Hardware diagnostics and my smashed T42

[frgtn]

Guess i'll start with a full story. So there was me walking on an ice-covered sidewalk with my T42 in a neoprene sleeve inside my messenger bag. You can gess what happened next (note glass-like ice on the sidewalk). So managed to land straight on the bag (ouch). That's how my T42 now has a cracked lcd panel and a slightly bent (!!) hard drive which barely works (almost totally doesn't work, to be more precise). And also a slight crack on the side of the lid cover near the auxilary antenna.

Now i want to make sure everything else is working before trying to replace the broken stuff.

I've taken the machine apart and noticed no visual damage to other components. Ran a couple of diagnostic tests from Hiren's boot CD and none of them indicated any problems. Since i've got the hard drive bent a little (no, not dented, bent along the lenght of it's body), it must have been quite a punch for the laptop. Is there some way to fully test the system and make sure it's ok? What should i be looking for? What are the most common problems after such accidents for T42?

[richk]

Usually, if the motherboard turns on and the battery charging light comes on at the right time and you can run memory diagnostics, it will work. It is possible to crack the board or make crack a solder connection to break only the USB ports or the network connection or some single thing, but that is less likely. I would try to get it to read from a HD, read a CD, plug in a USB device, plug it into a network hub, etc. Since you bent the HD body, look at the cage, the CD frame and other structural pieces.

[frgtn]

Thanks for the reply, it's most helpful.

I've ran a few memory tests i had found on the cd and they all went fine, so i guess i'm pretty much ok. Even managed to boot windows hibernated image from the hdd. It worked and i was even able to launch several applications (and browse the net - network is ok). But it was veeery slow when it came to reading from the disk.

So i guess the base is fine and should work after replacing hdd and lcd.

Another question: is it possible to run the machine with lcd completely disconnected or will it fry the mainboard?

[richk]

I have not run T4x without an LCD, so I cannot guarantee anything, but my guess is that it would be OK

[Johan]

I am so sorry to hear about your accident - knowing from your posts here how much you like your T42 (and knowing how much I like my T42's and how immensely sorry I would have been if having an accident like yours). You absolutely have my sympathy. Better of course if you have had an accidental insurance, covering this?

Well, what I wanted to say is that earlier today, another user on this forum asked for advice about where to get a new 14.1" LCD (for a T41p, but the LCD for 14.1" T42's is the same as for T41p's). It might be of interest for you to have a quick look at the thread Pimp my T41p - see the post of Sat Jan 05, 2008 12:25 pm. It seems as you upgrade your XGA to SXGA+ for as low as $105 (+ shiping and taxes etc.). Maybe worth considering? XGA might be a bit cheaper, but why not upgrade now, while you have the chance? If you want to know what parts to replace, if upgrading from XGA to SXGA+ then I suggest you Search the T4x forum for: "upgrade xga sxga" (and remember to use "Search for all terms"). Many hits will come up then, explaining the necessary details. A few days back, there was a thread giving LCD-replacement instructions, see: T40 LCD Replacement Questions.

I wish you best of luck with finding a new LCD (from someone who wants to ship it to Lithuania). Consider posting a "WTB" (Want To Buy) advertisement in the Marketplace - chances are quite good that someone there can and will help a fellow ThinkPad-enthusiast in bad need.

Kind regards,

Johan

[frgtn]

Thanks for your informative reply, Johan.

Well i didn't expect it's possible to get my lcd replaced that cheap! I don't mind getting it either as a screen assembly or in separate parts.

All the cheap screen assemblies ship to US only, so that leaves me with a few options. I'm now considering getting this dead laptop:
IBM THINKPAD 2373 T41P 1.7GHZ 512MB 40GB Laptop Issues
This looks like a bargain to me, even considering $45 - i hope to get it for $150 total including taxes. One problem - the seller hasn't replied about the screen condition yet. Maybe somebody has already got an answer from him about the screen? Or maybe you have some insight about the machine? Any guesses how much is it really worth?

[richk]

I ship to Europe. Send me as private message if you're interested.