X201i Won't Boot

I am having a problem with my X201i. It started with random shutdowns which would come suddenly as if I had removed the battery and ac. No warning just a complete power failure. The computer would reboot fine but then after a seamingly random interval of time (4-20min) fail again. Then I started getting them and my machine would not indicate that the power was connected (no light) and would not turn on either with ac connected or not. I found I could get it working again unless I removed the battery and then the ac and then replugged in the ac at which point the indicator light would turn on and the computer would turn on. It would be fine for a while and then the power failure would happen again and I would repeat the process. This worked for a few days until now there is simply no response (no indicator there is power and no response to power button. I have checked and voltage to the board and it is good. The connection pins to the battery are also good. I ran the Lenovo diagnosis software and both the battery and the motherboard tested fine. At this point I am assuming the motherboard is shot, but I am now a few months out of warrantee so I guess I am up a creek. I am considering buying a replacement motherboard. Is this the best solution?




I should mention that I have been living out in the bush in South Sudan for the last 5 months so high humidity and dust, but when I checked the heat sink it was clean and the computer never felt hot.

 

Pull the battery, AC, memory, hard drive and WiFi card. Press the power button 10 times for a second, then one more time for 30 seconds. Plug the AC and press the power button. If the board doesn't beep, it's most likely dead. If it does beep, try putting things back in one at a time to see if you can find the culprit. Good luck and sorry to hear about your troubles.