IBM Thinkpad Problem - Please help!!!

aviationbuff78 · 29th March 2009, 11:42 AM

I have an IBM Thinkpad R40 model. It has worked brilliantly for wireless ADSL Internet use for my wife and I at home, but recently, a problem has arisen

Out of nowhere, vertical lines form across the screen until it gets progressively worse that you cant see anything you have typed, accessed, and the need to re start. The problem then arises again sometimes at start up or up to 15 minutes after start up.

A family friend has told us, who works in IT, that the processor is gone.

How do I go about getting someone to put a refurbished one, or does anyone know of an IBM contact/repair center I can call/take it into?

Anyones help would be really appreciated!!! Thank you and wishing you all a great day/week ahead.

Eli4672 · 29th March 2009, 1:03 PM

That sounds more like a memory / video memory / video hardware problem, depending on what you have in your R40.

Furthermore, there's almost no chance that it will be financially viable to repair a laptop that old.

You'll probably end up replacing it.

aviationbuff78 · 29th March 2009, 2:24 PM

I was hoping id be able to get a second-hand part, or if anyone out there knows of an authorised IBM repairer in Melbourne, Ballarat or Geelong area's? I got the bad news that it would be about $400 odd $'s for a new processor. I tried new memory, and no luck! I was hoping to try and get an authorised dealer or anyone who knows where i could get a second-hand processor installed? Thanks all for your kind help! Am a bit budget conscious as I dont have a great deal of spare funds.

mhgarage · 29th March 2009, 2:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aviationbuff78

I was hoping id be able to get a second-hand part, or if anyone out there knows of an authorised IBM repairer in Melbourne, Ballarat or Geelong area's? I got the bad news that it would be about $400 odd $'s for a new processor. I tried new memory, and no luck! I was hoping to try and get an authorised dealer or anyone who knows where i could get a second-hand processor installed? Thanks all for your kind help! Am a bit budget conscious as I dont have a great deal of spare funds.

Again, why would you replace the processor? It is almost certainly a video card problem (be it video card memory or the video card processor)
Does it have the problem when it is plugged into an external monitor?

Just get a new video card for the laptop if it is a secondary unit, or a new motherboard from ebay.

But seriously, why do you want a new processor when the video card problem is so so so so much more likely?

ice_cool · 29th March 2009, 2:37 PM

well for a laptop that old, you should really be looking on the forums/ebay for parts that are being sold off after someone else's laptop has died. or else why not just buy a new laptop? netbooks can be had for about $5-600

aviationbuff78 · 29th March 2009, 2:47 PM

Thanks to everyone who has replied to my thread re vertical lines on IBM Thinkpad R40. Yeah its an 2004-5 model, its getting old, but it worked so well and fast before this. It's in great condition. Someone we know told us its a processor problem, but I'm now convinced by your help that it's a video card problem. I'll try and hook it up to our desk top PC screen to see if the fault occurs etc...I owe you all a big favor.

stmok · 29th March 2009, 9:21 PM

This should help you...

Hardware Maintenance Manual for the ThinkPad R40.
=> ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs...df/13n6183.pdf
(Its 6.4MB)

29th March 2009, 11:42 AM	#1
aviationbuff78 New Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3	IBM Thinkpad Problem - Please help!!! I have an IBM Thinkpad R40 model. It has worked brilliantly for wireless ADSL Internet use for my wife and I at home, but recently, a problem has arisen Out of nowhere, vertical lines form across the screen until it gets progressively worse that you cant see anything you have typed, accessed, and the need to re start. The problem then arises again sometimes at start up or up to 15 minutes after start up. A family friend has told us, who works in IT, that the processor is gone. How do I go about getting someone to put a refurbished one, or does anyone know of an IBM contact/repair center I can call/take it into? Anyones help would be really appreciated!!! Thank you and wishing you all a great day/week ahead.

29th March 2009, 2:24 PM	#3
aviationbuff78 New Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3	Thankyou! I was hoping id be able to get a second-hand part, or if anyone out there knows of an authorised IBM repairer in Melbourne, Ballarat or Geelong area's? I got the bad news that it would be about $400 odd $'s for a new processor. I tried new memory, and no luck! I was hoping to try and get an authorised dealer or anyone who knows where i could get a second-hand processor installed? Thanks all for your kind help! Am a bit budget conscious as I dont have a great deal of spare funds.

29th March 2009, 2:37 PM	#5
ice_cool Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,303	well for a laptop that old, you should really be looking on the forums/ebay for parts that are being sold off after someone else's laptop has died. or else why not just buy a new laptop? netbooks can be had for about $5-600 __________________ w3520, dfi ut x58, corsair dominator gt 6gb, HIS HD 4850, 2x250gb seagtes raid 0 DS-Lite.NINTENDO™ DS Lite Owners Club Member #0049 Successful trades: butters OC'd, Rolan, Borgod, bazadilligaf, skyline34, decksla, cracka. + many more

29th March 2009, 2:47 PM	#6
aviationbuff78 New Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3	Thanks once again for help!! :) Thanks to everyone who has replied to my thread re vertical lines on IBM Thinkpad R40. Yeah its an 2004-5 model, its getting old, but it worked so well and fast before this. It's in great condition. Someone we know told us its a processor problem, but I'm now convinced by your help that it's a video card problem. I'll try and hook it up to our desk top PC screen to see if the fault occurs etc...I owe you all a big favor.

29th March 2009, 1:03 PM	#2
Eli4672 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 70	That sounds more like a memory / video memory / video hardware problem, depending on what you have in your R40. Furthermore, there's almost no chance that it will be financially viable to repair a laptop that old. You'll probably end up replacing it.

29th March 2009, 9:21 PM	#7
stmok (Taking a Break) Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Sydney Posts: 6,271	This should help you... Hardware Maintenance Manual for the ThinkPad R40. => ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs...df/13n6183.pdf (Its 6.4MB)