Thinkpad t60 - No video

[knapik]

Hello, this is my first post.

I recently bought a T60 for myself with the intention of librebooting it. However I seem to have run into an issue, I don't get any video from the device whatsoever.

The laptop turns on and the status lights on the inverter board light up, but I don't get any video out on the LCD. The LCD has been tested to work correctly on another thinkpad, and I shined light through the back to see if it was just the backlight, but no video whatsoever. Trouble is that I also don't get any video out from the VGA connecter either.

From what I've read is that the graphics is handled by the internal memory controller which isn't socketed and slightly out of my soldering skill range. Is there anything else I should check that may be causing the issue, or should I start looking for a new motherboard?

[RealBlackStuff]

What is the TYPE of that machine (from the sticker on the bottom, looks like TYPE 1952-43U).

Remove the RAM, then try to boot.
If there is still any 'life' left, it should beep 1-3-3-1.
If not, get another motherboard, they are cheap.

The T60 series has 4 GPUs: Intel, ATI X1300, ATI x1400, ATI FireGL 5200 (in T60p).
There are 2 types of fans: Intel and ATI (ATI will also work on Intel but not v.v.).
So make sure you get the same GPU.
For more info/howto, get the T60 manual from the HMM link at the top of this web page.

[knapik]

The type is 1954-a17
Sorry I should have mentioned that before. I tried taking out the RAM beforehand and I did get the correct beeps. I also believe that I have the intel graphics motherboard too. I'll check out that link though, so thanks for mentioning it.

[axur-delmeria]

Tried different RAM sticks?

[knapik]

Well... I went to look at that RAM thing again and it turns out that I actually do get video! (The inverter is dead though unfortunately) Just not when the second RAM slot is used?

Has anyone run into this issue before? Both of my 1GB sticks work, just only when in the first slot, otherwise that seems to kill the video. Anyone might know what might be causing that issue?

[dr_st]

You say that it "kills the video", which suggests that the PC is working other than the video? This is not how it usually happens. Probably your PC is just stuck before completing the POST (power-on self-test), because of a faulty RAM slot.

[RealBlackStuff]

You can copy your TYPE in the MTM link above, and then see that yours is a 14.1" XGA with Intel GPU.
You can try insert/remove RAM in that 'bad' slot a few times.
Maybe it comes back?
If not, get another mobo with Intel GPU.