🚀 go-pugleaf

On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:58:59 -0700, omegabit@gmail.com
wrote:

>On Jul 10, 2:49 am, "Synapse Syndrome"
><syna...@NOSPAMgomez404.elitemail.org> wrote:
>> I was just using a ThinkPad X31 and it suddenly died.  No LEDs, no sound,
>> totally dead.
>>
>> It was connected to the Ultrabase dock at the time, with PSU connected to
>> that.
>>
>> I swapped the laptop for an identical one, and the Ultrabase was fine.
>>
>> Can anybody list any possible reasons for the laptop suddenly dying like
>> this?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> ss.
>
>I have the exact same problem, but without the dock and I think it is
>related to an oversensitive heat sensor.  

Has it always exhibited this problem?  A heat sensor
generally isn't going to get more sensitive over time.  If
it didn't do this when brand new it is not likely to do it
now because of a heat sensor reporting higher or lower than
actual temp, unless there were a related bios setting that
has been changed, or software setting invoked once the OS
had booted far enough to load some of that software's
components.

>When the sudden death is
>happening I am having a much more frequent problem were it won't post,
>(the fan comes on, but no post), and I have to try many times to get
>the machine to boot successfully.  If I hold the power button down
>momentarily, it will usually post but the fan stops once it starts to
>boot into Windows XP or Ubuntu 6.04, and this often results in a
>freeze while still booting that requires another hard reset.  
>
>The only
>way to fix the problem I have found is to let it cool off (it's not
>really that hot) or hold it up to an air conditioner to provide
>external cooling until it finishes the boot process.  Once it's past
>the boot process the CPU throttling takes over and I won't have a
>problem unless it starts something that pegs the CPU for more than a
>few seconds.  Any help as to what needs replacing (other than the MB
>with the soldered CPU on it) would be greatly appreciated.

Start by cleaning out dust (if you hadn't already).  Take it
apart enough to gain access to the heatsink and inspect it,
the junction with the processor.  Assuming it is removable
you might also remove it, clean off the thermal interface
material and apply a fresh thin coat of thermal compound -
ideally a non-capacitive, non-silicone based type like
Arctic Silver's "Alumina" or "Ceramique".



>
>[rant]
>I am very disappointed as I've only had it for about a year.  I am
>also coming to the sad realization that IBM/Lenovo's quality has
>dropped off sigificantly as they have moved their production
>facilities from Ireland (600 - no problems for four years) to Mexico
>(T23 - video board after 2 years) to China (X31 et al).  If I want a
>crappy laptop that will die after a few months I can always buy a
>Dell.
>[/rant]

Laptops got cheaper (as a general platform, though it's
still possible to pay a lot through certain precious
CPU/video/etc chips inside), thermal density went up, and
random samples have variable lifespans even further masked
by the nature of the product, being mobile.  

Maybe they're all junk or maybe it was just your turn to
lose the laptop lottery.  If all else fails, take or ship it
to a repair center.