T61p Blank(Black) Screen on Startup

[ninjaronin18]

Hey, so after 2 years (almost exactly 2 years), I think my T61p motherboard (video card related) finally gave out. Last night, I turned my laptop off (shut down). Everything was fine. This morning, I woke up turned my laptop on. The indicator lights showed and I could hear the hard drive spinning, but the screen was black. Tried it again and again, no luck. Also, I took it apart tried reseating the memory, cleaned the fan, and even tried some voodoo solutions like pressing the power button multiple times as recommended by other people in forums. No luck. I've also hooked my t61p to an external monitor hoping it was just an lcd problem, nothing showed up on the external monitor as well. I haven't been doing anything graphics intensive for the last 2 weeks, just internet mainly. My laptop has been sitting on a flat surface for the past year. The only thing I've been doing is leaving my laptop on or on standby for almost 24/7 (I'd just close my lid). Can anyone please help me? Or, do I really need to replace the motherboard? If it comes down to replacing the motherboard, I'd sooner just buy a used/refurbished t4x from ebay or this forum's marketplace.

[RealBlackStuff]

Have a look at the post about nVidia here: http://reflowrepairs.co.uk/news
If still under warranty, send it in.

[ninjaronin18]

I'm afraid it's out of warranty. The article made it sound like there might be an extended warranty covering the fault. I'm going to go in and talk to the people at Lenovo's local Service Center in my area. There's also the option of getting sent to the Lenovo Repair Service. I told them what happened, but they said they need to diagnose it themselves before they can provide me with an accurate estimate. So far they said the diagnosis fee was $75. I'm already pretty sure it's the video card (hoping it was the lcd screen. If I'm wrong, somebody correct me.) For now, I can live without a laptop for awhile and just use my desktop. Luckily this happened during the summer and not during the school year. Anyways, thanks for all the help out there guys. Any more insight would be greatly appreciated.

[Brad]

Check your PM (private message) for another solution.

Brad

[bleuiko]

Did it been 1 long, 2 short? If it is...

Mine just did that and I am battling the same issue. There have been a lot of motherboard failures lately due to nVidia issue and Lenovo is aware of the problem. They are even replacing motherboards out of warranty. You should check out this thread on the official Lenovo forum: http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T61-and-pri ... d-p/223574

[ninjaronin18]

Okay, so I tried the proposed solution found in the link in the previous post before this one. It actually got my laptop to boot! However, it returns a BSOD screen during the splash screen. If anybody has any ideas, please tell! I suppose it's a corrupt hd? Here's the proposed unorthodox solution:

Re: T61 One long beep, two short beeps...and deadOptions
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01-04-2010 10:33 AM

this may sounds strange but it worked for me. My T61 fell victim to the one long, 2 short beeps issue 2 days ago. I read that it could either be the ram, motherboard or gpu. All I could really test was the ram, so I replaced it with new ram and still got the 3 beeps. I was convinced my computer was done for. I came across this random youtube clip (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIUcxyYU ... onse_watch) which offered a temporary solution. I was skeptical because it sounds friggin outrageous...but figured...what do I have to lose? My computer is dead anyway. I swapped my HD for an old 40gig that I wasn't using (just in case things went wrong) and tried the temp fix in the video. It worked! I don't know how long it will last...but my computer started and is working fine as of now.



Summary of temporary fix:



1. Turn on notebook while plugged in to charger

2. cover heatsink and vents so that your comp overheats

3. Once the fan gets extremely loud...after about 40 mins turn it off (My computer shut down on me cuz it got too hot)

4. Wait till it cools down just a bit.

5. Power it on

6. Viola!



If anyone knows why this unorthodox method actually works...please tell me. I'm in awe. I can't understand how overheating a notebook could "fix" a motherboard of gpu problem. It just doesn't make sense to me.



Hope this helps



Best,


ucsblaw

[ninjaronin18]

Wow, the overheating method work. Unfortunately, I think it corrupted by 500gb WD Scorpio Blue Hard Drive...im on my Hitach 72K 160 gb hard drive now. At least my laptop is working again!

[Harryc]

If you read through the thread that bleuiko linked to earlier, you will see that there is a way to get this repaired by Lenovo even if your machine is out of warranty. I think I would have opted to do that than to risk frying the machine by the 'overheating' method. Also now you never know if/when the problem will return. At least with a new board you'd be certain it is at the latest level and there 'might' be some level of certainty that the issue had been addressed in an engineering change on the board. Also there is a risk of frying something else which evidently you've discovered with your WD HD as victim.

[ninjaronin18]

I thought they don't replace your motherboard for free. Rather, you have to extend your warranty which is permissable even though you're out of warranty.

If you read through the thread that bleuiko linked to earlier, you will see that there is a way to get this repaired by Lenovo even if your machine is out of warranty. I think I would have opted to do that than to risk frying the machine by the 'overheating' method. Also now you never know if/when the problem will return. At least with a new board you'd be certain it is at the latest level and there 'might' be some level of certainty that the issue had been addressed in an engineering change on the board. Also there is a risk of frying something else which evidently you've discovered with your WD HD as victim.

[Harryc]

I thought they don't replace your motherboard for free. Rather, you have to extend your warranty which is permissable even though you're out of warranty.

Take another look at the thread, open up a repair incident with IBM and contact Mark there if you want a board replacement. The problem now is that it is not failing ... so you're stuck.

[bleuiko]

That is correct. Lenovo has recognized the issue as a manufacturing defect and are replacing the mobos for free, even if it is out of warranty. Mine was replaced but I am dealing with another issue (my LCD was broken when it was returned to me) but it is unrelated to the mobo.

[ninjaronin18]

Ok, that is good to know. The next time it happens, I will be sure to get the motherboard replaced! Do you just call support and tell them what's going on?

[Harryc]

Yes

[ninjaronin18]

Okay, my laptop pooped out on me again. So I tried calling lenovo support using this number 1-800-887-7435, and followed the instructions from the automated machine. One question they asked was whether my machine was under warranty or out of warranty. Choosing the out of warranty option, the automated voice replied by saying that they don't have remote support for out of warranty machines and asked if I wnated to purchase a depot repair. Can somebody tell me how to go about getting a replacement motherboard for my thinkpad? I assumed from previous posts that this service was free, is it not? Let me know! Thanks.

[Harryc]

Choose - "under warranty" and get a case number.

[ninjaronin18]

Hey, I just talked to an agent and they said that lenovo charges $575 to replace a motherboard. Did the agent I talk to know what he was talking about?

[Harryc]

Open up a repair incident, get a case number with IBM and contact Mark at forums.lenovo.com if you want a board replacement.

[ninjaronin18]

Okay, thanks bud!

Open up a repair incident, get a case number with IBM and contact Mark at forums.lenovo.com if you want a board replacement.

[fry112]

Ok here is my question, if you own a t61p and it is under warranty is the machine still worth keeping? or should I try to sell the bad-boy?

Ive got a 2011 warranty but still this kinda sucks and I am afraid this will happen to me .

[Harryc]

My take on this is that if you like the machine and it does what you need it to, and it's still under warranty, then keep it. In fact if you REALLY like the machine then extend the warranty. The key/operative word here is 'warranty'.