Thinpad 570 ultrabase problem

[mjs110]

Dear All,

Just bought an UltraBase (10L2149) from ebay. The seller swear it works - comes with an FDD and DVD player, but my Windows 2000 refuses to view either of these - it only shows the Eject docking station on the start menu. Any tips to check the hardware works and how to install it. I've tried logging out, rebooting, ejecting, etc. The power comes through the ultrabase, but no sound through the speakers, or USB support.

Matt

[monty cantsin]

Just bought an UltraBase (10L2149) from ebay. The seller swear it works - comes with an FDD and DVD player, but my Windows 2000 refuses to view either of these - it only shows the Eject docking station on the start menu. Any tips to check the hardware works and how to install it. I've tried logging out, rebooting, ejecting, etc. The power comes through the ultrabase, but no sound through the speakers, or USB support.

The UltraBase should work right out of the box with Windows 2000 or later, so no need to install any additional drivers.

1. Make sure that you have the right power brick for your system (16V, 3.36A). I once had a generic 15V power adapter and with it the computer itself worked, but nothing in the UltraBase.

2. Is the power plug connected to the Ultrabase (sounds so, but I want to make that clear once more)? It has to be! I've seen some early ultrabases on which the power plug could still be wrongly connected to the notebook itself when they were attached to it, like here:

http://www.quart.co.jp/iso_junk/570ultr ... e_main.jpg

My later UltraBases all have a kind of flap there that prevents the power plug to be connected to the notebook itself when it is docked, like here:

http://members.aol.com/illtww/IBM_ULTRABASE.JPG

3. Remove the FDD and DVD and plug them in again to ensure they're properly seated. Enter the BIOS setup and adjust the boot order so that floppy and optical drive are accessed before the HDD. Now put a bootable floppy in your disk drive and restart. Does the floppy boot? Put a bootable CD/DVD in your optical drive and restart. Press the ESC key at the IBM logo. Does the optical drive list after the hard drive on the POST screen? Does the CD/DVD boot after the POST is completed?

[KBWimbush]

I'm having the same issue, except I'm using XP.

Mine worked fine then when I started having other computer issues it stopped functioning. It's getting power through the docking station, but no sound, cd, floppy, anything. I can't even get the cd opened (there's a cd in the dumb thing I need, too!)

I'll be watching to see if you fix yours, post if you find anything out!

Dear All,

Just bought an UltraBase (10L2149) from ebay. The seller swear it works - comes with an FDD and DVD player, but my Windows 2000 refuses to view either of these - it only shows the Eject docking station on the start menu. Any tips to check the hardware works and how to install it. I've tried logging out, rebooting, ejecting, etc. The power comes through the ultrabase, but no sound through the speakers, or USB support.

Matt

[mjs110]

Thanks for the advice - and will post if I find an answer (found lots of people with the same prob. but no solution on google!)

3. Remove the FDD and DVD and plug them in again to ensure they're properly seated. Enter the BIOS setup and adjust the boot order so that floppy and optical drive are accessed before the HDD. Now put a bootable floppy in your disk drive and restart. Does the floppy boot? Put a bootable CD/DVD in your optical drive and restart. Press the ESC key at the IBM logo. Does the optical drive list after the hard drive on the POST screen? Does the CD/DVD boot after the POST is completed?

Tried all the above, plus the reboot. No response from anything - and can't insert a CD, because there is no power there. I wonder if a lack of power is the problem? Something fused inside?

Also, my normal external FDD refuses to operate when the docking station is attached.

Any further advice gratefully received!

[monty cantsin]

Mine worked fine then when I started having other computer issues it stopped functioning.

Could you please be a bit more specific? You're making me curious.

I can't even get the cd opened (there's a cd in the dumb thing I need, too!)

The drive should have a very small emergency eject hole in the black front plate. Get yourself a paper-clip, bend it open and push one end into this hole:

http://support.ap.dell.com/docs/storage ... duse02.jpg

Tada, the tray opens.

[monty cantsin]

found lots of people with the same prob. but no solution on google

It's totally new to me that problems with the UltraBase are that common as you indicate. Could you reference some sources for me, I'd like to take a look at them.

I wonder if a lack of power is the problem? Something fused inside?

Could be possible. Do you trust the previous owner, who said everything worked fine for him when he sent you the package? Perhaps some connectors/cables have loosened during transport? You could try to open the UltraBase and venture a glance at the internals, but I can't help you with that, I haven't opened a single one myself yet, and there are no service manuals for them.

Any further advice gratefully received!

Well, I guess you've tried that already... any peculiarities you noticed when inspecting the connectors on the UltraBase and/or computer side? Any pins that look slightly flexed or corroded etc.?

[mjs110]

I may have exaggerated a little, but there are other examples out there (esp. via Google groups):

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=think ... net&rnum=7

It's totally new to me that problems with the UltraBase are that common as you indicate. Could you reference some sources for me, I'd like to take a look at them.

I've bought from the guy before, and it's been okay - and he has a great rating. I suspect that it was sold working. I've taken it apart, and nothing looks burnt out or loose. The connectors also look fine on the Thinkpad 570 and the UltraBase. Win2k knows there's something there, and the eject button on the base works. Nothing else does, though.

I would have thought it's Windows problem, expcept nothing shows up in the BIOS. Perhaps something is fried inside.

Annoying- esp. as i planned to use the DVD to run a ghosted copy of a HDD...

[monty cantsin]

I may have exaggerated a little, but there are other examples out there (esp. via Google groups):

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=think ... net&rnum=7

Ah, I see. The flexing that this poster describes isn't really a problem, though, but totally normal. On some ultrabases the middle connector fits more easily than on others, but ordinarily you have to press down the computer a bit in the middle to connect it tightly. Look at the small installation sketch on the top of your ultrabase,

http://members.aol.com/illtww/IBM_ULTRABASE.JPG

the hand (on some models there only seems to be an arrow) that is pushing down the back side of the computer onto the base rests in the middle of the notebook, lined up with the connector on the down side. Don't push it down just on the edges... the clicking sounds indicating the the computer is locked doesn't necessarily guarantee you that it's also firmly connected.

[mjs110]

Thanks for the image. I think it is connected okay.

Here's another couple of examples:

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&l ... 26tab%3Dwg


http://groups.google.com/groups?q=ultra ... net&rnum=2

Slightly different problem:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&l ... G%3DSearch

Odd ultrabase behaviour:

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&l ... 26tab%3Dwg

[mjs110]

Dear All:

Thanks for the replies. Tried another ultrabase (£4.99 from ebay!), and this time it worked fine - with the old DVD and FDD components. I guess something inside the first ultrabase had shorted. So, it looks as though if nothing is picked up in bios, then the unit has a serious hardware fault.

Best wishes,

Matt