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    Thinkpad R51 - Booting Issues

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by purepcs, Aug 19, 2007.

  1. purepcs

    purepcs Newbie

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    Hi this is my first post, I have been looking for an answer to this for about 48 hours solid, and while I find similar problems, they are not the same as my own.

    I have an IBM Thinkpad R51 - 1829DRG a few days ago the unit stopped working, when I pressed the power button the battery and power light came on but nothing on screen, no beeps, no disk activity on the hard drive and unable to open the cd drive using the button.
    Initially I thought either RAM or HDD.

    I have replaced and re-seated the memory modules as well as trying them seperatley (one in and one out in all ways possible, as well as testing with known good RAM which is compatible.)

    I have tried to boot with hard drive and cd in and out of the machine.

    I have even replaced the CPU with another known good and compatible one. as well as putting more thermal grease on the existing cpu.

    Removed and re-seated the CMOS battery

    Removed all power and battery, pressed in power to clear any static.

    I have done all these multiple times.

    The unit has booted 3 times during all of this - every time with the extra 512MB stick removed. When the stick is frst removed there is still no output, clear the static and wait for about 30 minutes (yes minutes not seconds) and the machine powers up (not every time), turn the machine off, and i can boot again but not if it has been left for more than 10 minutes.

    I still think the RAM module must be faulty as it will not boot at all with this second stick installed, but am at a bit of a loss as to why the machine is not powering up correctly.

    Does anyone have any ideas? I'm thinking possible mobo failure but as its booting up at times a possible issue with the bios or ebven the HDD.

    I'll try and boot with other spares again today, any help much appreciated.

    Thanks in advance
     
    purepcs, Aug 19, 2007
    #1
  2. chillout

    chillout Notebook Guru

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    Hey,
    Its common problem in ibm, one of the reason I would rather buy other buisness notebook next time. I have the same thing, I tried everything the thing thath helped me was to remove a specific part. It happens very often so my advice try to put out every possible thing together with battery unpluged (also the small battery inside) Then after 1-3 times it should work but do not turn it off next time, I just set it to sleep mode, then there is no problem. Hope it helps
     
    chillout, Aug 19, 2007
    #2