I have an old hand-me-down Lenovo IBM Thinkpad R51 that I have recently been having problems with. I was using the laptop, when all of the sudden, the screen goes out. I turn my laptop off and attempt to turn it back on. I noticed that the numerous times I attempted to do so that two lights that look like Arrows pointing upwards with an "A" on the right and "1" on the left. Lights that I don't remember being active past the boot-up screen. I eventually looked up this problem and either found methods that did nothing, or we're not for my laptop. I've also noticed that when I plug the IBM AC Adapter into my laptop the battery light does not turn on. However, when I remove the battery unit from the laptop, and plug in the charger, the battery light flickers for...what...half a millisecond? Not sure but it's extremely brief an still does not turn on. I've tried all of those old booting power button tricks and stuff like that, but as stated before; None of them work. Just yesterday I decided to test out the Thinkpad just to see if anything changed after some months of not using it at all, I sit legs crossed and the AC Adapter plugged into an extension cord, and I notice the battery light turns on. I then press the power button, and see that it finally turned on, and was fully working, but when I moved my laptop off of my lap and place it onto my floor, the laptop shuts down and the light turns off again. I am assuming that the way my cord was lying and the way I sat my laptop effects whether or not the Thinkpad would turn on. So I sat legs outstretched in front of my, and laptop on my legs right before my torso and AC Adapter unmoved. The battery light is on again, and my laptop operates normally again. Now I know that how I sit or where I place laptop has no affect on anything but I wanted to provide some kind of visual. I slowly try to put my laptop down again to get up, and once again it shuts off, and would not turn on again. No battery light, no nothing. I only use the laptop to search the internet, or mainly play the old Doom games with mods, on source-ports. Any help?
Old Thinkpad Problems
- Thread starter lMl
- Start date
ANNR
Active Member
I know what you need. what you need is a original AC Adapter and a hand me down soldering kit if you are into those stuff. However for educational purpose, if laptop "Still" does not turn on, its time to open up your baby by removing, replacing & soldering in a new power adapter port.
If everything else fails, your motherboard must had a short somewhere. If you are adventurous, brush off your Mobo with toothbrush and place it in a oven to solidify all its solder joins.
There should be very good post were one of our member fixed the VIdeo Card by placing it in a oven. Look up its temp and toast your mobo lol. Just kidding
Make sure to post back with update and I am sure our senior member will chip in more helpful hints.
If everything else fails, your motherboard must had a short somewhere. If you are adventurous, brush off your Mobo with toothbrush and place it in a oven to solidify all its solder joins.
There should be very good post were one of our member fixed the VIdeo Card by placing it in a oven. Look up its temp and toast your mobo lol. Just kidding
Make sure to post back with update and I am sure our senior member will chip in more helpful hints.
lincsman
Member
You know I am a bit confused here. Is your screen not working at all, even when it is on? You must write stories because your post is more of a story lol. Entertaining but confusing. You mentioned power issues and screen issues. Anyways, if it is powering on but no display, I suggest plugging in a monitor or TV and then there should be a button (might have to hit the "fn" key) to switch video output. If a separate monitor works than your screen is hooped. If it doesn't work than it is probably your motherboard as ANNR said it might be. Also you can use a voltmeter if you have one to see if the adapter is working, or you can buy a new one that is compatible with your laptop (might help to refer to the voltage and amperage output on it). That way you can see if it is the adapter or your computer. To be honest if it is your computer than you are probably hooped unless you have good experience with fixing laptops because not only would you have to make sure all of the wires and soldering is intact, you also have to put it back together and make it work. That being said, this could be a learning experience as hey it sounds like an old one that you didn't have to pay for.
"Lincsman" No I don't tell stories, but thanks if that was a compliment XD. The Laptop refuses to turn on even with the AC Adapter (Charger) plugged into it. I just recently tried a method to get the battery light to activate: I remove the battery, and hold down the power button for like 30 seconds to a minute, and then place the battery back into the laptop. When I plug the Adapter into my laptop, and re-position myself correctly the battery light turns on. When the light is active I hold down the power button to turn on the laptop. The battery light is now flickering for about a second, and then turns off. Repositioning again does nothing, and I am left to repeat this process over and over again. The laptop's video display is fine though.
"ANNR" I dunno about cooking computer parts, but my video display is fine, and I feel as if it may be a problem with the adapter since the laptop appears to be in good condition. I don't know how this could be related to the "Motherboard". (I'm assuming that's what Mobo means)
P.S: I'm only 15 and have no access to a voltmeter or soldering kit, nor do I think I could get my hands on either. If you know anything else please relay it to me. Thanks for the help though; appreciated.
"ANNR" I dunno about cooking computer parts, but my video display is fine, and I feel as if it may be a problem with the adapter since the laptop appears to be in good condition. I don't know how this could be related to the "Motherboard". (I'm assuming that's what Mobo means)
P.S: I'm only 15 and have no access to a voltmeter or soldering kit, nor do I think I could get my hands on either. If you know anything else please relay it to me. Thanks for the help though; appreciated.
ANNR
Active Member
My 6 years old Asus laptop does the same thing. It will short out every now and then and when it does, nothing works, no power no light and if I leave it for few days, it will work again.
Now my 15 year old toshiba, I had to wiggle the power cord to get it to deliver power to the laptop however its a problem "Which" will only get worse with time. It might work fine when you re position your posture however your setting up your self for failure and you will fell world of pain if you afraid to move on thinking the the power will ever cut out. Only replacing the power port can sold the problem...
As for the Power adapter, get it with many good reviews since off brand, aka cheap ones will just burn out or if you have a kid around who likes to push buttons and pulling out power plugs.
Save your allowance and by another computer or better yet, ask for it for Christmas, I mean when I was at your age, I would have settled for a slightly working lappy lol. Pun intended T.T; Don't count on it, don't even think about it. awwwwwww the agony
Its easier than asking for a car!
Now my 15 year old toshiba, I had to wiggle the power cord to get it to deliver power to the laptop however its a problem "Which" will only get worse with time. It might work fine when you re position your posture however your setting up your self for failure and you will fell world of pain if you afraid to move on thinking the the power will ever cut out. Only replacing the power port can sold the problem...
As for the Power adapter, get it with many good reviews since off brand, aka cheap ones will just burn out or if you have a kid around who likes to push buttons and pulling out power plugs.
Save your allowance and by another computer or better yet, ask for it for Christmas, I mean when I was at your age, I would have settled for a slightly working lappy lol. Pun intended T.T; Don't count on it, don't even think about it. awwwwwww the agony
Its easier than asking for a car!
lincsman
Member
Yes it was a compliment. It sounds like it's either the adapter or wiring in the laptop, or the motherboard and yes that's what mobo means. If you don't want to fix it you could always take it apart as a learning experience. Your friends at school would probably think its cool to see that. You can probably find a youtube video on how to take that model apart, that's how I do it when I take apart laptops to fix them as each model is different.