Laptop computer question?

[Donald Fruge]

I need some help from the computer experts here:



I have been offered an IBM laptop, 600X Pentium III for $100. I know this is not the latest and greatest but is it worth $100.



Also, It will not boot up and I suspect it is due to the battery being dead as a door knob. When plugged in do these IBM's still go thru the battery to perculate. I am going to buy a battery and try it before I give the guy the 100 bucks. But if it does not need a battery to boot up while plugged in, then something is obviously wrong and I will pass on the deal.



Give some wisdom,

I work with the seller and he is on the up and up so I don't think he is on the sly. Neither of us are very computer savy.



Wolf

 

[Jim B]

It should be able to run off the power adapter without any battery pack plugged in. I wouldnt buy a battery just to try it. Laptop batteries cost anywhere from 50 bucks to hundreds depending on the type so it wont be a cheap experiment. if its working i think its not a bad deal for 100 bucks. If its not working it will cost more to fix then it would to just buy a new one.



One thing i would check is the ac adapter, use a volt meter and make sure its putting out voltage. The correct voltage should be printed on the adapter. If its dead that could explain why its not working off power or battery.

 

[Donald Fruge]

One of the mechanic/electritions from our yard came into my office with his voltage meter and tested it. He said it works fine. He also said that he thought it should boot up with or without the battery if the ac was working properly.



I witnessed this laptop working and played with it a month ago. At that time the owner said that the battery was going dead and wouldn't last long. He took the computer with him to his new asignment in wyoming and then shipped it to me when I told him I was interested in buying it for 100 bucks. It has never booted up since I got it in the mail from him.



This was his personal laptop that he did not have any more use for after the company gave him a company puter.



He also told me that when the battery was going dead he noticed that even when plugged in to ac it would only stay on for a short period of time which is what lead him to believe that the power source went thru the battery.



Your right I hate to buy a 35 or 40 dollar battery just to see if it is the problem when it could be something more serious. Which is why I asked this question on the board.



Wolf

 

[TrepMan]

Jim is right, they don't need the battery pack to run, if it doesn't run on the AC pack, something else is wrong. Do you know what Model? SimNitro or Al Greco might be able to help more. I'm a Manager at IBM not in the PC side.



Trep

 

[Al Greco]

My Brother Steve has a 600X, good price for $100 if it works. Make sure the memory card(s) and hard drive are in tight. Shipping the product may have loosened them up. If you check these and it doesn't boot up pass on this laptop, it's not worth fixing for that old of a model. Does any of the green lights light up when you plug it in? They should be on the top of the keyboard. Can you hear the hard drive start up?

 

[TrepMan]

See, I KNEW AL would know what to do!!!



Didn't see the 600x model in his post. I had a 600x when I worked at Verizon Wireless worked Great!!

 

[William H. (Bill) Barham]

My 600x hasn't had a battery for a couple of months now.

It still boots up and runs fine. I just have to keep it plugged in.



There should be a green flashing light on the top left, open or closed.



Dumb question, but are you turning it on? There is a slide switch on the left side.



Bill

 

[Donald Fruge]

Al,

Either with the battery or without the battery, when I push the power button, the only thing that happens is the light on the left side of the row of lights will blink and make a tick noise every time it blinks. These are the row of lights above the keyboard and there are five in all.



How do I go about tightening the hard drive and memory cards?



Wolf

 

[Donald Fruge]

Bill not a dumb question, I was starting to wonder if I was even pushing the correct button. Yes I have been pushing the slide button on the left side of the computer. It pushes toward the back of the computer.



Wolf

 

[Al Greco]

Wolfcount, The memory should be on the bottom of the laptop. It should have two screws on it. Make sure you don't touch them with any kind of static. I can't remember if the hard drive is on the bottom as well or on the left hand side of the computer towards the front. If your getting the first one to light up (looks like a cylinder) and nothing happens you are having a problem with the hard drive. Pop it out and put it back in, install the cover and start it up. Also if it makes a lot of noise then it's probably bad or will go bad soon -- just consulted my brother who is an IT Specialist. Good luck.



Hard drive is not on the bottom -- left front of computer is correct.

 

[Tony Payne]

I have nothing of value to add...



When you plug it into the wall, you should see some indication of power... if not, the ac jack is something to inspect.



From my memory of having one, be sure to take the totally dead battery out... it "might" prevent it from starting from AC if it is there.



If it was working before he shipped it, and isnt after you opened it... loose connections are definitely something to watch for.

 

[Donald Fruge]

I removed the device that is in the front left of the laptop. I think it was the harddrive. One screw and a plastic cap holding it in. I pulled it out blew on it and put it back replaced the plastic cap and the screw. Same result. The ticking is defenitly coming from the area that this device is located. Fried hard is my assumption. I have not removed the memory yet as I am not sure how. I did find the modem.



Stay tuned for an update, going to pull out the thing that looks like the memory. Its on the bottom with one screw holding its cap in place.



Sim, the ac supply is good, as it was tested with a meter a couple of days ago.

Wolf

 

[Tony Payne]

I wasn't questionig the AC converter, but the "jack" into the machine... like I said, you should get an indication from the laptop itself that it is hooked to AC power...

 

[Tony Payne]

I wouldnt suspect the hard drive until after the power question is resolved.

 

[Jim B]

The machine should still power up and post even with a bad hard drive. It sounds to me like either the power adapter has a problem or the motherboard

 

[Donald Fruge]

When I shake the had drive I can hear something rattling around in there, that can't be good at all good.



But I think I have found the real problem:

While sniffing around in this laptop I have found labels saying:

Made in Thailand

Made in Cananda

Made in Japan

Made in Korea

And Made in Mexico.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holy cow, no wonder this thing doesn't work way to many countries involved. Never saw made in the USA on any parts.



I give up,

bunch of commies!

Wolf

 

[Staci Matheis]

Whatever you do.....

DO NOT BLOW ON THE HARD DRIVE.



If by some chance you should happen to blow on the hardrive.....

Afterward.....

DO NOT SHAKE THE HARD DRIVE.

 

[Tony Payne]

Last question...



The more you shake it, does the rattle get louder?

 

[Donald Fruge]

Sim,

No, it just sounds like something is loose inside, and it may not even be anything wrong with, it just didn't seem like I should have heard anything coming from a hard drive.



Get my drift?

Wolf

 

[Tony Payne]

Wolf,



My last question was more of a joke than serious... No, you shouldnt hear anything "rattling"... but more importantly, quit shakin' the durn thing...



Did you determine if you got any indication of AC power to the laptop?

 

[Carl Meyer]

If it works, it is well worth the $100. If you do not want it, I am interested in it. Can always use another laptop.

-Carl Meyer