🚀 go-pugleaf

"Synapse Syndrome" <synapse@NOSPAMgomez404.elitemail.org> wrote in message 
news:0fKdneT6UrSdsQ7bnZ2dnUVZ8tqinZ2d@bt.com...
>
> 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?

First, make sure it's dead.
(Insert punch line here.)

Seriously though, that really is the first step. Disconnect the power, 
remove the battery, let it sit for a few minutes so any accumulated 
electrons can ooze out of the capacitors. Then connect it up again and see 
if it will power up. (If you can, use the battery from another working 
computer of the same model.) If it comes up normally, then you'll just have 
to write it off as "one of those things" and hope it doesn't happen too 
often. If it doesn't power up, and it's under warranty (not likely unless 
you bought an extended warranty, then call IBM and send it in for repair. If 
it's not under warranty, then you can consider it a paperweight, a spare 
parts bin, or an opportunity to acquire ThinkPad repair skills. A service 
manual would be very helpful, but common sense and screwdriver skills might 
suffice. Start with the easy things like swapping components that are easily 
removable with another computer. Once you've gone through the easy stuff, 
then the most likely suspect is the planar. You might be able to find one on 
eBay, but then there's the question of how much money you're willing to 
spend on a repair that's not guaranteed to work.