i opened my r30 and now its dead

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marcus_registradus · #1 Post by **marcus_registradus** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:13 pm

Hello all, I recently replaced the incredibly noisy fan in my R30 with a new one off ebay. I turned the computer on and everything seemed fine, it booted up the fan was working, coolly and quietly, but then after 5 minutes the system froze. So I forced a shutdown and restarted. This time it froze at the xp logon screen. After repeating this process 4-5 times the time it stayed on got shorter and shorter, until it only got to the bios screen and then finally, nothing.
I press the power button, there is a brief flicker of lights, i can hear the hard drive but nothing happens. No screen activity, just the standby light.
I tried removing the memory, hd, cd, but still nothing. I tried the pressing the power button 10 times thing, nothing.
What should I do?

Website · #2 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:36 pm

Try removing and reseating the CPU and fan.

marcus_registradus · #3 Post by **marcus_registradus** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 1:32 am

I tried reseating the fan, the cpu appears to be part of the mobo. I can hear the fan working when I press the power, but still nothing

vlyne · #4 Post by **vlyne** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 4:52 am

Did you smear new heat sinking compount (Arctic Silver) before reinstalling the fan? If not the CPU is most likely cooked. You could try again but this time reseat the CPU as well - there should be a screw lock on one of the corners. Take it easy, refit carefully, apply the paste. If it fails you could risk trying another CPU that you know is good.
Good Luck!

marcus_registradus · #5 Post by **marcus_registradus** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 6:16 am

Hi thanks for your reply. I did apply thermal paste, just the cheap Unick brand stuff. I wasn't sure whether to keep the thermal pad in or not, I've tried it without it and just the paste as well. I'm still not sure about the CPU, there's no screws or anything, just the cpu spring that holds the heatsink onto the cpu. The HMM doesn't mention anything about removing the cpu. Could it still be the cpu? Or is it probably the motherboard?

marcus_registradus · #6 Post by **marcus_registradus** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 6:18 am

Also, do you think this means I can just pry the cpu off the motherboard?

vlyne · #7 Post by **vlyne** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 7:15 am

I don't have an R30 to check how the CPU is attached but I'd be really surprised if the only option is to "pry" it off. I wouldn't do it and it's not a recommended procedure for what is an extremely delicate and complex chunk of electronics. Check page 123 of the HMM at:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-39797

There's some sort of latch that needs to be released. I'd replace the thermal pad as well.

If the CPU shutdown because of overheating it would normally reset itself after cooling down. If it doesn't, the overheating could be elsewhere, or it's taken the CPU/component past the point of no return. So, replacing the CPU with a good one is worth trying. If that doesn't work you can try the usual procedure of stripping all components (see sticky post) etc.
Cheers

agarza · #8 Post by **agarza** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 2:34 pm

marcus_registradus wrote:Also, do you think this means I can just pry the cpu off the motherboard?

Read the HMM. All the CPU's in modern Thinkpads can be replaced. Check if the socket color does not have tracks of smoke. It could be that your CPU overheated, but who knows, you gotta check that by yourself.

SeanM · #9 Post by **SeanM** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 6:13 pm

The cpu on that machine is soldered to the board. Do not try to remove it.

Try removing a dimm, or moving the dimm from one socket to the other.

marcus_registradus · #10 Post by **marcus_registradus** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 7:55 pm

Hi and thank you all for your advice,
It seems that the cpu definitely IS soldered to the motherboard.

(this is why it's not mentioned in the hmm. The instructions on page 123 are for the R31)
So yeah, I've tried removing everything else so I guess it needs a new motherboard, unless anyone knows a good (cheap) place in Melbourne/Australia that repairs them? I've seen a few american places on ebay that say they can repair the individuals components but i'm thinking the shipping costs would make it not worth it...
Thanks again everyone,
Marcus

vlyne · #11 Post by **vlyne** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 8:04 pm

Not having taken an R30 apart, I'd have to bow to superior knowledge but the HMM seems to indicate that the CPU can be taken off by releasing a latch mechanism.

I'd agree with the checks on the DIMM but all other cards and detachable components need to be checked as well - again see the sticky post. I'd put the crowbar away as well before more damage is done

Cheers

vlyne · #12 Post by **vlyne** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 8:11 pm

Marcus got in before my last post. Someone on the Australian ebay is currently selling a bunch of R30/31's. Can you replace the MB with one from an R31? It might be a better option for upgrades, trouble shooting.

Website · #13 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 9:19 pm

Wow, you learn something new everyday....I had no idea that the CPU on a recent regular (meaning non-X series, or ultraportable system) Thinkpad would be soldered on.

RUSH2112 · #14 Post by **RUSH2112** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 9:24 pm

I've done work on several R3*'s, and they have all been soldered in my experience.

As for your problem, try rebuilding it again. Check that all connections are tight and you havent missed anything. If it still doesnt work, I suppose it is possible that you shorted something when handling the parts. R30's seem to be somewhat picky too, so I'm really not too sure. I suppose your best bet is my first suggestion.

Website · #15 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 9:31 pm

RUSH2112 wrote:I've done work on several R3*'s, and they have all been soldered in my experience.

According to the HMM, the R31 isn't soldered...atleast not under R31 Part I.

RUSH2112 · #16 Post by **RUSH2112** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 9:36 pm

tfflivemb2 wrote:
RUSH2112 wrote:I've done work on several R3*'s, and they have all been soldered in my experience.
According to the HMM, the R31 isn't soldered...atleast not under R31 Part I.

Different models may have varied, and its been a while since I have had one apart, but I do believe that the two or three that I've rebuilt were soldered. If I recall correctly, though, they were R30s and an R32.

marcus_registradus · #17 Post by **marcus_registradus** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 9:38 pm

vlyne wrote:Someone on the Australian ebay is currently selling a bunch of R30/31's. Can you replace the MB with one from an R31? It might be a better option for upgrades, trouble shooting.

Hehe I already contacted the guy, he thought it would be unlikely that any of them had a good motherboard

I've only been looking for R30 mobos though, does any one know if I could put in one from an R31 or any other model?

Maybe I'll try rebuilding one more time, i'm always pretty careful to avoid static, and the computer did boot a couple of times (briefly) after installing the new fan...

SeanM · #18 Post by **SeanM** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 1:43 pm

RUSH2112 wrote:I've done work on several R3*'s, and they have all been soldered in my experience.

R30s are soldered. R31 and R32 are socketed.

vlyne · #19 Post by **vlyne** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 6:51 pm

SeanM wrote:R30s are soldered. R31 and R32 are socketed.

That being the consensus, I'd go for an R31/32 as a replacement if you can physically fit it in.

marcus_registradus · #20 Post by **marcus_registradus** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 7:49 pm

Hello again, I've just been looking at the hmm's for R31 + R32s it looks like an R31 mobo should fit in an R30 no problems, but i'm not so sure about the R32. It looks like I would need a new bottom cover and the connection for the LCD seems a bit different as well. Anyone got any experience with this? Also, is there any difference between a celeron and a pentium III mobo? ie can I put a pIII onto a mobo that previously had a celeron installed? Thanks!

i opened my r30 and now its dead

i opened my r30 and now its dead

tried

nope

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