Display problems after replacing IBM lap top main board

I don't know about IBM laptops, but on HP Omnibook 6000/6100 laptops there's an eeprom on the mainboard which sometimes has to be flashed (*not* the system BIOS) when the display is replaced, as manufacturers often source their LCDs from different manufacturers and specs of replacement displays may change during product life. When I bought a replacement mainboard for mine I had to use the HP display update utility (HP don't give it out, I had to get it from a 3rd party website) to get it to work correctly with the display as it wasn't configured for it.

This could be completely irrelevant to your situation but perhaps worth looking into.

Morse

It might be relevant. Thanks.

Before ordering any main board I called IBM directly to get part numbers, since their model/type matrix made no sense when looking this one up in the IBM Hardware Reference Manual. (HRM) The model number on this machine was only mentioned once in the HRM, as a completely different configuration than what I have (Less memory, different size drive, less video memory... Hell it told me I had an A22m, not an A21m.)

IBM told me I had two main board options: One with 8MB video memory - same as my original - or one with 16MB video memory. IBM tech support swore up and down that both these main boards were compatible with an A21m model 2628-PRU.

Since nothing is working right, last night I crossed checked the main board numbers IBM supplied against the HRM. The 8MB VGA main board cross referenced to several models of A21m with XGA displays. (Not mine, but at least they were also A21m's.) The main board with 16MB VGA cross referenced to only one model: an A21p with a UXGA display...

Someone else suggested that although both the 8MB and 16MB VGA versions use the same video chipset (ATI Rage Mobility) the 16MB version of the main board is expecting to run at a different (higher) resolution than my lap top display and that's what is producing the weird results.

Right now I have no idea if IBM has a similar fix as you had to use. I do know that they used at least two different XGA displays from different manufacturers in the model line so IBM might have a reason to have a similar utility. Sounds like I need to "dumb down" the VGA system from running at maximum resolution when booting to match the display parameters.

Rick

Nevermind. A second call to IBM confirmed that the first idiot I spoke to at IBM gave me incorrect information. The 16 MB VGA version of the main board isn't compatible with the display in this lap top.

Rick

Have they agreed to exchange the board for the correct one, Rick? I imagine this is a frighteningly expensive item? Laptop manufacturers love to fleece people for spare parts, which is one reason I'm reluctant to replace my Omnibook 6100. It's been patched up a few times with secondhand spares very cheaply, and bits are fairly readily available on eBay for them. If I bought a new one I just know it'd fail one day outside the warranty and I'd be left with a pile of junk!

Morse

BTW: You were right, in a side ways kind of manner. 8-) The 16 MB version of the board cross referenced to the only model A21 that came with a UXGA display. The main board with 8 MB video memory cross referenced to 4 models that only came with XGA displays. Still didn't cross reference to my model in the HRM, but that was enough to explain the display mysteries. The second call to IBM confirmed it - the 16MB VGA version expects to "see" a UXGA display and can't be dumbed down with an EEPROM utility to run at a lower resolution.

I went through an IBM parts distributor that sells "refurbished by IBM" parts and new parts. Translates: IBM tested board with warranty, possibly a pull. (I asked them what "refurb" meant before I ordered.) But not an EPay mystery part with the usual "NEW PART BUT I HAVE NO IDEA IF IT WORKS NO REFUNDS" disclaimer.

The wrong main board as a refurb. cost $155.00 and the correct one is $151.00. Free shipping. No hassles at all about the return. But the "Ouch!" is the distributor has a 25% restocking fee policy. I'm going to ask them if they will knock the restocking fee in half, since I got the RMA for the wrong board and placed the order for the correct board in the same phone call. The restocking fee is a bit stiff, but I certainly wasn't expecting IBM to give me bad information about compatible part numbers.

New, the main board would have cost $575.00 - just ridiculous.

FWIW they are at:

And sell a ton of stuff and parts - not just for IBM lap tops. Just make sure you know what you are ordering because of that restocking fee.

Rick

It's a racket many online companies seem to indulge in. I returned a 19" TFT monitor to an online seller here in the UK which was completely dead and tested thoroughly before I returned it to make sure I hadn't screwed up. They claimed it worked perfectly when they received it back of course, and tried to keep 60UKP of my money!

One rather insistant phone call later and they agreed to drop the restocking fee, no doubt because I pointed out this was the second duff monitor they'd sent me- the first was damaged!

I'd try getting the fee waived, remind them they are getting another sale and they may relent. You can always fall back on getting it halved if they won't waive it altogether.

Yep, HP charge 800UKP for a display assembly (complete lid) for the Omnibook

6100, and they don't, or at least didn't, sell spare parts like inverters or backlight tubes so you have to fork out 800 UKP or buy a new laptop. Even the hinges, which are highly prone to failure, were non-replaceable.

I had to chuckle at this:

Part No. F1711-69103 Description: HP - PENTIUM II 300MHZ 32KB L1 CACHE 512KB L2 CACHE 66MHZ FSB SLOT-1 PROCESSOR FOR OMNIBOOK (F1711-69103). REFURBISHED. IN STOCK. 90$

I think that'll be on their shelves long enough to become a valuable antique. In fact, at that price it looks like it already has!

I'd love to know how one refurbishes a CPU anyway!

Morse

Install a new $3 fan.

--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

Morse, you seen this one?

Got the replacement board, slapped it in and...

Dead. Well, let's call it barely on life support: The battery charge indicator works and the battery seems to be charging. At least I know the thing is getting power. But other than that, hit the power button and all I get is a split second of the cooling fan doing a twitch and the hard drive status LED flashes a split second - whether the hard drive is in the bay or not. Nothing else. None of the other status LED's light, no screen display - nuttin'.

So far I've reseated the cpu, reseated the mini PCI card, reseated and then pulled the RAM, pulled the hard drive and CD ROM, pulled the battery. No change.

I can't see how I could have introduced a short considering the way ThinkPads assemble. There are only 3 direct board to board connections and only one plastic insulation shield that goes under the keyboard. All screws are accounted for.

Having pulled all components that the HRM said to pull and there is still no change any other suggestions for troubleshooting this? Or does it seem like a dead main board right out of the bag? What this one is doing is only slightly different than the won't power up problem with the original main board that went bad. I'm a little suspicious of the replacement board because it came with a CMOS battery and the mini PCI cables already attached - not "stock" items to come with an IBM replacement main board.

Rick

Rick wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@rcn.com:

YEP. Other possibility is that 1) battery is bad, can't supply any significant current AND 2) power adapter is bad, can't supply any significant current. Try swapping with another unit if you can find anyone that has one.

Even with NEW stock, chances of getting a bad replacement are significant.

[you ARE sure you reconnected all the cables, etc., correctly, right? :)]

--
bz    	73 de N5BZ k

please pardon my infinite ignorance, the set-of-things-I-do-not-know is an 
infinite set.

bz+ser@ch100-5.chem.lsu.edu   remove ch100-5 to avoid spam trap

Hi

Actually I did - I have two ThinkPads that use the same battery and PS - no difference.

After I sent this I did two other things I forgot about: Pulled the CMOS battery. And tried the "secret" IBM trick to reset a stuck ThinkPad - remove battery pack and AC power, hit the power on button 10 times. Didn't help.

Really? On new stock parts? See below about this particular part though:

This made me so paranoid I even checked to make sure I didn't insert the "can only be inserted one way" cpu wrong. But thanks for asking. 8-)

For all the "chinese puzzle box" disassenbly/assembly procedures you have to go through on ThinkPads there are next to no cables or connections you can screw up. The only cable connects stand out - because they have to be addressed in the disassembly/assembly. And those are only a ribbon for the floppy (in this model), a ribbon to the LCD display, a single cable for speakers and mic., and a cable to the mini PCI card. All keyed, of course. That's it for cables. The only other connections are 3 board to board snap in connections. All I'm saying is that after you have done it once it's practically impossible to do it wrong. But I checked anyway. 8-)

I think I got a dud board that someone returned for a refund when they swapped it with their own defective board. (Not like that's ever happened before...) I looked further at the packaging and it leads me to believe it was a restock and not a direct from IBM part as promised. I also checked the IBM part number on it and it's the same number as the board I'm trying to replace. Which means it has the same inherent defect that led my original board to fail. I already know IBM has a different FRU number for the redesigned board.

Since I can't do much of anything else at this point, I'm going to drop my original board back in just to see if all the peripherals are still ok. That board will at least boot, it's just a question of how long it will run before it locks up hard. (Lotso IBM ThinkPads out there with this "feature.") So if it powers up with the old board I know they sent me a dud.

Onto board number *three* when I call this place on Tuesday. In case you missed it: Board #1 was ordered based on IBM saying it was compatible with this model ThinkPad. It wasn't. Worked, but wasn't compatible with the display. Board #2 - current dud. Board #3....?

I'm either persistent or insane.

Rick

Rick wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@rcn.com:

third choice: every one else is crazy! :)

Good luck and it looks like you won't be bored for the next few days. :)

--
bz    	73 de N5BZ k

please pardon my infinite ignorance, the set-of-things-I-do-not-know is an 
infinite set.

bz+ser@ch100-5.chem.lsu.edu   remove ch100-5 to avoid spam trap

Pulled it out, swapped back to the original board - everything works as well as it can with the original main board. At least it confirmed the main board they sent was definitely a dud. What a tedious PITA this is getting to be...

Rick