My Lenovo T400 Won't Start
Pressing the power button on your Lenovo ThinkPad T400 should generate the typical sights and sounds you're used to when booting up. If the button press results in nothing but silence, it can be puzzling and frustrating. Any number of issues can cause a laptop to become unresponsive, and your T400 is no more likely to experience these types of issues than any other laptop. Sometimes a simple issue can cause this unresponsive behavior, while other times it's more complicated.
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Residual Charge
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Like all other laptops, the internal electronic components in your T400 store a certain amount of electrical energy during operation. This is normal behavior and typically don't cause any trouble. But if the charge reaches too high a level, it can interfere with proper power management, and cause functionality problems with your laptop. To discharge this residual energy, disconnect the adapter cord and remove the battery. Hold the power button down for 30 seconds and release. Reinsert the battery and adapter cord and attempt to power up.
Memory Problems
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Your T400 uses its installed RAM chips to help run the appropriate processes and self-diagnostics necessary as it boots up. If these chips are faulty or mis-seated, the laptop will not be able to read them properly and cannot boot. Remove and reseat the RAM modules to ensure proper connection and try starting again. One of the slots the memory chips are seated in may have failed, so try systematically pulling one chip out at time and try to boot.
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Power Issues
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If your T400 gives absolutely no sign of life when you press the power button, you may have a power issue. Check your adapter cord to verify that it's receiving electricity from the outlet, and connected properly to the laptop. Measure its voltage output with a voltmeter, and ensure the adapter jack in the laptop itself isn't loose or broken. Remove the battery and try using only adapter power, or unplug the adapter and try booting with just the battery. If one or the other power supply – battery or adapter – is faulty, it can interfere with the laptop's ability to accept power from the other.
Hardware Failure
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When all else seems in working order, your problem may be a failed hardware component inside your T400. A power surge can fry a circuit board and wiring, preventing proper operation. Liquid spills, rough handling and falls can also damage the delicate inner workings of your T400, resulting in functional problems at best, a completely dead laptop at worst. A laptop repair shop may be able to diagnose the problem and offer possible solutions.
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