Thinkpad T400 Motherboard Replacement Advice

I accidentally dropped my T400 into water(Fell from a table into a water container). The service technician who checked it told me that motherboard's not working and has to be replaced. Now I am not sure whether to invest in the motherboard or buy a new one(I had a core 2 duo P8700 which is a decent processor and these days you get and i3's and i5's from $600).
Couple of things here is
1) T series right now would be outside my budget range.(student)
2) I am not sure if I would be happy with the lower end thinkpads/Dells/HP.
So any suggestion at thi\s point?
Would replacing a motherboard be worthwhile(The technician told me it would be around 300- 350 range.
Should I go with a new one or should I get the motherboard replaced?

Ouch...
What else is broken on it? Did any other parts survive the dunking- the screen, hard drive, RAM, battery, keyboard/UltraNav, fingerprint reader, speakers, or other motherboard modules such as WiFi and Bluetooth?
It might be a good idea to try to score a used one through the usual channels- they're around that costly (less than $450 anyways)- and just write off the other one, depending on how many other parts still work.
How much water did it fall into, anyways? Was it a full 5-gallon jug, or was it just an inch or two of water that killed it?

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T400, motherboard replaced and Windows 7 says it is not a legal license

Hi, we have a T400, it had a problem with the motherboard and the local tech support replaced it. Now Windows says that the Windows 7 is not legal, that a Legal version of Windows should be buyed. This is a Windows 7 32bits, English. Pre-installed on the ThinkPad T400. In System Properties, at the botom, it says: Windows Activated But when I run the Windows Genuine Website, it says it is not a legal copy. Also, a pop-up appears near the time and says it is not a legal copy of windows. Should I call Microsoft an re-activate Windows 7? Many thanks Oliver

Hi, I checked the BIOS and it has the same serial and type as in the printed label on the botom of the notebook. Also, checked que SLIC and it is present. I used everest software in order to check: http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/03/03/slic-table-slicbin-or-acpislicbin-bios-file-for-oems-downlo... I will try these steps in order to see what happends: http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T400-T500-and-newer-T-series/T410-update-new-BIOS-SLIC-misssing/m-p/2851... Regards, Oliver

T400 Motherboard replacement

I have a T400 and I'm thinking the MOBO is bad, it boots up then after a little while (5-20 min) it will freeze up, then after a few minutes it shuts off on it's own and reboots. Whewn it starts the screen goes black then after a few minutes it reboots again, then tells me windows did not load properly.
I have checked everything over many times and can't find any other problem
it is a T400 7417-RH4
The current mobo is FRU 60Y 3751
Would a 60Y 3761 be a compatible replacement?
Lenovo A1-07, T40 Thinkpad, T400 Thinkpad, iPhone 4s

Just to make sure, the hard drive has no bad sectors, right?
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Thinkpad T400S (multitouch) Vs. MacBook Pro

Hello,
I am recently going to purchase a labtop (for work) and am undecided between the Lenovo T400 S (multitouch) and the Mac Book Pro.
Advantage Thinkpad (previous experience)
- My last past 3 laptops are Thinkpad (no defect what so ever)
- Reliable & Strong (I saw about 3 months ago my baby girl (2yrs) standing on the labtop, & it still works )
- Multiple OS (Windows and Linux) support
Advantage MacBook
- Sleek design (Beautiful)
- MAC OS + Other OS (Windows, Linux, Unix) Compatibility
- Presentations style are great
Both are very similar in price (MacBook Pro = Thinkpad +200$ )
Configuration for both are similar:
- solid state drive
- WiFi/WiMax
- processor very similar
MacBook advantage:
- wider screen
- led screen
- bigger solid state drive
T400S advantage:
- multitouch
Questions:
1. Can the T400S support Mac OS? How about Linux (Debian)?
2. How strong is the casing compared to MacBook Pro or other Thinkpad?
3. Multitouch compatibility with which OS (Windows, Linux, Unix, MacOS)?
4. What type of SW works with this multitouch? CAD applications? Google Earth? Office applications? Vi editor?
5. Can this labtop (in theory) run all these applications: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89sz8ExZndc
Thanks
Gus

1. It probably needs some work around to do so, but it is not natively supported out of the box.
2. Well you can drive a truck over it, and still relatively undamaged in the hdd, motherboard, etc.... LCD is cracked. Don't think you can do that on a macbook pro. Even dropping a macbook pro is not advisable since the hinge on every generation of Macbooks are so fragile, dropping them could cause the cable in these hinges to break.. oh there is not much adjustability in the Macbook Pro screen hinges, so it can go through the 180 degrees of movement like Thinkpads can.
Oh Macbook Pro have built in battery, and anyone whom ever use laptops and that knows, built in battery is headache, when you need to replace them. And from the past, you can't really when Apple products battery would decide to kick the bucket on you.
It also doesn't have docks. When Macbook Pro dies, it dies, whereas Thinkpads you can take it apart and service themselves relatively easily, and use various parts from other thinkpads to resurrect it. Bit like Frankenstein.
Thinkpad T400s isn't suppose to directly against Macbook Pro, since there are T400 and T500, W500 and W700 to do that.
T400s is basically a X301s with bigger screen, more expansion slots and dock connector (Macbooks don't have them).
Macbook Pro are well designed machines, but they are restrictive in terms of aftermarket parts, serviceability and upgradability. I would also say reliability with Macbook Pro past certain years of use are not great.
Regards,
Jin Li
May this year, be the year of 'DO'!
I am a volunteer, and not a paid staff of Lenovo or Microsoft

T40 sound not working after motherboard replaced....bad sound card?

Hello,
I recently brought back to life my old t40 2373-75U by switching out the motherboard (it would no longer charge batteries) with a used R51 1830 motherboard (which I believe was a recommended upgrade by someone on this site).
Anyways, long story short - I have the gently used motherboard now installed and the machine is up and running with my old T40 hard drive. I also have XP-SP3 installed on it, and just had to make a few minor driver updates...everything seems to be working great, EXCEPT I have no sound.
I have tried everything I can think of:
Software:
-un-installing and re-installing the audio driver several times
-installing the 2004 version of the hotkey driver (the 2013 version did not work with my system) because the Access IBM and volume buttons were not working and I thought that might be the culprit
-I believe I updated the BIOS drivers, but not sure if I "flashed" it...admittedly, I don't even know how to do that.
Hardware:
-the hardware in device manager shows that it's working properly
-I've performed the "test hardware" function through the control panel/device manager and it shows a signal with my USB "test" microphone going in and a signal coming out, but still no sound is actually coming out
-lastly, I've tried connecting external speakers to the headphones jack and still nothing..
At this point, all I can think is that the sound card is bad.
Would you agree with this assessment or am I forgetting something?
Thanks for your help.
Solved!
Go to Solution.

I'm not familiar with Linux Mint as I have been a Fedora guy for a long time, but since LM7 was
released in 2009, all audio drivers should be present for your machine. But, as I said, that could
be different for LM.
But you shouldn't have to do anything further regarding codecs or anything else, and since the Soundmax
uninstallation also removed the device as well, then it should be completely reset in the OS. Alas, is there
anything from Via in Control Panel - Add/Remove programs? If so, you should remove that before proceeding.
The driver for your machine is here:
Audio driver for Windows XP
And if you already installed this version, the driver can be found @ C:\DRIVERS\WIN\AUDIO
I did some rummaging through various forums today in regards to your issue, and found this one,
a couple of R51 users chime in there too.
http://forums.windrivers.com/printthread.php?t=73987&pp=40
and in the above link, a user found a solution by following the advise in this post:
http://www.techspot.com/community/topics/audio-drivers-not-found.14328/#post-184512
But instead of getting the drivers mentioned there, you could point to the installation location I
posted above.
One thing they mention in these threads, is running
sfc /scannow
in a command prompt, which checks your OS for essential system files, but for XP you'll
almost certainly need the Windows XP installation media.
Finally, here is another thread on audio issues for a R51 user:
http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f19/solved-ibm-r51-no-sound-512806.html
Sorry for a bit muddled reply, but there you go... something to sink your teeth in at least.
ThinkPad W540 (20BG) - i7-4800MQ/24GB // ThinkPad T440s (20AQ) - i7-4600U/12GB
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ThinkPad W520 (4282-W4Q) - i7-2720QM/32GB // ThinkPad T400 (2767-W1C) - P9500/8GB
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Thinkpad T400 LCD problem

Dear Lenovo Expertise,
My thinkpad is T400; 7417-CTO.
For past one wk, their is a constant "thin yellow" line in the right corner of LCD. It sometimes disappears when I press corner of LCD. But still it re-appears. Its driving me nuts.
Pls tell me what to do. Do i need to replace it ?
Regards,
Dr. Khan

Try eBay:- T400 LCD
Marketplace of forum.thinkpads.com • Index page is another alternative, personally I recommend the forum as I have bought quite a few things from there.
Hope it helps.
Maliha (I don't work for lenovo)
ThinkPads:- T400[Win 7], T60[Win 7], IBM 240[Win XP]
IdeaPad: U350
Apple:- Macbook Air [Snow Leopard]
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Thinkpad T400 Screen broken

Basically, I set my laptop down on my books too hard, and the LCD cracked(Not horribly, but I want it replaced).
After a while of searching with lenovo's system, this is what I found:
http://gyazo.com/b8b094e346dd7263d26c5986d48ea8b5.png
So I assume I need an LCD with Manufacturer's P/N of 42T0495? Does it have to have that part number, or is it fine to find any other PANEL LGD 14.1" WXGA from a thinkpad, or do I have to have a LCD with the FRU number that is the same as it says on the page?
Where would you recommend me buy the LCD?
Any help would be appreciated.
thanks
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Will this screen work?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/380653720307?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
According to your posts, I think it does. But I just want to confirm.
Also, from the photos on eBay, the some LCDs for the screen seem to have different cables on the LCD.
When I opened up my laptop, I took a look at the back of the LCD, there was no cable runnning down from it.
T400 screen with no cable running from it:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lenovo-Thinkpad-R400-T400-14-1-LCD-WXGA-Screen-B141EW05-V-3-42T0699-grade-b-...
Screen with Cable running down the back:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ThinkPad-T400-14-1-LCD-Screen-Panel-42T0580-42T0581-Samsung-LTN141W1-L05-WXG...
Or maybe I'm just being really stupid, cause I unplugged a cable when I removed the LCD. Is that what it is?
Take apart video I used:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2R4oUUM5nc (skip to 3:20 for when he takes off the LCD)
Thanks so much for your help.

Thinkpad T400 won't start just beep 1-3-3-1

I have a thinkpad T400. Couple of months ago the problem started. I could not shut it down it just keep re-booting. I had to press and hold the start button to shut it. Now it won't boot at all. It beeps 1-3-3-1 and just sits there. When I press start button all lights come ON for a while and after only battery , AC and Ready lights stay ON. Here are few things I did so far without any luck:
1. Removed battery and AC adaptor waited few minutes put it back - same problem
2. Removed CMOS battery. DIMM cards waited for ten minutes replaced - same problem
tried with swapping DIMM cards - when I put only one card on top slot it says put the card on zero "bottom" position. After placing the Mem card on the bottom slot no thing happens. It beeps again and sit.
When I checked in the manual it says either DIMM or System board. I do not know which one is giving me the problem. I just do not want to replace all parts without knowing. Can any body help please or had similar issue and solutions if you managed to solve it. Thank you.
Roshni

Could you post your model number from under the laptop? It should be of the form 1234-ABC.
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Problem to come back from sleep mode in Lenovo Thinkpad T400 using Windows XP

Problem to come back from sleep mode in Lenovo Thinkpad T400 using Windows XP. Each time closing the T400 lid and try to make the laptop into a sleep mode for some time, it does not properly come out of sleep mode. Login screen is able to see when opening the lid for the first time, but it only seen for a while before then a black screen on T400 Thinkpad appears. Sometime the hard drive activity can be shown also. And then, to come back I had only one option to hard re-boot.
I tried Fn+F4 and power button once to come back but no use.
Please provide me some solution for this?
Thanks in Advance.

oh sorry and its been closed inbetween uses. When i open it the keyboard doesn't light up and it makes no sound.

My '08 17" macbook pro motherboard replacement has issues

my mac had its motherboard replaced by the recall a couple years back and since i got it back it has been restarting on it's own, if have too much pressure on the keyboard or if the surface under (table) isn't perfectly level.
ONce it restarts - it won't stop until it's level and been powered off and on several times.
I had been living with this problem for the past 2 years as of this february (I believe) until it stopped for 24hrs 3 weeks ago and I was forced to buy again.
My buddy told me it could be because apple hired a 3rd party company to handle the replacements of the recalled motherboards and they neglected to tape a cable that causes the power surge to restart my mac or that they didn't solder the connection.
How can i fix this issue?

Sorry, let me clarify.
Yes, it was the Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT recall
It works, but suffers from restarts when moved from one location to another and must be restarted over and over until the power from the surge stops.
I want to figure out how to fix myself (I do alot of iphone repairs and can handle small fixes) or if needed through apple or a 3rd party.
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Customize ThinkPad T400 with discrete graphics

In Customize ThinkPad T400 with discrete graphics,why the Display type didn't have the option of 14.1 WXGA+ TFT, w/ led Backlight, Camera ?
I just want to buy it.

That LCD option is most likely out of stock. As soon as the LCD panel is in stock, I'm sure the option will be made available for purchase.
\\ I do not respond to PM regarding individual tech support. Keep discussions in the forum for the benefit of others //

[Solved] bluetooth hardware switch - Thinkpad T400

Hello,
I've got a Thinkpad T400 with integrated bluetooth, but I don't really use bluetooth, so I want to disable it to save battery power.
I figured out, how to disable it via laptop-mode-tools on startup, but when I use the hardware switch for Wlan and bluetooth to turn my Wlan on and off again bluetooth starts up again.
I also figured out that I can disable bluetooth via "echo 0 > /sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_acpi/bluetooth_enable".
I want to put that command in a script, that is only executed, when the bluetooth hardware is detected.
Now I'm wondering if any of you guys knows some script, like that.
I've already had a look at the udev files, but I couldn't figure out which one will do the job.
Maybe it's the wrong way and there is a lot easier solution.
Thanks in advance, any help would be appreciated,
David
Last edited by senior_spielbergo (2011-04-02 10:20:47)

I do this for disabling Bluetooth on my X220 ThinkPad using Fn + F9.
I created the file /etc/acpi/actions/bluetooth.sh
#!/bin/bash
BT_RFKILL=$(rfkill list | grep tpacpi_bluetooth_sw | sed 's/$[0-9]\+$:.*/\1/')
BT_STATE=$(/usr/sbin/rfkill list $BT_RFKILL | grep "Soft blocked: yes")
if [ "x" == "x$BT_STATE" ]; then
/usr/sbin/rfkill block $BT_RFKILL
else
/usr/sbin/rfkill unblock $BT_RFKILL
fi
exit 0
And the file /etc/acpi/events/bluetoothconf
event=button/f24.*
action=/etc/acpi/actions/bluetooth.sh
Restart acpid.
# systemctl restart acpid.service
Now I press Fn + F9 to toggle bluetooth off and on.
Rfkill needs to be installed for this to work.
Last edited by David Batson (2013-03-05 13:43:37)

Black shadows appears on bottom of the LCD of my Thinkpad T400 laptop!

There are multiple, technically seven, black shadows appearing on the bottom my lcd like black headlights glowing outwards from the bottom. Sometimes it disappears but now it has appeared agian. I'll be thankful for any suggestion.

Hi Mehran94,
Welcome to Lenovo Community!
As per the query we understood that you are facing issue with Display on your ThinkPad T400.
We have verified the image and the issue is related to LCD panel, but I suggest you to check with reseating the LCD cable on both the side which is connected to the LCD panel and also to the system board.
Please click here to visit the link on how to remove the system hardware parts.
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Hemanth Kumar
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Lenovo B560 motherboard replacement

Hi,
My dear laptop died on me about a month ago. It wouldn't do anything when pressing the power button and the power led would not light when connected to power. Tried with or without the battery, no led, no power. I checked with another cable and I checked my cable on another laptop and it worked so the issue has nothing to do with the power cable.
I took the laptop to my universities repair shop for a diagnosis and they said the Motherboard is dead.
Any suggestion where I could find a brand new motherboard replacement in the UK?
Thanks,
sorband
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Hi Sorband,
unfortunately nothing found in UK, but please have a look at this eBay sales...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0&_nkw=Lenovo+B560+motherboard&_...
may use Google search...
https://www.google.com/#newwindow=1&q=buy+Lenovo+B560+motherboard
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Qosmio F10 won't recover after motherboard replacement

Hi,
I'm having a problem with recovery on my Qosmio F10. It won't boot from the CD, I get a message 'media test failure check cable'.
I tried everything I could find here about this problem with no result. Then I read somewhere on this forum that recovery cd wouldn't work if the laptop has been serviced and has a new motherboard. This is excatly the case.
I had a new motherboard and CD/DVD drive put some time ago.
How do I make it work again?
A.

> Then I read somewhere on this forum that recovery cd wouldn't work if the laptop has been serviced and has a new motherboard. This is exactly the case.
Who has replaced the motherboard? The ASP?
Well, usually the Recovery CD should works after the motherboard replacement.
I presume the parts were replaced with exactly the same parts and therefore there shouldnt be a conflict between the Recovery CD and the new motherboard.
Did you try to boot from another bootable CDs like Win XP or Linux? Check this!

Thinkpad T400 Motherboard Replacement Advice

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