IBM WorkPad z50

[ThinkPad560X]

I own a IBM WorkPad z50 that I got not too long ago and When ever I plug the AC Adapter in I see a small second of green light come on "The light where it shows that your battery is charging" I press the power button and it doesn't come on. I even added new rechargable AAA batteries in it too. I downloaded the Manual off IBM and looked at it. Now it is missing the basic RAM but it has a RAM type looking card in it called a "ROM card" Is that RAM too or something else and it would need RAM for it to power on.

My z50 looks brand new, no scratches or damage to it at all, even the red trackpoint looks new.

And the AC Adapter im using is from my ThinkPads 1996-2005 type.

[virge]

And the AC Adapter im using is from my ThinkPads 1996-2005 type.

Check the label on the bottom of the Z50 for the required input voltage. Make sure the adapter is outputting the same. I used to have a Z50, but its been too long. Can't recall if it used a special AC adapter or not....

[ThinkPad560X]

It says 19V on the bottom of the WorkPad and the IBM AC Adapter says 16V.
I wonder why the WorkPad requires more power than the normal ThinkPad. I don't think it has a fan or a HDD, does it even have a processor?

I don't want to take it apart as its never been apart and it may just be the low power from the AC Adapter.

[Bookworm]

> I own a IBM WorkPad z50 that I got not too long ago and When ever I plug the AC Adapter
> in I see a small second of green light come on "The light where it shows that your battery is
> charging" I press the power button and it doesn't come on.

The connector is also a different size than many ThinkPads. It's probably barely making contact, only when you push it in.

Also check the battery lock switch on the back. It looks like the power switch on other ThinkPads, but it's on the back. It must be in the "locked" position even if you don't have a battery for the Z50 to turn on. The power button is a small round thing near one of the hinges, like on the 240.

> Now it is missing the basic RAM

No it's not. It has 16Mb soldered to the motherboard. There is a legend that IBM made a proprietary DDR(?) SODIMM, but I've never seen one for sale anywhere.

> but it has a RAM type looking card in it called a "ROM card" Is that RAM too or something
> else

ROM (Read Only Memory) is like RAM but permanent. The operating system (Windows CE 2.11 Handheld PC Professional) and Microsoft Pocket Office 3.0 are stored here.

> I wonder why the WorkPad requires more power than the normal ThinkPad.

Maybe 19V transformers were on sale the day they designed it?

> I don't think it has a fan

No.

> or a HDD,

No, it normally keeps all data in RAM. That's why it has those AAA batteries - to back up the RAM. You can add a compact flash or a "Microdrive", a hard drive that plugs into a CF slot, and looks like a CF. A microdrive is probably better for the Z50 because, beleive it or not, it's faster than a Cf, and there may still be reliability problems with some CF cards. The upper limit is 8 gig, but you should be able to add another one in the PCMCIA slot with an adapter. IBM made an adapter for their microdrives, and Toshiba made a 5 gig PCMCIA hard drive.

I'm saving my PC card slot for a Wifi card. Remember the Z50 will only work with 16 bit cards. The difference is easy to spot: a 32 bit card has a copper strip beside the connector. BTW, finding a 16 bit card doesn't mean you'll find drivers for it. This forum

http://www.hpcfactor.com/forums/category-view.asp

will help. There is even a hardware compatibility list and driver downloads.

> does it even have a processor?

I am trying very hard to be polite and not laugh at that one. Everything has a processor, probably including your watch, phone, and microwave oven. The Z50 uses a 141Mhz NEC MIPS VR4121. It is not intel compatible.

[ThinkPad560X]

I bought a IBM 19V AC Adapter and I don't get any power on. Is there a loose connection? The seller that I bought it from said it powered on before.

[Raceboy]

Is your 19v adapter definitely for Z50? I suspect it is for newer T60x seires, hence it doesn't power it. It has three contacts (outer ring, inner ring and pin), outer ring is negative, inner ring is positive and centerpin is for feedback. On usual adapter, center pin is positive.

[ThinkPad560X]

No it has the old Blue IBM logo on it. FRU number 02K6900 and its more box shape than the todays ThinkPad AC Adapters.