Thinkpad X31 - dead motherboard? - worth anything?

[ernienet]

I bought my prized Thinkpad X31 Type 2672 in April 2003 directly from IBM. It was my primary computer until June 2009, when I decided to upgrade. I continued to use it as a handy mobile computer because my new computer was a HUGE 17" model.

When I bought it in 2003, I bought everything - the docking station, the accessory base with CD-ROM/DVD player and the IBM optical mouse.

I made a few upgrades along the way - a second Gigabyte of RAM an 160 GB hard drive sometime around 2006-2007. I ordered a replacement battery around 2009-2010 because the old one would not hold a charge. I also got a Linksys Wireless G 2.5 GHz 802.11g PC card.

But I pulled it out one day to loan to my mother's caregiver so that she could use it to order prescriptions online for my mom, and it wouldn't start. The fan comes on, the lights blink, but no beeps, nothing on the screen, and I don't hear the hard drive. I set it aside and didn't give it much thought until today when I pulled it out of the case so I could use the case for my employer's computer at a conference.

This afternoon I visited the forums and looked for troubleshooting information, and after a few hours, determined that the motherboard seems to be the issue.

If anyone would like to buy this, I'd be happy to pack it all up so that it can find a good home and live another life. I can't include the hard drive at this time because I have no idea what's on it. If I get a chance, I'll dig out my enclosure and plug it into my current computer to see if it's readable. If it's good, I'll wipe it clean and include it. By the way, I'm not sure where the manuals and OEM disks are, but if I find them, I'll include them.

One other thing: I don't think the CD-ROM/DVD player works. I didn't use it much, but I remember buying an external Drive, and I think it was because IBM/Lenovo charged too much for a replacement.

Thank you for taking the time, and any advice you have on this,

Ernie

[NorrisCell]

Might be worth something for parts. Did you have a price in mind? Might want it myself.

[Neil]

Actually, forum rules require some kind of asking price to be posted. Anywhere from free, to whatever you would hope for, then add OBO, if you're not firm on your price. I've sent a PM too, BTW.

[Thedaddy]

Actually, forum rules require some kind of asking price to be posted. Anywhere from free, to whatever you would hope for, then add OBO, if you're not firm on your price. I've sent a PM too, BTW.

Where are these "forum rules" which require a price to be listed in Marketplace? I found Bill's GUIDELINES which state to wit:

"This the FOR SALE AD guide..... no rules are hard and fast and all rules are subject to change at the whim or will of the moderators and admins...... these are GUIDELINES."

Odd construction in terms, really, which authorize mods to go "off the reservation" with respect to the marketplace. I wonder what the outcome would be if one mod preferred a sales price be listed, and another did not. lol.
In fact, Bill listed a bunch of 701 stuff in this forum with no price yesterday. Apparently an offer was made and accepted and we have no idea what that offer is/was. So no, there is no "rule" requiring a price to be listed with the ad. It sure makes things easier though.

For the OP: I'm also interested but it appears there is a line. Whatever price you've agreed on I'll better it.

[TuuS]

Where are these "forum rules" which require a price to be listed in Marketplace? I found Bill's GUIDELINES which state to wit:

"This the FOR SALE AD guide..... no rules are hard and fast and all rules are subject to change at the whim or will of the moderators and admins...... these are GUIDELINES."

Odd construction in terms, really, which authorize mods to go "off the reservation" with respect to the marketplace. I wonder what the outcome would be if one mod preferred a sales price be listed, and another did not. lol.
In fact, Bill listed a bunch of 701 stuff in this forum with no price yesterday. Apparently an offer was made and accepted and we have no idea what that offer is/was. So no, there is no "rule" requiring a price to be listed with the ad. It sure makes things easier though.

For the OP: I'm also interested but it appears there is a line. Whatever price you've agreed on I'll better it.

Some might find the wording of this post offensive, basically you're accusing the owner of our forum of violating rules, so as politely as possible I'll point out that you may have a rule that no visitors of your home may enter without being fully clothed, but should I assume if you decide to wander around your house wearing only a robe that I'm entitled to do the same? Bill owns this forum and can do as he pleases, and I think it's reasonable to give moderators some discretion in enforcing rules, which is pretty standard in all similar forums.


As for the rule about posting an asking price, you must have missed this...

2. An asking price must be posted in each ad.

Also, not that it matters, but bill placed that topic over a year ago, not yesturday.

I'll also add that this is a pretty bold statement...

Whatever price you've agreed on I'll better it.

I cannot and will not attempt to speak for the forum administration, but I believe the reason for stating a price is to avoid an adversarial type of negotiating. If someone wants to have a bidding war for something there are sites like ebay for that, this is a more friendly way of trading and there are many options for listing, if someone doesn't know what to ask he can post a price check and get some opinions first, but I think what the rule is trying to eliminate is someone offering an item for $100 and a forum member agreeing to buy it, then another member jumping in and trying to break the deal by offering $110... or whatever, which seems to be what you're trying to do, so lets just say for the sake of discussion that I'm going to offer $5000 for this laptop, are you still going to "better it"?

[emtee3511]

@Thedaddy -- Although you have been a Forum Member for more than a year, I noted that you have very few postings. Based on your post on this thread, as well as your previous comment: "Does the computer come with the deal? Sounds like the batteries are junk." -- which you recently posted on another Marketplace thread, it seems you may have missed the usually friendly atmosphere of the Forum. If you are speaking 'tongue-in-cheek', then perhaps adding a smiley face would help your posts. Calling a member's sale posting "junk" seems to me a bit harsh; as does your statement about mods "going off the reservation." Just my opinion, but if you read this Forum much at all, you will see hundreds of posts by mods and others, all giving advice and help to questioning thinkpadders -- no remuneration -- just volunteering time and assistance. Hopefully your posting words are more misunderstood than ill-intentioned and a more gentle response will be forthcoming in the future

[Thedaddy]

@Thedaddy -- Although you have been a Forum Member for more than a year, I noted that you have very few postings. Based on your post on this thread, as well as your previous comment: "Does the computer come with the deal? Sounds like the batteries are junk." -- which you recently posted on another Marketplace thread, it seems you may have missed the usually friendly atmosphere of the Forum. If you are speaking 'tongue-in-cheek', then perhaps adding a smiley face would help your posts. Calling a member's sale posting "junk" seems to me a bit harsh; as does your statement about mods "going off the reservation." Just my opinion, but if you read this Forum much at all, you will see hundreds of posts by mods and others, all giving advice and help to questioning thinkpadders -- no remuneration -- just volunteering time and assistance. Hopefully your posting words are more misunderstood than ill-intentioned and a more gentle response will be forthcoming in the future

My apologies for offending anyone. It certainly was tongue in cheek. I had intended to delete my post, but unfortunately that horse has already left the stable, and I'll accept whatever lumps I have coming. While this is certainly no justification, my job involves my reading and interpreting Rules of Civil Procedure in jurisdictions across the United States; including the FRCP, FRAP and bankruptcy law. I have seen amended pleadings stricken for misinterpretation of the word "service." So, I read the rules here, and unfortunately applied my professional interpretation of those rules--and this was inappropriate for the audience.
Lesson learned. I extend a personal apology to Bill and the mods. I do believe I will refrain from commenting further in an attempt to minimize further grief.

[emtee3511]

@Thedaddy -- I'm sure no offense was taken, and thanks for clarifying it was just as I had guessed, "tongue-in-cheek" -- see ya on the Forum

[ernienet]

I apologize for causing a bit of an uproar. As I said in my response to the original respondent's PM, I looked around for the rules, read what I was able to find, and didn't see anything about price. But maybe this discussion has clarified it for everyone going forward.

I can't find the hard drive enclosure at the moment - found the box it came in, but not the enclosure - so at this point I would be open to recommendations regarding the value with the everything without the hard drive, and if someone was willing to wait until I get some time off work in two weeks so I can locate the enclosure and wipe the drive, the value with the hard drive.

I figured the peripherals might be worth quite a bit, but it could be that like me, people rarely used them. I appreciate your honest feedback, and understand that I haven't been very active on the forum in all these years. The reason I posted here instead of selling on eBay was that this is where the people are who love and know Thinkpads, and who would most likely get the most out of it. Back in 2003, the computer with all the peripherals was close to $4,000! There's a reason people like me paid the big bucks - the Thinkpad was a well-designed piece of hardware, and I wanted a computer that would last - and it did. I used it exclusively for over six years, and then as a secondary computer for a few years after that.

Any advice you can give me on what it's worth will be much appreciated. I'll dig up the CD's and manuals (I know they're around here someplace) and carefully pack it all up for you if there's more than a few hundred dollars involved.

Thanks again,

[NorrisCell]

I'm at work right now, but I'll try and send you a P M tonight with some details on what the parts might be worth, as well as a possible offer from me

[NorrisCell]

PM sent.