t42 intermittent boot problem

[Paul Unger]

I've read a few posts about boot problems, but mine seems different? It's very intermittent... If I plug in the adapter and get an immediate 'blip' from the power led followed by a ~4 second pause before the led comes on and stays on, I know it won't boot. I'll have to remove the battery and wait a few minutes before it will go. Sometimes, however, I can plug it in and the power led will come on after a ~6 second pause (with no immediate 'blip'). Then it will boot. If I put it to sleep (Fn + F4; not hibernate, Fn + F12) it will restart every time (though in sleep it never really powers down, does it... ). It runs like a top when it's going.

Anyway, I'm hoping for a different diagnosis than 'bad system board'. I've removed everything, and listened for the 1-3-3-1 beep sequence. I've done that. I get the beeps sometimes, sometimes not. In fact, once I didn't get the beeps and in frustration I really pushed the power cord into the jack and it worked. This inspired me to strip the thing down to the power jack (and if you've ever done that, you know how far I went!), but there didn't seem to be anything amiss with it...

The computer has been handled with 'kid gloves' for it's entire life (i.e., I don't hold it with one hand on a corner; always with two hands on either side or one hand in the middle [with the lid closed]). The battery is, admittedly, tired. This is one of my big questions--would a tired battery cause intermittent boot problems? Because it will NEVER boot from battery alone. Another question is the CMOS battery (if that's what it's called--the little Li-Ion cell inside)--I've never replaced it, but could it be causing these problems?

I'd appreciate any insight. Thanks,

Paul

[RealBlackStuff]

Those CMOS batteries have a life of ca. 5 years, they are not rechargeable.
It being a T42, that battery is probably well past its sell-by-date.... Replace it.
Next, bend the end of a paperclip (1/8" or less if you can) 90 degrees. Remove the main battery, then hold down the power button a few seconds to 'empty' any condensors.
With this little hook, try and 'lift up' the crescent shaped contact inside the DC bus, to get a better contact.
Do this a few times so it nicely stands up again.
See if that improves matters.

[poshgeordie]

With this little hook, try and 'lift up' the crescent shaped contact inside the DC bus, to get a better contact.
Do this a few times so it nicely stands up again.

Eh?! Do you mean the DC connector at the back of TP?

Over here you never see any buses and then three come at the same time - maybe I need to wait a bit longer...

[RealBlackStuff]

I didn't mean the autobus to Washington DC, LOL.
Yup, the connector is what we're talkin' about.