[RESOLVED] A Thinkpad is NOT a coffee filter!

August 27th, 2001, 07:08 AM

I have a user that spilled coffee all over his A20m Thinkpad.
Upon opening it up I found that the system board was toast.
I replace the System board, the battery, and the sticky keyboard.

After rebuilding it I find that I get no picture, the power LED lights up and the hard drive spins up.

I'm thinking that the CPU, which is removable might be toast.

Could it be anything else. I ask because we already spent over $1400 in parts!

CaDeRLY

MacGyver · August 27th, 2001, 07:44 AM

At this point, I would cut the losses and toss the thing. When it's that badly toasted, there's no point trying to fix it.

The one thing I can think of is that the ribbon cable from the mainboard to the display panel is either disconnected or gummed up with dried coffee goo. Check that.

August 27th, 2001, 08:11 AM

I'll try that!

Tossing it out is not an option at this point, well its not a wanted option.

Thanx MacGyver!

Worldsci · August 27th, 2001, 11:58 AM

just curious did you buy extended 3 years warranty? because the warranty should cover it.

Outcoded · August 27th, 2001, 12:19 PM

My whole knowledge of fixing laptop h/ware probs:

Turn it off.
Take out everything removable.
Put it back in again.
Turn it on.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it don't.

August 27th, 2001, 04:30 PM

Nope, didn't get the 3 year warr and no it didn't help to pull everything out and put it back together.

The warranty would cover coffee damage??

It turns out that the CPU is toast as well, took out the DIMMs and it didn't beep at all.
Swapped a CPU with another TP and it booted up!

I called IBM on Friday, CPU $846, I called today and the CPU is $1,980!!

I called Intel, CPU is only $499 Canadian!

IBM SUCKS!!

I will have to wait five business days though, but I still save $1,481!! Pretty Sweet!

Thanx guys for all your help!!

CaDeRLY

*Damned Angel* · August 27th, 2001, 07:27 PM

If this happen in the users home, his homeowners insurance will cover it. I know because I dealt with the exact same thing about a month ago with a Toshiba notebook.

August 27th, 2001, 07:08 AM	#1
CaDeRLY Guest Posts: n/a	A Thinkpad is NOT a coffee filter! I have a user that spilled coffee all over his A20m Thinkpad. Upon opening it up I found that the system board was toast. I replace the System board, the battery, and the sticky keyboard. After rebuilding it I find that I get no picture, the power LED lights up and the hard drive spins up. I'm thinking that the CPU, which is removable might be toast. Could it be anything else. I ask because we already spent over $1400 in parts! CaDeRLY

August 27th, 2001, 11:58 AM	#4
Worldsci Registered User Join Date: Jun 1999 Location: Toronto Posts: 74	just curious did you buy extended 3 years warranty? because the warranty should cover it. __________________ No one cares how hard you worked, they want result!

August 27th, 2001, 12:19 PM	#5
Outcoded Senior Member - 1000+ Club Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Somewhere in the UK, never quite sure where Posts: 1,689	My whole knowledge of fixing laptop h/ware probs: Turn it off. Take out everything removable. Put it back in again. Turn it on. Sometimes it works, sometimes it don't. __________________ I'm in charge and I say we blow it up

August 27th, 2001, 07:27 PM	#7
Damned Angel MegaMod Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 2,582	If this happen in the users home, his homeowners insurance will cover it. I know because I dealt with the exact same thing about a month ago with a Toshiba notebook. __________________ "we're all amateurs, it's just that some of us are more professional about it than others" ----George Carlin The above post is © Damned Angel 1999-Present

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August 27th, 2001, 07:44 AM	#2
MacGyver Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Ottawa Posts: 4,231	At this point, I would cut the losses and toss the thing. When it's that badly toasted, there's no point trying to fix it. The one thing I can think of is that the ribbon cable from the mainboard to the display panel is either disconnected or gummed up with dried coffee goo. Check that.

August 27th, 2001, 08:11 AM	#3
CaDeRLY Guest Posts: n/a	I'll try that! Tossing it out is not an option at this point, well its not a wanted option. Thanx MacGyver!

August 27th, 2001, 04:30 PM	#6
CaDeRLY Guest Posts: n/a	Nope, didn't get the 3 year warr and no it didn't help to pull everything out and put it back together. The warranty would cover coffee damage?? It turns out that the CPU is toast as well, took out the DIMMs and it didn't beep at all. Swapped a CPU with another TP and it booted up! I called IBM on Friday, CPU $846, I called today and the CPU is $1,980!! I called Intel, CPU is only $499 Canadian! IBM SUCKS!! I will have to wait five business days though, but I still save $1,481!! Pretty Sweet! Thanx guys for all your help!! CaDeRLY