Thinkpads Forum

I have a 600X with a strange screen problem. The LCD does not light up and does not otherwise show any sign of life when in the 600X. But when it and its inverter are swapped into a 600 then the screen very briefly lights up at boot up and upon shut down the Thinkkpad name can be glimpsed on the screen as the LCD powers down. Swapping the LCD screen and the invertor from the working 600 into the 600X results in a LCD that does not light up and does not otherwise show any sign of life.

Now there are some doubts concerning how compatible 600 & 600X LCD's and inverters are, but I think at a minimum this demonstrates that the inverter from the 600X is fine and that its LCD is fine. Or am I mistaken?

Beyond that, the subcards cannot be swapped between the 600 & 600X as the plugs don't match up, but I did a swap with one from a 600e that is giving me posting/boot up problems. The swap did not fix the problems of either machine and did not switch the problems between them, so I am inclined to believe that the subcard isn't the problem either.

So where do I go from here?

cure wrote:So where do I go from here?

- check the lid closure switch on the Sub Card. If you push it down, the built-in spring should allow it to return to the "up" position when you let go. If at all possible, use a multimeter to check the continuity between the pins. Some (limited) information on the card and switch is available from my site at: http://www.rkawakami.net/ibm_600x/sub_card/
- try swapping out the Sub Card with a known good unit for a 600X (FRU 10L1335). There are two different FRU numbers for the 600E and 600X. I don't know if you can exchange them or not. I believe with the 600 series, the inverter gets power from the small connector on the left side. It's also the cheapest thing you can easily replace (aside from the inverter). Your descriptions still sounds like you could have a problem with the Sub Card.
- if those things don't work, then it's possible you have a problem with the ribbon cable for the inverter, a CCFL (backlight) problem or a motherboard issue.

I seem to be fighting with two potentially toast subcards.

The 600X came with one that had the sound plug pulled out of it and someone had very carefully soldered the four sound wires to it. Three of four were still attached when I began the disassembly, but I am now done to one.

A 600E that was working, but was becoming ever harder to persuade to boot up, had a subcard with the same part number so I tried a switch. Its mechanical switch was falling apart, happily stuck in the on position, but at a touch it collapsed utterly, and I have no idea whether what remains is opened or closed, and whether it was the source of the posting problem, although I rather doubt it.

So at a minimum, is a switch that is no more open or closed?

rkawakami wrote:http://www.rkawakami.net/ibm_600x/sub_card/

WOW! Ray, I really want to see all your pages on that website of yours, I am very impressed (and if you ever decide to sell your mini-pci 600X, just drop me a note! I don know that there are many people here who are lusting after that particular 600X, well atleast I can try! )

rkawakami, is there a Place where i can see all of your blogs for the 600x, you seem to have a few good ones ive seen but i would like to see more of your Projects

Everything I currently have online is at the WWW button in any of my posts:

http://www.rkawakami.net/ibm_600x/

thanks, i didnt even think of doing that

cure wrote:So at a minimum, is a switch that is no more open or closed?

I can't remember at the moment what the "up" position of the switch is (normally open or normally closed). If you can wait until later on tonight (PDT), I'll check the switch and then I can tell you which pins to short together if you want to get the Sub Card working (and don't use or need the lid switch).