What to do now-- dead 600X UPDATE in new post

[vineyridge]

I took a dead 2645-9eu to a computer shop to see if its deadness was simply a power supply problem. It isn't. Shop says it's motherboard related and they don't fix those. Shop offers to send it to a factory depot for motherboard repair or replacement. This will cost about 50 bucks for shipping, plus about 200 bucks if the motherboard just needs component replacement or repair and more if a refurbished or new motherboard is installed. I love this computer, but don't think it's worth fixing. (Remind me never to buy anything from ebay again; I paid way too much for this machine and it died after three months.)

Agree or disagree? Not worth fixing at this age and stage? I can't do repairs myself, as I don't have equipment or expertise.

If I don't fix it, what newer old Thinkpad is equivalent in design and quality to the 600X? And are there any out there that 600X HDs and UltraSlimBay Drives will fit?

[rkawakami]

If there's no sign of any activity (LEDs don't light up when known good AC adapter is connected, no sounds/lights when power switch is slid), then it probably is a motherboard issue. If the battery LED does light up but the system doesn't boot, then try these things, one-at-a-time and see if the system responds by starting up:

- pull out the MiniPCI modem card from the bottom of the system
- pull out the hard drive, Ultraslimbay device, main battery, PCMCIA and USB devices
- if you have a docking station, put the system in the dock

If that doesn't get the system to turn on, then there's probably a component level defect on the motherboard (blown fuse, transistor, etc.). Without a multimeter and a little knowledge about electronics, it would be hard for you to figure out what's wrong and fix it. The only other outside help that you might be able to get for a low cost (or free) would be a local computer hobbyist group.

As far as your hard drive is concerned, it will fit in almost any other older Thinkpad. It will probably boot with a blue screen because of the hardware differences, but you could erase it and re-load the operating system. No other Thinkpads newer than the 600X uses the Ultraslimbay form-factor.

[RobertJohnB]

Ray (see post above) is a goldmine of information. He has never given bad advice.

On the other hand, you should never take the advice of someone like me (a packrat who cannot bear to throw anything out.) Since I cannot help myself, here is another suggestion. See if you can find a used, Portable Drive Bay (IBM Part Number: 37L1511/37L1513). This is an UltraslimBay enclosure that can be attached to any computer with a PCMCIA slot via the included PC card.

Your IBM UltraslimBay CD-ROM, DVD, Zip, SuperDisk (LS-120), and second hard disk drives (HDDs) can be easily inserted into the Portable Drive Bay for use with any computer with a PCMCIA adapter. Just don't spend too much money on old hardware.

[TriAngle]

viney,
Off topic, but I have this unit, I received from the original owner, it sat up in a box for about 4 years. http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=68892
We are close. According to these forums, some say this mobo will take up to a PIII 550MHz CPU.
Good luck.
Tri.

[vineyridge]

Thanks for the tip about the Portable Drive Bay. That will solve my sentimental attachment to the 600X series. I have a 2645-4eu with a dead display LCD. The video adapter is good because I am currently using the computer with a CRT monitor and it's working well.

I just replaced the Keyboard, and that was a piece of cake. I do now have a functional 600X until I decide what to do about a new computer. If I take the dead computer, which has a good display, is there some way to remove the whole display top of the computer and replace it with the good display. I'm not sure I want to get into disassembling the screen part. If I can do a full top replacement, I'd have a portable machine again.

What would you experts recommend as a replacement ThinkPad that is as well made and designed as the 600X?

Thanks in advance for any and all advice.

[slaz]

What would you experts recommend as a replacement ThinkPad that is as well made and designed as the 600X?

Some would say not quite as solid/durable as 600 series, but still a good, classic design is T2x series (T20, T21, T22) are just slightly more up to date. T23 is another small step in up-to-date-ness - 133 vs 100 bus-speed, PIII-M vs PIII, max memory 1GB vs. 512MB etc.
Plenty of info, parts etc.

[tfflivemb2]

If I take the dead computer, which has a good display, is there some way to remove the whole display top of the computer and replace it with the good display. I'm not sure I want to get into disassembling the screen part. If I can do a full top replacement, I'd have a portable machine again.

VERY EASY! Infact, I happen to have two videos on Youtube explaining how to do this on a 600 series Thinkpad!

Video 1 - Disassembly

Video 2 - Reassembly

[whizkid]

Yes very easy, but first be sure the display is dead. Try Fn+F7 to see if the display is just disabled. (I know, not likely.)

Also, see if the backlight or inverter is dead by shining a flashlight downwards on the screen while it thinks the display is on (use Fn+F7 until both displays are active). If you can see a dark image while using the flashlight, try an inverter (cheap and easy), then a backlight (not as cheap or easy)... or buy a display... or a broken ThinkPad 600, 600E or 600X with a working screen and swap them. Be careful to get a 13.3" TFT display, as some of the older 600's have 12.1" or awful 13.3" screens.

[vineyridge]

I can barely see a picture in the screen's darkness, but it's there. Since I have the good display from my other 600X, I can, I hope, simply put the good display with all its parts and case on the computer with the bad display.

I'm off to look at the Youtube videos now.! Thanks.

[u.mac]

I'm off to look at the Youtube videos now.! Thanks.

But take a look to the bright ribboncable from keyboard before(!) you take out the connector. The video doesn't show, how you have to fold it down into case.

And I'm not sure, that there was shown the right way to disconnect keyboard- and speakerconnectors from subboard. The connectors on the ribboncable are very, very fragile. I think, leverage between the connectors with a small screwdriver is the better way.

Uwe

[tfflivemb2]

I'm off to look at the Youtube videos now.! Thanks.

But take a look to the bright ribboncable from keyboard before(!) you take out the connector. The video doesn't show, how you have to fold it down into case.

And I'm not sure, that there was shown the right way to disconnect keyboard- and speakerconnectors from subboard. The connectors on the ribboncable are very, very fragile. I think, leverage between the connectors with a small screwdriver is the better way.

Uwe

I disagree. I wouldn't use a small screw driver, for fear of tearing the cable.

I used my two fingers to slide under the ends of the connector, and lift. My fingernails aren't sharp, but with the shape of my fingers it helps with the leverage. If my fingers were thick and round, it might not work so well...

[vineyridge]

Now the 2645-4eu is gone. I think it's the video adapter because it will show that it's booting but nothing gets to the external monitor. Last night it hung up in powering off, and I woke at 3 am to a completely teal screen with nothing on it. When I tried to turn the computer off, it wouldn't instantly turn off from the switch; so I used the reset button.

This morning the 600X screen was black, except for one moment at the very beginning of a boot when it actually showed the amount of Memory. Then the screen went black and stayed that way, both on the LCD and on the external CRT. I know the CRT monitor is good, because I'm using it now.

I've put the 600X in storage for twenty four hours in the hopes that this is just a nightmare.

If it isn't, what does one do when the video adapter dies?

Can y'all suggest some troubleshooting steps?