T42p Will Not Boot-Help

[ttan98]

Hi,

I hope some one here will give some idea how to fix my T42p. Let me explain why it does not boot anymore.

It started with my T42p's CPU fan heatsink died on me. I then bought a new fan heat sink(actual replacement). After installation I rebooted and it worked very well with the CPU temp seldom exceeding 68deg Cent.Then I powered it down. I then replaced the screws on the laptop chassis. I could have replaced 1-2 screws incorrectly, I then rebooted and it could not, it did not even go to the bios and never being able to get access to the hard disk stage. It got to the IBM logo displayed and then the system hung. I changed the CPU(one with lower spped version) The same thing happened. I am running out of ideas, can anyone help?

Thanks for any input/suggestions on how to fix this problem, BTW, this unit has a new win. 7 professional installed and it ran faultlessly before my fan heatsink died.

[poshgeordie]

What happens when it hangs? Do you get an error message, any beeps, or something else?

Note that the laptop can sit on the Welcome screen for a long time.

What happens when you press F1 - does it come up with an entering bios message?

What happens when you press F12 - does it give the boot devices message?

If neither of these works, I'd suggest removing the screws you put in and check if it now works.

This document shows what screws go where for when you reassemble.

Having removed those screws, if it still isn't working check the following:

1. Make sure the fan is spinning - on power up it should run briefly - stupid question but you did actually plug it into its connector on the motherboard?

2. Make sure the fan is seated properly - if not the CPU temperature rises quickly and could shut the laptop down.

3. Make sure the CPU is properly seated.

4. Related to 2. and for later - use a very thin layer of new heatsink compound on the metal top of the CPU chip - don't try to use the existing old stuff.

5. Check RAM modules are correctly seated. If you've got two fitted, remove one and try it, then the other (replace the first one) and try again.

6. Remove the HDD and CD drive and see if it runs.

7. Remove the wi-fi card - centre front of the motherboard under the trackpad, and the bluetooth modem module - top left hand corner of motherboard just below the display connector.

Let us know the results of that.

[ttan98]

Many thanks for taking the time to explain in detail.

I will try and report back.

[ttan98]

I just learned when the system hanged it did not mean the the system was faulty. It just means that the I/O ports are not properly installed correctly.

I managed to get it working again by ensuring all the I/O ports were properly installed. On powering up the system hanged and I hit F1 button, it went into the BIOS. After I exited from the Bios I was able to boot up the system.

Many thanks to poshgeordie....

This forum is the most friendly and resourceful forum I come across. I had a few queries over the last few years and every time I raised them here they were resolved here. Again cheers to those visiting here helping people like me.

In fact I am typing this message from the suspected faulty T42p which is no longer faulty.