Computer Solutions
Update June 2010 - After 8 years, you would think this (bad capacitor)issue would have been acknowledged industry wide,
resolved
and put behind
us. But apparently at least one computer manufacturer (DELL) is still in denial.
Read the new article in the links section toward the
bottom of this page.
Do you have an IBM Netvista that keeps rebooting?
Tried running the restore CD and it still keeps rebooting?
If you've been beating your head against the wall trying to figure out what's wrong with your IBM NetVista PC, fear not, you may have found the place for a solution!
If you like a good story, read on. If your in dire need of an answer, click here to jump to the bottom of the page for the solution!
I purchased an IBM Netvista in January 2002. It ran great until a few weeks ago, when it starting intermintentlly rebooting whenever I started it up. Sometimes it started up without a problem, other times, it would reboot two or three times until it would boot into windows. Finally, it just went into a reboot loop and would boot into windows at all.
First thing I did to try and fix it was to run the NortonSystemworks CD to see if I had a virus. It found nothing.
Next, I ran the "IBM Quick Restore" by pressing the F8 key as the system was starting up. The restore ran without a hitch, but at the end, it still was running in a reboot loop.
Note that all the while I'm doing all of this, I keep going back and forth to the IBM website searching for answers, as well as Google searches and checking out support forums.
Next, I after not finding any information on the IBM website to either find a download of the Restore CD or a site to purchased the CD, I sent an email to them for help.
Someone from IBM was on the phone within a few hours. I told them what my problem was. The person ask what my machine model was, and when I purchased it. Since the machine was over two years old, they told me it was out of warranty and that any support would have to be paid for. At this point, I really thought that all I needed was a Restore CD to either reinstall the software onto the original hard drive, or onto a new drive, so I declined to pay for the support. Since I'm fairly tech savy, it was something I would not have accepted anyway. However, after I received the restore CD from IBM, and running it on the old, hard drive, and a new hard drive, I still had the same problem.
Next, I swapped out memory, then the power supply, even another processor (all parts I had lying around that I know work fine).
I even tried installing a retail version of Windows XP Home Edition onto the system. Afterwards, still the same reboot horror.
Being at my wits end, I sent an email to one of my brothers that is a system specialist for a large company. He had no suggestions, other than what I had tried already. But after he did some of his own Google searching, along with two other suggestions that didn't pan out, he sent me a link to a forum string and links to several articles about bad capacitors on IBM motherboards.
Now we're getting to the root of the problem...
Low and behold, after using a flashlight and peering into the inside of my computer, I see the goo ozing out of the capacitors on the motherboard. It had about a dozen of the capacitors that had expanded enough for the tops to dome over and show signs of leakage. Take a look:
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NOW my frustration turned to ANGER. Here I was, tearing my hair out after spending a week AFTER I called IBM trying to find a solutions, and IBM had the answer all along. And in my opinion, they choose not to share it with me because I was not willing to pay for the technical support.
Although IBM told me during my first call to them that my warranty on my computer was expired, I decided to call and confront them about the capacitor issue that I had uncovered and to ask them why they weren't more forthcoming during my original inquiry. In my opinion, they had all of the information they needed during my first phone call to determine that I had a suspect machine. The IBM representative immediately made excuses for the first person stating that since she wasn't aware of our original conversations, she can only guess that the inquiry didn't get far enough to conclude that the problem was related to the motherboard.
The Solution...
All of a sudden, now that I found the problem and confronted them with it, IBM decides that they will extend the warranty on my machine even though it was more than two years old! Now, they were more than willing to send me a new motherboard at no cost to me. They even offered to send an onsite technician also at no charge!
My opinion, which I related to the 2nd IBM rep was that based on the information they ask for (model and serial numbers and date of purchase), and the problem I relay to them that they could have (and should have) immediately stepped up to the plate and offered to work through the problem to find out if it was that problem or not. How long would it have taken? Two minutes? Even if it took 20 minutes, wouldn't it have been worth the good will?
Instead, now with their invasive attitude, they (at least) lost one customer. And hopefully, with this webpage, more victims of this defective product will be informed, educated, and can get help.
Systems affected: (According to IBM) NetVista / ThinkCentre
(My system was a NetVista model 2254, Type F2U)
IBM's capacitors are dodgy too, but it's hushed up - Source: The Inquirer.net - June 22, 2003.
Dodgy components threaten mobos, modems - Source: The Inquirer.net - October 23, 2002.
Low-ESR Aluminum Electrolytic Failures Linked to Taiwanese Raw Material Problems -
Source: Passive Component Industry Magazine - September / October 2002.
Abit boards have "extreme" failure rate - The Inquirer.net - July 3, 2003.
In Faulty-Computer Suit, Window to Dell Decline - Source: The New York Times - June 28, 2010.
Also check out this page that just appeared in the IBM support pages August 10, 2004: Troubleshooting system board issues - NetVista / ThinkCenre - Funny thing, this article just appeared after I called IBM about my problem!
I love what they say in the article under "System Board Troubleshooting":
The following steps are complex and a high level knowledge of computer hardware is required to perform them. They involve multiple component removals and should not be attempted by persons not familiar with these procedures.
I hope this information was helpful to you in resolving issues with your IBM Netvista computer. If you have further questions, send me an email to <jeb@jebswebsite.com>, and I'll be glad to see if I can help you.
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