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Anyone got an IBM Thinkpad T23 User Guide?

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michael8554

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I've just bought an IBM Thinkpad T23 laptop to connect via Carsoft 7.4 to a MB Multiplexer for diagnostic work.
However it doesn't have an IBM User Guide, either in hard copy or on the hard drive.
So I googled and found plenty of sites with the Maintenance Guide, and plenty that said User Guide but was actually the Maintenance Guide again, but no User Guide.
IBM Technical Support were no help either:

"A User's Guide is not included with newer ThinkPad systems, therefore it is also not available in PDF or hardcopy format. ThinkPad systems are preloaded with the Access Help application which contains information similar to that which would be included in a User's Guide".

Has anyone got this file to copy for me please?

Cheers

Michael
 
What sort of guidance do you need for the T23? You have to switch it on from the power switch (marked I/O as usual, at the centre of the keyboard close to the display. Everything else should be like for any Windows computer.
 
You don't need an IBM, Carsoft runs on most laptops as long as they have a working serial port. I'm running Carsoft on an old Dell Latitude D610
 
Thanks Moonloops, Rayny
Like I said, your links are to the Maintenance Manual, not what I wanted.
Diesel Benz, there are cryptic illuminated icons on the power switch panel and a couple on the right hinge too, what do they mean?
Think I can just about work out what to do once Windowws is loaded :->
GlenQ, agreed that a whole range of laptops with serial ports will work, I just happen to have an IBM T23.
Anyone got the User Guide please?
 
I think you might be looking for something that does not exist. I have a pile of Thinkpads in the garage, and the original literature. I found the T23 stuff in the cellophane bag (still sealed). There is a setup guide (7 pages), and then a "T23 Service and Troubleshooting Guide" (this is not the HMM and it includes things like "an overview of your TP, features, and caring - but no details on the lights ). The lights by the power button are System Status Indicators. The lights by the right hand hinge are Power Status indicators. At this time, IBM used the blue ThinkPad button to open up the Access Thinkpad application which is where you find the kind of information you want. It's worth trying the Lenovo website to download the T23 drivers etc., and if you are lucky it might just have the Access Thinkpad or Access IBM software.

The power indicator lights are (LH) the charging indicator - will be flashing orange if battery completely discharged, solid orange if discharged and charging, flashing green if partly charged and charging, solid green if fully charged.

The next light (middle) shows a half-moon. It is flashing if the system is going into sleep mode, and solid green if the system is in sleep mode.

The right hand light is used to indicate if the system is hibernating (where the system status and memory is being written to disk and a complete power off performed). This flashes when hibernation is taking place.

PM me if you need any other help or spares etc.
 
michael8554 said:
... there are cryptic illuminated icons on the power switch panel and a couple on the right hinge too, what do they mean?
Click to expand...

I think wilsodg forgot to explain the indicators next to the power button. These are pretty simple but in case the Thinkpad help does not work:
HDD activity indicator
Num Lock
Caps Lock
Scroll Lock
Power on indicator
 
Thanks for the answers everyone.
Managed to read through the Maintenance Manual and ooops, there is a section that explains the indicator lights.
Wilsodg - bought this T23 a week ago and loaded Carsoft on and ran a diagnostic on my car.
Now it seems I have the motherboard fault where components fall off and the charging circuit fails, and a good battery fails to charge.
Other symptoms are takes many attempts to boot, black screen and fan pulsing on and off. Works fine once booted and windows XP loaded.
Will the T23 work on mains with the battery taken out?
Does occasionally boot in this configuration, perhaps motherboard is faulty in other ways too.
 
Hi
sounds more like a problem with the power connector?
cheers
 
Thanks balge.
Previously I had carefully bent the centre-pin contacts on the power lead and it certainly felt more secure.
But power was getting there anyway, the fan was pulsing and some lights were on with the dead battery removed.
 
Michael,
I (think) I sent you a PM. I have no use for my old T23 - yours if you want it. I am at top of A303 where it meets the M3 - maybe not too far from you.

On your machine, if it's not been used for a while then the cpu fan can get stuck, and contacts poor. Thinkpads are very easy to take apart and a short burst of compressed air, or the vacuum works wonders to clear out the dust - especially round the fan. Try disconnecting and re-connecting connectors you can easily see/reach. With the HMM, it's a breeze to take the keyboard off, and then everything is easily accessibe below.
 
Last edited:
wilsodg Thanks for prompting, hadn't spotted they'd come to me.
I have replied
 
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