Lenovo notebook doesn't start at all

[freemouse]

Hello dear friends & HW specialists,

It's just 2 days I used to work on my older Lenovo Thinkpad as usually. No more since yesterday..

When I press the power button, the notebook doesn't start normally - there's abs no sound, cooling fan also doesn't start at all, just Wifi & HDD LEDs turning on but after 2-3 seconds the HDD LED turns off again (wifi LED keeps shining for minuted, maybe hours, but quite - nothing happens - no start, no shut down). When I lay my head on the keyboard I can hear only very light sounds (clicks?) like every 3-5 seconds inside but the PC (maybe some parts are still runing but not visible even after opening).

The display is totally black (neither the secondary display is recognizing the laptop, so good luck - at least it's not a primary display problem).

Also, I thought it's the HDD.. but after I removed it and put into another Thinkpad, it worked as usually. So "good luck" again - no data loss on the HDD.

To be honest, since several month I don't use it as notebook but PC only as it runs on AC only, no battery (even when the battery is inside and showes charged, when I remove the AC plug it shut downs immediately).
Maybe there may be some relation between the no start and no battery power.. did you already encountered similar problem?

Or may it be a motherboard or cooling fan problem or something different?

I need the notebook for work but don't trust any service that repairs one thing but destroys two additional, unfortunately, nowadays.. also it would take up to 1 month when I see my notebook again :-/

Thank you very much in advance for any kind of help or suggestion.. would highly appreciate it 🙂

FMP

 

[GreyCatz]

1. What is the full model name of your ThinkPad?

2. Just how old is it?

3. Right now, it seems to be a defective battery. Batteries will wear out over time, and you may have to get a new one - e.g. from eBay.

 

[freemouse]

Hello GreyCatz,

1. SL410 I guess..

2. 8 years?

3. It's not a battery issue as I already purchased a new one but it behaves the same way - charged but if removed (and not plugged to AC) the notebook shut downs immediately.

Thanks..

 

[GreyCatz]

Just to be sure, is this your ThinkPad?

https/www.cnet.com/products/lenovo-thinkpad-sl410-intel-174-core-153-2-duo-t6670-2-2ghz-320-gb-hdd-series/specs/

A few more questions:

1. What OS are you running - Windows 7, 8x or 10?

2. Maybe you've said this, but can you use the computer with the power cord? If so, locate the ThinkVantage app and try some of the recommended power management options. This includes the Battery Gauge Reset.

3. Despite the new battery, it seems that you may need to update your power management drivers from Lenovo's support page.


If you can get the SL410 to work on battery power, make sure to change the charging run so that it stops charging when it reaches 90 or 99 per cent in stead of 100 per cent.

 

[freemouse]

Hello again,

yes, that's the model..

1. running Win7 32-bit

2. Yes, (independent of the battery) with cord it run perfectly, until Thursday. Then even with cord it doesn't start.. only 2 LED controls (wifi & HDD) up and after 3 sec HDD LED light turns off, wifi LED control shining. The laptop is on, but black display, no fan, no action. The BIOS doesn't show up at all.. therefore I can't run anything.

3. I can't update anything since the whole thing is black.. no action, black dipslay, only 1 green LED light.

Sad..

 

[GreyCatz]

OK, at this point it could be any number of hardware-related issues. Your ThinkPad is close to 8 years old, and even ThinkPads will eventually malfunction to the point of no recovery.

But let's try a few more options: In your situation I would seriously consider unscrewing the bottom lids and replace the thermal paste on the CPU. While you're there, you should also unscrew the system fan and clean it as much as possible with a small brush.

Go on YouTube and search for videos on how to apply new thermal paste to laptop CPUs - there are hundreds of such videos, and here's one example:
https/www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD3AGwHKWp4

It could also be RAM failure which can only be remedied by buying a new set of RAM modules. Make sure to get the exact same type of modules. eBay is a good starting point and here's one example from a German eBay seller:
https/www.ebay.com/itm/Lenovo-ThinkPad-SL410-2842-xxx-Ram-Speicher-DDR3-4GB-2GB/142619784169?hash=item2134cd33e9:m:mDbAKvtFMj979PiZL383-RA

Best of luck,
GreyCatz.

 

[freemouse]

Hello dear Greycatz,

despite of the cute avatar ;-) I'd really like to try something from the methods mentioned above, unfortunately I have no idea why/where to get/put such CPU paste, nor have I time to ask for it anywhere.. sorry.
Also I'm not sure about the memory - I don't think it's the reason otherwise I would see at least something on the display (BIOS with some message coming up), wouldn't I? As it's black (the notebook doesn't start except LED controls) there must be some other reason, I guess.
Unfortunately the local Lenovo service couldn't tell me neither if the LED combination does has any meaning or whether the motherboard (I told them the part number) is the correct one I need (I could get it online for approx. 1/10 of the original price). Therefore I think I'll buy a new notebook instead and forget all these solutions. When calculating the total amount of time I spend with this matter it will be probably cheaper to buy a new one ;-)

Big thanks anyway!

Cheers..

 

[GreyCatz]

I completely understand your decision, and if you have the means to get a new computer it will of course solve your current problems.

But for future reference, let me just add a few words on hardware:

1. Thermal paste is readily available in most stores that sell computers, e.g. Wal-Mart and BestBuy, and it really can be a very inexpensive way to get a seemingly dead computer back on track. The CPU generates a lot of heat and over time the paste will turn into a hard cake-like substance loosing all thermal conductivity. In that case, when the CPU reaches a certain temperature it will shut down to protect itself leaving you with a 'dead' computer.

2. RAM is needed to generate any kind of video signal to the screen, so if the RAM modules are defective, you won't see a thing.

3. Finally, and I really hope you won't take offense at my saying this, but while replacing the motherboard may seem a straightforward option to a Lenovo technician, it will require computer skills and experience on a level which I doubt you can muster. It really is a very fidgety and complicated process.

Best of luck with your new laptop,
GreyCatz.

 

[robert600]

If I'm understanding things correctly, I have a relatively easy and no cost suggestion. Your original post indicates you have a secondary display - is this correct? Assuming it is ... I would detach the ribbon cable that connects the motherboard to the laptop's display. The connector is often found underneath the keyboard.
Then ... attach the secondary display and try to start the laptop - the secondary display may now function.

 

[freemouse]

Hello dear friends,

I think I got your points..

CPU paste is easy and not expensive option to try to wake up the notebook again. As I'm not from the USA but EU I still looked around here and yes - it's available almost everywhere from $2 above, so maybe I give it a try ;-)
Regarding the RAMs, that's a problem.. to try it, as I have to buy it. But the RAMs are 1st not cheap and 2nd still sealed. Therefore if I realize the RAMs are not the cause, I can't give it back and loose even more money once opened the memory packaging. But I try to ask somewhere, maybe someone can help with another pair of RAMs. Or is it OK to have just 1 piece instead of a pair to check it out? I'm not sure and don't wanna kill the notebook totally when plugging only 1 piece.. ;-)
I fully understand I have no idea about the motherboard. I used to complete PCs 20 years ago but nowadays and especially the notebooks are ttl different and way more difficult to dismantle and comlplete back. I only wanted to buy the Mb in 1 shop and leave it repair in Lenovo service (it's possible), but I'm waiting for the answer regarding the correct MB model for my NTB.

Dear Robert,
I may try your solution as well to check out the display whether this is the reason or not. But as GreyCatz mentioned if it's a memory issue I won't see anything even on the secondary display (and I'm not sure about compatibility/running the secondary display with HDMI without Windows, even before when starting BIOS?). But I may give it a try at least to disprove it ;-) Thanks..

Btw. I also cleaned the fan - this is fully OK.

Seems that (even it's Thinkpad SL..) after 8 years the life is comming to its end. And the only way will be the MB.
Also still thinking about the relation to the not charging battery whether it may have some connection or not? Dunno..

Thanks for your time & have a nice day anyway!

 

[freemouse]

Hello guys,

so to be honest, I'm totally dissapointed. Just returned from the Lenovo service center, even all the service guys from Lenovo are out if ideas as they told me:
- it's neither CPU, nor motherboard issue, nor bad wifi module
- it's not the display..
- the termal paste is there (new one), still no change
I'm really confused. I even bought a new MB especially for this notebook, brought it to the Lenovo service center (as they first analysed it and told it's a MB issue but we don't have any such "old" MB anymore). They plugged this new MB directly with alternative (working) CPU and RAMs but still the same - black display, no sound, only fan running.

So 2 weeks later I'm still at the beginning - I have now extra motherboard (money thrown away) and non-working notebook at home :-(

Any ideas? Thanks ;-)