Move the A20p abit, so that it immediately powers off!

[ogel]

4.5 year-old A20p with the following history started to develop a strange behavior 3 days ago. When I move the computer it immediately powers off following a very short (Hardly noticed) beep. The system does not shut down. When this happens, even when the AC is plugged, the battery light is ALSO turns off. (Normally the battery light stays on if you shut down the system if it is running on AC. In summary, everything is completely dead. After this stage I unplug the DC power jack and plug it again, then I press the "Power" button, the system reboots from scracth with no problems. Can not easily try to replicate the problem while running on battery because my battery is 85% worn.

This problem almost never appears if the system is in physically steady (fixed) state. (Not moved around)

Actually the system is pretty old and worn-out. However, do not want to replace it due to perfect screen resolution and it simply does the job as good as a Centrino, as far as my needs are concerned.

History:
* Purchased the system in 07/2001 brand new from authorized dealer
* IBM techs replaced the SXGA+ (1400x1050) TFT in 2004 just before the warranty expired
* Serviced by IBM in 2004 because it was impossible to boot the system, the techs said "No problem", quite likely due to a contact
* Upgraded OS to WinXP Pro in 2004
* Added 256 MB RAM in 2004 (Myself)
* Installed LinkSys WLAN PCMCIA card in 2004 (Myself)
* Dropped the system from 50 cm (20 inches) in November 2005
* Air - traveled at least 50 times including trans-continental
* Ground and train - traveled at least 5,000 miles
* Commuted from home to work almost every day
* Upgraded disk to 40 GB IBM TravelStar in 2005 (Myself)
* Installed a 3rd party CDRW/DVD in 2005 (Myself)
* Replaced the thermal pad with thermal grease yesterday hoping that this would cure the problem (Myself)

Could I have some ideas?

Best regards / Oguz

[AbsoluteRaleigh]

When the problem occurs, does it completely shut off?

Does the battery hold a charge?

[ogel]

First... Thanks for the reply.

Yes, everything becomes completely dead immediately, suddenly and instantaneously. Even the battery LED does not shine (Neither red nor amber, nothing at all). However, windows does not shut down at all. The machine (I believe at the hardware level) suddenly powers off after a short (And hardly noticed) beep. Then I remove and insert the DC plug (Coming from the AC adapter) and everthing is fine. Sometimes I just remove the DC plug and turn on the system on batteries, that also works OK.

The battery still holds charge but lasts about 30 minutes or so.

[Chiana]

Sounds like a very lose connection some place. Although, I don't know about the battery light going completly dead. It only happens when you move, not say when you are typing or when you are using the mouse?

[ogel]

Yes that's right. Not while I am typing, nor when I am using the trackpiont mouse.

This just happens when I move the entire computer. (Say, take it from my lap to the desk, etc...) And frequently but not always, of course.

Thanks for your reply, too )

Regards / OG

[ogel]

Yes that's right. Not while I am typing, nor when I am using the trackpiont mouse.

This just happens when I move the entire computer. (Say, take it from my lap to the desk, etc...) And frequently but not always, of course.

Thanks for your reply, too )

Regards / OG

[AbsoluteRaleigh]

The A2* system boards have a variety of power issues. It is probably time for a new one.

Any A2* board will fit that supports UXGA...

[ogel]

Well, that remins me a board problem, too. Now, I have another important observation:

No matter how hard I tried to replicate the problem on batteries... Even I shaked the computer for many times, it never happened. It seems that such a problem occurs only on AC power.

Does it further reinforce your diagnosis about the board?

Best regards and thanks a lot!

[ogel]

By the way, AbsoluteRaleigh... Wasn't it SXGA+? (1400x1050 resolution). Do you really think I need a UXGA board? And what is the most reliable source to obtain a problem-free board?

Or should I dismantle the A20p and sell the parts, then buy a R50e with XGA resolution (DOS 2000) and transfer my WinXP licence to that machine?

Best regards again / Oguz

[Chiana]

So, its onlyhappens when the ac adapter is plugged in and there is a battery installed? Or do these issues happen with the battery removed?

[ogel]

That happens when the battery IS installed. I have never tried to replicate the problem running solely on AC (With no battery) but let me try Nothing to lose, huh?

I will inform about the test result!

Thanks again

[Chiana]

Thats really weird... I would think there is a short on the AC, but if it was only on the AC side then it should transfer to the battery when it shorts out. But it doesn't happen when the battery is in.. I suggest take it apart and see if you can see anythign obvious.

-Chris

[ogel]

EDITED....

It is really weird...

Let me just summarize because all this info that I have provided was (I think) too cluttered:

1- Running on AC and battery installed: Definitely there is a problem

2 - Running on battery only: Tried hard, but unable to replicate the problem yet (Apparently no problem)

3 - Running on AC only when battery is de-installed: Tried hard, but unable to replicate the problem yet (Apparently no problem) EDITED: The problem IS there when running on AC only!

[ogel]

As per numerous tests, I have concluded that; the system goes down when running on AC, regardless of the battery being installed or not. i.e. I have finally managed to replicate the problem while the system is running on AC only (No batteries installed)

The "Movement" issue is still there. That is, I face the problem only (But not always) when there is a moderate movement. i.e. Not a shock but gently moving the sytem (Say, from my lap to the desk, etc...)

Any more comments?

Regards / OG

[Chiana]

Iw ould take it apart and see if there are any lose connetions of solder joints inside.

[ogel]

FINAL REPORT:

Recently I was able to replicate the problem when the system is running solely on batteries.

Therefore, the problem is ALWAYS there, regardless of the source of power (Batteries alone, AC alone, AC + Batteries installed)

"Movement" is still there. The problem NEVER occured when the system stands (Sits ) steady on a desk or on my lap.

I know the story has gone too long but such a problem has not been faced by anyone and thought it might be interesting to know such a problem.

Any other comments?

Thanks and best regards again / Oguz

[FuguTabetai]

I don't know if this helps, but I've had a similar problem with my A31. It wouldn't shut down completely, but just lock up (the mouse won't move, hard drive light is stuck on even though there is no hard drive access, can't switch to another TERM, can't kill the xserver, etc.) and only holding the reset button for five seconds would shut the system down. Hardware function do work though (turn down LCD brightness, turn on/off thinklight LED, etc.)

Generally gentle movement would make the machine lock up, but it would freeze just sitting there doing nothing as well. After trying a lot of different things, I eventually found out that if I turn off the graphics subsystem (close the lid and let the screen sleep) that it would work fine and not freeze. I have it running a a samba server, and it has been up for days. If I open the screen and start doing something, it freezes though.

So it could also have to do with the graphics card, although it sounds like a short is more likely.

[ogel]

This problem has disappeared for a while (Around three months or so) but started to appear again nowadays.

I would like to provide some additional info as the result of the test that I had performed recently:

In my previous posts, I have explained that the system totally goes off with a very short beep. In order to reproduce the same beep, I have done the following test and I have heard absolutely the same beep.

1 - I removed the battery
2 - Booted up WinXP - Pro on AC power only
3 - I removed the DC-IN jack on the ThinkPad
Wow! The same beep.

Then I have re-booted the system again.

The only difference is this: When it goes off as I have explained in detail before, I DO have to remove and re-insert the power jack otherwise the power button does not work. Here in my test, I have deliberately removed the power jack in order to hear the same beep.

May that be a power supply board (if there is any, within the thinkpad) problem rather than a main board problem?