T20 Will NOT start

[ltsmash]

I have a T20 that worked fine with XP PRO and after I shut it down a few days ago it appears to be DEAD. It is not in hibernation it just won't start. I have tried the "push power button with all power, including the CMOS battery disconnected." ( I read that this drains the capacitor) This worked for one or two boot ups but now it will not work at all...nothing. When I push the power button the HD (green)light flashes and the battery light is on whether on battery or ac power. I have reseated the memory, the processor and everything else I can think of. I have even changed the CMOS battery. Nothing seems to work.

Have you or any of your knowledgeable counterparts encountered this problem before and is their any hope of fixing it?

[GomJabbar]

See the last post in this thread by verktyg. He has wrestled with this issue for awhile, and has come to some conclusions. This applies to the T20-T22 series I believe.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=12993

[egibbs]

Are you sure it is not on with the LCD dark?

Look at the LCD under a bright light and see if there is any image there - either the password lock screen or the Windows start screen. T20s are of the age where the LCD cable and/or inverter are due to fail.

Ed Gibbs

[verktyg]

See the last post in this thread by verktyg. He has wrestled with this issue for awhile, and has come to some conclusions. This applies to the T20-T22 series I believe.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=12993

There seems to be a rash of these kinds of problems over the last year and a half. The T20, T21 and T22 TPs are "only" 2-4 years old - not that long in the tooth! I haven't seen this many mainboard related problems reported with earlier model TPs.

IBM was well aware of the problem and had a bunch of fixes to try including a mainboard replacement service for $420 including freight both ways (in the US).

All of the recommended tricks such as taking out the batteries, holding down the start button, leaving the TP sit for some time are symptoms of capacitor problems. One IBM Tech even mentioned that to me.

This leads me to beleive that the mainboard design is faulty and/or IBM used faulty capacitors on these models. There's been some problems with capacitors leaking electrolytic fluid on some desktop motherboards but that's an unrelated issue. Capacitors are simple devices and should work trouble free for years.

I haven't heard of these problems with the T23 and later T series thinkpads. They use a different mainboard design.

Do I hear M-Wave rumblings? CAS?

[AbsoluteRaleigh]

When I push the power button the HD (green)light flashes and the battery light is on whether on battery or ac power.

It is time for a new system board.

[ltsmash]

A new system board was what it took to fix the problem.
THANKS TO ALL WHO REPLIED.
Mark

[abc]

Hello, I think I have th same problem with a T21 I have. Where did you get the replacement board and what is required to replace the board ?

[verktyg]

Check on eBay. They sell from ~$80 USD and up with the average about $125 USD.

Check some of my recent posts for more details. Search verktyg

Good luck.