Blink of Death and After-Market Battery Connection Poll.

[matthewpoer]

Please, if you have a Blink of Death thinkpad, answer the poll. Members of the forum are trying hard to solve the case, and I think we all could use more information. Some members have suggested (including myself and obpsym) that the cause could be related to after-market batteries (i.e. super-cell batteries from eBay or BatteryRefill.com).

Also, please post how long you ran your notebook before experiencing Blink of Death, and/or how long it functioned on your after-market battery. If you are using an after-market battery, please post where you purchased it and what differenciates it from the IBM batteries (i.e. higher-capcity cells).

Feel free to blow this theory to bits and pieces with scientific fact, schmatics, experiments, etc. The point is to locate a cause, and if this definitely isn't it I'd reather not waste my time.

[matthewpoer]

I purchased my T21 a year ago from eBay and purchased a new battery from BatteryRefill.com about a month later. After a few months with the new battery, I began to experience Blink of Death. It was not until a month or so ago that I began to have BoD frequently and it became a real problem.

[nikki605]

07/18/2001 - Bought my new T21 from uBid.com.
08/10/2001 - Motherboard replaced under IBM warranty at the Memphis Repair Center (FDD problem).
05/26/2006 - Bought & installed replacement Li-Ion battery from AtBatt.com.
12/02/2006 - Experienced first BoD occurrence.
12/28/2006 - Sent T21 to laptoponcall.com for component level diagnosis & repair.
01/29/2007 - Received repaired laptop back. Diagnosis - "Found more than one bad power chips, 3 bad capacitors."
02/17/2007 - BoD problem came back.
02/20/2007 - Sent T21 back to laptoponcall.com for warranty repair.
03/19/2007 - Received laptop back after they were not able to duplicate the problem.
03/19/2007 - About 4 hours after getting it back, it failed with the BoD.
04/05/2007 - Bought a used motherboard on eBay from lady_fixalot.
04/15/2007 - Installed the used motherboard and a year later, have not had a BoD problem since (knock wood).

Here is the thread where I went into a lot more detail: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=34809

With the help and guidance of several of the seasoned members of this forum , I was able to replace the motherboard myself and get my TP working. Yet again, KNOCK WOOD, very hard - not that I'm superstitious or anything.

[doninwny]

Ok, my T23 only boots with the original battery, if I plug in the a/c when powered up, it immediately goes out. Battery in, shut down, a/c then plugged in, it charges the battery. Try powering on with a/c and battery, BoD. Unplug a/c, unplug battery, plug in battery, laptop powers up. Just a/c, hit power button, BoD. This all started when I tried upgrading RAM and forget to remove battery first, as I was putting ram in slot, got some smoke, pulled it our real quick, then the BoD symptoms started. RAM is recognized in one slot or the other when booted up with battery as stated above. Hope this helps solve the mystery, OR helps me solve mine.

[nikki605]

Can you tell which component "let its smoke out?" This doesn't sound like typical BoD symptoms.

[doninwny]

yes, it was right at the DIMM slot.

[nikki605]

It sounds to me like its time to replace the motherboard. If memory serves, I don't remember anyone else here with a BoD T2X that started in the way you describe.

It sounds to me like you simply shorted out something on the MB and burned up a component. Sorry

Maybe someone else here has another thought.

[RealBlackStuff]

@ doninwny
This post is about T20/T21/T22 only, NOT for T23s.
Your post only confuses the issue, unless you made a (T23) typo.

[venisk21]

Hi matthewpoer! I have a T20/21/22 with an original IBM battery and No Blink of Death,purchased at amazon a year ago..so far have'nt noticed any issues yet.



Regards,
Venisk21
Placement financier