Generally weird R52
-
father_longcat
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:57 pm
- Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Generally weird R52
I bought a "Used with some problems" Thinkpad R52 off Ebay.
I've upgraded it to a Pentium 4 760, added 2GB of RAM, an extended battery, Ultrabay battery, Thinkpad Dock 2, and Bluetooth.
For the $250 I paid for it, it's a formidable laptop.
a)
However, since I had to replace the lid of the laptop, the pink connector that attaches (power?) to the Screen to the inverter got jammed in the hinge and almost fried the laptop.
When I opened it up and looked at the screen, half of the screen was black. Not faint, black. The whole backlight died too, so I bought an inverter. This didn't fix the backlight but it fixed the black pixels and stuck screen. Now I have a very faint Thinkpad. So I bought a second screen. Am I being an idiot and the problem does not lie in the panel, or is it reasonable to replace the screen?
b)
Ever since I upgraded the CPU, connecting it to the dock will crash it. I plug it in, turn it on, and it reaches the loading screen for Windows then shuts down. It's not heat, it doesn't get unreasonably hot.
I've upgraded it to a Pentium 4 760, added 2GB of RAM, an extended battery, Ultrabay battery, Thinkpad Dock 2, and Bluetooth.
For the $250 I paid for it, it's a formidable laptop.
a)
However, since I had to replace the lid of the laptop, the pink connector that attaches (power?) to the Screen to the inverter got jammed in the hinge and almost fried the laptop.
When I opened it up and looked at the screen, half of the screen was black. Not faint, black. The whole backlight died too, so I bought an inverter. This didn't fix the backlight but it fixed the black pixels and stuck screen. Now I have a very faint Thinkpad. So I bought a second screen. Am I being an idiot and the problem does not lie in the panel, or is it reasonable to replace the screen?
b)
Ever since I upgraded the CPU, connecting it to the dock will crash it. I plug it in, turn it on, and it reaches the loading screen for Windows then shuts down. It's not heat, it doesn't get unreasonably hot.
-
RealBlackStuff
- Admin
- Posts: 17495
- Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
- Location: Mt. Cobb, PA USA
- Contact:
Re: Generally weird R52
Welcome to the forum.
Your R52 would need a Pentium M 760, Intel sSpec SL7SM.
I assume you made a typo?
a) Does an external monitor work OK from the VGA port?
You may have blown a fuse on the motherboard.
Here's a diagram from a very close/similar motherboard with fuse locations: http://theboardroom.info/T4x_Fuses.pdf
Use a multimeter to check them, specifically F3, F7 and F8.
b) There is maybe dirt in the docke connector, either in the laptop, or in the dock, or both.
Try cleaning both with compressed air.
Your R52 would need a Pentium M 760, Intel sSpec SL7SM.
I assume you made a typo?
a) Does an external monitor work OK from the VGA port?
You may have blown a fuse on the motherboard.
Here's a diagram from a very close/similar motherboard with fuse locations: http://theboardroom.info/T4x_Fuses.pdf
Use a multimeter to check them, specifically F3, F7 and F8.
b) There is maybe dirt in the docke connector, either in the laptop, or in the dock, or both.
Try cleaning both with compressed air.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Check out The Boardroom for Parts, Mods and Other Services.
Check out The Boardroom for Parts, Mods and Other Services.
-
father_longcat
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:57 pm
- Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Re: Generally weird R52
Yeah, Pentium M. My mistake.RealBlackStuff wrote:Welcome to the forum.
Your R52 would need a Pentium M 760, Intel sSpec SL7SM.
I assume you made a typo?
a) Does an external monitor work OK from the VGA port?
You may have blown a fuse on the motherboard.
Here's a diagram from a very close/similar motherboard with fuse locations: http://theboardroom.info/T4x_Fuses.pdf
Use a multimeter to check them, specifically F3, F7 and F8.
b) There is maybe dirt in the docke connector, either in the laptop, or in the dock, or both.
Try cleaning both with compressed air.
It works fine off the VGA port.
Alright, tommorow I'll get compressed air.
-
RealBlackStuff
- Admin
- Posts: 17495
- Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
- Location: Mt. Cobb, PA USA
- Contact:
Re: Generally weird R52
One more thing to check: maybe the laptop does not fully/correctly slot in when putting it an the dock.
If the laptop gets flexed/warped while on the dock, the Southbridge chip could be loose, which would explain the non-boot issue.
If the laptop gets flexed/warped while on the dock, the Southbridge chip could be loose, which would explain the non-boot issue.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Check out The Boardroom for Parts, Mods and Other Services.
Check out The Boardroom for Parts, Mods and Other Services.
-
father_longcat
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:57 pm
- Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Re: Generally weird R52
Fixed the dock issue. It was heat -- When I replaced the CPU I used toothpaste for thermal grease (works fine about 90% of the time) and I guess it wasnt a good kind. Note: Always use white Crest mint toothpaste for thermal grease. It's about equal with AS5.
Still stuck on the panel problem. I'm going to test the fuse when I know how to.
Still stuck on the panel problem. I'm going to test the fuse when I know how to.
-
twistero
- Senior Member

- Posts: 851
- Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2012 2:25 am
- Location: Princeton, New Jersey
- Contact:
Re: Generally weird R52
InB4 all the flame...father_longcat wrote:Fixed the dock issue. It was heat -- When I replaced the CPU I used toothpaste for thermal grease (works fine about 90% of the time) and I guess it wasnt a good kind. Note: Always use white Crest mint toothpaste for thermal grease. It's about equal with AS5.
Still stuck on the panel problem. I'm going to test the fuse when I know how to.
Just curious, how did you come up with the conclusion that white Crest mint toothpaste is about equal to Arctic Silver 5?
X60 tablet 6363-P3U, 3GB ram, 128GB SanDisk Extreme SSD, SXGA+ screen, Intel 6300
T61 Frankenpad in 15 inch T60 body, UXGA LED-lit AFFS LCD, T9300, 6GB RAM, NVidia NVS140m, Intel 6205, 128GB Crucial M4 SSD, 1TB HGST HDD + eBay caddy in Ultrabay
701c butterfly, 75MHz 486DX4, 40MB ram, 1GB CF card
T61 Frankenpad in 15 inch T60 body, UXGA LED-lit AFFS LCD, T9300, 6GB RAM, NVidia NVS140m, Intel 6205, 128GB Crucial M4 SSD, 1TB HGST HDD + eBay caddy in Ultrabay
701c butterfly, 75MHz 486DX4, 40MB ram, 1GB CF card
-
father_longcat
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:57 pm
- Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Re: Generally weird R52
twistero wrote:
InB4 all the flame...![]()
Just curious, how did you come up with the conclusion that white Crest mint toothpaste is about equal to Arctic Silver 5?

Not bad.
-
ajkula66
- SuperUserGeorge

- Posts: 15736
- Joined: Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:28 am
- Location: Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania
Re: Generally weird R52
You're absolutely right.father_longcat wrote: Not bad.
Not bad.
A lot worse than bad...
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)
Cheers,
George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)
AARP club members:A31p, T43pSF
Abused daily: R61
PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.
Cheers,
George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)
AARP club members:A31p, T43pSF
Abused daily: R61
PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.
-
father_longcat
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:57 pm
- Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Re: Generally weird R52
It's only 7 C versus AS5.ajkula66 wrote: You're absolutely right.
Not bad.
A lot worse than bad...
That's still a B.
-
ajkula66
- SuperUserGeorge

- Posts: 15736
- Joined: Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:28 am
- Location: Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania
Re: Generally weird R52
I don't think you quite understand how this stuff works...
Talk about toothpaste after a month of it sitting on a working CPU...
Talk about toothpaste after a month of it sitting on a working CPU...
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)
Cheers,
George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)
AARP club members:A31p, T43pSF
Abused daily: R61
PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.
Cheers,
George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)
AARP club members:A31p, T43pSF
Abused daily: R61
PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.
-
father_longcat
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:57 pm
- Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Re: Generally weird R52
The first gaming PC I used had toothpaste. It still works.ajkula66 wrote:I don't think you quite understand how this stuff works...
Talk about toothpaste after a month of it sitting on a working CPU...
It's Pentium III Coppermine.
-
ajkula66
- SuperUserGeorge

- Posts: 15736
- Joined: Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:28 am
- Location: Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania
Re: Generally weird R52
I've seen machines that ran for years with no thermal compound at all.
It still doesn't make the practice advisable...
It still doesn't make the practice advisable...
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)
Cheers,
George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)
AARP club members:A31p, T43pSF
Abused daily: R61
PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.
Cheers,
George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)
AARP club members:A31p, T43pSF
Abused daily: R61
PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.
-
father_longcat
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:57 pm
- Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Re: Generally weird R52
Good point.ajkula66 wrote:I've seen machines that ran for years with no thermal compound at all.
It still doesn't make the practice advisable...
I'm going to wait for my panel to arrive, and hope it works.
If it doesn't, I'll return it.
Thanks for all the help!
-
twistero
- Senior Member

- Posts: 851
- Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2012 2:25 am
- Location: Princeton, New Jersey
- Contact:
Re: Generally weird R52
Well, one picture doesn't tell us anything. What's the testing platform? Testing procedure? Application method? 40 degrees Celsius at idle from an Atom in a 20 degrees room is veeeeeery different from 40 degrees under max load from a quad-core i7 in a 35 degrees room.father_longcat wrote: It's only 7 C versus AS5.
That's still a B.
Even though we assume a reasonable testing platform and procedure:
Fresh toothpaste performs worse than all but one thermal compound. After merely 12 hours, temperature with toothpaste increased 3 degrees, which indicates toothpaste lose its heat-conducting properties very quickly, or worse still, its heat-dissipating capability comes solely from the evaporation of water. If allowed to dry up completely, I predict its performance will be worse than no thermal compound.
X60 tablet 6363-P3U, 3GB ram, 128GB SanDisk Extreme SSD, SXGA+ screen, Intel 6300
T61 Frankenpad in 15 inch T60 body, UXGA LED-lit AFFS LCD, T9300, 6GB RAM, NVidia NVS140m, Intel 6205, 128GB Crucial M4 SSD, 1TB HGST HDD + eBay caddy in Ultrabay
701c butterfly, 75MHz 486DX4, 40MB ram, 1GB CF card
T61 Frankenpad in 15 inch T60 body, UXGA LED-lit AFFS LCD, T9300, 6GB RAM, NVidia NVS140m, Intel 6205, 128GB Crucial M4 SSD, 1TB HGST HDD + eBay caddy in Ultrabay
701c butterfly, 75MHz 486DX4, 40MB ram, 1GB CF card
-
rkawakami
- Admin

- Posts: 10052
- Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 1:26 am
- Location: San Jose, CA 95120 USA
- Contact:
Re: Generally weird R52
For anybody else curious about who created that graph and the test methodology used, here's the latest review that I can find of the various thermal compounds tested by Hardware Secrets:
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/printpag ... -2012/1490
Mayonnaise? Mustard?? Diaper rash ointment??? These must be some of the same guys from the BBC's Top Gear show
.
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/printpag ... -2012/1490
Mayonnaise? Mustard?? Diaper rash ointment??? These must be some of the same guys from the BBC's Top Gear show
Ray Kawakami
X22 X24 X31 X41 X41T X60 X60s X61 X61s X200 X200s X300 X301 Z60m Z61t Z61p 560 560Z 600 600E 600X T21 T22 T23 T41 T60p T410 T420 T520 W500 W520 R50 A21p A22p A31 A31p
NOTE: All links to PC-Doctor software hosted by me are dead. Files removed 8/28/12 by manufacturer's demand.
X22 X24 X31 X41 X41T X60 X60s X61 X61s X200 X200s X300 X301 Z60m Z61t Z61p 560 560Z 600 600E 600X T21 T22 T23 T41 T60p T410 T420 T520 W500 W520 R50 A21p A22p A31 A31p
NOTE: All links to PC-Doctor software hosted by me are dead. Files removed 8/28/12 by manufacturer's demand.
-
father_longcat
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:57 pm
- Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Re: Generally weird R52
From now on I'm using mayonnaiserkawakami wrote:For anybody else curious about who created that graph and the test methodology used, here's the latest review that I can find of the various thermal compounds tested by Hardware Secrets:
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/printpag ... -2012/1490
Mayonnaise? Mustard?? Diaper rash ointment??? These must be some of the same guys from the BBC's Top Gear show.
Poor Rosewill thermal pastel, doing worse than 12 hr old butter.
-
RealBlackStuff
- Admin
- Posts: 17495
- Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
- Location: Mt. Cobb, PA USA
- Contact:
Re: Generally weird R52
Rosewill is the crappy home-brand from Newegg, not a good recommendation for them.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Check out The Boardroom for Parts, Mods and Other Services.
Check out The Boardroom for Parts, Mods and Other Services.
-
father_longcat
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:57 pm
- Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Re: Generally weird R52
They have the FT02, FT03, and RK-9000.RealBlackStuff wrote:Rosewill is the crappy home-brand from Newegg, not a good recommendation for them.
-
father_longcat
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:57 pm
- Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Re: Generally weird R52
Got new screen and it didnt work. F7 and F8 seems to be fine. F3 might be popped, how would I replace this?
Re: Generally weird R52
Piggy-back and new one over the blown one. Still not easy, but that's about the only way it'll work. That said, I've never succeeded with the job myself.
Collection = T500 - R400 - X300 - X200 - T61 (14" WXGA+) - T61 (14.1" SXGA+) - T60 (15" SXGA+) - X40 - T43p - T43 - T42p - A30P - 600E
-
father_longcat
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:57 pm
- Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Re: Generally weird R52
I've never had much success with soldering.Neil wrote:Piggy-back and new one over the blown one. Still not easy, but that's about the only way it'll work. That said, I've never succeeded with the job myself.
Someone nearby me on Craigslist has a working R52 Motherboard 39T5684. The current one I have is ATI graphics and 14", would this be compatible?
-
ajkula66
- SuperUserGeorge

- Posts: 15736
- Joined: Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:28 am
- Location: Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania
Re: Generally weird R52
Maybe you should bridge it with a (metal) dental toothpick....father_longcat wrote: I've never had much success with soldering.
Yes.Someone nearby me on Craigslist has a working R52 Motherboard 39T5684. The current one I have is ATI graphics and 14", would this be compatible?
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)
Cheers,
George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)
AARP club members:A31p, T43pSF
Abused daily: R61
PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.
Cheers,
George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)
AARP club members:A31p, T43pSF
Abused daily: R61
PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.
-
father_longcat
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:57 pm
- Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Re: Generally weird R52
So just bridge one lead to the other with something like a conductive marker?ajkula66 wrote:
Maybe you should bridge it with a (metal) dental toothpick.......I'm certain you can get one from Crest for free after all the advertising you've done for their products on this forum...
If it helps the screen is bright for a fraction of a second before booting.
-
ajkula66
- SuperUserGeorge

- Posts: 15736
- Joined: Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:28 am
- Location: Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania
Re: Generally weird R52
That was a joke...
Unless you can piggyback a new fuse on top of the old one, get a replacement board...
What do they want for it, BTW?
Unless you can piggyback a new fuse on top of the old one, get a replacement board...
What do they want for it, BTW?
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)
Cheers,
George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)
AARP club members:A31p, T43pSF
Abused daily: R61
PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.
Cheers,
George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)
AARP club members:A31p, T43pSF
Abused daily: R61
PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.
-
father_longcat
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:57 pm
- Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Re: Generally weird R52
$25.ajkula66 wrote:That was a joke...
Unless you can piggyback a new fuse on top of the old one, get a replacement board...
What do they want for it, BTW?
-
ajkula66
- SuperUserGeorge

- Posts: 15736
- Joined: Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:28 am
- Location: Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania
Re: Generally weird R52
Not a bad price at all presuming it works 100%...any means of testing it?
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)
Cheers,
George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)
AARP club members:A31p, T43pSF
Abused daily: R61
PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.
Cheers,
George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)
AARP club members:A31p, T43pSF
Abused daily: R61
PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.
-
aPanzerIV
- Freshman Member
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2011 4:39 pm
- Location: Clarksville, Tennessee
Re: Generally weird R52
how did it work out?
pretty sure its the board. my sony vaio k had a bad board(stopped detecting hdd's), so i got one off of ebay, screen acted up, so i replaced the inverter. screen turned white and only displayed on the external monitor properly. I put the old board in and the screen was all nice n purdy again.
btw - toothpaste ^_^
gotta remember that next time i'm doing a budget build...
pretty sure its the board. my sony vaio k had a bad board(stopped detecting hdd's), so i got one off of ebay, screen acted up, so i replaced the inverter. screen turned white and only displayed on the external monitor properly. I put the old board in and the screen was all nice n purdy again.
btw - toothpaste ^_^
gotta remember that next time i'm doing a budget build...
Current: -R60 14" T-9945, R40 15" T-2897, 600 13.3" T-2645-45U-
Previous: -R40 15" T-2897, R40 P4-M 14", R50 14" T-1859, E425 T-1198-
Non-Thinkpad: HP Probook 6470B, Dell Latitude D610, Dell Dimension E520
Previous: -R40 15" T-2897, R40 P4-M 14", R50 14" T-1859, E425 T-1198-
Non-Thinkpad: HP Probook 6470B, Dell Latitude D610, Dell Dimension E520
-
father_longcat
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:57 pm
- Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Re: Generally weird R52
Board wasn't compatible with mine, so I didn't buy it.aPanzerIV wrote:how did it work out?
pretty sure its the board. my sony vaio k had a bad board(stopped detecting hdd's), so i got one off of ebay, screen acted up, so i replaced the inverter. screen turned white and only displayed on the external monitor properly. I put the old board in and the screen was all nice n purdy again.
btw - toothpaste ^_^
gotta remember that next time i'm doing a budget build...
Compatible boards are about $100 apiece, so I'm selling my laptop as-is with the dock, extended batteries, external battery charger, and monitor/kb/mouse.
I'll be lucky if I can fetch $100.
-
RealBlackStuff
- Admin
- Posts: 17495
- Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
- Location: Mt. Cobb, PA USA
- Contact:
Re: Generally weird R52
If your machine has 14.1" XGA, I would have a fully working compatible motherboard with integrated Intel graphics for it.
PM me if interested in a price well under $100 shipped!
PM me if interested in a price well under $100 shipped!
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Check out The Boardroom for Parts, Mods and Other Services.
Check out The Boardroom for Parts, Mods and Other Services.
-
father_longcat
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:57 pm
- Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Re: Generally weird R52
ATI, sorry.RealBlackStuff wrote:If your machine has 14.1" XGA, I would have a fully working compatible motherboard with integrated Intel graphics for it.
PM me if interested in a price well under $100 shipped!
That would mean replacing heatsink and possibly the bottom plastic. I'm about done with this thing.
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
-
Screen Looks Weird After Upgrading
by NikkoCharger » Wed Dec 28, 2016 10:42 am » in ThinkPad T400/410/420 and T500/510/520 Series - 2 Replies
- 845 Views
-
Last post by NikkoCharger
Wed Dec 28, 2016 11:48 am
-
-
-
R52 Intel motherboard and power-on through LAN?
by lukee » Mon Jan 23, 2017 5:46 am » in ThinkPad R, A, G and Z Series - 1 Replies
- 1369 Views
-
Last post by RealBlackStuff
Mon Jan 23, 2017 8:03 am
-
-
- 9 Replies
- 210 Views
-
Last post by Thinkpad4by3
Sat Jun 24, 2017 2:50 pm
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests




