help! T23 won't boot but fan is on!

[tbird]

I cut my camping trip short because I have
a online test in the morning and my thinkpad t23
won't boot!

Battery was low last night and I powered down.
Later I tried to start the computer and the
fans and power light come on but it won't
boot up. No power on screen.

any ideas?

after reading some posts
I tried the following and it didn't work.
fan still runs normally but no screen and
no hard drive activity.

1. Remove the battery.
2. Remove the A/C Adapter.
3. Hold down the power button for 20 seconds.
4. Repeat step 3 one more time.
5. Reinstall the battery.
6. Plug in the A/C Adapter.

[carbon_unit]

Try changing step #3 to "press the power button 50 times"
If that fails pull the modem and try again. It's under one of the removable panels on the bottom, one is the memory and the other is the nic/modem.

[tfflivemb2]

Does the fan pulsate or is it steady?

[tbird]

the fan is steady

[tbird]

Carbon,

I removed the hd, cd, mini-pci, dimm and
basically unplugged anything I could find...
then I pressed it 50 times(not 20 seconds each
press, though) and plugged just
the ac cord back in and tried it.
That didn't work.

I then tried putting in the Dimm and I tried
to power up again.
That didn't work.

Do I need to press it 50 x 20 secs each time?

[tfflivemb2]

No, you don't need to press it 50 times 20 seconds. I think that he just wanted you to press the button several times to release any remaining power that might be stored in the capacitors.

You might want to search through the forum of "overcharged capacitors". This seems to be a common problem, especially as of late. Not sure if there is a work around or not.

[tbird]

sorry, one more thing. I was going to try to remove the backup battery but the diagrams for removal don't indicate if I should
remove the wires that plug into it. I don't want to pull too hard
on them if they are soldered in there.

I've read that it takes a standard 2025 battery. How do I install
that? Remove the yellow covering?

[tbird]

tfflivemb2,
you asked if the fan was steady.
Does that indicate something?
it's steady and blowing cool wind out.

[tfflivemb2]

I wanted to make sure that it wasn't pulsating, because the pulsating seems to be a symptom of a different problem involving the PCBs on the bottom of the systemboard.

EDIT: Just realized you had another post regarding the CMOS battery. To remove the CMOS battery just remove the battery, cables and connector from the connector that is attached to the systemboard.

As for physically replacing the CMOS with a different CMOS battery, then yes you can use a standard watch battery, but it takes a little work. Once you remove the battery and wires from the black holder, you will have to remove the yellow casing with a thin knife. You will then have to carefully pry off the two wires/tabs, making a note of which wire attaches to which side of the battery (+/-). Once the wires/tabs are removed, simple place them on the new battery and use electricians tape to wrap them again. I would use as much tension on the tape as possible so that it almost shrinkwraps the battery. Then you can reconnect the CMOS battery connector to the system board.

I can't remember off the top of my head whether the battery was a CR2025 or a CR2032. You can search for that answer.

[rkawakami]

<snip> ..... involving the PCBs on the bottom of the systemboard. (my emphasis added)

Can you define what you mean by "PCB"? My definition is "Printed Circuit Board", which is what the systemboard (aka motherboard) is. So in effect, what I get out of this is that there is a "daugther board" (i.e. another printed circuit board) mounted or mated to the motherboard. The pictures you posted before appeared to show a couple of components which seems to be the inductors you mentioned about causing power up failures.

[tfflivemb2]

I was told that they were PCBs, but I could very easily have the terminology wrong. I am by NO MEANS an expert in electrical components. Maybe they are inductors, if so, I will certainly use that term in the future. Thanks for the correction.

[rkawakami]

Maybe they are inductors, if so, I will certainly use that term in the future.

The only reason why I said that they might be inductors is someone brought up that description in one of the threads about "pulsating fans". Not having physically seen and touched one from any of my laptops (and only going by the pictures that were posted), they appear to be inductors to me. Kinda makes sense for them to be causing power related problems as they are typically used to remove/reduce high frequency signals from entering portions of a circuit that they are not suppose to be in. For a good example, take a look at the end of the AC adapter cord for your laptop (the end that plugs into the laptop, silly ) The ferrite beads inside that cylinder is an inductor. It prevents the power cable from being an antenna and radiating all of the signals from the laptop.

[tbird]

sorry guys,
I accidentally replied to the wrong post
instead of this one. I had another window
open with a post that seemed like it could
be my similar problem. In case you didn't see it, the post was
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 505#176505

they gave some good ideas on there as well.
At the moment I've tried the CMOS battery and
pretty much everything you all have suggested.
Now I feel like my post is getting old and I'm near
my end on this. As I stated on the other post:

In case I'm left alone on this from here on out
(seems to usually happen when a post gets old),
what do you guys suggest to do next?

Buy smaller parts and try them one at a time?

Which parts?

Buy a motherboard on ebay?

Give up and buy a new computer?

(this one has only been used about 6 months although it says it
was made a few years ago)
I love the computer, it's perfect for taking to school.

thanks for everything that you all have done.
I REALLY appreciate it!

[carbon_unit]

Did you pull the modem out yet? This really sounds like a bad modem.

[tbird]

yes, if the modem is the mini-pci. It's under one of the
bottom metal flaps, right? I pulled everything easy to access like that out and tried powering up without it in and still it didn't no go.

[tbird]

I looked up in the manual and I hope I did take out
the modem since they have several modems in them... I
removed the mini-pci modem.

do I need to hook everything else up except the modem?

what are the minimum parts that I need to be hooked up
so that I can tell if it's working?

I gather I don't need the hd (bios screen should come up)
I don't need the CMOS (I saw a post debating this)
of course I don't need the battery and cd player

Do I need memory sticks in?
Do I need the other little daughter card next to the mini-pci(Modem) ?

[Berny]

min. parts: one stick of working ram. all other cards and drives can be removed. just for saftey put cmos battery back (some say yes, some say no). machine should post with ibm screen.

try to put some WD40 on all contacts (only a little !!) and reseat connectors, espacially the cpu. use new artic silver on cpu before starting. power on only, when all connectors and fan are in place!

once you have access to mobo, check for loose connections and bad soldered parts.

good luck.

[tbird]

thanks, i'll try that and report back

for others looking at this post trying
to fix their similar problem, here's some
good info I just found in the T23 manual.

Verify that the power supply being used at the time of the
failure is operating correctly. (See “Power system
checkout” on page 35.)
1. Power off the computer.
2. Visually check each FRU for damage. Replace any
damaged FRU.
3. Remove or disconnect all of the following devices:
a. Non-IBM devices
b. Devices attached to the port replicator
c. Printer, mouse, and other external devices
d. Battery pack
e. Hard-disk drive
f. External diskette drive
g. DIMM
h. CD-ROM and diskette drive in the Ultrabay
i. PC Cards
4. Power on the computer.
5. Determine whether the problem has changed.
6. If the problem does not recur, reconnect the removed
devices one at a time until you find the failing FRU.
7. If the problem remains, replace the following FRUs one
at a time (do not replace a nondefective FRU):
a. System board
b. LCD assembly

[stuarty]

I'm experiencing the exact same issue on my T23. Have you found a solution to this problem? I've tried all the suggestions listed but nothing appears to be working.

[tbird]

no, it's a mystery.
did you try changing the cmos battery?
I'm wondering if I didn't connect mine well.
My fan comes on, my hd sounds like it spins up as
though getting ready to work,
the power light comes on, but no POST beeps and
hd doesn't sound like it's trying to boot anything.

does yours have a flicker on the screen?
(mine doesn't) If so, could be the inverter.
keep in touch!

[carbon_unit]

If you think it is the inverter then hook up an external monitor to see if it is booting. My next guess is a bad system board.

[christopher_wolf]

As per Carbon Unit said, I think it is a bad system board as well.

Although, it could be a problem with a certain part of the system board that is, potentially, easily repairable.

[hey00]

probably this thread is old.. but what heck. hehe.


I would suggest to take out CPU and put back in again, and try again. or try different cpu 800mhz etc.. is worth a try, and if you not hearing any post beep is fine, because my t22 and t23 don't make any beep unless there memory error or video card or cpu etc.. and another thing this laptop was using a PCMCIA? like wireless card or usb card? I remember someone brought me in a t21, and this thing didn't turn on for [censored], and I start snooping through whole mobo carefully, and I notice the PCIMIA slot if you remove it you will see pins. so check those aren't bend or touch each other this may cause the system not to boot. I dunno if you checked but take look if the cap aren't bursting or about to burst just make sure nothing is touching the board lose screw etc... I dunno, if you have mutilmeter experience, try to test around PSU in the mobo with meter to see any low current or bad fuse etc..