IBM Thinkpad A31

stacyleigh4276 · 08-13-2007, 05:26 PM

Hi! I am curiuos if anyone can help me. Ok here is the problem:

First off I have everything it came with. The docking station, the original battery, car charger, ac charger. Ok the way the laptop has been operated in the last 2 months was plugged in the wall and in the laptop. So using ac power. My batter never charged all the way up the furthest it would go was 73%. Anyhow somehow the plug was unplugged from the laptop leaving it running off the battery, and now no matter how you try to power on the laptop you can't. If you plug the ac adapter in you can see that it comes on just for a second the z shows in green, and the batteryplus sign in orange. Its like it comes on then goes directly back off. Can someone suggest how to correct this problem...

Shouldn't it still run from the wall outlet regardless if the battery is comepletely dead? See I kind of feel like it's the batter issue; but is there a way I rule that out by using the docking station or somehintg? I don't know but help would be greatly appreciated.

**TheMatt** · 08-13-2007, 10:51 PM

Hi Stacy, and welcome to TSF!

First, take the battery out and try to boot up the laptop on AC power without the battery in. Then try to boot just running on battery.

stacyleigh4276 · 08-14-2007, 03:53 AM

Ok I tried both ways of booting; however I get the same response. It comes on for a split second. and then goes right back off... ???

**TheMatt** · 08-14-2007, 09:14 AM

Do you hear any beeps?

I would start by swapping out the RAM. First re-seat each stick. Then, try running with one stick, then the other.

stacyleigh4276 · 08-14-2007, 03:45 PM

Only one beep; then today was the first time I actually could see the very very beginning of the startup and it will go black and say 0190 critical low battery error...

And this was while I was strictly going from the ac adapter...

**TheMatt** · 08-14-2007, 04:23 PM

I would start by swapping out the RAM. First re-seat each stick. Then, try running with one stick, then the other.

stacyleigh4276 · 08-14-2007, 04:34 PM

Ok after the process of elimination I am 99% sure it needs a new cmos battery. The reason I think this is because I have the dock everything and even by running strictly on ac adapter it still says low battery. (the error message) Not to mention a few days back when the laptop was running it continiously lost time.

what do you think? Where can I find one if so and are they expensive?

**TheMatt** · 08-14-2007, 04:39 PM

I don't think it is the CMOS battery. Have you tried re-seating the RAM like I mentioned?

stacyleigh4276 · 08-14-2007, 04:43 PM

Yes... that is why I think it might be the cmos... but i don't know. just after trial and error that is the only thing I can come up with. and i remember in school they said if you notice you clock stays messed up, then you battery is going dead; isn't that the cmos? i don't know got any advice?

**TheMatt** · 08-14-2007, 04:49 PM

Yes, that would indicate a failing CMOS battery. Most computers take a CR2032 battery, but some also take a CR2025 battery which is slightly more thin. Most of the time they are interchangeable, but I would go with whichever one your computer had before.

To find the CMOS battery in a laptop, look all along the underside of the motherboard. You may have to look along a significant portion of the bottom and remove several panels to get to it. Also, look under the keyboard of the laptop.

stacyleigh4276 · 08-14-2007, 05:08 PM

Ok thank you so much...

I found what I think is the battery... circle close to quarter size in yellow plastic with two wires which in turn connects it to the board. Would this be it?

**TheMatt** · 08-14-2007, 07:17 PM

Yes. You have to get a replacement for it. It should have a number on it, likely 2032.

stacyleigh4276 · 08-24-2007, 03:58 PM

Replaced the CMOS and it still isn't working/?>>

**TheMatt** · 08-24-2007, 04:07 PM

While you are in there, take the battery out for around a half hour and put it back in. Boot up and see if clearing the CMOS (what you just did) works.

stacyleigh4276 · 08-24-2007, 04:54 PM

Just to make sure this is the cmos battery right? Are you telling me there is another battery on the mother board or are you telling me to just the cmos out for an half hour.

**TheMatt** · 08-24-2007, 04:56 PM

Yes, that is it.

stacyleigh4276 · 08-24-2007, 06:42 PM

No it didn't work. this is about to drive me insane

**TheMatt** · 08-24-2007, 06:54 PM

Do you have a multimeter or other power adapter? I am thinking it is the power adapter that is dead. The battery drained and it can't charge again.

stacyleigh4276 · 08-25-2007, 07:22 AM

I have two ac adapters and a car adapter. It's not coming on with any of them. What is a multimeter?

**TheMatt** · 08-25-2007, 12:29 PM

It can test voltage and current among other things.

I think at this point its safe to say that the motherboard is the problem. Is the laptop still under warranty?

08-13-2007, 05:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
stacyleigh4276 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 11 OS: xp	IBM Thinkpad A31 Hi! I am curiuos if anyone can help me. Ok here is the problem: First off I have everything it came with. The docking station, the original battery, car charger, ac charger. Ok the way the laptop has been operated in the last 2 months was plugged in the wall and in the laptop. So using ac power. My batter never charged all the way up the furthest it would go was 73%. Anyhow somehow the plug was unplugged from the laptop leaving it running off the battery, and now no matter how you try to power on the laptop you can't. If you plug the ac adapter in you can see that it comes on just for a second the z shows in green, and the batteryplus sign in orange. Its like it comes on then goes directly back off. Can someone suggest how to correct this problem... Shouldn't it still run from the wall outlet regardless if the battery is comepletely dead? See I kind of feel like it's the batter issue; but is there a way I rule that out by using the docking station or somehintg? I don't know but help would be greatly appreciated.

08-13-2007, 10:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: IBM Thinkpad A31 Hi Stacy, and welcome to TSF! First, take the battery out and try to boot up the laptop on AC power without the battery in. Then try to boot just running on battery. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

08-14-2007, 03:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
stacyleigh4276 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 11 OS: xp	Re: IBM Thinkpad A31 Ok I tried both ways of booting; however I get the same response. It comes on for a split second. and then goes right back off... ???

08-14-2007, 09:14 AM	#4 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: IBM Thinkpad A31 Do you hear any beeps? I would start by swapping out the RAM. First re-seat each stick. Then, try running with one stick, then the other. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

08-14-2007, 03:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
stacyleigh4276 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 11 OS: xp	Re: IBM Thinkpad A31 Only one beep; then today was the first time I actually could see the very very beginning of the startup and it will go black and say 0190 critical low battery error... And this was while I was strictly going from the ac adapter...

08-14-2007, 04:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: IBM Thinkpad A31 I would start by swapping out the RAM. First re-seat each stick. Then, try running with one stick, then the other. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

08-14-2007, 04:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
stacyleigh4276 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 11 OS: xp	Re: IBM Thinkpad A31 Ok after the process of elimination I am 99% sure it needs a new cmos battery. The reason I think this is because I have the dock everything and even by running strictly on ac adapter it still says low battery. (the error message) Not to mention a few days back when the laptop was running it continiously lost time. what do you think? Where can I find one if so and are they expensive?

08-14-2007, 04:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: IBM Thinkpad A31 I don't think it is the CMOS battery. Have you tried re-seating the RAM like I mentioned? __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

08-14-2007, 04:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
stacyleigh4276 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 11 OS: xp	Re: IBM Thinkpad A31 Yes... that is why I think it might be the cmos... but i don't know. just after trial and error that is the only thing I can come up with. and i remember in school they said if you notice you clock stays messed up, then you battery is going dead; isn't that the cmos? i don't know got any advice?

08-14-2007, 04:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: IBM Thinkpad A31 Yes, that would indicate a failing CMOS battery. Most computers take a CR2032 battery, but some also take a CR2025 battery which is slightly more thin. Most of the time they are interchangeable, but I would go with whichever one your computer had before. To find the CMOS battery in a laptop, look all along the underside of the motherboard. You may have to look along a significant portion of the bottom and remove several panels to get to it. Also, look under the keyboard of the laptop. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

08-14-2007, 05:08 PM	#11 (permalink)
stacyleigh4276 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 11 OS: xp	Re: IBM Thinkpad A31 Ok thank you so much... I found what I think is the battery... circle close to quarter size in yellow plastic with two wires which in turn connects it to the board. Would this be it?

08-14-2007, 07:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: IBM Thinkpad A31 Yes. You have to get a replacement for it. It should have a number on it, likely 2032. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

08-24-2007, 03:58 PM	#13 (permalink)
stacyleigh4276 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 11 OS: xp	Re: IBM Thinkpad A31 Replaced the CMOS and it still isn't working/?>>

08-24-2007, 04:07 PM	#14 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: IBM Thinkpad A31 While you are in there, take the battery out for around a half hour and put it back in. Boot up and see if clearing the CMOS (what you just did) works. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

08-24-2007, 04:56 PM	#16 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: IBM Thinkpad A31 Yes, that is it. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

08-24-2007, 06:42 PM	#17 (permalink)
stacyleigh4276 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 11 OS: xp	Re: IBM Thinkpad A31 No it didn't work. this is about to drive me insane

08-24-2007, 06:54 PM	#18 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: IBM Thinkpad A31 Do you have a multimeter or other power adapter? I am thinking it is the power adapter that is dead. The battery drained and it can't charge again. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

08-25-2007, 07:22 AM	#19 (permalink)
stacyleigh4276 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 11 OS: xp	Re: IBM Thinkpad A31 I have two ac adapters and a car adapter. It's not coming on with any of them. What is a multimeter?

08-25-2007, 12:29 PM	#20 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: IBM Thinkpad A31 It can test voltage and current among other things. I think at this point its safe to say that the motherboard is the problem. Is the laptop still under warranty? __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides