thinkpad a21e (2000)
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IBM Mobile Systems
ThinkPad Computer
Hardware Maintenance Manual
Note
Before using this information and the product it
supports, be sure to read the general information
under “Notices” on page 100.
Second Edition (December 2000)
The following paragraph does not apply to the United
Kingdom or any country where such provisions are
inconsistent with local law:
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
PROVIDES THIS PUBLICATION “AS IS” WITHOUT ANY
WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
LIMITED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Some states
do not allow disclaimer or express or implied warranties in
certain transactions; therefore, this statement may not
apply to you.
This publication could include technical inaccuracies or
typographical errors. Changes are periodically made to the
information herein; these changes will be incorporated in
new editions of the publication. IBM may make
improvements or changes to the products or the programs
described in this publication at any time.
It is possible that this publication may contain references
to, or information about, IBM products (machines and
programs), programming, or services that are not
announced in your country. Such references or information
must not be construed to mean that IBM intends to
announce such IBM products, programming, or services in
your country.
Requests for technical information about IBM products
should be made to your IBM authorized dealer or your IBM
marketing representative.
© Copyright International Business Machines
Corporation 2000. All rights reserved. Note to U.S.
Government Users – Documentation related to restricted
rights – Use, duplication, or disclosure is subject to
restrictions set forth in GSA ADP Schedule Contract with
IBM Corp.
© Copyright IBM Corp. 2000
Contents
Introduction .............1
Important service information .........1
Strategy for replacing FRUs ........1
How to use error messages ........2
Diskette compatibility matrix .........2
Safety notices: multilingual translations ......3
Safety information............12
General safety............12
Electrical safety ...........13
Safety inspection guide .........14
Handling electrostatic discharge-sensitive devices 15
Grounding requirements .........16
Laser compliance statement.........16
General descriptions ..........19
Read this first .............19
What to do first: ...........19
Related service information .........21
Service Web site ...........21
Using Recovery CD ..........21
Passwords .............22
Power management ..........24
Checkout guide ............27
Testing the computer ..........27
Detecting system information with PC-Doctor. . . 29
Power system checkout .........29
ThinkPad A21e ............33
Product overview ............35
Specifications ............35
Status indicators ...........36
FRU Tests .............38
Fn key combinations ..........40
Symptom-to-FRU index ..........41
Numeric error codes ..........41
Error messages ...........44
Beep symptoms ...........45
No beep symptoms ..........45
LCD-related symptoms .........46
Intermittent problems ..........46
Undetermined problems .........47
FRU replacement notices .........47
Screw notices ............47
Retaining serial numbers.........48
Removing and replacing a FRU........50
1010 Battery pack...........51
1020 DIMM ............52
1030 Mini PCI adapter .........53
1040 Backup battery ..........55
1050 Hard-disk drive ..........56
iii
1060 Ultrabay 2000 device ........58
1070 Keyboard ...........60
1080 Keyboard CRU insulator .......63
1090 Hinge cover ...........64
1100 Keyboard bezel and speaker ......65
1110 Speaker cable ..........67
1120 Sub card............68
1130 PC Card slot assembly .......70
1140 Fan assembly ..........71
1150 Diskette drive ..........73
1160 Upper shield...........74
1170 System board ..........75
2010 LCD assembly ..........77
2020 Front bezel ...........79
2030 Inverter card ..........81
2040 LCD panel ...........83
Locations ..............87
Front view .............87
Rear view .............88
Bottom view ............89
Parts list ..............90
LCDFRU.............93
Keyboard .............95
Miscellaneous parts ..........96
Optional FRUs............98
Common parts list...........99
Notices ..............100
Trademarks ............100
iv ThinkPad A21e
Introduction
Important service information
Important
Diskette fixes are customer-installable. The diskette
fixes are posted on the IBM support site
(http://www.pc.ibm.com/support/).
Advise customers to contact the PC Company
HelpCenter at 800-772-2227 if they need assistance
in obtaining or installing any diskette fixes.
Customers in Canada should call IBM HelpPC at
800-565-3344 for assistance or download
information.
Strategy for replacing FRUs
Before replacing parts
Make sure that all diskette fixes are installed before
replacing any FRUs listed in this manual.
Use the following strategy to prevent unnecessary FRU
replacement and service expense:
v If you are instructed to replace a FRU but the
replacement does not correct the problem, reinstall
the original FRU before you continue.
v Some computers have both a processor board and a
system board. If you are instructed to replace either the
processor board or the system board, and replacing one
of them does not correct the problem, reinstall that
board, and then replace the other one.
v If an adapter or device consists of more than one FRU,
any of the FRUs may be the cause of the error. Before
replacing the adapter or device, remove the FRUs, one
by one, to see if the symptoms change. Replace only
the FRU that changed the symptoms.
1
Important service information
Attention
The setup configuration on the computer you are
servicing may have been customized. Running
Automatic Configuration may alter the settings. Note
the current configuration settings (using the View
Configuration option); then, when service has been
completed, verify that those settings remain in
effect.
Strategy for replacing a hard-disk drive
Always try to run a low-level format before replacing a
hard-disk drive.
Attention
The drive startup sequence in the computer you are
servicing may have been changed. Be extremely
careful during write operations such as copying,
saving, or formatting. If you select an incorrect drive,
data or programs can be overwritten.
How to use error messages
Use the error codes displayed on the screen to diagnose
failures. If more than one error code is displayed, begin the
diagnosis with the first error code. Whatever causes the
first error code may also cause false error codes. If no
error code is displayed, see if the error symptom is listed
in the Symptom-to-FRU Index for the computer you are
servicing.
Diskette compatibility matrix
The compatibility of each of the drives with the diskettes
for it is as follows:
Diskette
drive
3.5-inch 1.0 MB Read and write
2 ThinkPad A21e
Diskette
capacity
2.0 MB Read and write
4.0 MB Not compatible
Compatibility
Safety notices
Safety notices: multilingual translations
In this manual, safety notices appear in English with a
page number reference to the appropriate translation in
this section.
The safety notices are provided in English, French,
German, Italian, and Spanish, as follows:
Safety notice 1
Before the computer is powered-on after FRU
replacement, make sure all screws, springs, and
other small parts are in place and are not left loose
inside the computer. Verify this by shaking the
computer and listening for rattling sounds. Metallic
parts or metal flakes can cause electrical shorts.
Avant de remettre l’ordinateur sous tension après
remplacement d’une unité en clientèle, vérifiez que
tous les ressorts, vis et autres pièces sont bien en
place et bien fixées. Pour ce faire, secouez l’unité et
assurez-vous qu’aucun bruit suspect ne se produit.
Des pièces métalliques ou des copeaux de métal
pourraient causer un court-circuit.
Bevor nach einem FRU-Austausch der Computer
wieder angeschlossen wird, muß sichergestellt
werden, daß keine Schrauben, Federn oder andere
Kleinteile fehlen oder im Gehäuse vergessen
wurden. Der Computer muß geschüttelt und auf
Klappergeräusche geprüft werden. Metallteile
oder-splitter können Kurzschlüsse erzeugen.
Prima di accendere l’elaboratore dopo che é stata
effettuata la sostituzione di una FRU, accertarsi che
tutte le viti, le molle e tutte le altri parti di piccole
dimensioni siano nella corretta posizione e non
siano sparse all’interno dell’elaboratore. Verificare ci
ÚÚ scuotendo l’elaboratore e prestando attenzione
ad eventuali rumori; eventuali parti o pezzetti
metallici possono provocare cortocircuiti pericolosi.
Antes de encender el sistema despues de sustituir
una FRU, compruebe que todos los tornillos,
muelles y demás piezas pequeñas se encuentran
en su sitio y no se encuentran sueltas dentro del
sistema. Compruébelo agitando el sistema y
escuchando los posibles ruidos que provocarían.
Las piezas metálicas pueden causar cortocircuitos
eléctricos.
Introduction 3
Safety notices
Safety notice 2
Some standby batteries contain a small amount of
nickel and cadmium. Do not disassemble a standby
battery, recharge it, throw it into fire or water, or
short-circuit it. Dispose of the battery as required by
local ordinances or regulations. Use only the battery
in the appropriate parts listing. Use of an incorrect
battery can result in ignition or explosion of the
battery.
Certaines batteries de secours contiennent du nickel
et du cadmium. Ne les démontez pas, ne les
rechargez pas, ne les exposez ni au feu ni à l’eau.
Ne les mettez pas en court- circuit. Pour les mettre
au rebut, conformez-vous à la réglementation en
vigueur. Lorsque vous remplacez la pile de
sauvegarde ou celle de l’horloge temps réel, veillez
à n’utiliser que les modèles cités dans la liste de
pièces détachées adéquate. Une batterie ou une
pile inappropriée risque de prendre feu ou
d’exploser.
Die Bereitschaftsbatterie, die sich unter dem
Diskettenlaufwerk befindet, kann geringe Mengen
Nickel und Cadmium enthalten. Sie darf nur durch
die Verkaufsstelle oder den IBM Kundendienst
ausgetauscht werden. Sie darf nicht zerlegt,
wiederaufgeladen, kurzgeschlossen, oder Feuer
oder Wasser ausgesetzt werden. Die Batterie kann
schwere Verbrennungen oder Verätzungen
verursachen. Bei der Entsorgung die örtlichen
Bestimmungen für Sondermüll beachten. Beim
Ersetzen der Bereitschafts-oder Systembatterie nur
Batterien des Typs verwenden, der in der
Ersatzteilliste aufgeführt ist. Der Einsatz falscher
Batterien kann zu Entzündung oder Explosion
führen.
(continued)
4 ThinkPad A21e
Safety notices
Continuation of Safety notice 2
Alcune batterie di riserva contengono una piccola
quantità di nichel e cadmio. Non smontarle,
ricaricarle, gettarle nel fuoco o nell’acqua né
cortocircuitarle. Smaltirle secondo la normativa in
vigore (DPR 915/82, successive disposizioni e
disposizioni locali). Quando si sostituisce la batteria
dell’RTC (real time clock) o la batteria di supporto,
utilizzare soltanto i tipi inseriti nell’appropriato
Catalogo parti. L’impiego di una batteria non adatta
potrebbe determinare l’incendio o l’esplosione della
batteria stessa.
Algunas baterías de reserva contienen una pequeña
cantidad de níquel y cadmio. No las desmonte, ni
recargue, ni las eche al fuego o al agua ni las
cortocircuite. Deséchelas tal como dispone la
normativa local. Utilice sólo baterías que se
encuentren en la lista de piezas. La utilizaciónde
una batería no apropiada puede provocar la ignición
o explosión de la misma.
Introduction 5
Safety notices
Safety notice 3
The battery pack contains small amounts of nickel.
Do not disassemble it, throw it into fire or water, or
short-circuit it. Dispose of the battery pack as
required by local ordinances or regulations. Use
only the battery in the appropriate parts listing when
replacing the battery pack. Use of an incorrect
battery can result in ignition or explosion of the
battery.
La batterie contient du nickel. Ne la démontez pas,
ne l’exposez ni au feu ni à l’eau. Ne la mettez pas
en court- circuit. Pour la mettre au rebut,
conformez-vous à la réglementation en vigueur.
Lorsque vous remplacez la batterie, veillez à
n’utiliser que les modèles cités dans la liste de
pièces détachées adéquate. En effet, une batterie
inappropriée risque de prendre feu ou d’exploser.
Akkus enthalten geringe Mengen von Nickel. Sie
dürfen nicht zerlegt, wiederaufgeladen,
kurzgeschlossen, oder Feuer oder Wasser
ausgesetzt werden. Bei der Entsorgung die örtlichen
Bestimmungen für Sondermüll beachten. Beim
Ersetzen der Batterie nur Batterien des Typs
verwenden, der in der Ersatzteilliste aufgeführt ist.
Der Einsatz falscher Batterien kann zu Entzündung
oder Explosion führen.
La batteria contiene piccole quantità di nichel. Non
smontarla, gettarla nel fuoco o nell’acqua né
cortocircuitarla. Smaltirla secondo la normativa in
vigore (DPR 915/82, successive disposizioni e
disposizioni locali). Quando si sostituisce la batteria,
utilizzare soltanto i tipi inseriti nell’appropriato
Catalogo parti. L’impiego di una batteria non adatta
potrebbe determinare l’incendio o l’esplosione della
batteria stessa.
Las baterías contienen pequeñas cantidades de
níquel. No las desmonte, ni recargue, ni las eche al
fuego o al agua ni las cortocircuite. Deséchelas tal
como dispone la normativa local. Utilice sólo
baterías que se encuentren en la lista de piezas al
sustituir la batería. La utilización de una bateríano
apropiada puede provocar la ignición o explosiónde
la misma.
6 ThinkPad A21e
Safety notices
Safety notice 4
The lithium battery can cause a fire, an explosion,
or a severe burn. Do not recharge it, remove its
polarized connector, disassemble it, heat it above
100°C (212°F), incinerate it, or expose its cell
contents to water. Dispose of the battery as required
by local ordinances or regulations. Use only the
battery in the appropriate parts listing. Use of an
incorrect battery can result in ignition or explosion of
the battery.
La pile de sauvegarde contient du lithium. Elle
présente des risques d’incendie, d’explosion ou de
brûlures graves. Ne la rechargez pas, ne retirez pas
son connecteur polarisé et ne la démontez pas. Ne
l’exposez pas à une temperature supérieure à
100°C, ne la faites pas brûler et n’en exposez pas
le contenu à l’eau. Mettez la pile au rebut
conformément à la réglementation en vigueur. Une
pile inappropriée risque de prendre feu ou
d’exploser.
Die Systembatterie ist eine Lithiumbatterie. Sie kann
sich entzünden, explodieren oder schwere
Verbrennungen hervorrufen. Batterien dieses Typs
dürfen nicht aufgeladen, zerlegt, über 100 C erhitzt
oder verbrannt werden. Auch darf ihr Inhalt nicht mit
Wasser in Verbindung gebracht oder der zur
richtigen Polung angebrachte Verbindungsstecker
entfernt werden. Bei der Entsorgung die örtlichen
Bestimmungen für Sondermüll beachten. Beim
Ersetzen der Batterie nur Batterien des Typs
verwenden, der in der Ersatzteilliste aufgeführt ist.
Der Einsatz falscher Batterien kann zu Entzündung
oder Explosion führen.
La batteria di supporto e una batteria al litio e puo
incendiarsi, esplodere o procurare gravi ustioni.
Evitare di ricaricarla, smontarne il connettore
polarizzato, smontarla, riscaldarla ad una
temperatura superiore ai 100 gradi centigradi,
incendiarla o gettarla in acqua. Smaltirla secondo la
normativa in vigore (DPR 915/82, successive
disposizioni e disposizioni locali). L’impiego di una
batteria non adatta potrebbe determinare l’incendio
ol’esplosione della batteria stessa.
(continued)
Introduction 7
Safety notices
Continuation of Safety notice 4
La batería de repuesto es una batería de litio y
puede provocar incendios, explosiones o
quemaduras graves. No la recargue, ni quite el
conector polarizado, ni la desmonte, ni caliente por
encima de los 100°C (212°F), ni la incinere ni
exponga el contenido de sus celdas al agua.
Deséchela tal como dispone la normativa local.
8 ThinkPad A21e
Safety notices
Safety notice 5
If the LCD breaks and the fluid from inside the LCD
gets into your eyes or on your hands, immediately
wash the affected areas with water for at least 15
minutes. Seek medical care if any symptoms from
the fluid are present after washing.
Si le panneau d’affichage à cristaux liquides se
brise et que vous recevez dans les yeux ou sur les
mains une partie du fluide, rincez-les abondamment
pendant au moins quinze minutes. Consultez un
médecin si des symptômes persistent aprèsle
lavage.
Die Leuchtstoffröhre im LCD-Bildschirm enthält
Quecksilber. Bei der Entsorgung die örtlichen
Bestimmungen für Sondermüll beachten. Der
LCD-Bildschirm besteht aus Glas und kann
zerbrechen, wenn er unsachgemäß behandelt wird
oder der Computer auf den Boden fällt. Wenn der
Bildschirm beschädigt ist und die darin befindliche
Flüssigkeit in Kontakt mit Haut und Augen gerät,
sollten die betroffenen Stellen mindestens 15
Minuten mit Wasser abgespült und bei
Beschwerden anschließend ein Arzt aufgesucht
werden.
Nel caso che caso l’LCD si dovesse rompere ed il
liquido in esso contenuto entrasse in contatto con gli
occhi o le mani, lavare immediatamente le parti
interessate con acqua corrente per almeno 15
minuti; poi consultare un medico se i sintomi
dovessero permanere.
Si la LCD se rompe y el fluido de su interior entra
en contacto con sus ojos o sus manos, lave
inmediatamente las áreas afectadas con agua
durante 15 minutos como mínimo. Obtenga atención
medica si se presenta algúnsíntoma del fluido
despues de lavarse.
Introduction 9
Safety notices
Safety notice 6
To avoid shock, do not remove the plastic cover that
protects the lower part of the inverter card.
Afin d’éviter tout risque de choc électrique, ne
retirez pas le cache en plastique protégeant la
partie inférieure de la carte d’alimentation.
Aus Sicherheitsgründen die Kunststoffabdeckung,
die den unteren Teil der Spannungswandlerplatine
umgibt, nicht entfernen.
Per evitare scosse elettriche, non rimuovere la
copertura in plastica che avvolge la parte inferiore
della scheda invertitore.
Para evitar descargas, no quite la cubierta de
plástico que rodea la parte baja de la tarjeta
invertida.
Safety notice 7
Though the main batteries have low voltage, a
shorted or grounded battery can produce enough
current to burn personnel or combustible materials.
Bien que le voltage des batteries principales soit
peu élevé, le court-circuit ou la mise à la masse
d’une batterie peut produire suffisamment de
courant pour brûler des matériaux combustibles ou
causer des brûlures corporelles graves.
Obwohl Hauptbatterien eine niedrige Spannung
haben, können sie doch bei Kurzschluß oder
Erdung genug Strom abgeben, um brennbare
Materialien zu entzünden oder Verletzungen bei
Personen hervorzurufen.
Sebbene le batterie di alimentazione siano a basso
voltaggio, una batteria in corto circuito o a massa
può fornire corrente sufficiente da bruciare materiali
combustibili o provocare ustioni ai tecnici di
manutenzione.
Aunque las baterías principales tienen un voltaje
bajo, una batería cortocircuitada o con contacto a
tierra puede producir la corriente suficiente como
para quemar material combustible o provocar
quemaduras en el personal.
10 ThinkPad A21e
Safety notices
Safety notice 8
Before removing any FRU, power off the computer,
unplug all power cords from electrical outlets,
remove the battery pack, and then disconnect any
interconnecting cables.
Avant de retirer une unité remplaçable en clientèle,
mettez le système hors tension, débranchez tous
les cordons d’alimentation des socles de prise de
courant, retirez la batterie et déconnectez tous les
cordons d’interface.
Die Stromzufuhr muß abgeschaltet, alle Stromkabel
aus der Steckdose gezogen, der Akku entfernt und
alle Verbindungskabel abgenommen sein, bevor
eine FRU entfernt wird.
Prima di rimuovere qualsiasi FRU, spegnere il
sistema, scollegare dalle prese elettriche tutti i cavi
di alimentazione, rimuovere la batteria e poi
scollegare i cavi di interconnessione.
Antes de quitar una FRU, apague el sistema,
desenchufe todos los cables de las tomas de
corriente eléctrica, quite la batería y, a continuación,
desconecte cualquier cable de conexión entre
dispositivos.
Introduction 11
Safety information
Safety information
The following section contains the safety information that
you need to be familiar with before servicing an IBM
mobile computer.
General safety
Follow these rules to ensure general safety:
v Observe good housekeeping in the area of the
machines during and after maintenance.
v When lifting any heavy object:
1. Ensure you can stand safely without slipping.
2. Distribute the weight of the object equally between
your feet.
3. Use a slow lifting force. Never move suddenly or
twist when you attempt to lift.
4. Lift by standing or by pushing up with your leg
muscles; this action removes the strain from the
muscles in your back. Do not attempt to lift any
objects that weigh more than 16 kg (35 lb) or objects
that you think are too heavy for you.
v Do not perform any action that causes hazards to the
customer, or that makes the equipment unsafe.
v Before you start the machine, ensure that other service
representatives and the customer’s personnel are not in
a hazardous position.
v Place removed covers and other parts in a safe place,
away from all personnel, while you are servicing the
machine.
v Keep your toolcase away from walk areas so that other
people will not trip over it.
v Do not wear loose clothing that can be trapped in the
moving parts of a machine. Make sure that your sleeves
are fastened or rolled up above your elbows. If your hair
is long, fasten it.
v Insert the ends of your necktie or scarf inside clothing or
fasten it with a nonconductive clip, approximately 8
centimeters (3 inches) from the end.
v Do not wear jewelry, chains, metal-frame eyeglasses, or
metal fasteners for your clothing.
Attention: Metal objects are good electrical conductors.
v Wear safety glasses when you are hammering, drilling,
soldering, cutting wire, attaching springs, using solvents,
or working in any other conditions that might be
hazardous to your eyes.
v After service, reinstall all safety shields, guards, labels,
and ground wires. Replace any safety device that is
worn or defective.
v Reinstall all covers correctly before returning the
machine to the customer.
12 ThinkPad A21e
Safety information
Electrical safety
Observe the following rules when working on electrical
equipment.
Important
Use only approved tools and test equipment. Some
hand tools have handles covered with a soft
material that does not insulate you when working
with live electrical currents.
Many customers have, near their equipment, rubber
floor mats that contain small conductive fibers to
decrease electrostatic discharges. Do not use this
type of mat to protect yourself from electrical shock.
v Find the room emergency power-off (EPO) switch,
disconnecting switch, or electrical outlet. If an electrical
accident occurs, you can then operate the switch or
unplug the power cord quickly.
v Do not work alone under hazardous conditions or near
equipment that has hazardous voltages.
v Disconnect all power before:
– Performing a mechanical inspection
– Working near power supplies
– Removing or installing main units
v Before you start to work on the machine, unplug the
power cord. If you cannot unplug it, ask the customer to
power-off the wall box that supplies power to the
machine and to lock the wall box in the off position.
v If you need to work on a machine that has exposed
electrical circuits, observe the following precautions:
– Ensure that another person, familiar with the
power-off controls, is near you.
Attention: Another person must be there to switch
off the power, if necessary.
– Use only one hand when working with powered-on
electrical equipment; keep the other hand in your
pocket or behind your back.
Attention: An electrical shock can occur only when
there is a complete circuit. By observing the above
rule, you may prevent a current from passing through
your body.
– When using testers, set the controls correctly and
use the approved probe leads and accessories for
that tester.
– Stand on suitable rubber mats (obtained locally, if
necessary) to insulate you from grounds such as
metal floor strips and machine frames.
Observe the special safety precautions when you work
with very high voltages; these instructions are in the
Introduction 13
Safety information
safety sections of maintenance information. Use
extreme care when measuring high voltages.
v Regularly inspect and maintain your electrical hand tools
for safe operational condition.
v Do not use worn or broken tools and testers.
v Never assume that power has been disconnected from
a circuit. First, check that it has been powered off.
v Always look carefully for possible hazards in your work
area. Examples of these hazards are moist floors,
nongrounded power extension cables, power surges,
and missing safety grounds.
v Do not touch live electrical circuits with the reflective
surface of a plastic dental mirror. The surface is
conductive; such touching can cause personal injury and
machine damage.
v Do not service the following parts with the power on
when they are removed from their normal operating
places in a machine:
– Power supply units
– Pumps
– Blowers and fans
– Motor generators
and similar units. (This practice ensures correct
grounding of the units.)
v If an electrical accident occurs:
– Use caution; do not become a victim yourself.
– Switch off power.
– Send another person to get medical aid.
Safety inspection guide
The purpose of this inspection guide is to assist you in
identifying potentially unsafe conditions. As each machine
was designed and built, required safety items were
installed to protect users and service personnel from injury.
This guide addresses only those items. You should use
good judgment to identify potential safety hazards due to
attachment of non-IBM features or options not covered by
this inspection guide.
If any unsafe conditions are present, you must determine
how serious the apparent hazard could be and whether
you can continue without first correcting the problem.
Consider these conditions and the safety hazards they
present:
v Electrical hazards, especially primary power (primary
voltage on the frame can cause serious or fatal
electrical shock)
v Explosive hazards, such as a damaged CRT face or a
bulging capacitor
v Mechanical hazards, such as loose or missing hardware
14 ThinkPad A21e
Safety information
To determine whether there are any potentially unsafe
conditions, use the following checklist at the beginning of
every service task. Begin the checks with the power off,
and the power cord disconnected.
Checklist:
1. Check exterior covers for damage (loose, broken, or
sharp edges).
2. Power-off the computer. Disconnect the power cord.
3. Check the power cord for:
a. Athird-wire ground connector in good condition.
Use a meter to measure third-wire ground
continuity for 0.1 ohm or less between the external
ground pin and frame ground.
b. The power cord should be the type specified in the
parts list.
c. Insulation must not be frayed or worn.
4. Remove the cover.
5. Check for any obvious non-IBM alterations. Use good
judgment as to the safety of any non-IBM alterations.
6. Check inside the unit for any obvious unsafe
conditions, such as metal filings, contamination, water
or other liquids, or signs of fire or smoke damage.
7. Check for worn, frayed, or pinched cables.
8. Check that the power-supply cover fasteners (screws
or rivets) have not been removed or tampered with.
Handling electrostatic discharge-sensitive devices
Any computer part containing transistors or integrated
circuits (ICs) should be considered sensitive to electrostatic
discharge (ESD). ESD damage can occur when there is a
difference in charge between objects. Protect against ESD
damage by equalizing the charge so that the machine, the
part, the work mat, and the person handling the part are all
at the same charge.
Notes
1. Use product-specific ESD procedures when they
exceed the requirements noted here.
2. Make sure that the ESD protective devices you
use have been certified (ISO 9000) as fully
effective.
When handling ESD-sensitive parts:
v Keep the parts in protective packages until they are
inserted into the product.
v Avoid contact with other people.
v Wear a grounded wrist strap against your skin to
eliminate static on your body.
Introduction 15
Safety information
v Prevent the part from touching your clothing. Most
clothing is insulative and retains a charge even when
you are wearing a wrist strap.
v Use the black side of a grounded work mat to provide a
static-free work surface. The mat is especially useful
when handling ESD-sensitive devices.
v Select a grounding system, such as those listed below,
to provide protection that meets the specific service
requirement.
Note
The use of a grounding system is desirable but
not required to protect against ESD damage.
– Attach the ESD ground clip to any frame ground,
ground braid, or green-wire ground.
– Use an ESD common ground or reference point
when working on a double-insulated or
battery-operated system. You can use coax or
connector-outside shells on these systems.
– Use the round ground-prong of the AC plug on
AC-operated computers.
Grounding requirements
Electrical grounding of the computer is required for
operator safety and correct system function. Proper
grounding of the electrical outlet can be verified by a
certified electrician.
Laser compliance statement
Some IBM Personal Computer models are equipped from
the factory with a CD-ROM drive or DVD drive. CD-ROM
drives or DVD drives are also sold separately as options.
The CD-ROM drive or DVD drive is a laser product. The
CD-ROM drive or DVD drive is certified in the U.S. to
conform to the requirements of the Department of Health
and Human Services 21 Code of Federal Regulations
(DHHS 21 CFR) Subchapter J for Class 1 laser products.
Elsewhere, the drive is certified to conform to the
requirements of the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) 825 and CENELEC EN 60 825 for
Class 1 laser products.
16 ThinkPad A21e
Laser compliance statement
When a CD-ROM drive or DVD drive is installed, note the
following:
Use of controls or adjustments or performance
of procedures other than those specified
herein might result in hazardous radiation
exposure.
O uso de controles, ajustes ou desempenho de
procedimentos diferentes daqueles aqui
especificados pode resultar em perigosa
exposição à radiação.
Pour éviter tout risque d’exposition au rayon
laser, respectez les consignes de réglage et
d’utilisation des commandes, ainsi que les
procédures décrites.
Werden Steuer- und Einstellelemente anders
als hier festgesetzt verwendet, kann
gefährliche Laserstrahlung auftreten.
L’utilizzo di controlli, regolazioni o l’esecuzione
di procedure diverse da quelle specificate
possono provocare l’esposizione a.
El uso de controles o ajustes o la ejecución de
procedimientos distintos de los aquí
especificados puede provocar la exposición a
radiaciones peligrosas.
Opening the CD-ROM drive or DVD drive could result in
exposure to hazardous laser radiation. There are no
serviceable parts inside the CD-ROM drive or DVD drive.
Do not open.
Introduction 17
Laser compliance statement
Some CD-ROM drives or DVD drives contain an
embedded Class 3A or Class 3B laser diode. Note the
following:
Emits visible and invisible laser radiation when
open. Do not stare into the beam, do not view
directly with optical instruments, and avoid
direct exposure to the beam.
Radiação por raio laser ao abrir. Não olhe fixo
no feixe de luz, não olhe diretamente por meio
de instrumentos óticos e evite exposição direta
com o feixe de luz.
Rayonnement laser si carter ouvert. Évitez de
fixer le faisceau, de le regarder directement
avec des instruments optiques, ou de vous
exposer au rayon.
Laserstrahlung bei geöffnetem Gerät. Nicht
direkt oder über optische Instrumente in den
Laserstrahl sehen und den Strahlungsbereich
meiden.
Kinyitáskor lézersugár!Nenézzen bele se
szabad szemmel, se optikai eszközökkel.
Kerülje a sugárnyalábbal valóérintkezést !
Aprendo l’unità vengono emesse radiazioni
laser. Non fissare il fascio, non guardarlo
direttamente con strumenti ottici e evitare
l’esposizione diretta al fascio.
Radiaciónláser al abrir. No mire fijamente ni
examine con instrumental óptico el haz de luz.
Evite la exposición directa al haz.
18 ThinkPad A21e
General descriptions
This chapter includes descriptions for any ThinkPad model
that has the PC-Doctor DOS diagnostics program. Some
descriptions might not apply to your particular computer.
Read this first
Before you go to the checkout guide, be sure to read this
section.
Important notes
v Only certified trained personnel should
service the computer.
v Read the entire FRU removal and replacement
page before replacing any FRU.
v Use new nylon-coated screws when you
replace FRUs.
v Be extremely careful during such write
operations as copying, saving, or formatting.
Drives in the computer that you are servicing
sequence might have been altered. If you select
an incorrect drive, data or programs might be
overwritten.
v Replace FRUs only for the correct model.
When you replace a FRU, make sure the model
of the machine and the FRU part number are
correct by referring to the FRU parts list.
v A FRU should not be replaced because of a
single, unreproducible failure. Single failures
can occur for a variety of reasons that have
nothing to do with a hardware defect, such as
cosmic radiation, electrostatic discharge, or
software errors. Consider replacing a FRU only
when a problem recurs. If you suspect that a
FRU is defective, clear the error log and run the
test again. If the error does not recur, do not
replace the FRU.
v Be careful not to replace a nondefective FRU.
What to do first:
When you do return a FRU, you must include the following
information in the parts exchange form or parts return form
that you attach to it:
__ 1. Name and phone number of servicer
__ 2. Date of service
__ 3. Date on which the machine failed
__ 4. Date of purchase
__ 5. Failure symptoms, error codes appearing on the
display, and beep symptoms
19
Read this first
__ 6. Procedure index and page number in which the
failing FRU was detected
__ 7. Failing FRU name and part number
__ 8. Machine type, model number, and serial number
__ 9. Customer’s name and address
Note for warranty: During the warranty period, the
customer may be responsible for
repair costs if the computer damage
was caused by misuse, accident,
modification, unsuitable physical or
operating environment, or improper
maintenance by the customer. The
following list provides some common
items that are not covered under
warranty and some symptoms that
might indicate that the system was
subjected to stress beyond normal
use.
Before checking problems with the computer, determine
whether the damage is covered under the warranty by
referring to the following:
The following are not covered under warranty:
v LCD panel cracked from the application of excessive
force or from being dropped
v Scratched (cosmetic) parts
v Distortion, deformation or discoloration of the cosmetic
parts
v Cracked or broken plastic parts, broken latches, broken
pins, or broken connectors caused by excessive force
v Damage caused by liquid spilled into the system
v Damage caused by the improper insertion of a PC Card
or the installation of an incompatible card
v Damage caused by foreign material in the diskette drive
v Diskette drive damage caused by pressure on the
diskette drive cover or by the insertion of a diskette with
multiple labels
v Damaged or bent diskette eject button
v Fuses blown by attachment of a nonsupported device
v Forgotten computer password (making the computer
unusable)
v Sticky keys caused by spilling a liquid onto the keyboard
The following symptoms might indicate damage
caused by nonwarranted activities:
v Missing parts might be a symptom of unauthorized
service or modification.
v If the spindle of a hard disk drive becomes noisy, it may
have been subjected to excessive force, or dropped.
20 ThinkPad A21e
Related service information
Related service information
This section provides information about the following:
v “Service Web site”
v “Using Recovery CD”
v “Passwords”on page 22
v “Power management” on page 24
Service Web site
When the latest maintenance diskette and the system
program service diskette are available, a notice will be
posted on http://www.pc.ibm.com/partner/infotips/
Using Recovery CD
To create Service Partition and install the preloaded
system from Recovery CD, do the following;
To create Service Partition [SP]:
1. Erase all partitions on the hard-disk drive using FDISK
or similar application.
2. Boot with Recovery CD (and boot diskette if required).
3. Amenu will appear stating “Your computer originally
included a Product Recovery program ... Reinstall
the Product Recovery Program? (Y/N) [ ]”.
Note: If the hard-disk drive contains any partitions, you
4. Enter “Y” and Service Partition will be created and
will not receive this menu — go to step 1.
loaded with D2D files.
Note: If you do not want to create Service Partition,
5. Press “ENTER” at next window to continue.
Install preloaded system from CD:
6. Boot with Recovery CD (and boot diskette if required)
7. If the hard-disk drive is blank, a menu will appear
press “N”, and then go to step 8.
v Service Partition will be created. System will
automatically reboot during this precess.
v Recovery process will copy some files to the Service
Partition, PKUNZIP others
v Follow prompts — you may be prompted to change
CDs.
v System will reboot when complete, continue to step
6 to install preloaded system.
stating “Your computer originally included a
Product Recovery program ... Reinstall the
Product Recovery Program? (Y/N) [ ]”.
v To install Service Partition, go to step 4.
v To preload hard-disk drive without installing Service
Partition, press “N”.
General descriptions 21
Related service information
8. If a menu appears asking which operating system to
install, highlight proper operating system and press
“ENTER”.
9. Amenu will appear stating “Full Recovery:”. Press
“ENTER” to select.
10. Enter “Y” at the three windows which follow.
11. Follow prompts to complete Recovery.
Passwords
As many as three passwords may be needed for any
ThinkPad computer: the power-on password (POP), the
hard-disk password (HDP), and the supervisor password
(SVP).
Exception: If only SVP is installed, the password prompt
When any of these passwords is used, a password prompt
appears on the screen whenever the computer is turned
on. The computer does not start until the password is
entered.
doesn’t appear when the operating system is
booted.
Power-on password:
A power-on password (POP) protects the system from
being powered on by an unauthorized person. Without
knowing the password, nobody can start the system.
Hard-disk password:
There are two hard-disk passwords (HDPs):
v User HDP—for the user
v Master HDP—for the system administrator, who can use
it to get access to the hard disk even if the user has
changed the user HDP
Note: There are two modes for the HDP: User only and
Master + User. You can enter two HDPs when you
select Master + User.
Attention
If the master HDP has been forgotten, there is no
way to delete it. But you can still get access to the
hard disk if you remember the user HDP. If both
user HDP and master HDP have been forgotten, the
password cannot be removed and the hard disk will
not be accessible.
Supervisor password:
A supervisor password (SVP) protects the system
information stored in the IBM BIOS Setup Utility so that
22 ThinkPad A21e
Related service information
without knowing the password, nobody can change the
configuration of the computer.
Attention
If the SVP has been forgotten, there is no way to
reset it.
How to remove the power-on password
To remove a POP that you have forgotten, do the
following:
(A) If SVP is not installed:
1. Turn off the computer.
2. Remove the battery pack.
For how to remove the battery pack, see “1010 Battery
pack” on page 51.
3. Remove the backup battery.
For how to remove the backup battery, see “1040
Backup battery” on page 55.
4. Turn on the computer and wait until the POST ends.
After the POST ends, the password prompt does not
appear. The POP has been removed.
5. Reinstall the backup battery and the battery pack.
(B) If SVP is installed:
1. Turn on the computer by pressing and holding F1.
2. Enter the SVP. The IBM BIOS Setup Utility menu
appears.
3. Select Password, using the cursor keys to move down
the menu.
4. Select Power-On Password.
5. Enter the SVP, at the Enter Current Password field.
6. When the Enter New Password field opens, leave it
blank and press Enter twice.
7. Press Enter in the Changes have been saved window.
8. Press F10; then select Yes in the Setup confirmation
window.
How to remove the hard-disk password
Attention
If User only mode is selected and the user HDP is
forgotten, there is no way to reset it.
General descriptions 23
Related service information
To remove the user HDP that you have forgotten, do the
following:
1. Power on the computer by pressing and holding F1.
2. Enter the SVP. The IBM BIOS Setup Utility menu
appears.
3. Select Password, using the cursor keys to move down
the menu.
4. Select Hard-disk x password, where x is the letter of
the hard-disk drive. A pop-up window opens.
5. Select either User HDP or Master HDP.
6. Enter the master HDP; then leave the New Password
field blank and press Enter twice.
7. Press F10.
8. Select Yes in the Setup Configuration window.
The both user HDP and master HDP have been
removed.
Power management
To reduce power consumption, the computer has three
power management modes: screen blank (standby in
Windows 95 and Windows NT) , standby (suspend in
Windows 95 and Windows NT), and hibernation.
Note for standby mode and hibernation mode
Do not install or remove the UltraBay during standby
mode or hibernation mode. The UltraBay of
ThinkPad A21e supports only cold-swap. If you try
to do warm-swap, the UltraBay LED starts to blink
with beep sound.
Screen blank mode:
In screen blank mode, the following occurs:
v The LCD backlight turns off.
v The hard-disk drive motor stops.
v The speaker is muted.
To enter screen blank mode, press Fn + F3. To end screen
blank mode and resume normal operation, press any key.
Standby mode:
When the computer enters standby mode, the following
events occur in addition to what occurs in screen blank
mode:
v The LCD is powered off.
v The hard-disk drive is powered off.
v The CPU stops.
To enter standby mode, do any of the following:
v Press Fn + F4.
v Close the LCD cover. (To prevent the computer from
entering standby mode when the LCD is closed, click
24 ThinkPad A21e
Related service information
Will not suspend even if LCD is closed in the Power
Management Properties window. Then only the LCD
turns off.)
In certain circumstances, the computer goes into standby
mode automatically:
v If a “suspend time” has been set on the timer, and the
user does not do any operation with the keyboard, the
TrackPoint, the hard disk, the parallel connector, or the
diskette drive within the time set.
v If the battery indicator blinks orange, indicating that the
battery power is low. (Alternatively, if Hibernate when
battery becomes low has been selected in the “Power
Management Properties” window, the computer goes
into hibernation mode.)
Note: Even if you don’t set the low-battery alarm, the
charge indicator lets you know that the battery is
low, and then the computer enters the power-saving
mode automatically. This default low-battery
behavior is independent of the operating system; so
if you have set the low-battery alarm, the computer
may not do what you specified. It chooses either
your setting or the default setting, whichever is
appropriate.
Any one of the following events causes the computer to
resume operation from standby mode:
v The Fn key is pressed.
v The LCD cover is opened.
v The ring indicator (RI) is signaled by a serial device or a
PC Card device.
v The power switch is turned on.
v The resume timer is set. In Windows which has the
Scheduled Tasks, the Scheduled Tasks setting has
priority over the setting in IBM BIOS Setup Utility.
Note: The computer does not accept any input
immediately after it enters suspend mode. Wait a
few seconds before taking any action to reenter
operation mode.
Hibernation mode:
Note for Windows NT
If you are using Windows NT in the default format,
NTFS, you cannot create a hibernation file. If you
want to use hibernation mode, you will need to
reinstall Windows NT with FAT format.
In hibernation mode, the following occurs:
General descriptions 25
Related service information
v The system status, RAM, VRAM, and setup data are
stored on the hard disk.
v The system is powered off.
Notes:
The computer cannot enter hibernation mode when
it is powered with ac power and a communication
PC Card is used.
Any one of the following events causes the computer to
enter hibernation mode when the hibernation file is
created:
v The Fn + F12 keys are pressed.
v The power switch is turned off and the mode is set to
Power switch mode [Hibernation].
v The timer conditions are satisfied in suspend mode (for
operating systems other than Windows 98).
v Acritically low battery condition occurs.
When the power is turned on, the computer leaves
hibernation mode and resumes operation. The hibernation
file in the boot record on the hard-disk drive is read, and
system status is restored from the hard-disk drive.
26 ThinkPad A21e
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