my car pc is dead

I have been running my Thinkpad T20 for a few months now, all was running very nicely until the other day :(

I've been using a car laptop adapter running it at 16v. All of a sudden Windows popped up with the dreaded message "the battery is critically low, blah blah blah". The adapter wasn't charging the laptop. Checked the output and it was giving 11.5 to 11.9 volts. Basically an alternating voltage between that range.

I've tried charging the laptop with the geniune AC adapter and nothing! No power is in the laptop at all I think its simply ready to break up for bits now as to replace the laptop motherboard is basically out of the question.

Ahh well.... time to start researching into the major area of building you own car pc from scratch.

Why not just find out if your battery is no good? But if your gonna break it up, I sure could use the LCD...I have a T20 and this one is developing spots! :)

Hey, I'd be interested in your t20 parts. My mother's T20 has a busted screen and she's been moving windows into the upper left corner of the screen for almost a year now. The motherboard is still good.

sorry chut, didn't mean to but in. didn't really read your post.

I actually have a 14.1" LCD for the T20, but need the cable to connect it to the motherboard, because the original screen was 13.3"

maybe he'll part it out and make us both happy!

so corsamel,
what are the screen specs?

All might not be lost I have delt with a bunch of Laptops that would get confused when ran to the point of no charge...

UNPLUG the laptop, unplug the battery (and any spare battery if installed)

Wait 90 seconds

Plug in the AC power and then Plug in the battery. See if you can get it to charge up and run that way (leave it on the charger for 30 mins or so before you turn in on)

I have a tecra that will try to suspend if the battery gets too low but it fails and then the screen doesn't work till I do this. ( I have seen a few older laptops with this type of issue.)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by corsamel

I have been running my Thinkpad T20 for a few months now, all was running very nicely until the other day :(

I've been using a car laptop adapter running it at 16v. All of a sudden Windows popped up with the dreaded message "the battery is critically low, blah blah blah". The adapter wasn't charging the laptop. Checked the output and it was giving 11.5 to 11.9 volts. Basically an alternating voltage between that range.

I've tried charging the laptop with the geniune AC adapter and nothing! No power is in the laptop at all I think its simply ready to break up for bits now as to replace the laptop motherboard is basically out of the question.

Ahh well.... time to start researching into the major area of building you own car pc from scratch.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by belezeebub

All might not be lost I have delt with a bunch of Laptops that would get confused when ran to the point of no charge...

UNPLUG the laptop, unplug the battery (and any spare battery if installed)

Wait 90 seconds

Plug in the AC power and then Plug in the battery. See if you can get it to charge up and run that way (leave it on the charger for 30 mins or so before you turn in on)

I have a tecra that will try to suspend if the battery gets too low but it fails and then the screen doesn't work till I do this. ( I have seen a few older laptops with this type of issue.)

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It appears to be the actual part of the motherboard which deals with the power/charging aspect. I have tried another battery and just nothing happens (no power/charging led) when I plug the laptop into the AC adapter.

I might actually be able to get hold of some of some more parts *fingers crossed* so all may not be lost. Will keep you posted if I end up breaking it for parts.

Morel of the story: If using a laptop for a car pc be prepared to ditch the whole laptop if something goes wrong.

Go Nano ITX Corsamel :D

It'll take far less space than you have alocated for the laptop :)

Go one you know you want to!!!!! This is a sign it was mean't to happen ... trust your feelings luke.. sorry got carried away then

Quote:

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Originally Posted by slarty

Go Nano ITX Corsamel :D

It'll take far less space than you have alocated for the laptop :)

Go one you know you want to!!!!! This is a sign it was mean't to happen ... trust your feelings luke.. sorry got carried away then

It'll take far less space than you have alocated for the laptop :)

Go one you know you want to!!!!! This is a sign it was mean't to happen ... trust your feelings luke.. sorry got carried away then

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:lol: be quiet... I am actually really liking the idea of being able to add PCI cards, extra components, a nice 5v feed from a PSU etc etc.

However I like my laptop as I can start up from standby in a matter of seconds and run the whole system without the engine on due to the laptops own power source. Plus from what ive briefly

So, feel free to persude me to go down the other PC route. I'm all ears :)

s'okay, this is a public forum and I think you have just as much a right to express your interest as I do.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by robiewp

sorry chut, didn't mean to but in. didn't really read your post.

I actually have a 14.1" LCD for the T20, but need the cable to connect it to the motherboard, because the original screen was 13.3"

maybe he'll part it out and make us both happy!

so corsamel,
what are the screen specs?

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LOL go SFF thats good too for PCI card but I found PCI card popped for me hence getting all on onboard stuff and going down the C134 EPIA.

Have a great New Year!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by corsamel

:lol: be quiet... I am actually really liking the idea of being able to add PCI cards, extra components, a nice 5v feed from a PSU etc etc.

However I like my laptop as I can start up from standby in a matter of seconds and run the whole system without the engine on due to the laptops own power source. Plus from what ive briefly

So, feel free to persude me to go down the other PC route. I'm all ears :)

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