ThinkPad R51 - 2889-MA7 - screen goes black LCD + external

[bodi000]

Hello,

I have a second hand R51, which was working (I guess) fine with XP. I installed edubuntu 11.10, everything went fine.

It might be just a coincidence, but when I clicked on the FDD shortcut (it had no FDD, just curious what would say) the CDROM made a noise like it was searching for a CD, then the screen went black.

Since then, the computer starts normally most of the times, I get to login, but after a while it goes black again. It also seem to look for a CD (same noise). It won't come back, no matter what. Reboot is ok, till the same happens.

I also noticed that this is triggered by slight moves, like movind the screen, or lifting the PC. WHen this happens, the external monitor attached for testing goes blank (no signal).

Could it be something else than the famous GPA resoldering issue?

Where exaclty is located the GPU? I guess I found it, but not sure.

Thank you so much!
b

[RealBlackStuff]

That is not a GPU problem, but a loose Southbridge (big Intel chip under the wifi card).
For more info, see also this thread: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=33952
and very closely related: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=70955
(R51 is almost identical to T42).
Best solution: replace the motherboard, or get it reballed in the UK: www.reflowrepairs.com

[bodi000]

Thank you again for your quick answer!

I guessed it has to be a physical HW issue, as it happens regularly when the PC is moved or slightly twisted (like pulling one corner up).

I was mentally ready ) to re-ball the GPU. However, I am not sure about the SB, can it be done in a home environment?

In any case, light pressure on the GPU did nothing. Nor on the SB, or elsewhere.

I dismantled the whole thing, looking for some loose part, but I could find nothing. I assembled everything, restart, and it worked for 24h no problem. I could even do the upgrade to ubu12.04.

Moving the screen did nothing any more, even lifting and putting down was ok. However, when I applied pressure on the bezel, on the palm rest, everything was back again. I mean the back-lighted black-grey screen. It switches from black to grey, CD checks for disc, couldn't stop it by applying pressure. Just restart...

Cheers,
b