W530 random shutdowns when moved

[sup]

I have a W530 that is quite stable when docked and not touched. However, when I move it around, it frequently abruptly shuts down as if the batter was removed. This also happened four years ago when I sent it to service (post-warranty) and they diagnosed a faulty Bluetooth module, which they just removed (the other option was a 400 euro for replacement board, this cost like 20 € for their work). So I again suspect a motherboard issue.

However, is there some kind of a troubleshooting guide? I could not find any. Alternatively, any ideas if anything else but the motherboard could be causing this?

I see that I can order a new motherboard from Aliexpress for about 70 dollars. Is there any way to find out which exact FRU I have without dissassembling the device? THe lookup on lenovo no longer works for this model and the part list lists dozens of different boards.

Also what I do not understand - the processor and the external graphic card are soldered to the motherboard or will I need to move them from the old one? I have a model with k1000 Nvidia chip - is that enough to specify the motherboard FRU? And the new motherboard comes with these "thermal pads" I am supposed to use or I reuse the ones from the old motherboard or do I need to order them separately?

[davidgurvich]

No real idea but you might try with just 1 stick of ram. There was a problem with the W520 with intermittent short.

[kfzhu1229]

I had such problems on my ThinkPad T43p before. And once it turned out to be the EMI grounding clips got so bent that it went back into the motherboard and when the palmrest gets flexed, it touches a capacitor and shuts the computer down.
Another time it turned out to be the spare antenna flopping around and not routed properly, hitting capacitors and shut down the computer.
Maybe see if you have any of those problems.

[RealBlackStuff]

Other things to check: the cables that go from motherboard into the lid, especially the LCD and webcam cables.
If they are damaged, they can cause shorts and/or interrupts.

[sup]

I have not found anything so I ordered a new motherboard. I just hope I have not damaged anything as I dropped the CPU from the height of around three centimetres and the manual says it is quite sensitive:-). Should arrive by mid-July, so hopefully it will solve the issue.

I also thouroughly cleaned the fan but it still rattles, so I guess the bearings are worn out. I hope it keeps working though still for some time.

Do I need to get a thermal paste for reataching the fan or can it live with the old paste?

[RealBlackStuff]

Every time you remove the fan you should put on fresh thermal paste.

[firefly6240]

for cleaning the fan, I just replaced mine.
I had done the same and taken it apart and cleaned it out like most videos show.
unfortunately the only replacement I could find only came with the fan itself and not the whole heat-sink assembly.
I had to remove the fan from the heatsink but found that there was a crazy amount of dust build up inside the heatsink portion that you can only get to by taking it apart so you might check there, its a pain to get off though.
once I had all that cleaned the old fan actually worked fine but I went ahead and replaced it anyways since I was in there and had a new one.

[sup]

Adn was the problem with your fan too much noise? I vacumed cleaned the fan, there seems to be not muc hresidual dust. By the heatsink portion, you mean the copper part and the dust was under it? It does not seem hollow to me at all, so I am not sure I follow.

[StuB]

I have mentioned this but thought I'd mention it again here. I have a X230 that had a device error relating to the BT module. It's a small inch long flat stick with a multi connection push fit socket almost in the middle. just to the right is a screw, so off centre, holding the module in place. Unfortunately, this whole assembly is in the lower right of the case by the ThinkPad logo on my X230. This used to be the place I'd pick the laptop from. So the flexing and the position of the screw also being a pivot point, more than likely caused connection issues with the BT module and it's push fit connector. I've since reseated the module and haven't had any issues (a week on). If you're willing to replace the MB, I'd just reseat everything and see if that cures the issue. If it does then I'd go with better practice when moving the laptop. Mine is on my lap top as I type, when I move it I'll take a little care. I'm guessing it'll prefer me not move it in the first place Here goes...

[sup]

I tried reseating things, it did not help anything. Some years ago, I had it serviced and the Bluetooth module was actually removed (it was post warranty) from the motherboard by the technician because it was causing the same issues. They went away for a few years but then they came back.

[sup]

So new motherboard arrived and I put it in and it all works now! Had a bit of a scare when at first it did 8 beeps in a 1-3-3-1 pattern but turns out I put the RAMs back badly:-).

BTW: it comes with a small package of thermal paste, so no need ot buy a separate one.

The chasis is a bit damaged, I did not handle it that nicely. The CDROM is thus wobly, as the plastic part between it and the ethernet part is no longer there. For this reason, the mechanism keeping it in place is broken and it is kind of badly. The CDROM so works quite weirdly. When I push it into the computer, it works, but when I do not keep it pushed, it mostly stops working (reading the CD, sometimes its LED blinks, sometimes it doesnt. I think it is probably the CDROM not being firmly in and so the curnt through the port not being stable. Another solutino is to put the laptop in "portarit mode" so it sands sideways on the part with keyboard and the part with display. But even then, sometimes it reads a few songs from a CD and then says error of copying, even though there is still current in the device as I can hear it spin at different speeds. This is the last CDROM in my househol,so that is why I am trying, in case anyone has any ideas. Is it possible the cdrom is faulty in the end? Can it be cleaned in case it is just dirt (can it be)?