R31 / R32 recommendadtion?

[jwege]

Hi all,

I know, they are pretty old, but for some simple tasks like Music Server they still do a good job ...

I have a number of old R31 and R32, all of them with different failures but consolidating could result in one or two working ones.

Any suggestion on which to try to consolidate the good items to make it work again? The R31 or the R32 model? Which one would be the better one in the end (and why)?

And, by the way: Is there any place where I could send the spare parts to (I live in Germany) to help other people in need for parts (I would not charge anything but would also want to avoid costs at my end).

Thanks & Cheers
jwka

[vanaya]

The better one to keep would be the R32, IHMO.

1) The CPU is not soldered to board, interchangable.
2) Cheaper and easier to find RAM. pc2100, pc2700 vs. pc133 for the R31.
3) Not 100% sure, but believe more R32 models were internal wireless than R31.

Other than the RAM, hdd cover, and the battery, much of the rest is the same.

[SMA]

R32 has a P4 CPU, R31 has a P3 CPU.

Instead of trying to fix a specific machine based on its specifications, I would take another approach.
I would try to start them all in turn, and make notes of the problems / symptoms.
Posting the symptoms on this forum might give you some valuable hints.
Then, based on the symptoms and the hints, pick the one that seems easiest to repair and start with that one.

If you want to do the consolidation, then I think it is a little early to talk about what to do with the left over parts,
but if you do not find anything better, then I would be happy to receive any parts left.

[jwege]

Hi all,

thanks for the suggestions.

@SMA: That's exactly what I did. there are 7 notebooks, 4 R31 and 3 R32, where one R32 is quite damaged.

Any of the notebooks has some errors, from no boot at all to problems with the screen. And many of them do have low ram also.

Now, I am a bit further meanwhile. Two R31 are recovered. One got a new LCD panel, one worked basically from start (I expect to see termical problems later, a burn in test is on it's way).

One R31 does not do anything, will be kept for the last check.

The R32, however are the most problematic. Seems there are some micro cracks or similar problems. Both seem to boot, but have then problems with the creen (and maybe more which I cannot see due to the screen problems. The LC panels are ok (cross checked /w R31).

One R32 sometimes switches itself off with no reason, sometimes instantly after pressing the power button, sometimes later. This one also has trouble with the screen. I already changed:
- screen
- inverter
- cable tree from PC to screen

Whenever I tick on anything of the notebook (fan, heatsinks, keyboard), some reactions are shown on the screen. Most times simply distortion. Sometimes I see a bit of a "correct screen", sometimes I do see an XP screen. However, IF i can see something on the screen, after some seconds, the screen seems to freeze showing the same picture all over where I am sure that the boot process went on and the screen content should have changed.

Funny enogh, the resolution is muchbetter than at the others and I get the ikmpression that this R32 is able to show 1440x1050 ( the content of 1024 x 768 is shown in a rectangular space within the screen). Also the Font is significantly smaller and more sharp than I am used from 1024x768 - not 100% sure though.

On the other R32, the screen simply stays dark and nothing can be seen. I will cross check with external monitor.

Is there any program that can be used for analysing on which status is reached (what items are recognized as ok , where does the system stop etc.) an that writes the results to file so I can analyze the HD content on another PC?

Keep you updated.

jwka

[jwege]

one additional question:

p4 over p3 - what improvements are there and what could I expect on a day by day work?

Thankx
jwka

[vanaya]

Ok, If you have notes on the machines then find out what they are. For example the on that has a better screen resolution maybe a sxga+. What are the model numbers 2658-xxx, you can reference which are which and if indeed that is an sxga+ panel. Do the model numbers on the bottom of the base match with what the bios show? I would also recommend running pc doctor and see what tests fail. You can d/l Pc Doctor from the lenovo website. When you disassemble them are you applying a fresh coat of thermal paste? Are you testing them with only the mb, no peripherals (optical drives, pci adapters, minipci cards)?

[SMA]

The R31 that does not do anything, might have the same problem as the one I have reported about.
A small capacitor missing (or being loose) on the motherboard.
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=60935
and a picture of it
http://www.dbhome.dk/sma/forum/r31_repair.jpg


The R32's might have the loose GPU problem. I tried searching for it on this forum, but did not find any actual cases where this had been
reported as being the case with an R32, but since it has an ATI chip, I believe it is a possibility.
Try putting presure on the ATI chip and see if that changes anything.
If you are unfamiliar with the loose GPU issue, then there is a lot of postings about it in the T4x section.


When wanting to use a program for diagnostics, several cases has to be considered.
1. On machines with a fault that prevents the cpu from starting to execute instructions, a program, designed to run on the machines own cpu will be of no use.
2. The first program to be executed by the cpu after power on is the self tests inside the BIOS. Errors will be reported with a message on the screen, if possible. Otherwise with a beep code.
3. If the BIOS tests passes, the OS will be loaded, and a diagnostics program can come into play. Windows has the capability to report (to a file) as each driver is loaded.
4. On machines that stops because the cpu halts or gets into executing meaningless instructions, the case will be as in 1 above.


It is difficult to put words on the difference between p4 and p3.