[Thinkpad] Dead A30

Tue Apr 24 12:16:59 CDT 2007

I've already opened it up, and the only connectors I can find that could be
loose go to non-critical things such as the display.

I thought maybe a loose or corroded connection between the system board and
power board, then found them to be one-and-the-same when I opened it. Since
the whole computer is a single board, I'm not sure what connectors could be
a problem.

- A

On 4/24/07, Colgrove, George <George.Colgrove at state.vt.us> wrote:
>
> Get the Hardware Maintenance Manual, a free day, a collection of good
> tunes and some tools.  I think your system may need a complete breakdown
> and reassembly.  I think your connectors have corrosion.  The simple act
> of pulling the connector off then reinserting it often fixes the
> problem.  But with a disassembly you can use pressurized air and perhaps
> cotton swabs and alcohol to remove all foreign matter from the
> connectors, plus a good vacuum of the parts to remove all the dust.
>
> If your machine works intermittently, this is likely the problem.
>
> George
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: thinkpad-bounces at stderr.org [mailto:thinkpad-bounces at stderr.org]
> On Behalf Of Alex Austin
> Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 10:01 PM
> To: Bruce Markowitz
> Cc: Thinkpad at stderr.org
> Subject: Re: [Thinkpad] Dead A30
>
> Well, the A30 is acting up again with the same symptoms. I decided to
> take
> it back to my house and the bumpy car ride seemed to temporarily fix it.
>
> Need a new system board?
> How much will it cost?
>
> On 1/18/07, Bruce Markowitz <scosgt at worldnet.att.net> wrote:
> >
> > ... I am glad the memory was the problem, that is simple and cheap to
> fix.
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Alex Austin" <circuitsoft.alex at gmail.com>
> > To: "Keith Schawel" <thinkpad at li.ath.cx>
> > Cc: <Thinkpad at stderr.org>
> > Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2007 4:06 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Thinkpad] Dead A30
> >
> >
> > > Well, I traded memory with my T23 (same processor, same ram), and
> now my
> > T23
> > > is unstable, and the A30 is solid.
> > >
> > > What warranty did you offer, Bruce, and is it still in effect?
> > >
> > > On 1/15/07, Alex Austin <circuitsoft.alex at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > memtest86+ (http://www.memtest.org) didn't find a problem within
> half
> > an
> > > > hour (~60% done full scan)
> > > >
> > > > On 1/15/07, Keith Schawel <thinkpad at li.ath.cx> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Though it isn't always conclusive, you could try running memtest
> (
> > > > > http://www.memtest86.com/).  It could either confirm a RAM
> problem
> > (by
> > > > > coming up with errors) or help rule it out (even if it shows no
> > errors,
> > > > > there could be a problem).  Just a thought.
> > > > >
> > > > > Keith
> > > > >
> > > > > On 1/15/07, Alex Austin <circuitsoft.alex at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Well, I switched RAM with my T23, so we'll see if the
> stability
> > > > > switches.
> > > > > > I'll try PC Doctor later, if this doesn't make it obvious.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On 1/15/07, Nguyen Dao <daongn at pacbell.net> wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >  You can try replacing the 2 Samsun memory chips, but I do
> not
> > think
> > > > >
> > > > > > that
> > > > > > > it helps. The main problem is the circuit to memory for
> video
> > card.
> > > > > It's
> > > > > > > BGA, as I said before.
> > > > > > >  In this case, you need to download pc doctor from IBM web
> site
> > and
> > > > > run
> > > > > > > diagnos on video card 10 minutes after power the laptop on
> to
> > see
> > > > > video
> > > > > > is
> > > > > > > bad or memory is bad.
> > > > > > > I bet the BGA video circuit join is bad.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > *Alex Austin < circuitsoft.alex at gmail.com>* wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Re-seating the RAM seems to fix it, for 20 mins to a few
> days.
> > Any
> > > > > idea?
> > > > > > > I've tried both RAM slots (there's only one card)
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > On 12/23/06, Nguyen Dao <daongn at pacbell.net> wrote:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > This is the common issue of Thinkpad and other laptops.
> The
> > main
> > > > > > reason
> > > > > > > > is the join of the video chip to motherboard is loosen.
> On
> > A30,
> > > > > it's
> > > > > > > > hard to fix because you have to get the MB out the case.
> The
> > Video
> > > > > > chip is
> > > > > > > > on the bottom of the board, try to press it for about 30
> > seconds
> > > > > > before
> > > > > > > > power on your laptop.
> > > > > > > > You can try by using  a hair dryer to blow hot air around
> > > > > the  video
> > > > > > > > chip. However, this  requires experience and skill to do.
> > > > > > > > Good luck.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > *Alex Austin < circuitsoft.alex at gmail.com>* wrote:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Oh, Be nice, Matt.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Anyway, It'll be several days (after Christmas) until I
> have
> > > > > access to
> > > > > > > > the
> > > > > > > > unit in question again. I'll report back with my
> > > > > > > > findings/success/attempts
> > > > > > > > when the time comes.
> > > > > > > > - Alex
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > On 12/22/06, Matt wrote:
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Reseat the ram & hard drive.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Reseat Bruce??
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > > > > > Thinkpad mailing list
> > > > > > > > > Thinkpad at stderr.org
> > > > > > > > > http://stderr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/thinkpad
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > --
> > > > > > > > - Alex Austin
> > > > > > > > Circuitsoft Computer Services
> > > > > > > > (651) 238-9273
> > > > > > > > www.circuitsoftcs.com
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > "...and then I visited Wikipedia ...and the next 8 hours
> are a
> > > > > blur."
> > > > > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > > > > Thinkpad mailing list
> > > > > > > > Thinkpad at stderr.org
> > > > > > > > http://stderr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/thinkpad
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > --
> > > > > > > - Alex Austin
> > > > > > > Circuitsoft Computer Services
> > > > > > > (651) 238-9273
> > > > > > > www.circuitsoftcs.com
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > "...and then I visited Wikipedia ...and the next 8 hours are
> a
> > > > > blur."
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > --
> > > > > > - Alex Austin
> > > > > > Circuitsoft Computer Services
> > > > > > (651) 238-9273
> > > > > > www.circuitsoftcs.com
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "...and then I visited Wikipedia ...and the next 8 hours are a
> > blur."
> > > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > > Thinkpad mailing list
> > > > > > Thinkpad at stderr.org
> > > > > > http://stderr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/thinkpad
> > > > > >
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > Thinkpad mailing list
> > > > > Thinkpad at stderr.org
> > > > > http://stderr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/thinkpad
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > - Alex Austin
> > > > Circuitsoft Computer Services
> > > > (651) 238-9273
> > > > www.circuitsoftcs.com
> > > >
> > > > "...and then I visited Wikipedia ...and the next 8 hours are a
> blur."
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > - Alex Austin
> > > Circuitsoft Computer Services
> > > (651) 238-9273
> > > www.circuitsoftcs.com
> > >
> > > "...and then I visited Wikipedia ...and the next 8 hours are a
> blur."
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Thinkpad mailing list
> > > Thinkpad at stderr.org
> > > http://stderr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/thinkpad
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> - Alex Austin
> Circuitsoft Computer Services
> (651) 238-9273
> www.circuitsoftcs.com
>
> "...and then I visited Wikipedia ...and the next 8 hours are a blur."
> _______________________________________________
> Thinkpad mailing list
> Thinkpad at stderr.org
> http://stderr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/thinkpad
>

-- 
- Alex Austin
Circuitsoft Computer Services
(651) 238-9273
www.circuitsoftcs.com

"...and then I visited Wikipedia ...and the next 8 hours are a blur."