Can anyone save a dying ThinkPad T30?

[Ohmu666]

Hello all,

I got a T30 secondhand for about 20 bucks - replaced the cracked screen and the hard disk drive, and I had a most excellent machine for 2 years.

Now I have gone and stuck nine volts in the mic-in, and things just aren't the same any more... (I fed the wrong signal off my guitar - the amped signal not the raw one).

The symptom is everything would go chuga chuga and then freeze entirely. Including the mouse pointer. This would happen within minutes of me powering up. windows loaded up correctly most times (but not every time), but I only got a few seconds before it died. And I noticed it was overheating massively.

Booting it into safe mode worked. no heat, no crash.

I ran PC Doctor diagnostics

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 56222.html

Two tests failed (in Diagnostics -> Other Devices (8)):
1. Digital Signature Chip Test failed
2. AC97 CODEC Test -> Sometimes passed, sometimes failed

Someone suggested disabling the audio drivers, as they may be getting caught in an infinite loop because of broken hardware. I've done that, and got about 45 minutes of no problems. That is just watching the CPU graph in task manager. I tried running Quake and it started glitching very quickly, so I quit out and went back to watching the graph.

It would remain on zero but spike to 30-50% a couple of times a minute, just for a second or less.

But suddenly it is gone all over the place, heading towards a solid 100%. Like one of those of quake machines recording an earthquake. And I lose control of the pointer for big chunks of time. And it is heating up. I go to 'processes' in task manager, and 'System idle process' is usually at 95% or above. It just doesn't tally with the fact that the graph is going everywhere. (though I wasn't showing all processes from all users... I'll try that when it cools down)

My feeling is it is a heating issue, and it only comes on once the processor has got too hot.

I would love to get it working again. Have grown very fond of it...

Can anyone help? What sort of work is involved in fixing it? Any chance of sorting it out with a point tip soldering iron and a sillyscope?

well I'd love to hear from ya...

Sam

[RealBlackStuff]

Welcome to the forum.
From your description, various functions of the motherboard have been damaged.
The easiest (and probably only) solution will be to replace the motherboard. Reckon between US$70.- to $125.-

To find the correct replacement board (there are 4 varieties), we need to know the exact TYPE number from the bottom of your laptop.
Looks like TYPE 2366-81U.

You can download the Hardware Maintenance Manual here.

[Ohmu666]

That's not too bad if I can find for that price.
Close... it's a 2366 R7G

Thanks for the quick reply!

Sam

[RealBlackStuff]

Officially you would need a System Board Assembly 2 with security chip, P/N: 91P7212 or 26P8423
If you are not using the security chip functions, you could also use: P/N 91P7211 or 26P8422
If you get one of these, and you DO need the sec-chip, you could transfer the sec-chip from your old board onto this board.

When you swap boards, make sure to apply fresh thermal paste between CPU and cooler.

[Ohmu666]

I sent my laptop in for testing; apparently the south bridge is blown on the motherboard.

Considering that even if they fix this by replacing the chip(s), I still have one wonky USB Port (leaving only one good one), and only one out of the two memory slots is functioning.

Really time to get a new motherboard!

I'm wondering - is it possible to get a later motherboard (hopefully supporting USB2) and fit it into the same chassis? (I would willingly knock a hole in the side for a USB Port - it is so stupid to have them round the back)

Might be better to get a new motherboard and chassis, ... Feels almost like replacing the whole computer tho. Is there any theoretical problem with this (apart from my bank balance)?

Sam

[Harryc]

It would be easier from a repair difficulty perspective "to get a new motherboard and chassis" and replace the entire assembly. The only way you're going to get USB 2.0 in a T30 is with a USB 2.0 PCMCIA card.

[Ohmu666]

I'm just wondering if any later motherboards have a compatible footprint, so that they would sit inside a T30 chassis. I'm guessing the sockets wouldn't line up, so I would have to knock a few holes in it. Heck I am going to have to get a new chassis as well aren't I!

I got a PCMCIA USB2 card before - the only problem was that it required one of my two USB ports to power it, so I was gaining two ports and losing one. Does it have to be like this? Can PCMCIA really not draw enough current itself?

I am up for hacking a home brew machine together, and not averse to soldering wires to pull the necessary 1/2A straight off the motherboard, and gluing the PCMCIA card in permanently.

Sam

[Harryc]

You are limited to a T30 systemboard with your current parts. There is no downward or upward model/parts compatibility at that level....drives, RAM, CPU ... yes, systemboard, no.

[madkat]

the pcmcia usb 2.0 cards usually provide enough current - but not the full 500mA USB spec... in several months only once i've used the power connection to the native usb
and btw - there are 4-ports pcmcia-usb's as well

for the motherboard - you cannot fit anything IBM-ish in it... maybe with hard work a T23 mobo... but it's not worth it... its a downgrade, and not even the ram is the same...
get a parts machine with a good mobo - or a mainboard separately - off ebay