MOBO Repair

[biged143]

Anyone know of a good source of T61 mobo repair ? I have 2 t61 one needs the diodes replaced (my bad) for the video and I think the other has a bad cap as it just died out of the blue. Any sugestions on the one that just died are welcome! Thanks

[TuuS]

are you sure these aren't GPU problems? T61 boards fitted with nVidia GPU chips when failed are problematic to fix. The first problem is many repair shops were under the mistaken impression that reflowing the solder balls would fix it... it won't, but the heat from the attempt will often make the board boot for a few hours/days/weeks, but it's at best a temp fix. To further complicate things it seems there are many crooks that have caught on to the fact that you can get these failed boards to temp boot, so they do improper repairs and dump them on sites like ebay, either as refurbished boards, or complete systems, it's quite a scam.

To even further complicate things, the chinese part stripping factories have been pulling old computer chips off boards and re-etching new date codes on them so they look new and selling them. A google search for "fake chips" and "china" will reveal that even the USA military was scammed into buying thousands of these fake chips. When they do this with a reliable chip, it's dishonest, but not extremely harmful, but doing this with a line of chips that is known to be unreliable and putting dates on them to make them look like newer chips that ARE reliable is horrible... and as a result, we cannot trust any GPU chips unless it came from an august 2008 T61/T61p.

When I need a system board I source them from complete corporate laptops. This is the only way I can be sure I'm getting one that never failed, and just to be sure I run them under stress test for a few hours, then let the laptop run for 7 full days while temps are monitored. If a board was baked or reflowed it will usually fail within the first 30 mins.

[biged143]

TuuS Thank you for your reply. Yes I am sure it is the diodes on one of the T61. I was installing a camera and stupidly forgot to pull the battery!! Somehow I connected the inverter while it was powered up!! I no longer get any green indicator light and that was the tip off to the diode. I get a great display using an external monitor. Last time someone posted a link that showed the location of the diodes. There are 2 of different value. I was unable to locate them so I just bought another T61 and put the defective one aside.
Now I have to choose which one to repair. Thanks again

[TuuS]

Sounds to me like a blown fuse, not a diode. I don't personally do board level repairs unless it's a very rare board that can't be easily replaced, but if you want someone who is good at these things talk to member "RealBlackStuff". He might be willing to help you.

[biged143]

TuuS Thank you. Would yo uknow the location of any fuses? How might I contact the person you mentioned?

[biged143]

TuuS I forgot to mention I can see the screen with a flashlight. Swapping the LCD with the other had the same result so I know it is not thebacklight or inverter

[TuuS]

If you can see the screen with a flashlight, then you may have a bad inverter and/or fuse. I'd recommend replacing the inverter first, it's a lot easier and cheaper then diagnosing the problem. If you want one I have them for all T61 models.

The fuses are almost microscopic and will take some soldering skills to replace them. My good friend RBS can help you with that, but it's very likely you only need an inverter as it provides the voltage needed to power the screens backlight.

How might I contact the person you mentioned?

Click Here---> RealBlackStuff <---Click There

You can also reach him through his website TheBoardRoom.Info

[biged143]

Tuus Thanks for the info I sent him a PM. As for the inverter I have tried 2 "known good" from ebay and 1 from my other t61 same results. Swapping the whole lid from the working T61 had the same effect. It must be either a diode or a fuse IMHO but I will wait for RBS to weigh in! Thank You !!

[jasnjules]

I'm glad I found this site today. I nearly sent my T61 to a site listed on ebay. I bought it new in Nov 07 and just after a year I was in Chicago with my computer bag slipped over the extended handle of my suitcase. I turned to close a door and it fell over very softly. practically rolled over because the bottom bag is bigger than the laptop case. Anyhow took it to my room and it beeped a few times and nothing more. When I got home I looked up the beep code and it said something about video. It's been sitting ever since. I wish I'd have taken it to a place to get it fixed sooner. I see places on ebay that say for $125 they will fix it and if not, refund money. The site I looked at has 2270 positive feedback 100% but after looking at this forum I'm not sure what to think.

I would like to get it going again just because I hate to see a computer that ran so strong just get tossed out or sold for parts. I'd like it for a back up.

Any thoughts?

[biged143]

Are you sure the beep code is for video? I have seen memory modules slip out and get a lappy from booting. You have 2 sticks 1 under the keyboard and one on the bottom of case. Try to reseat the one on the bottom. I have also found the hdd can slip out of contact if the screw has been removed. Give the above a shot and repost for more help.

[TuuS]

I'm glad I found this site today. I nearly sent my T61 to a site listed on ebay. I bought it new in Nov 07 and just after a year I was in Chicago with my computer bag slipped over the extended handle of my suitcase. I turned to close a door and it fell over very softly. practically rolled over because the bottom bag is bigger than the laptop case. Anyhow took it to my room and it beeped a few times and nothing more. When I got home I looked up the beep code and it said something about video. It's been sitting ever since. I wish I'd have taken it to a place to get it fixed sooner. I see places on ebay that say for $125 they will fix it and if not, refund money. The site I looked at has 2270 positive feedback 100% but after looking at this forum I'm not sure what to think.

I would like to get it going again just because I hate to see a computer that ran so strong just get tossed out or sold for parts. I'd like it for a back up.

Any thoughts?

If you have a failed GPU and you send it to one of those places, they will overheat the chip which moves the micro circuits within the chip enough that they will often boot, but it never lasts. You really can't go by feedback on ebay because you can't revise the feedback, and few people will post the truth if the seller offers a refund. Basically they could make a failed gpu work again in a few minutes, take your money, then if it didn't last 30days they give the money back and tell you "I'm sorry, I tried my best..." would you trash a sellers feedback if you believed they really tried to fix it?

They only cure for a failed nVidia chip is a new board, or an expensive chip replacement, however nVidia only sells new chips to oem customers, all the 3rd party refurbished boards that have new date codes on the chips are fake.

If you want a replacement board you can send me a PM and I'll try to help, but I'd definitely remove and reseat the ram, remove the harddrive and optical drive, and as much other hardware as you can to make sure nothing else is causing the problem. Generally a hard gpu failure will present with three beeps, one long and two short, but it also can present with no beeps, and sometimes will boot with graphic artifacts, or crash with bluescreen of death.

[jasnjules]

Thank you. I'll blow off the dust, plug this thing in and see what the beep code is and try to reseat what I can.

Will post update when I find out more. Such a relief. If I hadn't found this forum I would have sent it off tomorrow.

[biged143]

I have used this forum many times and have been able to fix my own!! I am fortunate to have a source that will solder mobos for me for a nominal charge. ButI havr to tell him what I want done!
Before you do anything reset the bottom memory stick. The one under the keyboard is in very snugly!!

[jasnjules]

just plugged in from it's long sleep. one long, two short beeps.

I'll turn off and try to reset what I can.

[biged143]

http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/researc ... MIGR-46018

[TuuS]

just plugged in from it's long sleep. one long, two short beeps.

I'll turn off and try to reset what I can.

I can pretty much assure you that you need a new system board, that is the typical code for a failed nVidia GPU. If you're interested in a board, or getting it repaired, feel free to send me a PM and we'll discuss the options.

[ajkula66]

You have 2 sticks 1 under the keyboard and one on the bottom of case. Try to reseat the one on the bottom.

This info is incorrect for a T6x unit.

Both RAM sockets are accessed by removing the keyboard and palmrest, there is nothing on the bottom of the case like there used to be on T4x generation.

[biged143]

ajkula66 You are correct. I have too many T Pads , Dells and Acers. I was typing from memory noy having the T61 in front of me.Thanks for saving the OP time trying to find what is not there!