:23 am
Location: NH

T500 doesn't start. Tried the usual power button tricks.

#1 Post by mbr12 » Mon Jul 08, 2019 12:59 pm

I just picked up a T500 from the local recycle center for nothing. It's intact, except for the hd.
Pressing power does nothing. Connected it to my dock and ps that works with my T60 and used it's power button , nothing. There is a power light and battery light, but no beeps, whirs, flashing, clicks. The lights stay on, but no codes or flashes.
I tried all the power button tricks, with a dozen different variations. Disconnected the cmos and let it sit overnight, removed ram, dvd, with batt/without, etc.
Tried a hd and W7 install disc and a thumb drive with Linux Mint, so it would have something to boot to, but no life at all.
Any other suggestions? Would be nice to get this working.
I see MBs on ebay for $25, is it worth it?
Thanks.

RealBlackStuff
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Re: T500 doesn't start. Tried the usual power button tricks.

#2 Post by RealBlackStuff » Mon Jul 08, 2019 1:11 pm

Tried an external monitor?
Wonder why that machine was recycled? Not really...
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
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mbr12
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Posts: 82
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:23 am
Location: NH

Re: T500 doesn't start. Tried the usual power button tricks.

#3 Post by mbr12 » Mon Jul 08, 2019 1:20 pm

It was dumped because it won't start. Most people don't even try to fix something. I got many laptops from there and got them working fine with a little work. Also av receivers, monitors, soundbars....
This one has no life at all, except for the power and batt light. It's not just the screen not coming on.

w0qj
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Location: Hong Kong

Re: T500 doesn't start. Tried the usual power button tricks.

#4 Post by w0qj » Mon Jul 08, 2019 1:21 pm

Hey RBS, congrads in advance for your 20,00th posting (just one more to reach this milestone!) ;)
Daily Driver: (X1E3) X1 Extreme 3rd Gen | mobile broadband (WWAN)
Current Thinkpads: X1E3 | X1E1 | X1C10 | X1C9 | X1C4 | X1C3 | X230
Retired Thinkpads: X250 | T410 | T42 | 560 (circa 1996)

w0qj
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Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2004 9:53 pm
Location: Hong Kong

Re: T500 doesn't start. Tried the usual power button tricks.

#5 Post by w0qj » Mon Jul 08, 2019 1:22 pm

The easiest way to start repairwork is to have two (2) units of the same comuter...
then you can swap parts in or out, to see if it works out!

Usually only 1 of the 2 units gets repaired in the end; the other (broken) unit can serve as spare parts...
mbr12 wrote:
Mon Jul 08, 2019 1:20 pm
It was dumped because it won't start. Most people don't even try to fix something. I got many laptops from there and got them working fine with a little work. Also av receivers, monitors, soundbars....
This one has no life at all, except for the power and batt light. It's not just the screen not coming on.
Daily Driver: (X1E3) X1 Extreme 3rd Gen | mobile broadband (WWAN)
Current Thinkpads: X1E3 | X1E1 | X1C10 | X1C9 | X1C4 | X1C3 | X230
Retired Thinkpads: X250 | T410 | T42 | 560 (circa 1996)

mbr12
Freshman Member
Posts: 82
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:23 am
Location: NH

Re: T500 doesn't start. Tried the usual power button tricks.

#6 Post by mbr12 » Mon Jul 08, 2019 1:29 pm

I'm asking for any other tricks beyond the usual "press the power button 10 times..."
Anybody?

MikalE
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Location: Marissa, Illinois

Re: T500 doesn't start. Tried the usual power button tricks.

#7 Post by MikalE » Tue Jul 09, 2019 5:58 am

It sounds as though the prior owner bricked this machine with trying to update the BIOS, or maybe even attempting to install Libreboot.

For a free machine, a $25 investment in a new MB sounds reasonable to me.
A31p P-IV 2Ghz, 2MB, 2653-R6U
T500 T9600 2055-BE9
T510 i5 4384-DV7
T510 i7 4349-A64
T520 i7QM 4242-4UU Highly Modified
T16 i7 1260P 21BV000SUS

mbr12
Freshman Member
Posts: 82
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:23 am
Location: NH

Re: T500 doesn't start. Tried the usual power button tricks.

#8 Post by mbr12 » Tue Jul 09, 2019 11:51 am

What other mobos are a drop in fit? Either the same specs or an upgrade?

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