G41 Motherboard failure

[Thinkpadp4]

Hi

I found this site when searching for motherboard information about my G41. A couple years ago my motherboard went out on my G41 . It was only a little over a year old and was never dropped or abused. It basically sat in one place most of the time and was rarely moved and worked fine. It just shut off while my roommate was using it and I could never get it to boot up or anything to come on screen. It made a few beeps when turning it on which indicated a motherboard failure, the fan would come on, and a battery light would come on and that was it. I was not going to pay IBM 475+ dollars to replace the motherboard or other places $400-$500 so it was relegated to a expensive heavy paperweight and I have forgotten about it but now I do want to try to fix it but don't want to pay over $100. I have seen some places online that claim they "fix" motherboards instead of replacing them for $70-$100 but I don't know anyone who has tried any of those services and don't know who to trust.

Recently someone suggested looking for motherboards on ebay and other places because they are pretty inexpensive. I found several that were reasonably priced $60-$90 either new or refurbished.

I took off a back panel to where the memory was and found a label that indicated it was a 27R2069 motherboard so that is what I looked for. It has a Pent 4 processor. I have never done anything like this before and want to know if I need anything else CPU, graphics card, etc when I order and attempt to replace the motherboard or can I just get away with just getting the motherboard. Is replacing a motherboard something someone somewhat technically inclined can do on their own or is it very specialized or requires soldering or hooking it up to some kind of specialized equipment. I would prefer to replace it myself, as long as I have good directions I am generally able to figure things out.

I also read about someone who was able to solder the induction coil on the motherboard that was loose on his T23. He said this was common on laptops and I was wondering if anyone here has heard of this on a G41 or similar computer and if I should look for that first.
http://www.ziva-vatra.com/index.php?aid ... FyZHdhcmU=


I appreciate any help and information that can be provided.

Thank you.

[RealBlackStuff]

Welcome to the Forum.
Not knowing any more details, it's hard to diagnose from a distance.
However, if you want to try and repair it, replacing the motherboard is not all that difficult.
You can download the HMM here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 50577.html
This is a fully illustrated manual, with which you can take your laptop apart down to the last screw (and reassemble it again).
You would only need a bare motherboard, everything else can be transferred from old to new.
A brand new one here: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-LENOVO-IBM-Thin ... 0403667263

G4x machines are fairly rare around here, because they are not really laptops.
Personally I have not heard anything about loose inductors on a G4x (typically only on the T23), but it's unlikely.

Something to try: take out all RAM, hard disk, optical disk, main battery and wifi card (if there).
Then connect the AC adapter and try to boot. If there is still some life in the old dog, it should beep 1-3-3-1.
What happens?

What's the exact 7-character TYPE on your machine? Looks like: TYPE 2345-678 S/N 99-12345
We want the red number.

[Thinkpadp4]

Welcome to the Forum.
Not knowing any more details, it's hard to diagnose from a distance.
However, if you want to try and repair it, replacing the motherboard is not all that difficult.
You can download the HMM here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 50577.html
This is a fully illustrated manual, with which you can take your laptop apart down to the last screw (and reassemble it again).
You would only need a bare motherboard, everything else can be transferred from old to new.
A brand new one here: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-LENOVO-IBM-Thin ... 0403667263

G4x machines are fairly rare around here, because they are not really laptops.
Personally I have not heard anything about loose inductors on a G4x (typically only on the T23), but it's unlikely.

Something to try: take out all RAM, hard disk, optical disk, main battery and wifi card (if there).
Then connect the AC adapter and try to boot. If there is still some life in the old dog, it should beep 1-3-3-1.
What happens?

What's the exact 7-character TYPE on your machine? Looks like: TYPE 2345-678 S/N 99-12345
We want the red number.

Thanks for the reply and links. Here is the numbers on the back of my G41.
Type 2886-79U S/N L3-AR724

I took it to a place to diagnose it and they definitely said it was the motherboard and not the power supply or screen. They did not know why it failed. I really have no idea why it would have failed either. It was never dropped or abused and basically just sat in one spot. I only used it for typing, resumes, surfing the internet. My roommate only really used it to go online.

I really just wanted a computer that would more or less be a desktop replacement but could be easily taken somewhere without lugging around a desktop and be able to quickly use it anywhere so the G41 seemed like a good choice. Yeah its too big, heavy, and has too short battery life to be a good portable laptop but it was a very good for an all around computer/desktop replacement that does not move much and I really liked it up until the motherboard failed.

[RealBlackStuff]

A pretty powerful machine for its day (and also still for today)!
Product: ThinkPad G41 2886-79U [change]
Operating system: All [change]

Original description: P4-M 548 [3.33GHz], 512MB RAM, 80GB 5400rpm HDD, 15 SXGA+(1400x1050) TFT LCD, 128MB nVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200, CD-RW/DVD-R Multi-Burner, IBM 802.11b/g wireless(MPCI), Modem(CDC), 1Gb Ethernet(LOM), 12 cell Li-Ion battery, WinXP Pro

Buying that new mobo on eBay would definitely be a very good option.
If you soup it up to 2GB RAM, maybe a bigger HD, it would still be good for another 4-5 years at least!

[Thinkpadp4]

A pretty powerful machine for its day (and also still for today)!
Product: ThinkPad G41 2886-79U [change]
Operating system: All [change]

Original description: P4-M 548 [3.33GHz], 512MB RAM, 80GB 5400rpm HDD, 15 SXGA+(1400x1050) TFT LCD, 128MB nVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200, CD-RW/DVD-R Multi-Burner, IBM 802.11b/g wireless(MPCI), Modem(CDC), 1Gb Ethernet(LOM), 12 cell Li-Ion battery, WinXP Pro

Buying that new mobo on eBay would definitely be a very good option.
If you soup it up to 2GB RAM, maybe a bigger HD, it would still be good for another 4-5 years at least!

I had it upgraded to 1GB RAM I believe from the factory(that will not affect the motherboard, right?).

Anyone know why the motherboard would suddenly fail on a computer that was less then 2 years old? I am still puzzled because it was rarely moved and mainly sat in one spot, it was not treated roughly. The fan did tend to run often but I am sure that is normal, is overheating a common cause? Any precautions to take if I get the new motherboard installed and it starts working again so it won't go again.

After looking at the instructions it looks like I will have to take a bunch of things out in order to get to the motherboard but it does not look to difficult. I am sure I will have some questions or run into a few issues once I get started though.


One more quick question, has anybody had experience ordering from ServerSupply.com. They have good prices but seem to get mixed reviews.

[ajkula66]

Before you order a replacement board, try this:

Remove the battery and hard drive. Unplug the adapter.

Press the "power" button ten times in a row, holding it down for ten seconds each time and thirty seconds the last time around.

Plug the adapter - but nothing else - back in and try to power on.

Good luck.

[RealBlackStuff]

Looking at the rip-off prices at ServerSupply.com, I doubt that anyone on this forum has ever dealt with them.
But if you got money to burn, go ahead.
I'd check out your current motherboard part number, and if it matches, go for that eBay board...

[Thinkpadp4]

Before you order a replacement board, try this:

Remove the battery and hard drive. Unplug the adapter.

Press the "power" button ten times in a row, holding it down for ten seconds each time and thirty seconds the last time around.

Plug the adapter - but nothing else - back in and try to power on.

Good luck.

Same thing happened. After removing the battery and hard drive and going through the steps you listed the fan started up and It beeped 3 times when I plugged it in but nothing came up on the blank screen. I thought I heard some kind of faint clicking sound 2 or 3 times but still nothing happened on screen. The green battery-power light remained lit.

Was this the procedure to reset the system?

[Thinkpadp4]

Looking at the rip-off prices at ServerSupply.com, I doubt that anyone on this forum has ever dealt with them.
But if you got money to burn, go ahead.
I'd check out your current motherboard part number, and if it matches, go for that eBay board...

I have not checked all the prices on ServerSupply.com but they have a very attractive price on my G41 Motherboard. They have a 27R1872 MB which is supposed to be compatable with my 27R2069 G41 listed for $58 now, it was $70 last night and they ship for free. I have not called yet to see if it is new but it is listed as new bulk. It has a 30 day warranty. The eBay board is $89 plus $9 shipping and they have only a 7 day warranty. $58 compared to $98 is a significant savings, is there a reason you prefer the eBay seller and don't seem to care for ServerSupply.com? If I hear of a bunch of bad experiences with them then I would not order from them.

I should have no problem with a 27R1872 unit in my G41 even though it is labeled as 27R2069 because I have read they are compatible correct?

I called ServerSupply and found out it is a refurbished unit but I am still considering it because it is $40 less expensive then the "new" eBay unit, my G41 is a few years old now, and I can still return it if it is defective. Is getting a refurbished MB a bad idea, it seems most people I talk to say refurbished units are fine as long as you can take it back if there is an issue after installing it.

[RealBlackStuff]

Not knowing the exact P/N for your mobo, and seeing prices varying between $150 and $850 for other IBM mobos, I got a bad first impression.
Can't say if the mobos you mention are compatible or not, but your quoted price sure beats the eBay price.
No connections to them anyway...

[Thinkpadp4]

Not knowing the exact P/N for your mobo, and seeing prices varying between $150 and $850 for other IBM mobos, I got a bad first impression.
Can't say if the mobos you mention are compatible or not, but your quoted price sure beats the eBay price.
No connections to them anyway...

The number for the MB was listed as 27R1872 on the site, on my G41 it says 27R2069 but everywhere I have looked it has said they are both compatible with each other. Those are the only numbers I need right, or do I have to go further and find more numbers and info for my computer and the motherboard in order to get the right one?

[RealBlackStuff]

As per HMM you can have the following mobos:
System board with bottom heatsink from 238x-1xx to 238x-5xx : 93P3314
System board with bottom heatsink from 238x-7xx to 238x-9xx and 238x-Axx to 238x-Cxx : 93P3318
System board for Celeron 93P4273
System board for Prescott - Integrated VGA : 93P4274
System board for Prescott - External VGA : 93P4275 (this is the nVidia Go5200)

Yours is the last one 93P4275 AKA 27R2069 (in red).
I can't find any other P/N references to this 27R1872, but it is described as suited for Prescott, with external VGA.
That should do it IMHO.

[Thinkpadp4]

As per HMM you can have the following mobos:
System board with bottom heatsink from 238x-1xx to 238x-5xx : 93P3314
System board with bottom heatsink from 238x-7xx to 238x-9xx and 238x-Axx to 238x-Cxx : 93P3318
System board for Celeron 93P4273
System board for Prescott - Integrated VGA : 93P4274
System board for Prescott - External VGA : 93P4275 (this is the nVidia Go5200)

Yours is the last one 93P4275 AKA 27R2069 (in red).
I can't find any other P/N references to this 27R1872, but it is described as suited for Prescott, with external VGA.
That should do it IMHO.

Thanks for the information. I think I will give the 27R1872 a shot. I will be extremely happy if I can fix my G41 for around $58 compared to around $475 that I was quoted from IBM/Lenovo and most other places. I am sure I will have a few more questions when I get started though.

[Thinkpadp4]

I am taking stuff out to replace the motherboard but have a question. What is a FDD and how do I know if my G41 is a non-fdd model. There are different procedures for removing the lcd and keyboard bezel assembly for fdd and non-fdd.

[Thinkpadp4]

Well after 7 hrs and some frustration I put the motherboard I ordered in and surprise surprise it did not work. Now the fan stays on constantly when I turn it on and it beeps 4 times, then 3 times, once, and then 4 more times. Still nothing comes on the screen and it won't boot up. Any ideas what could be wrong. I pretty much knew it was not going to work when I was doing it, gotta love it.

[Harryc]

That (4-3-1-4) is a Phoenix BIOS beep code. All I can find on it points to a faulty motherboard or one of its components.

[RealBlackStuff]

FDD = Floppy Disk Drive.

Could be that you forgot to plug in some cable, or forgot some important screw(s) somewhere.
How does the board visually compare to the old one, are they the same?

[Thinkpadp4]

FDD = Floppy Disk Drive.

Could be that you forgot to plug in some cable, or forgot some important screw(s) somewhere.
How does the board visually compare to the old one, are they the same?

I am pretty sure I plugged everything back in and transferred what I needed from my motherboard to the new one. It was a little more difficult then I was expecting because the instructions were not detailed enough for the final steps but I basically made everything look like it did when the old motherboard was attached. One small screw was stuck/stripped and I ate up the phillips contact point on the screw trying to get it out, I had to use pliers to eventually get it out and did not put it back in. Could that little phillips head screw really be the problem?

The motherboard basically looked the same although it was a lighter greener color and a few of the numbers were different. I still don't understand why I would still not get any kind of picture on my screen and why the fan runs constantly now after putting the new motherboard in.

[ajkula66]

Are you using your old GPU? That might have been your problem to begin with...

[Thinkpadp4]

Are you using your old GPU? That might have been your problem to begin with...

No I used the one supplied. The GPU is the smaller board that connects on top of the main motherboard on the G41 that has a thin metal shield between them correct? The smaller board that I believe is the GPU has a large black flat chip that says nVIDIA GeFORCE FX Go5200.

[ajkula66]

Try swapping the GPU with the old one and see how that flies...

[Thinkpadp4]

Try swapping the GPU with the old one and see how that flies...

I'll give it a shot

not gonna enjoy taking the whole thing apart and putting it back together again, wish there was an easier way

[Thinkpadp4]

Try swapping the GPU with the old one and see how that flies...

I'll give it a shot

not gonna enjoy taking the whole thing apart and putting it back together again, wish there was an easier way

I tried swapping my original GPU into the new motherboard to see what happened and the same thing (4-3-1-4) beeps and the fan runs constantly. My laptop also won't shut down when you close it up and must be manually shut down by holding the power button.

Unfortunately I noticed some kind of transistor loose on my original motherboard. The other side of the connection piece is broke but it is still staying connected to the motherboard from the other side. I am pretty sure I did this when trying to remove my original motherboard because it did not want to come out and kept getting stuck. I eventually got it out but it got bumped a little hard when I tried to pull it out.

The transistor or whatever it is is raised, round, silver and has a purple line at the edge. Would I be able to glue it down or solder the other half back onto the motherboard. Looks like I am unable to post a pic from my computer. The numbering on the chip is 511
SVP
68
20 It is next to numbering on the motherboard that says PC275

This is turning into a nightmare.

[ajkula66]

Well, most people bump into a nightmare repair once in a blue, that's what this forum is about, amongst other things...

I'd be returning that board fro a replacement, with the GPU that came on it.

Then I'd spend $20 on the GPU that was offered in the Marketplace, to know I have one tested-good component.

Then back to sourcing another board...

Good luck.

[Thinkpadp4]

Well, most people bump into a nightmare repair once in a blue, that's what this forum is about, amongst other things...

I'd be returning that board fro a replacement, with the GPU that came on it.

Then I'd spend $20 on the GPU that was offered in the Marketplace, to know I have one tested-good component.

Then back to sourcing another board...

Good luck.

Do you have any ideas if I can superglue or solder that one capacitor/transistor back completely on my original motherboard that is broke at one end.

I will be returning it after I try using the the new MB GPU on my original motherboard.

[ajkula66]

It's been years since I've done any type of board level repair, and I'm unfamiliar with G4x machines from that aspect.

With that said...

I'd tend to solder the piece rather than glue it, but without knowing what exactly it is, it's a shot in the dark at best...

What you need is one (or more) known working components, such as LCD and GPU, and then take it from there...

Good luck.

[Thinkpadp4]

I reinstalled the original motherboard and switched in the new GPU from the new motherboard and it still did not fix it. Now I get 4 slow beeps when I turn it on, nothing on the screen, and the fan stays on. I don't get it. Any ideas?

[ajkula66]

Try unhooking the screen completely and check whether something is displayed on the external monitor, if you have one to test with.

Switch GPUs again.

As I've said before, the collective knowledge of G4x machines is quite limited, even on this forum. Trial and error is likely the only way you'll get it up and running again.

Good luck.

[Thinkpadp4]

I think the culprit with my original motherboard is a bad batch of knock off capacitors that have seemed to plague many motherboards, including ones IBM used. That raised/bent capacitor I saw may not have been knocked loose by me but may have blown and caused the failure. The symptoms seem very similar to what I had, went bad within two years for no reason and computer no longer boots up. Not sure why the new motherboard I got did not work but I sent it back. I guess I am going to see if I can get new capacitors and try soldiering them to my original motherboard. Anybody heard of this?

http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/capa ... tor_plague
http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_30328/article.html
http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/341368

[RealBlackStuff]

I haven't seen any electrolytic capacitors (i.e. the standing-up type little cylinders) on Thinkpad motherboards.
But then, I have also never seen a G40/41 mobo. Maybe they use them there?