Help Needed - T43 Problems - Motherboard? GPU?(PIC WARNING)

[sparta.rising]

I'm afraid my T43 is dieing. It started about a week ago and the problem is that it hasn't been starting. Sometimes it works, but often it won't start and requires some tinkering with that eventually starts it. When it won't start, one of two things happens.

1. I hit the power button and the fan spins up and the circle with the Z (or N?) in it lights up, but the LCD doesn't power on, and I can't hear the boot process.

2. Nothing happens.

The second symptom is usually remedied by reseating the RAM, but I'm not throwing it around, so it shouldn't be coming loose. The first problem, I'm not sure what I'm doing that's fixing it. I try reseating the memory, removing the batteries, and repeatedly trying to power it up. Strangely, it usually works.

However, when on, after awhile (seems random, I've had it on all day or during startup) the screen "fades" out to vertical lines. I've attached a picture, I'm sorry its bad, but my camera is broken too and this is from my cellphone. According to TP Fan Controller, the temperature is fine (under 60oC).

At first I thought the problem was one of the memory slots, but now I'm thinking its the GPU. Otherwise it seems like I've got a fried motherboard. Unfortunately, my warranty ran out a few months ago.

Any help? Suggestions?

System specs:
Thinkpad T43 2686-NAU
Pentium M 2.0GHz CPU
ATI X300 64MB GPU
2.0GB RAM
14.1 SXGA+ LCD
160GB 5400RPM HDD (gives the 2010 error, but can live with that)
Running Vista Buisness

[Johan]

First, please recall the following:

<snip>
5. IF you must add a photograph to your post, PLEASE limit the size to 50k or less and place a warning in the subject line.
<snip>

... as many members are still using slow modem/dial-up connections.

As to your problem, have a look in the thread T42p won't come out of standby or won't boot after shutdown and see the post of Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:16 am. I suggest you try the two first tips.

Question: How does the image look on an external monitor when the LCD is garbled as shown??

Johan

[Harryc]

Added PIC warning to the OPs subject line. Please read the forum rules. Thank-you.

It looks to me like you have a bad GPU. Replace the systemboard or find a sticky thread here about reflowing the BGA under the GPU.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=57021

[sparta.rising]

Sorry guys, I remembered the "Link to images over 50k" but I forgot the "56k warning for images over 50k"

Johan,
I wish I could try PCDoctor and Memtest, but right now I can't get the computer to start!

Harryc,
The symptoms don't sound like a loose solder joint because when its working, it doesn't randomly shut off, it either works, or it gives that vertical line screen. Maybe I haven't read enough about the loose solder joint, but when that happens, does it just shot off, or does it white out like mine (heh this reminds me of the book Snowcrash).

[Harryc]

Well, let me put it this way. I just got finished replacing a systemboard in an R50 for that exact same vertical lines/bars problem. It was intermittent. The systemboard fixed it. It was failing on both the internal and an external LCD, so you need to test with an external LCD before doing anything. It was definitely a GPU problem, whether or not it was loose is anyones guess.

[sparta.rising]

I agree its probably the GPU... I don't know if it was a fluke or not, but sometimes the only way I could get the machine to start up would be to hook it up to an external to get it to boot, but once it got to the login screen it'd switch back the main display and work fine.

I'd replace the system board, I just don't know where to get one other than eBay, which aren't cheap.

[Harryc]

What I am saying to do is leave it hooked to an external LCD and wait for it to fail with the vertical bars. If you see them on both the external and internal LCD's then it's probably a GPU problem. If you see something different then we need to look elsewhere. PM me for a reliable systemboard source.