OK. This could be an obvious question.

Is it possible my laptop can run again?


I have an IBM Thinkpad 600. I have installed Red Hat 9. It worked fine. Then I installed FreeBSD. But, it didn't get too far when suddenly my computer stopped working. The screen went black and everything else stopped working except for the fan and a few green lights that were on.

It has a rechargable battery so it was not a power surge.

The CDRom wouldn't work and cannot take out the CD. The monitor turns on but no picture is on the screen. I checked the memory slots and at the time only one slot would work after inserting the memory card. When I would turn on the computer, depending where the memory card was put on a memory slot, it would make two long beeping sounds. Then nothing happens. Now, no memory slots work. Niether the internal memory works or the external memory.

I don't know if it is the memory or if it's something else. But if any one can help me, please. I want to fix it ASAP.

Thank you in advance.

Possible? Sure. But given what you describe, not likely, without spending some cash on it. Sounds like the motherboard croaked...bad memory slots, and nothing but fan/green lights working, would support that.

If it's not the MOBO, it's definitely some hardware fault. I'd get it to a repair center, or be on the hunt for a new laptop.....

The most common fault is the external power supply cable. Check your psu if possible by substitution.
Also try it with the battery out. Many batteries die, and it might still run with no battery.

I tried turning on the laptop without the battery yet I still get nothing. So, I don't think it's the power supply. The battery is at full charge so it can't be the it. Even though I don't have another battery to verify if it is the battery or power supply at fault.

I'm pretty sure it's the motherboard since I have been having trouble with it for a while. The motherboard for the IBM ThinkPad 600 is very rare to find. Hopefully it won't cost so much once I find it.

I could always buy another computer...(thinks)....(*spend $500-900 on a new computer*)...

Well, thanks anyways guys.

Any last thoughts is greatly appreciated.

http://www.howtomendit.com/answers.php?id=12813

Some last thought(s) -- after a lot of useless Googling, have a read through the link above. There's a lot of extra crap in there, but ultimately you might try the "Replace CMOS battery" routine documented in there and elsewhere.

No guarantees, but it **may** be part/the source of the problem.

Also, note the instructions referring to a small reset-button in a tiny hole beside the power switch, which can un-stick the machine if for example the "..microcode is hung.." whatever that might mean.

Again, no guarantees, but if you're out of options at this point, I would try the CMOS battery thing and the reset button if it were me

Good luck,
Sasha

Don't go huting for a thinkpad 600 motherboard. You might find one :-/.
Try ebay for cheapo laptops. There's some guys with liquidation stock, and new returns(repaired) which are decently priced.

I'll see if I can buy the cmos battery first (even though I had it replaced a few months before my laptop went dead). Thanks for the link GrapefruiTgirl. It gave me a few ideas on how to work with my computer. I'll also check ebay. I might find what I'm looking for. Thanks again guys.

I'll keep you guys updated.

I'll bet you can find a mobo for that machine on ebay. Might be cheap enough to be worth doing.

Hi again. I found a few motherboards for the IBM ThinkPad 600 on eBay.com. I also found a few web sites that have the memory cards. Well, thanks to all who helped.

Now, to make an accnt on eBay.

Now I can finally keep working with my computer. ;P

Ciao.