I have an IBM Laptop. I don't think the model or anything really matters for the question though....but let me know if it does. I have a mobile internet card through Sprint. Saturday I turned on my laptop....inserted my mobile card....and it wouldn't read that it was there. It just kept asking me me to install the card. Later that afternoon I tried again, and it read my card and I could get on line. Sunday, I do the same things....and it can't read that my card is there. Today, I turn everything on, and still won't read the card. I take the card out, look inside and see nothing. I blow it out with air, blow off my card with air. Try to insert again. Nothing. Then, my computer turns itself off, and won't power up! I can't get Bruce from GooRoo on the phone..and I'm panicking as this is my link to online school. Does anyone have any ideas?
It Turns On Now! Woohoo! My stepdad suggested that I remove the battery...and now it turns on! I'm waiting to see if it will read my mobile card......it won't. Maybe this card slot needs to be replaced? Any ideas on cost or something else to try?
With the battery being removed, that sort of negates my next question... but I'll ask it anyway. Do you shut down fully, suspend, or hibernate when you're done working? My experiences with adding/removing PCMCIA cards has always been a tad "difficult" if you do a lot of swapping, but are using Hibernate or Suspend to power down.
Got it fixed yet??? Post the model number, it does relate. Each model is different in hardware. Each model has it's own little quirks on PCMCI protocols. Please let us know what OS your running. First off take you mobile card to a Sprint store and have them check it or try it in another laptop before you fool with your units setup. I don't suggest trying it in another laptop unless you know the card does not have a short. If the card checks OK, the PCMCI can be fixed by removing the device from device manager and reboot. Make sure you download the driver first or have the original CD. If the device is not recognized at reboot you have a hardware failure in the slot. If it is recognized let windows reinstall the driver and give it a try. We'll grow from there if it still doesn't work. If you had a problem at boot with the battery in, the first 3 diagnostic to run are: DC Power circuits, power brick, battery and battery charging circuits. Failure at boot and, battery related, is way to complex to type in here what to do. If you now have the unit running I suggest you still have the unit checked. Intermittent power problems in laptops lead to bigger problems if you don't address them when they first rear their ugly heads.
Ok When I went to take the mobile card out of the slot yesterday afternoon, it cut my laptop off. I had to remove the battery twice to get it to start back up. I tested the card on my husbands laptop Saturday night, and it worked fine. I finally got ahold of someone at GooRoo late yesterday who told me that more than likely I had a short somewhere. He also suggested that I reinstall the software for the mobile card. He said it would probably take, but if it shorted again, I shouldn't try to reinstall it, and that the final conclusion would probably be to replace the motherboard, which he didn't recommend due to cost. So, for the specs....it is IBM Thinkpad 600 Pentium II w/512 & 128 memory I am running Windows 2000
First off, stop using the unit. Take the battery out and do not put it back in anymore. You have a power problem and continued use will only cause more damage. The thinkpad 600 has a notorious problem with the battery. The smartcard in the battery pack is actually "stupid" .. lol. It's suppose to tell the PC when the voltage drops and the PC then hibernates to prevent data loss on current use. Stop playing with the mobile card and the slot. They're OK. Your problem is in the power, charging, and battery circuits. And "I" would not say, just yet, that you need a motherboard. That's the answer that the "lazy" tech's will give you. You may just have a loose power plug on the motherboard. The plug costs $25 and to resolder it on is $90. Far less than a motherboard replacement. There was a recall on that battery by IBM and you may still qualify for a free replacement. We'll have to check it with your battery # and the unit serial #. I want you to unplug the power pack from the wall. The battery should not be in the unit Take the plug that goes into the back of the laptop from the power pack and gently plug it into the laptop. Now "gently" wiggle it side to side and up and down. What we're trying to see is if there is any play in your power socket on the laptop. Don't force the wiggle just do it gently. Let me know what you find.
OK I did what you suggested. I do believe that there is some play where I plug the power cord into the back of the laptop. And it kind of makes a clicking sound. The battery has 2 different numbers on it. On the side it is 320002019. On the flat part of the battery, it is J16EG5721R8. The SN for the laptop is 78-HK518, the type is 2645-51U, and the date is 11/98. I REALLY appreciate your help DDRDAN!
Glad to help. I don't like getting ripped off on unecessary repairs so I try to help others as much as possible. If the plug is making a click sound I think that may be your problem. The solder point to the motherboard is loose or broken and making that noise. That and the fact that your unit won't start "everytime" shows a high chance of that being the power fault. Your battery is not on the recall list. That loose plug connection is a common problem, I call the power cord the "trip" cord. Cause at some time, while it's plugged into the unit, your going to trip over it. That and continued use causes those plugs to fail. Also, in that model, if the power is intermittant the charging circuit will shut down all power and that's why you have to take the battery out to get it to start. I'll PM my contact info if you want it fixed. A note for all laptop users: If your using your unit on AC power for long periods take the battery out when it's 100% charged. Leaving it in after 100% while on AC power decreases the lifespan of the battery. Don't worry, you can put the battery back in while on AC power if you want to move the unit and keep it running. The manufacturers won't tell you this because they like selling $20 batteries for $150.