CF-28 suddenly won't power on

Hi Everyone,

I have a CF-28 which I picked up about a month ago with display problems. I replaced the inverter (thanks to this forum, I figured out that was the problem) and everything was working wonderful.

Then I got greedy and tried to install Wifi. I removed the 56K mini-pci card and replaced it with a Broadcom 802.11g card which I removed from a broken HP laptop. The broken laptop had an antenna (two wires) that ran up into and around the LCD. Since I had already played inside the Toughbook display, I played some more and ran those wires into the display and closed it back up. I removed the cover next to the MP release swivel and ran the antenna wires through that space and up towards the hard drive and into the Broadcom mini-pci card. I put everything back together, plugged the sucker in, and sure enough it's as dead as a doorknob. It won't do a single thing. I do get a green battery light when it's plugged in, but that is about all that this Toughbook does.

Of course I double and triple checked everything and ultimately ended up undoing everything that I did and removed the wifi and connected the 56K back up, but I still get nothing.

I did not tamper with the switch in any way, or anything else for that matter so I am quite perplexed by this.

Does anyone have any thoughts or ideas that I might have overlooked??

I'm thinking along the line that perhaps the computer "thinks" that the display lid is closed, when in fact it is not. I'm wondering what the hardware component is that detects whether the lid is open or closed, and where that component is located. I don't see anything obvious that indicates what that may be.

Any help is GREATLY appreciated!


Here's the specs: CF-28PCJGZEM
PIII 800, 768MB, 30GB, 13" Touchscreen, rubber backlit keyboard, standard cd-rom drive

 

Check the switch cable and its connection it may be loose. Even the socket connector it is so fragile.


ohlip

 

Ya, double check the power switch and cable. I was having problems with a unit and it turned out that the cable was pinched a little...that was enough to cause the unit to power down randomly. Its easy for that damn little wire to shift around when you have the unit opened up or are messing with the mini pci cards.

 

Tcat5,

Did you get the power problem worked out?

 

Nope, unfortunately it still won't power on.. I checked the switch and power connector and they appear fine. I took some photos of the switch from the inside of the case. The second photo shows the switch as it was turned all the way. Can someone take a quick look and see if anything stands out? I don't have a second toughbook to compare to.

One more favor to ask: Can someone try powering on their toughbook with the display lid closed and see if anything happens-- any beeps, clicks, anything at all. I'm not done ruling out the possibility that somehow the computer thinks the lid is closed, even though it's not.

I appreciate all the help, Thank You!!!!

 

The switch is momentary as with any computer (late model xt style).
If someone knows what two pins to short, that would start the computer with out using the switch. I know where to find them on a desk top, but not on the Toughbook.
Also... I had a this happen once, after taking the unit apart and adding something, it would not start. After getting up off the floor from the heart attack, I reset the HDD and have not had a problem since. I suspect I did not have it seated properly. Maybe something shorted out, I don't know.
With out a HDD it should still post.
Rick H...

 

The two pins are the ones that go into the switch connector on the board. The cable goes into the white box connector and the two pins that come out are the ones to short. You can use a precision flathead or anything short that conducts well.

 

One problem it could be is if you have a 28pxxxxxx the r16 went out on it, its a resisor on the main board located on the top side near the lcd cable connectors.

 

hi, check ebay sellers for info. the hp's use special wi-fi cards. the guys on this forum use athros cards and i use 2915,2100,2200 intel 3b cards. the correct card can be yours for $20-25 hope this helps

 

Thanks for all the ideas and suggestions. After trying all your suggestions and a few of my own, I've given up on identifying the exact problem. I think I have to agree with TBtechj in that the problem is a resistor. Everything else checked out. It will remain a mystery.

So I bought an ebay gem, parts only unit, and swapped the motherboards. Now my laptop works just fine and I won't be installing wifi anytime soon!

 

That resistor only causes it to not POST. It doesn't keep it from powering on.