T23 - PC Doctor test fails on thermal sensor

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bobgarty · #1 Post by **bobgarty** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 8:37 am

HI - first post ...

Got a T23 that has been playing up, just run PC Doctor and it fails on the thermal sensor test. Any Advice on fixing this?

Thanks

bobgarty · #2 Post by **bobgarty** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 11:19 am

Ok, answered my own question - swapped the fan unit over with one from a scrap t23 and sensor now tests ok.
New problem is that now it hangs starting w2k pro .....

Website · #3 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 11:37 am

See if there is a Ethernet card installed in the bottom...if so, it might be bad...try removing it and see if it will install.

bobgarty · #4 Post by **bobgarty** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:08 am

Hi - ok thermal sensor is again showing as failed on PC Doctor.
Laptop boots fine into DOS, but will not consistantly boot into W2k Pro or XP Pro.
Majority of attempts it hangs on the Splash screen with the "starting up" bar about 2 thirds the way accross, sometimes will continue to boot if presure is applied to the keyboard around the W/A/S/D/X keys. Occasionally it will just boot up.
I have had it apart and reseated everything (cpu/memory cables etc), I have inspected the inductors and there is no obvious sign they are loose (no pulsing fan either), I have swapped out memory and processor with another T23 liberally applying thermal paste.
Tried removing nic and modem without any change to symptoms.
I have run recursive testes on memeory system board and cpu - no errors - ANY suggestions gratefully received

NB. Just tried to run set up from w2k pro cd and it also hangs "Starting Windows 2000"

#5 Post by **rkawakami** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:21 am

Try pulling the MiniPCI modem card. I know that sometimes it can cause a problem halfway through when trying to install Windows, but I'm not sure that it would cause it not to load.

I'm assuming you have run the fan diagnostic in PC Doctor as well?

If the modem is not the problem and the fan passes, then I'd say pull ALL of the possible "extras" out of the system (ethernet, Ultrabay, PCMCIA, one stick of memory if you have two) and start from there.

edit: I see you've updated your post to include the modem... Okay, then maybe as a last resort, try running the hard disk drive diagnostic in PC Doctor and see if the drive has problems slowing down during the "Linear Verify" portion of the test.

bobgarty · #6 Post by **bobgarty** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:36 am

thanks ray - I will try your suggestions.
I have tried booting it from a known good hard drive from another T23 and that does the same.

It has just booted 5 times in a row after applying pressure to the left shift key when it had hung on the splash screen at first attempt , tho 1st successful boot resulted in no keyboard or mouse functionality.
Would this suggest a loose component on the system board? - it is kind of the area the inductors are in.

#7 Post by **rkawakami** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:04 am

All of the problems I've seen associated with said inductors are evidenced by a system that will not power up at all. Or marginally (the fan problem you mentioned earlier).

I do have a T23 that sometimes will not pass POST (doesn't even get to the Windows startup screen) unless the front left corner is "torqued" by putting my fingers underneath the system and my thumb on top and forcing UP with the fingers. In other words, trying to push the left front corner of the laptop down. Once passed POST, I can let go and the system seems to run normally after that point. I am attributing this problem to a power-on check, which once convinced everything is okay, the system sequences all of the power systems up.

I don't have any particular place where I can tell you where to look on the motherboard. You can try looking for parts similar to the ones in this post:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 022#250022

From your descriptions it does sound like a loose part on the motherboard. Since schematics are not available, it will be a hit-and-miss type of problem to track down.

(edit: This just occured to me right when I hit the "submit" button... When you boot into DOS, are you using the hard drive or a floppy? If you getting into DOS without any problems at all, then I would suspect the disk drive interface system, which is close to where you are pushing on the keyboard.)

bobgarty · #8 Post by **bobgarty** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 4:29 am

Thanks for the suggestions Roy.
Tried them all with no luck. I'm not competant enough to try to diagnose the systemboard at component level, but have managed to source a 2nd user board, with 3 month gaurentee, for a very reasonable price (actually cheaper than taking a chance buying a "spare/repair" bottom end from ebay!).

dogma420 · #9 Post by **dogma420** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 4:43 pm

Thermal sensor does not have anything to do with the fan...it could have something to do with a failed fan; however, in my experience, a failed thermal sensor means the thermal sensor has failed--motherboard thermal sensor is dead more than likely, and from a technical standpoint, the system board should be replaced.

bobgarty · #10 Post by **bobgarty** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:28 am

New Systemboard fitted and running sweet as a nut now. with the disk out of my other t23. Just got to track down an OEM w2k pro cd now so I can load an OS on this ones disk as I only have that COA available.

phool@round · #11 Post by **phool@round** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 3:39 pm

I won't go into a lot of detail but there isn't a thermal sensor per se on the board. The Intel processor uses an algorithm to determine it's thermal state, that information is sent through a pin. 100C is a PIII M's ceiling which is very high. Anyways I'll almost bet that a component on your now old board has a weak solder joint which corrupts the data that an IC interpolates into human readable. In other words an IC (not likely) or power conditioning component (very likely) has a weak solder connection. I've repaired many a T23's system board (it's a well paying hobby) and more times than not the fault is usually rattling around in the case....... when it's not as evident I use the weight of a dental pick to ever so gently test the connection. I can't express how many times I've found I could gracefully lift components. It's a very common problem that too few know about. So if you still have your old board look at it closely. You might still have a good board to sell once resoldered. (If you sell it on Ebay you'll be rich! They go for way too much.) 25W or less iron should do the trick.

By the way the T23 is my favorite...... one of my pride and joys is a 2647-4U2, it had a case of the "no video at all syndrom and also would not charge the battery". Two very seperate issues that I repaired and I'm not even an electronics technician, I'm a unix admin for IBM's competition! If you still have your old board, take a serious look at it......if nothing else this is good trivial (or not) information.

bobgarty · #12 Post by **bobgarty** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 5:32 pm

Thanks for the info - I still have the board and will have another look over it - it is currently installed in a spare t23 chassis and is still doing wierd things like only completeing w2k pro boot up if i press hard on the area around the a/k/capslock/shift keys which smacks of a loose component to me

phool@round · #13 Post by **phool@round** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 2:21 pm

The spot you are pressing is right above the pcmcia carriage, the top most rail, hmm. Ever have problems with pcmcia cards? It would be rare. The top rail if it's pressed down would also push right towards the middle of the mainboard. I'd check the large components right in the middle of the board. One has a blue top the other is slate black. Give them a poke.

bobgarty · #14 Post by **bobgarty** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 7:20 am

Thanks, I'll give it a go

T23 - PC Doctor test fails on thermal sensor

T23 - PC Doctor test fails on thermal sensor

Spoke too soon

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