Thinkpads Forum

Hi,
I'm having problems with my Thinkpad 760E 9546-U4B. Ever since I got it it would occasionally fail to turn on. You'd flip the power switch, maybe hear a "whirrr", but no display and a flashing speaker icon on the LCD readout above the keyboard. Simply turning it off and then back on would allow the computer to boot.
It started doing this more and more. Now, the computer will power on to the thinkpad screen. The RAM total is correct. The computer will give the standand single beep and spins the floppy drive. This is where it just hangs. The floppy drive stays lit and then the flashing speaker icon starts. I'm thinking I'm probably going to have to relpace the motherboard, but anything else to try before tearing this machine apart?

Thanks,
Greg

Have you checked the HDD and do you have the latest BIOS Firmware?

You could try removing and reseating each of the 760E's components (battery, hard drive, memory, etc.)

I believe I have the latest BIOS firmware (1999? I know I upgraded to the latest when I first got the machine).

I replaced the original 810 meg hard drive with a 10 gig, following the instructions from this site, which was working properly the last time the machine booted.

I've tried removing everything (HDD, RAM, floppy, battery) with the same results. I can't even get into the BIOS (I believe holding F1 at startup). It also won't boot from a floppy. Pressing keys, though, after the machine has locked will sometimes produce beeps.

Reseating the RAM card seemed to fix a similar problem a while back, but it could have just been a coincidence.

It'd be a shame to lose this notebook. The battery still takes a charge, LCD is flawless. I even have a dock!

Thanks,
Greg