Testing 9552 Common Devices

External Diskette Drive Test
External Display Self-Test
External Keyboard/Auxiliary Input Test
Printer Checkout
Port Replicator Checkout
TrackPoint II Checkout
173 and 11350 Error Combination
High Speed Modem Noise
Missing, discolored or lighted dots on LCD


External Diskette Drive Test
   This procedure will isolate the diskette problem to a controller, drive or diskette. A scratch, write-enabled 2HD diskette is required.

1. Select FDD icon on TEST MENU. Run controller and drive read/write test run. If an error is detected, FRU code 10 appears. In this case, replace the system board.
2. Controller test runs without errors, follow the instructions and insert a scratch disk.
3. FRU code 50 appears If the disk media is known  good, replace the drive or drive cable.



External Display Self-Test
   If the display problem occurs only when using an external display, use these instructions:
Note: Before you replace a display, check the following list to see if it is connected correctly.
   o 8506 and 8508 displays must be connected to an Image or Image-I Adapter/A.
   o 63XX and 85XX systems support either 63XX or 85XX displays.
   o 85XX systems with an XGA-2 adapter support 95XX displays.
   o 95XX systems support either 63XX, 85XX, or 95XX displays.
   o ThinkPad models support either 85XX or 95XX displays.

Screen is rolling
   Replace display assembly. If that does not correct the problem, replace FRUs in the following order until the problem goes away:
   o 1. Video card
   o 2. Display adapter (any type)
   o 3. System board
   o 4. Bus adapter (if used)

Screen is Not Rolling
1. Power-off the computer and display.
2. Disconnect the display signal cable.
3. Power-on the display.
4. Set the contrast to its maximum position.
5. Set the brightness control to the center detent position.

Check for the following conditions:
   o You should be able to vary screen intensity by adjusting contrast and brightness controls.
   o The screen should be white or light gray, with a black margin (test margin) on the screen.

Note:  The location of the test margin varies with the type of display. The test margin might be on
the top, bottom, or one or both sides. If you do not see a test margin on the screen, replace the display. If there is a test margin on the screen, replace the system board.

Note:  On ThinkPad Models 700, 700C, 720C, 720C, do the following:
  1. Video card
  2. System board



External Keyboard/Auxiliary Input Test
   The following auxiliary input devices may be available for IBM ThinkPad models.
    - Numeric keypad
    - Mouse (PS/2 compatible)
    - External keyboard (with Keyboard/Miniature Mouse cable)
   o Suspected problem with any auxiliary input devices (listed above), Replace the device. If the problem is not corrected, replace the following FRUs one at a time to correct the problem.
     - Keyboard control card
     - System board
   o Computer receives an incorrect keyboard response, remove other external devices, check the keyboard connections, and recheck the keyboard responses. If the problem remains, replace the following FRUs one at a time to correct the problem.
    - Keyboard
    - Keyboard control card
    - System board
   o 00030100 error message appears, Power-off the computer and the external devices. Then power-on the computer before you power-on the external devices.


Printer Checkout
1. Make sure the printer is correctly connected and is powered-on.
2. Run the printer self-test.If it does not run correctly, the problem is in the printer. 

Printer self-test runs correctly
1. Verify the port settings in configuration.
2. Install a wrap plug on the port (indicated in configuration) and run advanced diagnostic tests.
3. If the advanced diags (with wrap plug installed) do not detect a failure, replace printer cable.
If the problem is not corrected, replace the system board.



Port Replicator Checkout
   Use this procedure to isolate a port replicator problem. A port replicator attaches to the system
expansion connector at the rear of the computer.
1. Power-off the computer.
2. Remove the failing devices from the replicator.
3. Unplug the AC adapter from the replicator, if attached.
4. Remove the port replicator from the computer.
5. Reconnect the failing device directly to the computer. (If another device occupies the connector, remove it first.)
6. Go to General Checkout and follow that procedure.
7. If the advanced diagnostic device test does not find an error, suspect a problem with the port replicator or the system expansion bus.
8. Power-off the computer and reconnect the port replicator.
9. Power-on the computer and run the following advanced diagnostic tests:
   o Serial port test with the wrap plug installed on the replicator.
   o Parallel port test with the wrap plug installed on the replicator.
   o PCMCIA-2 test with the PC test card installed.
   o FDD-2 (FDD-1 if no drive is installed in the computer) drive test on the failing device.
10. If diagnostic errors appear, replace the replicator or diskette drive attachment unit.
If the problem remains after the replacement, replace the system board.
11. If power problems appear only when using the replicator, replace the replicator.

Intermittent Power Shut-Down
   If power shut downs occur intermittently when using PCMCIA-2 devices via a port replicator, suspect an over-current problem. Some PCMCIA devices use more power; if the maximum usage of each device occurs simultaneously, the total current will exceed the limit, thereby causing a power shut down. Isolate this problem by removing one of the devices, and use the computer
under the same condition, and see whether a power shut down occurs. Do this procedure for all devices then determine the cause. Customer purchase of the larger AC adapter (50W, optional) is recommended, if it is not yet in use.



TrackPoint II Checkout
   o TrackPoint II does not work Check the configuration. If set to Disabled or Off, change it to Enable or On. If the problem remains, continue.
Note:  TrackPoint II automatically compensates to adjust the pointer sensor. This causes the
pointer to move slightly on the screen and then stop. Pointer movement might occur when a slight, steady pressure is applied to the TrackPoint II pointer when the computer is powered-on or running, or when exceeded temperature range requires re-adjustment.
   o Cursor floats or moves erratically Power-off and disconnect mouse. Power-on computer. If problem goes away, replace the mouse. If the problem remains, replace the keyboard.
   o  For click button or pointing stick problems:
     1. Go to the Easy-Setup screen.
     2. Select an item with the pointing stick.
     3. Press either left or right click button.
     4. Verify that both buttons work correctly.
   o Pointing stick or click button does not work
     1. Reseat the keyboard cables.
     2. Replace the keyboard.
     4. Replace keyboard control card (720).
     5. Replace the system board.


173 and 11350 Error Combination
   If a POST error combination of 00017300 and 11350 appears and cannot be bypassed, do the following before replacing any FRUs.
1. Power-off the computer.
2. Remove the hard disk drive from the computer.
3. Insert the Reference Diskette and power-on the computer.
4. Ignore any error messages, press Esc, F8, and Enter, then run Automatic Configuration.
5. Ignore  "An error occurred while updating config" and power-off the computer.
6. Install the hard disk drive.
7. Keep the Reference Diskette in drive A and power-on the computer.
8. Ignore any error messages, press Y, and run Automatic Configuration.

High-Speed Modem Noise Problems:
   A small number of high speed modems might produce a noise when the system is powered-on. To solve this problem, copy PS2.EXE from the Reference Diskette to the root directory using the UINSTALL program. Then, add the
following lines to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file:

PS2 SET MODEM OFF
PS2 SET MODEM ON

If this does not solve the problem, replace the modem.

Missing, discolored or lighted dots on LCD
      The LCD for the Model 700C and 720C contains over 921,000 thin film transistors (TFTs).  A small number of missing, discolored or lighted dots (on all the time) is characteristic of TFT LCD technology. Excessive pixel problems can cause viewing concerns. The LCD should be replaced if the number of missing, discolored, or lighted dots in any background is 21 or more.

Content created and/or collected by:
Louis F. Ohland, Peter H. Wendt, David L. Beem, William R. Walsh, Tatsuo Sunagawa, Tomáš Slavotínek, Jim Shorney, Tim N. Clarke, Kevin Bowling, and many others.

Ardent Tool of Capitalism is maintained by Tomáš Slavotínek.
Last update: 13 Oct 2024 - Changelog | About | Legal & Contact