T23, four beeps at at startup?

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skou · #1 Post by **skou** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:28 am

Anyone know what would cause 4 beeps at startup? Happens right after you push the power button.

steve

phool@round · #2 Post by **phool@round** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:14 am

System board. What happens after the beeps? Does it boot up into the OS?

skou · #3 Post by **skou** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:22 am

What happens after, nothing. It just sits there, with the CPU fan running.

It will give the correct 1-3-3-1 beep code, if the memory stick is missing.

I'm getting the same code on 2 different boards.

steve

phool@round · #4 Post by **phool@round** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 3:19 am

Have you removed the Mini-PCI and CDC's, checked the inductance coils? Check all of the coils.

skou · #5 Post by **skou** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:33 pm

Both these boards Igot off of Ebay, as non-working T23 bases. I was banking on popped-off inductors. The second one had a popped-off coil, and I soldered it back on.

The first one had a burned component, and both coils were on tight. I already had a board with a missing coil, so I removed the right one, and soldered it on.

Both of them do a single set of 4 beeps, then continue to spin the fan, but nothing on the screen, and no LED action.

I've tried in a docking station hooked upto mydesktop monitor, hooked up to a T23 LCD screen, and using an IBM AC adapter, with the LCD screen. I've tried with the bare minimum of components, and with everything installed, in every way possible. The only different reading I get, is with no memory, I get standard (1-3-3-1) no memory beeps.

Since I've only got one stick of memory, (PC133, 256MB) and no running T23 to check that stick in, I wonder if this could be a memory issue?

steve

phool@round · #6 Post by **phool@round** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:59 pm

skou wrote:......I wonder if this could be a memory issue?

Took the words right out of my mouth you did...... it's the only thing both have in common...... other than needing repairs.....lol.

Did you buy these systems from an individual, recycler, or off lease buyer/bulk lot buyer?

skou · #7 Post by **skou** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:03 am

I've been fixing T2* lappies for a couple years now, and have never heard the 4 beeps before.

You're right, the memory stick is the only common thing.

No, these didn't come together. got one from an Ebay auction, and the other one was kicking around for a few years, here. (Most likely came from Ebay, too.)

steve

phool@round · #8 Post by **phool@round** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:17 am

Check the security chip, ATMEL 24RF08 for anything looking like a hack soldering job or check if they are even there!

Robbyrobot · #9 Post by **Robbyrobot** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 2:40 am

The computer won't do anything if the 24RF08 is missing - no beeps, no LEDs. I have a "non-functional" T2x board like this and for a while couldn't figure out why it gave no sign of life - then I inspected it in detail and found the chip missing

phool@round · #10 Post by **phool@round** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 2:55 am

Yep, your right if it's missing. I've received the beeps from a bad leg on that chip, someone else created that and you can imagin what they where attempting......

Two sales on 256M PC133 sticks going on in the Marketplace: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=54826

and: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=56993

#11 Post by **rkawakami** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 3:38 am

My experience was a little bit different... the system (a T23, naturally

) powered up to a 0187 error, displayed the splash screen and was able to access the BIOS. However, everything was very s...l...o...w... Pushing the down arrow key to move to the next line took about 3 seconds to register. Problem was traced back to a huge mess of solder shorting out almost all of the leads on the 'RF08. Quick application of solder wick and a system which works good as new... Well.. I also had to re-assemble the screen since the eBay seller pulled the nice SXGA+ LCD out of the lid and was selling it separately (I won both

). The patient? The LG co-branded system I picked up two months ago.

edit: And getting slightly back OT... I don't believe that I've ever received a 4 beep code before on any T23. I'll have to remember this thread and report back here if I do.

skou · #12 Post by **skou** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 5:17 pm

phool@round wrote:Yep, your right if it's missing. I've received the beeps from a bad leg on that chip, someone else created that and you can imagin what they where attempting......

Two sales on 256M PC133 sticks going on in the Marketplace: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=54826

and: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=56993

Well, since I am going to be needing memory, I'm getting the 3 sticks from Ron.

We'll see if this is the problem. If it is, I'll have 2 running T23s.

steve

phool@round · #13 Post by **phool@round** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:45 pm

Steve Good for you, I'm sure it made Ron's day...... and if nothing else you'll have 3 sticks of known good quality..... sure wish I had those boards in front of me, itching for a challenge.

Ray/Steve I wondered how that system came out for you. And to think, we missed an X22 by him.....lol. I know that the chip is a vital preboot object, if a connection (not sure which one, been awhile) is sliced, lifted or "huge mess'd" it can fault the check routine giving the four long beeps = system board failure. It's a long shot in Steve's case but it's hard to diagnose sight unseen what the exact problem is. The one with the burned chip makes me wonder upstream and downstream. The other sounds to be pretty straightforward but evidently not. I was also going to mention processor swaps........

Doug

phool@round · #14 Post by **phool@round** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:50 pm

One other thing, the security chip is opaque in the T23's and X22 ->X24's. Once you get to the T4X's and R5X's it can be used to verify the system hasn't been tampered with and to authenticate you into your machine/OS..... nice features.

skou · #15 Post by **skou** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:03 pm

skou wrote:Anyone know what would cause 4 beeps at startup? Happens right after you push the power button.

steve

Found the answer!!

Thanks to Ron, and the new memory, I've got 2 working T23s

It was a bad stick of memory!!!!

steve

phool@round · #16 Post by **phool@round** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:19 pm

Yes, give many thanks to Ron, quality all the way.......

Very odd with four beeps but very happy your in the T23 club now!

skou · #17 Post by **skou** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:37 am

phool@round wrote:Yes, give many thanks to Ron, quality all the way.......

Very odd with four beeps but very happy your in the T23 club now!

Maybe, I should revise.

Ron was one of the many people who helped me. The many members here, helped just as much!

THANKS, ALL!

steve

baertracks · #18 Post by **baertracks** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:51 am

skou wrote:Anyone know what would cause 4 beeps at startup? Happens right after you push the power button.
steve

Found the answer!!
Thanks to Ron, and the new memory, I've got 2 working T23s
It was a bad stick of memory!!!!
steve

Steve and Ron;
THANK YOU.
That solved the problem that I was having!
A bad "inside" memory chip.
I'm sure glad in my case it wasn't something more complicated.
FRANK
Baertracks

hipyvn · #19 Post by **hipyvn** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 8:49 pm

the same with T43 (only 4 beeps when i press power button) help me! help me !!!!
thanks

Blue Thunder · #20 Post by **Blue Thunder** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 5:34 am

I had the exact same problem, except with a T60p.

The screen would remain blank and the computer would beep 4 times (randomly it would beep like... 7 times) and remain on. Both patterns of beeps were not listed in the hardware maintainence manual. This thread led me to believe it was the RAM that was causing the problem. Removing the RAM would give the correct 1-3-3-1 beep pattern, but reseating it didn't help.

So I took the plunge, replaced the RAM module and thankfully it fixed the issue. The computer booted up properly first time. Sooo glad it wasn't something major like the system board or video chip.

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