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T460s is dead - suggestions

T430-T490, T530-T590 Series
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norricorp
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Location: Reading, UK

T460s is dead - suggestions

#1 Post by norricorp » Tue Jan 14, 2020 10:33 am

Hello,
I have a T460s. It is older than 3 years and less than four. It is out of warranty.
I set the battery saver to on as it is normally run from the mains.
It is not used everyday and was last used over the weekend to do a windows update and possibly a lenovo update. It is has had a BIOS update recently and that worked, if only because it does an auto reboot.
Today it does not switch on. Press power button and nothing. No leds, nothing. Plugging in power gives no flashing on led on cover.
A long power button press also yields nothing.
This has never happened to me before; when PCs have broken, there is at least a flashing light somewhere. Normally BIOS will at least start.
But this has nothing.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can go about diagnosing this?
Regards,
John

RealBlackStuff
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Re: T460s is dead - suggestions

#2 Post by RealBlackStuff » Tue Jan 14, 2020 11:21 am

Try another outlet.
Try another charger.
Remove the battery/ies and hold the power button down for ~20 seconds.
Try only on charger.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)

norricorp
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2005 4:45 am
Location: Reading, UK

Re: T460s is dead - suggestions

#3 Post by norricorp » Tue Jan 14, 2020 12:08 pm

Thanks for this.
I did try another outlet. No success.
Only have the one charger but even if charger was broke, should still run due to battery.
Is there a link on how to remove the internal battery on a T460s?

I just do not understand how a laptop can work one day and then absolutely nothing the next with no warning, no errors, no accidents.

rjsrjs
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Re: T460s is dead - suggestions

#4 Post by rjsrjs » Tue Jan 14, 2020 5:04 pm

CMOS battery dead?

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Re: T460s is dead - suggestions

#5 Post by RealBlackStuff » Wed Jan 15, 2020 3:10 am

Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)

norricorp
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Location: Reading, UK

Re: T460s is dead - suggestions

#6 Post by norricorp » Wed Jan 15, 2020 3:24 am

Would a dead motherboard battery kill a machine?
I thought (incorrectly?) that it just kept the clock ticking and on startup that would be wrong?

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Re: T460s is dead - suggestions

#7 Post by RealBlackStuff » Wed Jan 15, 2020 3:53 am

Not kill, but it can definitely interfere.
Remove it, then try again.
But beware: if BIOS should have a Supervisor password that you are not aware of, you'd be SOL.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)

jjames55
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Re: T460s is dead - suggestions

#8 Post by jjames55 » Fri Jan 24, 2020 6:14 am

Have you tried the small reset button (a tiny hole un the underside). I have seen a few T460/T460S machines "going black" only to be revived using this button. Just use a paper clip.

regards,
Jesper
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norricorp
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Re: T460s is dead - Solved

#9 Post by norricorp » Fri Jan 24, 2020 6:21 am

As was suggested by @RealBlackStuff, I took out the two batteries and the cmos battery, pressed power a few times to discharge any capacitors, and then reassembled.
And then it worked!!
So many thanks to everyone who commented. Most difficult thing was getting the screws out that were holding the batteries. Ended up using a combo drill/driver.

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Re: T460s is dead - suggestions

#10 Post by jjames55 » Fri Jan 24, 2020 6:34 am

In fact i think the reset button does mostly the same thing, disconnects the internal battery. Just easier than taking it all apart.. But good it works now
Workhorses: T480 i7 MX150, X280
Museum: T42P UXGA, T30 SXGA+. T23 SXGA+, T22 SXGA+, A31P+A30P UXGA
600X, 390X, 570, 240X, S30, 701C, 220, PC110, Z50, PowerPC 860 w. AIX.. and lots more

norricorp
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Location: Reading, UK

Re: T460s is dead - suggestions

#11 Post by norricorp » Fri Jan 24, 2020 6:42 am

I was going to say I can't find the reset pinhole but I just did! Shame Lenovo did not put a sign next to it. Hopefully it won't happen again but if it does, I will certainly try this.

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Re: T460s is dead - suggestions

#12 Post by RealBlackStuff » Fri Jan 24, 2020 7:23 am

Glad to hear it worked.
Not all Thinkpads have a Reset button/hole, but T460s does: https://support.lenovo.com/ie/en/solutions/pd103963
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)

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