If you can make the problem come and go by slightly twisting or flexing the bottom (keyboard) section of the case, you may have a loose internal connector. If the laptop has been dropped recently, more probably you have a cracked land pattern on the motherboard.
Glenn,
Addition to my previous comment. Didn't think to mention it at the time, but...
The Txx series has a real bad habit of the graphics chip coming loose from the system board. Unfortunately this chip is soldered to the board. This is an engineering problem and there has been a lot of discussion as to the large percentage of Txx's that are developing this problem after a couple of years. Current fixes are as follows:
1. If it's still under warrenty, IBM may fix it for you.
2. If not, send it to IBM and pay them $500-$600 to fix it.
3. Buy a good, tested board off of e-bay, or similar and replace it. ($2500-$300)
4. Attempt to reflow the solder yourself. (Check on YouTube as there are a couple of postings there on the process.)
5. Jam something between the top of the graphics chip and bottom of the keyboard, so that a downward pressure is on the graphics chip. That presses it against the system board, and you may regain contact.
6. Forget the whole thing and get yourself another laptop.
The problem that you are having will, in all probability, slowly degrade the laptop to the point of unusability.
Not what you wanted to hear, but you aren't alone in this. There are a lot of other folks experiencing the same thing.
R-
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Same here as well. A T40 and I have allready bought a T61 to replace it (some never learn).
Will still not stop using "old not-so-faitfull" - that is my old T40 that keeps freezing.
Maybe will try this:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vR8L3B3eDr0
I shouldnt think so if it is still running ok.
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Laptop turns off when moved slightly. Basically same problem you are having.
Have same problem. So long at unit is on stable surface or not moved, all is fine. As soon as unit is moved, no matter how minutely, the display goes black.
I do have the same problem. Move my T40 a bit then the monitor goes blakc off with some dim light. Please help.
Regards,
Lim
I just bought a IBM T40 on eBay. The laptop works perfectly except when ever the laptop is moved slightly the screen goes blank. I have added an external monitor and tested it. Both screens go blank when the laptop is moved or jiggled a little. Assume it is some loose connection inside but don't no.
I have the same problem with my laptop. It began very quickly and my computer became unusable in a matter of a couple days. I will attempt to look at the video card section and see how that goes.
Exactly the same problem here as well. What I've noticed is that once the screen goes off, the hard drive light comes on and if I wait around long enough the machine resets.
The odd thing is that when the machine is booting up or if you are running the diagnostic utilities from DOS, then you can move and shake the machine as much as you want and it's fine. It's only when you get into windows and attempt to move the machine that it also resets.
I've also noticed that when I hit some keys it can go off too, so the idea of the video chips being loose kind of fits here. Really annoying as this has started to happen just after the warranty!!
Same issue - mine is the AGP video chip BGA problem, probably related to the first use of non-lead solder in favor of the more brittle green variety IMO. I am using an elaborate pressure plate of rubber and a steel plate to reinforce the keyboard under the mouse buttons. This creates greater pressure than the keyboard alone. This works for weeks at a time, but it still freezes when I pick it up quickly. Cure then is to loosen screws and re-tension the video chip. When this no longer works I'll try the reflow before I junk the machine. These are a very thin and therefore flexible chassis and that is the root of the problem. However, the same thing can happen to a Dell D800, and they are certainly not svelte.
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