How to Troubleshoot an IBM ThinkPad i Series 1300

Troubleshoot your laptop and solve problems on your own.

Save money and learn more about your laptop by troubleshooting problems you are experiencing. You will save money by fixing problems with your IBM ThinkPad i Series 1300 laptop because you don't have to take it to a computer repair shop. Troubleshooting your laptop will also build up your confidence to tackle other laptop issues, such as installing upgrades or replacing hardware. Common problems with the IBM ThinkPad i Series 1300 laptop include: not being able to wake the computer up from Standby Mode, and working through issues with a blank external monitor and primary monitor.

Instructions

Computer Does Not Return From Standby Mode

1. Connect the IBM ThinkPad i Series 1300 laptop to the AC adapter if the computer will not wake up from Sleep Mode and the battery indicator light, which looks like a battery icon and is located directly below the monitor, is blinking orange. Also connect the AC adapter when the Sleep Mode light, a half-moon icon located near the battery indicator light, is green. Let the battery charge for four hours.

2. Press any button on the keyboard to attempt to wake the laptop up from Standby Mode.

3. Replace the battery with a fully charged battery and press the "Fn" key. Use the new battery until it wears down, then plug the laptop into the AC adapter. If the battery will not charge, you need a new power cord. If the battery charges without any issues, you need to replace your other battery.

Blank External Monitor

1. Connect the external monitor to another computer and make sure the external monitor is still working.

2. Turn off your laptop, plug the external monitor into the VGA output along the back edge of your laptop, then turn your laptop back on.

3. Press the "Fn" and "F7" keys simultaneously to switch between your laptop monitor and the external display.

Computer Is On, but the Screen Is Blank

1. Press firmly on the battery on the bottom of the laptop to make sure it is locked into position. If you hear the battery click, it was probably loose.

2. Switch wall outlets if you recently plugged into an AC outlet to charge a weak battery while you were still using your laptop. If the battery light is blinking orange, you were probably not plugged into an active wall outlet.

3. Press the power button to make sure the computer is actually on. If the battery slipped out and the laptop was not plugged into a wall outlet, the laptop may have shut down completely.

4. Press "Fn" and "Home" simultaneously to brighten the display. If someone accidentally pressed and held the "Fn" and "End" buttons, the display would have been completely darkened and it would have appeared as though the computer was shut down. If the monitor is still blank and you are certain the power is on, the monitor most likely needs replaced.

References

• Lenovo: IBM ThinkPad i Series 1300 User's Reference