T43 won't start with charger

[bheinze]

Hello guys,

since a few days I'm having trouble with my thinkpad. When I plug the charger into the socket the battery symbol lights up, when I press the power button the battery symbol is switched off and the computer stays dead.

The only way to revive it is to remove the charger and the battery. The only way to power it up is with the battery only. Once it's running I can connect the charger again and the thinkpad is running on charger power.

Has anyone an idea what could be broken? My first guess was the charger, but once the computer is running it's working...

Thanks.
Bernd

[ajkula66]

FWIW...had a T42 many moons ago which behaved in the exact same manner. Ripping the machine apart revealed moisture damage on the motherboard which was subsequently scrapped.

Your T43 is likely in the same boat for one reason or another.

Good luck.

[Hans Gruber]

George, I have a T43P with a similar problem. No water damage to my unit to speak of. Using the 10x power method I can bring it back up. In my case the battery lights up briefly but disappears. I have attributed the problem to letting the battery discharge in standby mode without shutting it down. That is my working hypothesis. The other suggestion was to take every component off and let it sit for a day or two slowing adding components wifi card, Ram, CD/RW etc.

[bheinze]

FWIW...had a T42 many moons ago which behaved in the exact same manner. Ripping the machine apart revealed moisture damage on the motherboard which was subsequently scrapped.

I think I can rule out any water damage.

George, I have a T43P with a similar problem. No water damage to my unit to speak of. Using the 10x power method I can bring it back up. In my case the battery lights up briefly but disappears. I have attributed the problem to letting the battery discharge in standby mode without shutting it down.

hans, what do you mean by the 10x power method? Pushing the power button repeatably to discharge the capacitors after removing the battery?
Could you elaborate the battery discharge problem? My TP is mostly used stationary, but it's always connected to the socket, the battery isn't the best anymore nonetheless.