T21 will not power up.

[abc]

Was using my T21. Finished using it shutdown normally. Needed to restart a few minutes later and it would not turn on at all. I removed the battery and used AC only, still no luck. Is there any sort of reset or circuit breaker switch on the T21 ?

[verktyg]

If 2 green lights flash and then nothing happens your mainboard has gone south. You may be lucky and just need to replace the CMOS battery.

Do some searches on T20 startup problems and read some of my messages: verktyg

Good luck....

[monkey243]

Would you mind to descript more details?
press the power button,just all the single lights flash,then power off.
If Just like that,I am afraid the power managerment IC in mainboard was boken.

[verktyg]

Check theses threads for starters:

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

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... highlight=

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... highlight=

Try searching verktyg and T20, T21 & T22 startup problems.

Good luck

[abc]

When I press the power button, NO lights whatsoever come on. The machine is cold iron. There are not any lights on when the power supply is plugged in indicating the battery is charging. I will pursue the previous suggestions. Thanks.

[MadeInJapan]

Try unplugging and taking the battery out then back in and plugging up again. Sometimes this will do it. Don't know why...guess it resets it somehow.

[abc]

I tried that too. I had most of the machine disassembled last night trying to get at the system board in anticipation of having to purchase and install a replacement.

[verktyg]

Have you tested the AC power supply? They do go bad and you could have a dead battery.... It could happen!

I've had several "bricks" go bad and one of my T20 batteries just died. I would check out the power supply before replacing the mainboard. The IBM Maintenance Manual shows how to check the battery and power supply with a multimeter.

[Thinkpaddict]

Hi,

I had something like that happen to me shortly after I got my T21.
I called IBM and a technician told me to disconnect the laptop from the AC, take out the battery, and then press then power button 10 times. On the 10th time, if I remember correctly, hold it on for 30 seconds. Replace battery and connect to the AC, and try to turn on the computer. It worked in my case, and didn't have any more problems of the sort. I think it had to do with some capacitor being saturated or something similar. Try and see if it helps.

Also, AC adaptors tend to go bad (specially if you twist the cable close to the laptop input). Try to test your AC adaptor to make sure it is working.

G'luck

[abc]

I tried the exercise with the power button (with the battery out) and 30 seconds on the 10th press. I put the battery back and connected the AC adapter. No luck. I have another AC adapter on hand, nothing.
I also have a docking station which I installed the T21 onto, still nothing.

[jmr]

The power button tapping worked for my X31 that had the same problem.

Thanks, Thinkpaddict!

[abc]

Did you have to tap the power button every time you started the PC ?
Unfortunately I have now completely disassembpled my PC anticipating I will need to get a new system board.

[tfflivemb2]

You should only have to do this the first time, as it somehow "resets" it.

[abc]

Okay, In that case, my system board must be truly dead. I had absolutely no lights when the battery was installed or when the AC adapter was connected.

[abc]

Replacement system board installed. The system now powers up. I now have the problem of a flickering screen which is flashing off then back on. Now what ?

[tfflivemb2]

Make sure that the little button/switch at the top of the keyboard that tells the laptop that the display is closed, is not sticking.