T30 trouble starting up

[JayEll]

I have a T30 ThinkPad running Windows XP. When I press the power button to turn it on after it has been turned off for a couple of weeks, it won't start up. I get the lights flash up, and then the power light stays on, but there is no fan and no lighted screen. Sometimes if I unplug it and then try to start it up, it starts up fine. Sometimes I have to remove the battery, then reinstall it and then the computer will start up. Is it just that my battery is old? Is there a backup battery that might be getting weak?

[TuuS]

It's possible you could have a power supply problem. Low voltage and the system won't try to start,or can act unpredictable. Sometimes old batteries could lose a charge if unused for a period of time. What happens if you plug it in and give it an hour to charge before attempting to start?  

If that makes it work more reliably, then you may have a bad battery. Also if removing the battery makes it boot normally, that too sounds like a bad battery.

There is a small battery inside your computer that is used to keep your system settings and clock time, but it shouldn't have any effect on booting.

[JayEll]

I've ordered a replacement battery. Once it's gotten fully charged, I'll see whether the problem resolves. Thanks for your suggestions.

[TuuS]

I would have recommended following my instructions before spending money on a battery, but if you wanted a new one anyway, then it is probably best.

[Mornsgrans]

The T30 sometimes has an issue with a RAM socket. So remove one of the RAMs and test both RAMs each switching both sockets.

[JayEll]

TuuS, I have already done as you suggested.

I'll check out the RAM situation if the battery replacement doesn't improve things. Thank you.

[orion9727]

ram dont like mosture.
you said it was off two weeks?
i notice you live in florida.
let me ask you this.
where it been sitttings is it humid?
sometimes people store a pc in a dacement then go away on vacation and turn off the power.
come back and it throw all sorts of bluescreens.
problem is the silicon will asorb water over time and cant woork it way out.
and old trick is to slow bake the ram mods.
now listen very carefulfully.
it dont take alot of heat to distroy a ram mod in oven.
but if you were to say heat a oven and then then it off or get the temp to stay around 120 -140 that be enough to slowly release any mosture.

t 30 is pretty old and even a netbook today it a better pc even a single core atom beats a p3 tualtin or a P4.
a battery for one will cost allmost waht some netbooks do now and i even seen a lenovo for 179 at best buy that had a amd C60 in it.

they also have a 299 15.5 inch E450 that close to a t30 weight wise just slighy larger,i assume you checked that the plug fits in well and nothing lose and all other things are disco.

like i said might be time to move on only because a battery and a backup battery and mayby a new ram mod will cost what a new laptop dose.
those older ram are more expensive then new ram alot more in fact.
hope it work out and you try the old press the power button for 30 secs battery out and watch it post.

[JayEll]

Hello,

The computer sits on my desk. My house isn't damp. And, I don't think I would ever risk putting my RAM into an oven.

I found a battery online on sale for Cyber Monday for $25. Not a bad price just for an experiment.

Yes, this is an old machine. I hardly use it anymore, and I may just take everything off it and give it away. But occasionally I have needed it for older apps and files.

Thanks for replying!

[Mornsgrans]

Did you try only one RAM in both sockets? You also should remove all attached cards from your T30 like Modem, Network, Bluetooth as well as all drives.

Also Check the USB port from outside whether it is complete an has no short. If you havea docking or port-replicator you can remove the keyboard and turn on the computer with the dockings power-button.

@orion9727:

Disposal of electronic waste in an oven is pollution of the environment and just the wrong way. Maybe it's usual in Boston but not in FL because of the nice countryside and nature

[JayEll]

Mornsgrans LOL!!