A31p 4 beeps and no boot.

[Hellskream]

First of all: Hi, Im new here.

To the point. So a mate gave me a a31p 2563 to try to fix it since it didnt boot.

I dismounted everything; just left mb and keyboard to test it.
And im always getting 4 beeps 3 times then mb fan keep working but lcd(when plugged) show nothing.

I searched lenovo beep codes for a31p but say nothing about 4 beeps. So im lost.

Little help here? Thanks in advance.

[RealBlackStuff]

Welcome to the forum.
4x4 beeps means system board problem related to the security chip
The chip might be missing or have fallen off.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 46018.html

[Harryc]

Four cycles of four short beeps and a blank screen - System board (Security chip)

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 46018.html

Edit: RBS beat me to it. Agreed on trying to reseat the security chip. Remove the CMOS and regular battery first though.

...and you'll be needing this document.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 39796.html

[Tõnis]

Welcome to the forum.
4x4 beeps means system board problem related to the security chip
The chip might be missing or have fallen off.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 46018.html

If my security chip is deactivated because I'm not using it, does it mean I won't ever have this problem? (I hope not )

[Hellskream]

Thanks a lot, people. Security chip needed to be reseat.

I got these from removing battery but i guess i can fix it later on bios.
0176
System Security—The system
has been tampered with.
0271
Date and time error—Neither
the date nor the time is set in
the computer.

LCD working fine. 60gb hd is dead or i cant make it boot properly not even in other notebook. That maybe was the deal.

P.S: I hope i can disable that security chip from bios since if it fail notebook is useless. No good idea this chip.

[Harryc]

The security chip can be disabled in BIOS. The other error will go away once you set the date and time in BIOS, provided the CMOS battery is good and it is connected to the systemboard.

[ajkula66]

Good luck getting rid off the other error, though...

[Harryc]

George, I was taking about the date/time error. I guess you are referring to the security error? I have no experience with that one. It can't be cleared even if you disable the security chip in BIOS? These A31 boards are a royal pain in the a_ss. Per the maintenance manual, some of the security chips can be exchanged if you replace the board, but some (IBM warned) can never be removed from a board. Maybe this is one of those? If that's the case, then this is kind of a catch 22 situation....fix the board so it boots, but render it useless because of a tamper proof security gizmo . To the OP, what is the FRU number on this systemboard?

[RealBlackStuff]

I had a tamper-error on a T43 or R52 (can't remember). It went away after I dis-/re-connected both main and CMOS battery.

[ajkula66]

Security chip error is a hit or miss, and as Harry correctly guessed, depends on the type of security chip used...and I'm not even dead certain about that, although it would be the most logical explanation.

I've thrown away boards where I wasn't able to clear the error, that's where "good luck" came from. There have also been boards that came clear with a new CMOS battery...you got it right that the A3x boards are a pain...there has NEVER been a ThinkPad in my experience where the planar itself is such a mine field...