Possible cause for a broken R51

[Performa636CD]

So a few weeks ago my ThinkPad R51 stopped working. I had it in sleep mode, but when I tried to get it out of sleep mode, nothing happened.

After pulling out the battery and AC plug, I restarted the computer and it would turn on, but the normal sound and lights of the HDD activating were not present. I pulled out the HDD and examined it and it looked alright. I reinstalled the HDD and rebooted the computer. It actually booted up this time, but when I moved the laptop so the "airbag" recovery system activated, the HDD would stop working (the HDD lights and sounds would cease) and the computer would freeze. Now, no matter what I do, the computer won't boot up.

I'm thinking the motherboard got damaged from flexing when a screw from the corner of the case fell out a few months ago.

Any thoughts?

[bajaman61]

So a few weeks ago my ThinkPad R51 stopped working. I had it in sleep mode, but when I tried to get it out of sleep mode, nothing happened.

. . . Now, no matter what I do, the computer won't boot up.

I'm thinking the motherboard got damaged from flexing when a screw from the corner of the case fell out a few months ago.

Any thoughts?

You could try booting from your CD/DVD drive.

Using another computer, download by torrents method and "burn" the ISO of any of the linux "live cd" distributions -- if you are crazy enough. It's free. Then remove your possibly problematic hard drive and pop the ISO imaged CD into the presumably working DVD drive. It's a cheap and quick diagnostic tool.

[Performa636CD]

How do I go about making a "live CD?" Any Linux variants one would recommend?

EDIT: I've started downloading a LiveCD from the Ubuntu website; I'm downloading 8.04.2...we'll see how well this works.

[rkawakami]

I'd suggest grabbing a copy of PC Doctor for DOS from here:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-56222 (.ISO file format)

and running this diagnostic program. It may be able to pinpoint the area of trouble better than another OS (which if it refuses to boot still probably won't tell you what's wrong with the system).

[underclocker]

You might want to look here --> http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=33952

There is a very good chance you have a loose GPU, assuming your R51 has ATI graphics (some have Intel graphics). To confirm the issue, just keep pressure on the plastic bar between the space bar and the mouse buttons before powering on. Keep the pressure on until the machine fully boots. If releasing the pressure and/or movement or flexing the machine causes it to freeze, you've got a very common motherboard GPU failure.

You can then look here for repair in the U.S. --> http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=72974

You can look here for repair in Europe --> http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=73945

Or here, to try to fix it yourself --> http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=57021

Or here, for another solution --> http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=65505

[Performa636CD]

Update: So I just tried out Ubuntu using the LiveCD and it worked...until I bumped the Thinkpad, then the R51 froze like before.

I then tried pressing down on the casing as suggested, but nothing happened. I then used both thumbs to press the area of the palmrests right below the lower corners of the space bar and guess what? Magic! Now my computer boots up like normal as if nothing ever happened and I don't even have to continue pressing down on the laptop to keep it from freezing. It evens plays high resolution video (better than DVD quality) no problem. When I tipped the laptop back and forth to activate the airbag protection, it still worked just fine. Finally, when I topped the laptop on its side so I could secure the HDD screw, then the screen turned blue with fuzzy, vertical red lines. I did a forced shutdown and held the corner of the palmrests and it rebooted no problem.

So I guess I have a GPU solder problem, huh? (My R51 uses an ATI GPU)

[rkawakami]

That indeed sounds like the issue. As pointed out by underclocker there's some commercial fixes, as well as do-it-yourself.

[bajaman61]

Update: So I just tried out Ubuntu using the LiveCD and it worked...until I bumped the Thinkpad, then the R51 froze like before. ...

So I guess I have a GPU solder problem, huh? (My R51 uses an ATI GPU)

The cheap boot from CD got the hard drive off the hook.

On the continuing theme of cheap and quick and cooler (as in less heat, not as in "hipper") fix for the GPU problem, take a quick read here: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=74366

Worked well for me. Still working and doesn't require the heat gun or IR thermometer -- until you are ready for that step. But the "hot" solution works as well.

Good luck.