Help! From 1-3-3-1 error to blank screen

Question

I have a T42 laptop which I bought in Jan 2005.  The past few days, I have not been able to get the PC to boot -- it would go through the IBM screen to a blank screen and then beep 1-3-3-1.  According to online research, that code would appear to be a memory issue.  I removed the memory chip (512) and tried it in both the internal slot under the keyboard (where it was) and the slot in the back of the machine.  Now when I try to boot the PC, it either goes (1) to IBM screen, then directly to blank screen, though battery and circle/z light are green and I can hear the fan going, or (2) from IBM screen to a config screen, then if i press any key whatsoever, it goes to the prior described blank screen.
Any ideas???
Follow up:
This time when I got to the config screen, I was able to enter the time/date page, and it said the date was 01/01/1988.  Huh.  As I tried to type in the correct date, I had pressed 09 tab and the screen went to black.
Message Edited by maeisner on 09-08-2008 10:17 AM

Answer 1

Hello Maeisner,
your TP suffers from a problem called "flexing". Your gfx chip became loose and therefore the screen goes blank
unfortunately you´ll need a new motherboard.
Try to boot with a Linux Live Cd, when screen goes blank, buy a new mobo.
And the always carry with closed lid and with two hands, otherwise you´ll get the same problem again.
Hopefully your system is under warranty.
Greets 
Andreas
Message Edited by Agotthelf on 09-08-2008 09:38 PM
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