T61 won't power up after extended non-use

[JonathanGennick]

I have a T61 that is my spare PC. It's been sitting unused for a couple or three months. I pulled it out today, plugged it in, and the machine will not power up. I get a green, a/c light, but nothing at all happens when I push the power button.

I've tried holding the power button down for 30 seconds to a minute. Nothing.

I've tried with the battery in and out -- it makes no difference.

This machine did work a few months ago. Now I'm just dead in the water with it. Any suggestions?

[goraman]

The little yellow Bios battery died.

[Harryc]

I've tried holding the power button down for 30 seconds to a minute. Nothing.

There is a specific order to doing this, and it only works one way. Remove the battery and press the power button 10 times at 1 second intervals, then press and hold the power button for 30 seconds and then release it. Reinstall the battery then try to power up.

[goraman]

Harry what causes this it sounds like you know the fix. I'm a Think pad newbie.

[JonathanGennick]

There is a specific order to doing this, and it only works one way. Remove the battery and press the power button 10 times at 1 second intervals, then press and hold the power button for 30 seconds and then release it. Reinstall the battery then try to power up.

Yeah, I tried that bit of voodoo, except that I pushed the button 15 times. Nothing.

I'll try it again, but I'm not very optimistic.

[Harryc]

Harry what causes this it sounds like you know the fix. I'm a Think pad newbie.

The theory is that the button holding sequence drains some capacitors on the systemboard that are preventing power up due to their effect on power management circuitry. It has worked for me and others here many, many times, and has also failed as many times. It's just something to try.

[RecTech]

Have you tried reseating the memory - or trying different memory

[JonathanGennick]

@RacTech, I can check the memory. Frankly, I had given up trying to make the thing work, but checking the memory is a quick thing.

It's all so weird. That laptop worked for years. It worked earlier this spring. I let it sit on the shelf for a few months, and now it's toast. Use it or lose it, I guess.

[RecTech]

You could also try removing the HDD, and DVD drive if swapping the memory does not work

Cheers