IBM Thinkpad T60 Troubleshooting

Your ThinkPad will not boot.

Ensure that the power adapter is plugged in correctly into a working wall outlet. Then verify if there is any damage to the power brick or cables, as well as making sure that the connections fit securely for the power adapter.

To check if you have a malfunctioning or damaged battery, plug in a power adapter to your ThinkPad to see if the laptop will power on. Regardless of the result, leave your ThinkPad plugged in for a minimum of 10 mins (to attempt to charge the battery). Then unplug the power adapter. If your ThinkPad shuts down when unplugged order a replacement.

Another possibility for the ThinkPad to not boot up is a failing component inside the system. Any component, including the hard drive, RAM stick, or motherboard may need to be checked and replaced in order to have the ThinkPad operating properly again.

Your ThinkPad's screen is either frozen, blank, or visibly damaged.

A frozen or blank screen can be caused by an improper connection to a component inside the system. Check and ensure that those connections are correct and attached properly to their respective locations within the system.

If you see that your screen is cracked or displaying a shattered pattern, then the screen must be replaced due to substantial physical damage.

If you see a pixel on the screen that remains unlit or black, when it should be activated and displaying a color, then there is a dead pixel within the LCD monitor of the ThinkPad. Some can go unnoticed, but enough of them should lead to replacing the screen.

Your ThinkPad is slow to operate or randomly crashes.

If the ThinkPad is able to boot but sees unexpected crashes, then your RAM is not operating correctly. Verify that the RAM stick is fit securely into its dock.

If you are experiencing slow speeds when operating your ThinkPad, then you may need to replace the RAM. The ThinkPad will be able to load programs faster and multi-task more efficiently with better RAM.

The touchpad does not work properly.

If the touchpad shows no signs of being responsive, then check and ensure that your system is using the latest drivers available. If it is still not working, then you may need to replace your touchpad.

It is possible that the touchpad can be disabled when an external mouse is attached to the ThinkPad. Check to see if the touchpad has been disabled in the settings of keyboard utility.

To test if your keyboard is damaged or unresponsive, open any application that requires a user input. Attempt to input any information into the program. If your keyboard fails to enter the desired information, your keyboard is damaged and may need to be replaced.

Your ThinkPad is unable to connect to a wireless network.

The switch that allows for wireless connectivity may be off. The switch is located on the front side of the ThinkPad and should be activated in order to enable wireless.

Ensure that your ThinkPad is using the latest wireless drivers. If your ThinkPad is still unable to detect any wireless devices, you may need to switch out your wireless card with a known working one to confirm that you have a faulty wireless card that needs to be replaced.

If your keyboard light fails to power on at startup, your keyboard light needs to be replaced.

Eject the disk to make sure it is not damaged (ie scratched or cracked). Next, ensure the disk is compatible with the disk drive (DVD or CD). If the disk is not either of these, it is not compatible with your ThinkPad.

If the disk is in fact compatible and your drive continues to malfunction, remove the drive and purchase a replacement.