Need help diagnosing: T42 not working after fan replacement.

[CF2K]

Hello everyone,

I am a new member here and I have a problem. This is my system info:

Thinkpad T42: 2378-FVU Windows XP SP3.

My fan recently died on me and I decided to replace it myself. I ordered all the parts, took everything apart, installed the new fan today, and put everything back together. However, when I turn my computer on now all I get is a black screen. The CPU and video card get hot and the new fan works fine, but nothing shows up on the screen. I'm pretty certain it is not a screen problem.

My main question is how do I go about diagnosing this problem? I'm guessing there might be something wrong with the HD or the connection to the HD but any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks everyone,

-CF

[Norway Pad]

Welcoem to the fourm, sad to hear that a problem brings you here. Hoping we can help you sort it out. It is most likely related to the operation you did.

From the top of my head, a couple of things comes to mind:

HD, you mean the hard disk drive, HDD? What activity do you see on the HDD activity lamp, and/or can you hear the HDD work? In a quiet room you can easily hear it, it is pretty busy reading the first minute after POST. If there was a problem with the HDD, it should still go through the IBM/POST screen and give a message that no OS is found.

Have you tried then tried the Fn+F7 keys repeatedly, or even connected an external monitor?

Has anything happened to the button that detects if the lid is closed, is it stuck down?

Last theory: I am not sure if your machine has the long fan, which also covers the GPU (Graphics chip) in addition to the CPU. The GPU is a weak spot on the T4Xs, and the old heatsink is usually very stuck. The use of excessive force when you remove the old heatsink from this chip can theoretically make it come partially loose and you will loose your graphics... Let's hope that's not the case.

[CF2K]

Thank you for your quick reply. In response to your questions:

Yes by HD, i mean hard drive. The HDD activity lamp does not come on when I turn the comp on, and I can't hear anything that sounds like the HDD.

I have tried Fn+F7 but that does nothing. I do not have an external monitor so I cannot try that.

The button that detects when the lid is closed is in the up position. Overall I do not think it is a video problem since it seems that I cannot load the OS at all and the comp acts as if there is no HDD plugged in.

Yes my computer had a long fan installed. I'm almost certain I did not loosen the GPU. However, when I was trying to remove the fan assembly from the GPU I had to clean off some very hard black substance that made the heatsink stick to the GPU. In that process I scratched the top of the GPU slightly. I'm not sure if this makes much difference.

Thank you again,

-CF

[Harryc]

Remove the keyboard, but leave it's cable connected. Put some downward pressure on top of the GPU heatsink with a thumb, and hit the power button. Any change?

[CF2K]

Remove the keyboard, but leave it's cable connected. Put some downward pressure on top of the GPU heatsink with a thumb, and hit the power button. Any change?

Thanks for the suggestion, but no change.

-CF