IBM Thinkpad A20M type 2628 won't start

Mr13ill · 10-12-2006, 03:33 PM

I have an older model Thinkpad A20M. While it's plugged in to AC power, I press the on/off button. The green battery light temporarily goes off, it makes a small click and the symbol for the hard drive briefly lights up green, then nothing happens except that the green battery light comes back on.
I took the battery out and tried to start it with just AC power and I got the same click but no green batttery light, of course.
I also tried to start it with no AC power. The symbol for the hard drive briefly flashes green but battery must be dead because there was no green light.
When it's running, it uses XP (though when I first got it, it was running Win98).
Is there a reset button somewhere?
Also, I tried to start it holding down F8. Same symptoms as described above.
Suggestions?
Thanks in advance
BB

~~OMGmissinglink~~ · 10-12-2006, 04:20 PM

The laptop powers on, doesn't find the HD?

Mr13ill · 10-12-2006, 05:25 PM

I don't think the unit actually turns on. However, I do not know what the process is when it powers up.
Would the computer be running even if it did not find the hard drive? If yes, that's not the case.

~~OMGmissinglink~~ · 10-12-2006, 06:09 PM

Your laptop can be running does the display screen show any post or is the display blank an your hearing noises?

Mr13ill · 10-12-2006, 06:59 PM

The display is black. There doesn't seem to be any sound/noise of any kind after the initial click.

~~OMGmissinglink~~ · 10-12-2006, 07:09 PM

Then your power indicator comes on and goes off/ bad processor or mb.

**hwm54112** · 10-12-2006, 10:40 PM

It could be the AC adapter is bad or a bad connection between the Dc jack and motherboard. you can get a multimeter to test the adapter for $10.00-$15.00.

Take the hard drive out and see if you get a post (power on self test)

~~OMGmissinglink~~ · 10-13-2006, 10:31 AM

HWM, nice suggestion but shouldn't the laptop power on with the batt.? /

~~OMGmissinglink~~ · 10-13-2006, 10:45 AM

is there anyway you can hook this laptop to an exterior monitor? post again if you can get signal off an exterior monitor.

**hwm54112** · 10-13-2006, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OMGmissinglink

HWM, nice suggestion but shouldn't the laptop power on with the batt.? /

I don't see how. Please re-read the original post and offer a helpful suggestion

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr13ill

The symbol for the hard drive briefly flashes green but battery must be dead because there was no green light.

Since it won't power up, a power problem should be eliminated before one assumes the mobo or processor is bad.

From this thread

Quote:

Ok ALL, here is the latest progess. I took the laptop back into COMPUSA, and the manager of the tech department spent quite a bit of time fully disassembling it to try to find the problem. The system kept going black screen except for when the hard drive was removed.

Mr13ill,

Please post back with results of where you are. There may be other replies
from forum members

~~OMGmissinglink~~ · 10-13-2006, 04:06 PM

Quote:

From this thread

Quote:
Ok ALL, here is the latest progess. I took the laptop back into COMPUSA, and the manager of the tech department spent quite a bit of time fully disassembling it to try to find the problem. The system kept going black screen except for when the hard drive was removed.

Please what does this other thread do to help this poster? yes possible problem is the DC jack \ but the poster did not mention any problems with the DC jack wiggling or such which was the next question to this poster once they reply.

**hwm54112** · 10-13-2006, 08:46 PM

Please what does this other thread do to help this poster?

OMG,

this other thread does nothing to help Mr13ill. YOU asked a question about my post and that was a part of the answer to you. If that's not clear, my apologies. If you want a further explanation, please enable private messaging and I'll explain it to you. this is not the place for a debate

**laboye** · 10-13-2006, 10:40 PM

The A Series of the IBM ThinkPads along with other machines of that timeline have indicators of problems. The power light only turns on when the system is fully powered up. It will turn on once the processor has power going to it and when everything has steady power. If it does not, this immediately indicates a power problem. It could be a good variety of other problems, though. While there is a slight chance it is the motherboard, IBMs are designed not to power up. The hard drive light turns on first, indicating it is starting the power-up process. The battery light turning off is normal. I'll have to look into this to find any solutions.

10-12-2006, 03:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mr13ill Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3 OS: xp	IBM Thinkpad A20M type 2628 won't start I have an older model Thinkpad A20M. While it's plugged in to AC power, I press the on/off button. The green battery light temporarily goes off, it makes a small click and the symbol for the hard drive briefly lights up green, then nothing happens except that the green battery light comes back on. I took the battery out and tried to start it with just AC power and I got the same click but no green batttery light, of course. I also tried to start it with no AC power. The symbol for the hard drive briefly flashes green but battery must be dead because there was no green light. When it's running, it uses XP (though when I first got it, it was running Win98). Is there a reset button somewhere? Also, I tried to start it holding down F8. Same symptoms as described above. Suggestions? Thanks in advance BB

10-13-2006, 10:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
~~OMGmissinglink~~ Troubled Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,535 OS: XP Pro sp2 My System	is there anyway you can hook this laptop to an exterior monitor? post again if you can get signal off an exterior monitor. Last edited by OMGmissinglink; 10-13-2006 at 10:53 AM.

10-13-2006, 10:40 PM	#13 (permalink)
laboye TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 1,246 OS: Windows xp Pro/Vista Beta 2/Ubuntu 6.06 LTS My System	The A Series of the IBM ThinkPads along with other machines of that timeline have indicators of problems. The power light only turns on when the system is fully powered up. It will turn on once the processor has power going to it and when everything has steady power. If it does not, this immediately indicates a power problem. It could be a good variety of other problems, though. While there is a slight chance it is the motherboard, IBMs are designed not to power up. The hard drive light turns on first, indicating it is starting the power-up process. The battery light turning off is normal. I'll have to look into this to find any solutions. __________________ Repair Windows XP Guide --- Resolutions Crazy Computer that I'm saving up for::Antec P180 Case;PC Pwr&Cooling 1kW Quad SLI PSU;Asus P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe;Intel Core2 XE X6800;Corsair TWIN2XP2048 2GB PC2-6400 DDR2 RAM;2xAsus GeForce 7950 GX2;BFG PhysX Accel.;IBM DVD-RAM/Plextor DVD±RW;Seagate 750GB HD 7200RPM;WDX 150GB 10000RPM;Vigor Monsoon TEC Cooler

10-12-2006, 04:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
~~OMGmissinglink~~ Troubled Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,535 OS: XP Pro sp2 My System	The laptop powers on, doesn't find the HD?

10-12-2006, 05:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mr13ill Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3 OS: xp	I don't think the unit actually turns on. However, I do not know what the process is when it powers up. Would the computer be running even if it did not find the hard drive? If yes, that's not the case.

10-12-2006, 06:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
~~OMGmissinglink~~ Troubled Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,535 OS: XP Pro sp2 My System	Your laptop can be running does the display screen show any post or is the display blank an your hearing noises?

10-12-2006, 06:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mr13ill Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3 OS: xp	The display is black. There doesn't seem to be any sound/noise of any kind after the initial click.

10-12-2006, 07:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
~~OMGmissinglink~~ Troubled Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,535 OS: XP Pro sp2 My System	Then your power indicator comes on and goes off/ bad processor or mb.

10-12-2006, 10:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
hwm54112 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,233 OS: WINXP	It could be the AC adapter is bad or a bad connection between the Dc jack and motherboard. you can get a multimeter to test the adapter for $10.00-$15.00. Take the hard drive out and see if you get a post (power on self test)

10-13-2006, 10:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
~~OMGmissinglink~~ Troubled Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,535 OS: XP Pro sp2 My System	HWM, nice suggestion but shouldn't the laptop power on with the batt.? /

10-13-2006, 08:46 PM	#12 (permalink)
hwm54112 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,233 OS: WINXP	Please what does this other thread do to help this poster? OMG, this other thread does nothing to help Mr13ill. YOU asked a question about my post and that was a part of the answer to you. If that's not clear, my apologies. If you want a further explanation, please enable private messaging and I'll explain it to you. this is not the place for a debate