screen leds not working

[JoeHallenbeck]

Hello,

I recently started to building my own T60 from e-bay leftovers. I bought T60 model 1951A47 according to BIOS main page but missing sticker on the bottom of the base. Motherboard is 41W1360.

The LCD screen is native 1400x1050 which is according to the model 1951A47 listed on lenovo support page after entering model number. All specifications are correct.

The leds on the display are not working except of WIFI led. I googled that this was caused by faulty LCD cable. Strangely the thinklight is not working when I press the FN+PgUp key combination but it is working when I switch it with TPFAN .62 icon on tray. Bluetooth is working as well and laptop is not reacting on magnet close to the inverter board. It is not switching to sleep after lid close so I'm suspecting inverter board fault rather than cable fault.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[TuuS]

I would replace the cable and inverter. It could be either but they are cheap parts and I'd consider my time more valuable then the parts so I'd just swap them both.

These parts are readily available, but if you're interested I think I may have both.

If I was going to try one or the other, I think I'd suspect the inverter first, unless there was some physical damage to the cable.

[JoeHallenbeck]

That's what I'm thinking as well, but I'm in process of getting another motherboard with base or just motherboard to upgrade it to better graphic card and core 2 duo processor. So when all of this will be together and this symptom will persist I will go for the inverter as first thing. I have to check the cable number again because even the model number is correct with lenovo support page specifications, some FRUs are not listed in Hardware Maintenance Manual...
FRUs listings on that manual are strange. Sometimes the part number is listed correctly the model number of computer is not listed even that d**n thing is sitting on my desk in front of me constructed together.

Some e-bay listings part numbers for inverter, cable or even the motherboard assembly are not listed in T60 HMM.

If the cable is wrong would it be visible to see some coner cracks or something? Logic tells me that if LCD is working, back light is working or thinklight is working, even the WIFI light is working (which is part of the inverter), cable should be okay.

[TuuS]

My advice is forget the FRU numbers, you'll never make sense of them, there are multiple numbers for the same compatible part, sometimes dozens. Any inverter from a 14" T60 should work. For the cable, if you have bluetooth you'll need a cable with the BT connector on it. In the T61 model they put the connector on all the cables, but the T60 didn't have the connector unless BT was ordered. I'm not sure if a T61 cable will fit or not, I have both so I can compare them and see if it looks like a match because you might have a problem finding a cable with BT if you need one.

I agree it sounds like your inverter is bad, the fact that it works but the LEDs don't is an important clue.

[JoeHallenbeck]

I checked the display cable and it is bluetooth version because I have BT daughter card installed in the lid. By the way bluetooth is working when switched on. When I will order new motherboard and take the laptop apart I will check the cable for cracks again. Inverter will be first choice because they are fairly cheap on e-bay anyway.

That FRUs problem is really pain. There are 4 versions of same manual available for my model and for example I found MB with base on e-bay which I would like to use (still didn't decide over ATI 1300 vs 1400 yet) but I could not find it in parts list even it looks 100% same as mine frame and base T60...

Think light is curious case. Maybe the keyboard is wrong because it is working on TPFAN but not with keyboard. That confuses me because apparently left side of cable (BT and light with LCD) is working and right side of the cable is functional with WIFI part only. Rest is dead.

If inverter was dead, would not that affect LCD function as well? Would the display work without inverter at all?

[JoeHallenbeck]

Now the machine is Core 2 Duo T7200 with ATI X1300 card and it is much more faster than previous configuration.

Replacing the motherboard didn't solve the problem with leds on screen so I will buy replacement for inverter board first.

ADMIN EDIT: <removed discussion of possible bypassing of supervisor password>

Any thoughts would be appreciated...

[Cigarguy]

Here's a little excerpt from http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=14339.

5. Passwords: Discussion on how to defeat the **password or Security Chip on thinkpads specifically or lenovo/IBM branded computers in general will NOT be allowed. The structure of the security system and how to best secure a thinkpad, etc. is allowed as long as it does not touch on bypassing such security systems. The judgement of the Admin or Moderator in this regard is absolute. There is no appeal except to the Admin or Moderator involved should your post be deleted or moved out of sight.
** EXCEPTION to this rule: Power-On passwords can be cleared as explained below by Lenovo:
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail. ... migr-59377
thus discussion of power-on passwords IS acceptable and not covered by this rule.

[JoeHallenbeck]

Thanks, but I don't have problem with power on password.

That lenovo support explanation is somehow confusing. There is hardly few occasions you can find thinkpad asking for password with that tie guy icon next to the cursor. It should be changed because I can enter to the BIOS, in fact I'm typing from mentioned machine. The power on password which is in that article as last paragraph is confusing. I can enter to the BIOS next to that icon by simply pressing enter key without any letters, but I can see inside BIOS configuration that BIOS supervisor password is enabled. Therefore my system should show icon with guy in tie next to the cursor. Or do I miss something?

[Cigarguy]

Thanks, but I don't have problem with power on password.

That's good.

[rkawakami]

Thanks, but I don't have problem with power on password. <snip> Or do I miss something?

Here's a quick review of the Thinkpad's supervisor and power-on passwords and what can and cannot be discussed here in public:

ref: http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail. ... MIGR-59377

- If there's a power-on password set, you get the password prompt every time you start up the system. You can remove it by simply disconnecting the CMOS (aka, backup) battery. Since this information has been posted in the User Manuals and is available from the previously cited Support page, this is about the only advice we can give here. See note below for MAJOR WARNING.
- If there's a supervisor password, the only way you know it has been set is if you actively attempt to access the BIOS. This is normally done by pressing the F1 key at boot-up. MAJOR WARNING: The other way you know if there's a supervisor password in effect is if the CMOS battery is removed or goes dead. Once this happens, the system will force access into BIOS every time you turn it on (to have you reset the date and time). If you don't have the password, then this is normally referred to as "bricking the system". You will not be able to boot any OS until the password is removed.
- There's an option in BIOS that will allow the user to examine (i.e., read-only) the BIOS settings even if a supervisor password has been set. The user simply presses the Enter key when prompted with the lock icon (no password entered) and the BIOS settings can be viewed. If this option has been disabled, then you will not be allowed to view any BIOS settings.
- Despite what the Lenovo Support pages display, some of the older Thinkpads have identical lock icons for both the power-on (figure of a computer or monitor) and supervisor (the tie-wearing guy). In those cases, the computer icon is shown for both passwords. I'm not exactly sure when the man icon was implemented.