Problem with IBM Think Pad

Wettelander · 09-22-2009, 03:10 PM

Hello -
Was wondering if someone might have a suggestion for me. My brother just got an older IBM Think Pad laptop T-42. We connected it to the internet using a wireless connection. About 3 minutes after the computer loads up, the computer just shuts off. After waiting about 10 minutes, it'll boot back up but shuts off again. Any idea what could be causing this?

I know that there have been issues with the batteries in this particular computer but even when running off of A/C power, it keeps shutting off.

Any help or recommendations appreciated.

Madcatz · 09-22-2009, 03:29 PM

sounds like it may be overheating. I would take out the 4 screws holding the keyboard in, lift the keyboard up, then use a can of compressed air and blow out the fan, make sure to spray air in from the outside of the fan grill also.

You don't need to liftup the keyboard, but its better as it gives the dust somewhere to go other than inside the laptop.

Wettelander · 09-22-2009, 03:46 PM

Thanks for the response, Madcatz.

I took the four screws out but could not get the keyboard to release. I was afraid I'd pop the keys off trying to pry it. I don't have any compressed air. I will run out and find a can.

Wettelander · 09-22-2009, 05:08 PM

Okay, here's what's happening. I can now use the laptop if offline and without the wireless network adaptor plugged in. As one can tell, I'm not very computer savvy.

When I hooked up the computer to wireless internet, I installed a new WNAdaptor with the compatible router. The computer already had an Intel wireless adaptor driver installed but I disabled that. Could there be some kind of conflict there causing the computer to just shut off after I'm connected to the internet?

Wettelander · 09-22-2009, 05:15 PM

Spoke and posted too soon. After about 20 minutes the computer shut off again.

Madcatz · 09-23-2009, 06:32 AM

when it shuts down, is it hot on the bottom of the computer?

Wettelander · 09-23-2009, 07:35 AM

There aren't any hot spots anywhere on the computer, Madcatz. The A/C adaptor is warm but not really hot. I am getting some compressed air today to try blowing out the fan vent, etc. I'll post the results. Thanks for your help.

Wettelander · 09-23-2009, 02:53 PM

Okay, we took the laptop to a computer shop that was having a free diagnosis day. The guy who sold my brother the thing had been running the wrong A/C adaptor and the tech said that it damaged the power unit but could be repaired. He said that a correct adaptor would not correct the problem at this point. Will probably have it repaired.

Thanks again, Madcatz for your help.

Madcatz · 09-23-2009, 03:03 PM

Your welcome, but did he tell you a price at all? Most likely he is talking about replacing the motherboard.

Wettelander · 09-23-2009, 03:15 PM

Yes, $125 to fix the problem and $65 for the correct A/C adapter. I am assuming the motherboard needs replacing. I did not go to the repair shop with my brother and he wasn't sure about it. He knows even less than I do, but that's not saying much as we're both not very savvy.

We're going to try and get his money back for the laptop ($150) before deciding to get it repaired at this particular place or anywhere else.

09-22-2009, 03:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
Wettelander Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 7 OS: xp pro	Problem with IBM Think Pad Hello - Was wondering if someone might have a suggestion for me. My brother just got an older IBM Think Pad laptop T-42. We connected it to the internet using a wireless connection. About 3 minutes after the computer loads up, the computer just shuts off. After waiting about 10 minutes, it'll boot back up but shuts off again. Any idea what could be causing this? I know that there have been issues with the batteries in this particular computer but even when running off of A/C power, it keeps shutting off. Any help or recommendations appreciated.

09-22-2009, 03:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Madcatz Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,389 OS: XP/7/Server 2008 My System	Re: Problem with IBM Think Pad sounds like it may be overheating. I would take out the 4 screws holding the keyboard in, lift the keyboard up, then use a can of compressed air and blow out the fan, make sure to spray air in from the outside of the fan grill also. You don't need to liftup the keyboard, but its better as it gives the dust somewhere to go other than inside the laptop. __________________ memtest86+ \| Hard Drive Diags \| Speed Fan \| Unknown Device Identifier

09-22-2009, 03:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
Wettelander Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 7 OS: xp pro	Re: Problem with IBM Think Pad Thanks for the response, Madcatz. I took the four screws out but could not get the keyboard to release. I was afraid I'd pop the keys off trying to pry it. I don't have any compressed air. I will run out and find a can. Last edited by Wettelander; 09-22-2009 at 03:47 PM. Reason: to add

09-22-2009, 05:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Wettelander Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 7 OS: xp pro	Re: Problem with IBM Think Pad Okay, here's what's happening. I can now use the laptop if offline and without the wireless network adaptor plugged in. As one can tell, I'm not very computer savvy. When I hooked up the computer to wireless internet, I installed a new WNAdaptor with the compatible router. The computer already had an Intel wireless adaptor driver installed but I disabled that. Could there be some kind of conflict there causing the computer to just shut off after I'm connected to the internet?

09-22-2009, 05:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
Wettelander Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 7 OS: xp pro	Re: Problem with IBM Think Pad Spoke and posted too soon. After about 20 minutes the computer shut off again.

09-23-2009, 06:32 AM	#6 (permalink)
Madcatz Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,389 OS: XP/7/Server 2008 My System	Re: Problem with IBM Think Pad when it shuts down, is it hot on the bottom of the computer? __________________ memtest86+ \| Hard Drive Diags \| Speed Fan \| Unknown Device Identifier

09-23-2009, 07:35 AM	#7 (permalink)
Wettelander Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 7 OS: xp pro	Re: Problem with IBM Think Pad There aren't any hot spots anywhere on the computer, Madcatz. The A/C adaptor is warm but not really hot. I am getting some compressed air today to try blowing out the fan vent, etc. I'll post the results. Thanks for your help.

09-23-2009, 02:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
Wettelander Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 7 OS: xp pro	Re: Problem with IBM Think Pad Okay, we took the laptop to a computer shop that was having a free diagnosis day. The guy who sold my brother the thing had been running the wrong A/C adaptor and the tech said that it damaged the power unit but could be repaired. He said that a correct adaptor would not correct the problem at this point. Will probably have it repaired. Thanks again, Madcatz for your help.

09-23-2009, 03:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
Madcatz Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,389 OS: XP/7/Server 2008 My System	Re: Problem with IBM Think Pad Your welcome, but did he tell you a price at all? Most likely he is talking about replacing the motherboard. __________________ memtest86+ \| Hard Drive Diags \| Speed Fan \| Unknown Device Identifier

09-23-2009, 03:15 PM	#10 (permalink)
Wettelander Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 7 OS: xp pro	Re: Problem with IBM Think Pad Yes, $125 to fix the problem and $65 for the correct A/C adapter. I am assuming the motherboard needs replacing. I did not go to the repair shop with my brother and he wasn't sure about it. He knows even less than I do, but that's not saying much as we're both not very savvy. We're going to try and get his money back for the laptop ($150) before deciding to get it repaired at this particular place or anywhere else.