T23 keeps shutting down

Message

wisgro · #1 Post by **wisgro** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 4:55 pm

I have a T23, 2647, JU3. using WinXP Pro. 2 weeks ago I got an error message, "Fan Configuration." when I powered on. The fan was making noise. I ordered a replacement fan, installed it and another lcd monitor. (The original monitor died a long time ago. I bought a replacement recently. Have been using a 19" lcd monitor.) Since the new parts installations the laptop shuts down by itself at random times. I installed speedfan. Speedfan monitors temperatures in real time and keeps the HD around 40C and the cpu around 50C. But the laptop still shuts down at random times. I ran PC Doc and speedfan diagnostics. Both report all OK. I updated drivers and flashed the BIOS this morning. After the BIOS flash the laptop shuts down as part of the flash process. I waited 10 minutes, powered on, the windows splash screen displayed and the laptop shut down. Ten minutes later the same thing happened. I waited an hour and it re-booted. I ran a spyware scan and the laptop shut down after about 20 minutes. I removed the keyboard, checked the 2 connections I made for the fan and monitor and they are in tight and correct. Except for the monitor I have never had a problem with this laptop which I've owned for a few years. Any advice greatly appreciated.

#2 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 5:29 pm

Did you apply thermal paste between CPU and fan, when you replaced the latter?
If not, you have an overheating CPU, which shuts down automatically to protect the hardware.

wisgro · #3 Post by **wisgro** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 6:15 pm

Thanks for responding. Yes I used thermal paste. I'm pretty sure I did it right. Not only am I a label/instruction reader but I have installed a few cpu's over the years. I use thermalcote thermal joint compound made by thermalloy inc. It has worked fine in the past. Now you have me thinking I should check it. The label says to apply a thin coat which is what I usually do.
Walt

RealBlackStuff wrote:Did you apply thermal paste between CPU and fan, when you replaced the latter?
If not, you have an overheating CPU, which shuts down automatically to protect the hardware.

#4 Post by **rkawakami** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 7:16 pm

I'm assuming that when you say that PC Doctor tests pass that you have run the Thermal Sensors diagnostic in the "Other Devices" menu. There are several thermal fuses on the T23 motherboard so the problem could be something other than the CPU getting too hot. I'd say if possible, disconnect the LCD ribbon cable from the motherboard and see if there's any difference. By the way, is it an identical LCD panel from another T23 and was the entire lid assembly replaced or just the LCD? What I'm getting at is is the inverter board the original one?

wisgro · #5 Post by **wisgro** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 9:00 pm

Thanks for responding. Yes I ran Other Devices. I ran every test I could with PC Doc and Speedfan and everything came up OK. I replaced the entire monitor. The replacement came complete with the case, lcd panel, cable and inverter board. I plan to check the thermal paste tomorrow. I looked at the old fan and it does look like a bit more paste than I put on the replacement fan/heat sink. It doesn't take much more to disconnect the monitor. (I tried replacing the back light on my original monitor. Worked slowly and gently, got it all together, screwed the inverter board back on and broke the new back light when I tightened the last screw. Decided to replace the whole unit.)

#6 Post by **rkawakami** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:44 pm

I'd like to think that everything has a logical explanation. Since your original setup worked fine with a broken LCD and I can't think of any reason why a properly spinning fan (and the temperatures you report on the CPU) would trigger the system off, I'm left with the new display as being the cause of the problem. My T23s typically reach the lower to mid 70's when working on SuperPI and have never shutdown. I think that I've seen low '80s when a program has locked up, like Adobe Acrobat/Firefox consuming near 100% CPU cycles and again, I've never had a T23 automatically turn off. I use MobileMeter to monitor the temps and no special software to control the fan.

How about this test: with no hard drive installed, boot up PC Doctor from floppy or CD, select the Other Devices menu, press the F2 key and change the "Set Pass Count" from 1 to 0 (infinite loop). Press the <escape> key to close the Test Options window and then start the Thermal Sensors test. Press the Fn+F3 combination to turn off the display and see how long the system remains on. You should be able to hear the fan spinning occasionally as the system should heat up a little bit while running this test. I'm assuming that by killing the display with the Fn+F3 that any problem with excessive current being drawn by the LCD and/or inverter will be eliminated. Naturally you could do the same thing by physically pulling out the connector from the motherboard but this doesn't require any disassembly. If you want, you can re-enable the display at any time by simply pressing the Fn key.

wisgro · #7 Post by **wisgro** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:58 am

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I added another dab of thermal paste to the cpu as you suggested and the cpu temperature was maintained at a steadu 30C for over an hour. The HD peaked at 45C and the fan worked fine. I shut the T23 down for the night. I suspect all is back to normal. Have a wonderful day, Walt

wisgro · #8 Post by **wisgro** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 8:01 am

Thank you for all of your help. I added another dab of thermal paste to the cpu last night and the temperature was maintained at a steady 30C for over an hour. The HD peaked at 45C and the fan worked fine. I shut the T23 down for the night. I suspect all is back to normal. Have a wonderful day, Walt

#9 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 8:03 am

Good show! Glad she's back on track.