Take a look at our
ThinkPads.com HOME PAGE
For those who might want to contribute to the blog, start here: Editors Alley Topic
Then contact Bill with a Private Message
ThinkPads.com HOME PAGE
For those who might want to contribute to the blog, start here: Editors Alley Topic
Then contact Bill with a Private Message
Can you tell me anything about this A31?
-
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 3:36 pm
- Location: LONDON, UK
Can you tell me anything about this A31?
I just purchased this.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IBM-THINKPAD-A31- ... 3cb9f5c9f3
I was hoping perhaps it was an A31p, or possibly an SXGA+ A31.
Is their anyway to tell from the picture? I note the screen looks like 15" and the text is small, I was hoping this was going to be SXGA+
I know its a long shot to identify
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IBM-THINKPAD-A31- ... 3cb9f5c9f3
I was hoping perhaps it was an A31p, or possibly an SXGA+ A31.
Is their anyway to tell from the picture? I note the screen looks like 15" and the text is small, I was hoping this was going to be SXGA+
I know its a long shot to identify
T60 2007-66G T2500 2.0, 1GB, 80GB, SXGA+ (+Dock)
-
- Admin Emeritus
- Posts: 23812
- Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
- Location: Loch Garman, Éire
Re: Can you tell me anything about this A31?
That logo picture is the same for all resolutions, so no indication of screen resolution here.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.
PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine.
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.
PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine.
Re: Can you tell me anything about this A31?
With a little patience it will be easy to identify. Since you have already purchased it, wait a few days until it arrives. Then you will have no trouble at all telling what you have.
Collection = T430 - T500 - R400 - X300 - T61 (14" WXGA+) - R61 (15" SXGA+) - T60 - X40 - T43p - T43 - T42p - A30P
-
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 3:36 pm
- Location: LONDON, UK
Re: Can you tell me anything about this A31?
>That logo picture is the same for all resolutions, so no indication of screen resolution here.
Many thanks. That is what I was looking for. I wasn't sure whether this was the case or not.
I have purchased quite a few ThinkPads lately, and from eBay sometimes it is difficult to ascertain the exact model (many people who sell TP cheap invariably fail to state even the model or configuration). Knowing things like this helps me in the future when I have to quickly decide based upon a grainy image
>With a little patience it will be easy to identify. Since you have already purchased it, wait a few days until it arrives. Then you will have no trouble at all telling what you have.
Thanks Neil, and yes I am a little impatient I admit
Many thanks. That is what I was looking for. I wasn't sure whether this was the case or not.
I have purchased quite a few ThinkPads lately, and from eBay sometimes it is difficult to ascertain the exact model (many people who sell TP cheap invariably fail to state even the model or configuration). Knowing things like this helps me in the future when I have to quickly decide based upon a grainy image
>With a little patience it will be easy to identify. Since you have already purchased it, wait a few days until it arrives. Then you will have no trouble at all telling what you have.
Thanks Neil, and yes I am a little impatient I admit
T60 2007-66G T2500 2.0, 1GB, 80GB, SXGA+ (+Dock)
Re: Can you tell me anything about this A31?
I noticed this interesting sentence in the listing: "LAPTOP CAN BE BUYED FOR SPARES AND PARTS LIKE SCREEN, BATTERY, INCHS AND MOTHERBOARD."
Did you buy it for the INCHS? I don't have that on any of my ThinkPads.
Did you buy it for the INCHS? I don't have that on any of my ThinkPads.
R52s 1849-ADU, -8DU and -4WU
R60 9456-01U
R60 9456-01U
Re: Can you tell me anything about this A31?
Code: Select all
"LAPTOP CAN BE BUYED FOR SPARES AND PARTS LIKE SCREEN, BATTERY, INCHS AND MOTHERBOARD."
Collection = T430 - T500 - R400 - X300 - T61 (14" WXGA+) - R61 (15" SXGA+) - T60 - X40 - T43p - T43 - T42p - A30P
-
- Senior ThinkPadder
- Posts: 8545
- Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 5:07 am
- Location: Ann Arbor, MI
- Contact:
Re: Can you tell me anything about this A31?
Hinges.Neil wrote:Does anyone have a clue what the seller meant by that? Just curious...thought maybe inchs has a different meaning in the UK than inches over here in the US...
Dell Latitude 7370 (QHD+, 2.84lb); HP Pavilion x2 12-b096ms (1920x1280, 3.14lb); Microsoft Surface 3 (1920x1280, 2.00lb);
Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF (Core i5-6600); Acer ET322QK, T272HUL; Crossover 404K; QNIX QHD2410R; Seiki Pro SM40UNP
Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF (Core i5-6600); Acer ET322QK, T272HUL; Crossover 404K; QNIX QHD2410R; Seiki Pro SM40UNP
Re: Can you tell me anything about this A31?
You have an unfair advantage from too many years of correcting College level papers...pianowizard wrote:Hinges.
-
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 3:36 pm
- Location: LONDON, UK
Re: Can you tell me anything about this A31?
Yes I saw that... but even here in the UK it is meaningless..... hinges sounds a good choice though!
T60 2007-66G T2500 2.0, 1GB, 80GB, SXGA+ (+Dock)
Re: Can you tell me anything about this A31?
Well, you should have checked with the seller for more specifics. BEFORE bidding. Not hard to do.
I always assume that if quality specs aren't listed, then it has the cheaper version of whatever component you're interested in.
I always assume that if quality specs aren't listed, then it has the cheaper version of whatever component you're interested in.
-
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 3:36 pm
- Location: LONDON, UK
Re: Can you tell me anything about this A31?
Normally I would agree.
But obviously you are not UK based.
In the UK ThinkPads can fetch twice what they do in the US, so £35/$55 total including postage for an A31, no matter how incomplete is a very good deal.
Complete basic A31's are worth at least $120-150 here.
If I purchase an eBay TP from the US I can pay up to $150 postage (just check and see...) and never under say $50.
The sellers states it boots to BIOS (although that could still indicate a Southbridge failure) but is obviously not knowledgeable about TP's. I judged it to be likely complete but even if not I can use the parts and it would still be worth at least $50 here.
If I didn't buy it somebody else would have - as I purchased it within a few hours of auction start.
Sometimes it just pays to act first and think later.
But obviously you are not UK based.
In the UK ThinkPads can fetch twice what they do in the US, so £35/$55 total including postage for an A31, no matter how incomplete is a very good deal.
Complete basic A31's are worth at least $120-150 here.
If I purchase an eBay TP from the US I can pay up to $150 postage (just check and see...) and never under say $50.
The sellers states it boots to BIOS (although that could still indicate a Southbridge failure) but is obviously not knowledgeable about TP's. I judged it to be likely complete but even if not I can use the parts and it would still be worth at least $50 here.
If I didn't buy it somebody else would have - as I purchased it within a few hours of auction start.
Sometimes it just pays to act first and think later.
T60 2007-66G T2500 2.0, 1GB, 80GB, SXGA+ (+Dock)
Re: Can you tell me anything about this A31?
roguetrooper wrote:
SouthBridge failures were not observed on A3x series. A variety of other issues may still be hiding in the tall grass, though...
The machine is definitely a 15" model, given the type of screen bezel. Anything and everything else is TBD once you get it.
Good luck.
Huh.The sellers states it boots to BIOS (although that could still indicate a Southbridge failure) but is obviously not knowledgeable about TP's. I judged it to be likely complete but even if not I can use the parts and it would still be worth at least $50 here.
SouthBridge failures were not observed on A3x series. A variety of other issues may still be hiding in the tall grass, though...
The machine is definitely a 15" model, given the type of screen bezel. Anything and everything else is TBD once you get it.
Good luck.
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)
Cheers,
George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)
One FlexView to rule them all: A31p
Abused daily: T520, X200s
PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.
Cheers,
George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)
One FlexView to rule them all: A31p
Abused daily: T520, X200s
PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.
-
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 3:36 pm
- Location: LONDON, UK
Re: Can you tell me anything about this A31?
Well the A31 was received and maybe I should have taken some good advice and checked first. eBay lesson #1 kids, it's whats missing from the description you should worry about!
A31 2652-P3G (July 2003 Production)
Good news
It looks almost new except for a crack on the side of the screen trimming (doesn't affect the LCD).
Has DVD/Floppy Ultrabay units. At least has some RAM (384MB, so likely 256+128). Has a battery but state unknown.
Think it has a WLAN card.
Bad news:
No PSU included
Supervisor Password Set! but Date/Time are OK
The Crack in the screen trim
It's XGA (not SXGA+).
No Disk Caddy and looks like some trim missing from under the PC Card slot (I don't think the caddy covers this area).
So I guess I can use it as "spares" to another A31.
I can get into the BIOS but make no changes. It shows the Disk as one of the first bootable items followed by the DVD. I tried to boot without the Disk (I have no caddy) but it doesn't get as far as booting off the DVD and displays "No Operating System".
Is this salvageable? Is the DVD failed boot due to the Supervisor Password?
I have learned my lesson from eBay though. It really is a gamble.
A31 2652-P3G (July 2003 Production)
Good news
It looks almost new except for a crack on the side of the screen trimming (doesn't affect the LCD).
Has DVD/Floppy Ultrabay units. At least has some RAM (384MB, so likely 256+128). Has a battery but state unknown.
Think it has a WLAN card.
Bad news:
No PSU included
Supervisor Password Set! but Date/Time are OK
The Crack in the screen trim
It's XGA (not SXGA+).
No Disk Caddy and looks like some trim missing from under the PC Card slot (I don't think the caddy covers this area).
So I guess I can use it as "spares" to another A31.
I can get into the BIOS but make no changes. It shows the Disk as one of the first bootable items followed by the DVD. I tried to boot without the Disk (I have no caddy) but it doesn't get as far as booting off the DVD and displays "No Operating System".
Is this salvageable? Is the DVD failed boot due to the Supervisor Password?
I have learned my lesson from eBay though. It really is a gamble.
T60 2007-66G T2500 2.0, 1GB, 80GB, SXGA+ (+Dock)
Re: Can you tell me anything about this A31?
Check here to make sure which password is set: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-59377
The hard drive cover does indeed extend up over the bottom PCMCIA slot.
The hard drive cover does indeed extend up over the bottom PCMCIA slot.
Collection = T430 - T500 - R400 - X300 - T61 (14" WXGA+) - R61 (15" SXGA+) - T60 - X40 - T43p - T43 - T42p - A30P
-
- Admin Emeritus
- Posts: 23812
- Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
- Location: Loch Garman, Éire
Re: Can you tell me anything about this A31?
Upon booting, immediately press F12, that gives you a boot-menu where you can choose to boot from the DVD drive.
Contact (via PM) forum member Poshgeordie in Newcastle to help you further with the Supervisor password.
Contact (via PM) forum member Poshgeordie in Newcastle to help you further with the Supervisor password.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.
PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine.
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.
PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine.
-
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 3:36 pm
- Location: LONDON, UK
Re: Can you tell me anything about this A31?
Yes, the password prompt only shows when I press F1.
Once in the BIOS I can see that the Supervisor password has been enabled and the BIOS changes has been restricted to the supervisor.
My boot list is:
!+Removable Devices
Hard Drive
! CD-ROM Drive
! IBA 4.0.11 Slot 0240
Does this mean that "Operating System not found" message is showing during boot due to the Hard Drive/Caddy not being present? I was hoping it would ignore that and boot off the DVD into a "live CD" allowing me to use Linux without the need for a hard drive.
Any CD I put in (including Windows XP) are ignored, both leds (the floppy and DVD) are permanently on.
Many thanks for some pointers. I tried this board but can't find anything that may assist here. I just wanted to know if it were worth buying a hard drive and caddy - even then - I guess I cannot install anything as the DVD is never reached!
I am not sure why the link supplied says:
"A forgotten Supervisor password will prevent access to the ThinkPad BIOS setup utility."
Because I can access it, just can't change anything!
Thanks everybody.
Once in the BIOS I can see that the Supervisor password has been enabled and the BIOS changes has been restricted to the supervisor.
My boot list is:
!+Removable Devices
Hard Drive
! CD-ROM Drive
! IBA 4.0.11 Slot 0240
Does this mean that "Operating System not found" message is showing during boot due to the Hard Drive/Caddy not being present? I was hoping it would ignore that and boot off the DVD into a "live CD" allowing me to use Linux without the need for a hard drive.
Any CD I put in (including Windows XP) are ignored, both leds (the floppy and DVD) are permanently on.
Many thanks for some pointers. I tried this board but can't find anything that may assist here. I just wanted to know if it were worth buying a hard drive and caddy - even then - I guess I cannot install anything as the DVD is never reached!
I am not sure why the link supplied says:
"A forgotten Supervisor password will prevent access to the ThinkPad BIOS setup utility."
Because I can access it, just can't change anything!
Thanks everybody.
T60 2007-66G T2500 2.0, 1GB, 80GB, SXGA+ (+Dock)
-
- Admin Emeritus
- Posts: 23812
- Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
- Location: Loch Garman, Éire
Re: Can you tell me anything about this A31?
Because you cannot change the BIOS settings, you MUST use F12 to select the CD/DVD drive to boot from!
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.
PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine.
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.
PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine.
-
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 3:36 pm
- Location: LONDON, UK
Re: Can you tell me anything about this A31?
I agree.
But F12 has been disabled in the BIOS!
So, I can't change boot order!
But F12 has been disabled in the BIOS!
So, I can't change boot order!
T60 2007-66G T2500 2.0, 1GB, 80GB, SXGA+ (+Dock)
-
- Admin Emeritus
- Posts: 23812
- Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
- Location: Loch Garman, Éire
Re: Can you tell me anything about this A31?
If the HD is removed and the CD-drive is working, you should be able to boot from a CD!
If not, either return the machine for a full refund (seller failed to mention BIOS-lock), or get the password removed.
If not, either return the machine for a full refund (seller failed to mention BIOS-lock), or get the password removed.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.
PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine.
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.
PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine.
-
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 3:36 pm
- Location: LONDON, UK
Re: Can you tell me anything about this A31?
Well, the boot order is:
!+Removable Devices
Hard Drive
! CD-ROM Drive
! IBA 4.0.11 Slot 0240
I am not sure what the "!" means, perhaps that the device is present? Also the "+" symbol. I can't find in any reference guide.
All BIOS functions have been locked out by a supervisor password, so this boot order cannot be changed.
Powering on, it goes through memory checks, recognizes the DVD drive, but just displays "Operating System not found" despite a bootable CD.
It's to cheap to return... but I'd like to get it to at least boot
!+Removable Devices
Hard Drive
! CD-ROM Drive
! IBA 4.0.11 Slot 0240
I am not sure what the "!" means, perhaps that the device is present? Also the "+" symbol. I can't find in any reference guide.
All BIOS functions have been locked out by a supervisor password, so this boot order cannot be changed.
Powering on, it goes through memory checks, recognizes the DVD drive, but just displays "Operating System not found" despite a bootable CD.
It's to cheap to return... but I'd like to get it to at least boot
T60 2007-66G T2500 2.0, 1GB, 80GB, SXGA+ (+Dock)
-
- Admin
- Posts: 10327
- Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 1:26 am
- Location: San Jose, CA 95120 USA
- Contact:
Re: Can you tell me anything about this A31?
The exclamation point in front of the drive description means that the device has been disabled from the boot order. From the looks of it, your system will only boot from the hard drive.
The plus sign means that there's one or more of those devices (removable, hard drive, CDROM, etc.) known to the BIOS.
The plus sign means that there's one or more of those devices (removable, hard drive, CDROM, etc.) known to the BIOS.
Ray Kawakami
X22 X24 X31 X41 X41T X60 X60s X61 X61s X200 X200s X300 X301 Z60m Z61t Z61p 560 560Z 600 600E 600X T21 T22 T23 T41 T60p T410 T420 T520 W500 W520 R50 A21p A22p A31 A31p
NOTE: All links to PC-Doctor software hosted by me are dead. Files removed 8/28/12 by manufacturer's demand.
X22 X24 X31 X41 X41T X60 X60s X61 X61s X200 X200s X300 X301 Z60m Z61t Z61p 560 560Z 600 600E 600X T21 T22 T23 T41 T60p T410 T420 T520 W500 W520 R50 A21p A22p A31 A31p
NOTE: All links to PC-Doctor software hosted by me are dead. Files removed 8/28/12 by manufacturer's demand.
Re: Can you tell me anything about this A31?
I know this post is late to the party, but if you have any PC which only boots to hard disk there are ways around that problem in order to install an operating system.
Linux is by far the easiest. Slave the notebook drive into another computer or connect it to another computer by USB adapter. Linux installs are "portable" so a drive loaded in one machine normally boots fine in another. Bonus, you get Linux instead of Windows. Ubuntu LTS worked fine on my A31.
Windows on the other hand can be annoying. You could have a friend install it using another A31, or you could install using another PC then "sysprep" the hard drive after which you can plug it back into your machine, boot it, then let it detect and load your hardware. If your spare PC is a desktop, adapters to connect notebook PATA drives to desktop cables are only a few dollars and are a useful toolkit item.
Another method, allowing you to copy 2000 or XP to the hard disk, then insert it in your target PC, and install:
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/578/wind ... harddrive/
Then there's the Hat Monster method, proven for many years now:
http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=42051
Lastly, the techniques to run "frugal" installs mean you can boot a live CD image from the hard drive, and those are easy to install via USB.
My A31 is mostly used with an install of FalconFour's 4.5 live multiboot PE/DOS/Linux CD since I now use it for a troubleshooting machine. When in the live PE environment, it runs "Portable Apps" from a folder I designated for the purpose.
http://falconfour.wordpress.com/2011/03 ... cdusb-4-5/
I've played with my A31 quite a bit, and it also boots fine from a SYBA SD-ADA45006 2.5" IDE 44-Pin To Dual Compact Flash Adapter .
My 31 doesn't see a card in the second slot, but the second card I tested was a Transcend which doesn't boot either in the primary slot.
Linux is by far the easiest. Slave the notebook drive into another computer or connect it to another computer by USB adapter. Linux installs are "portable" so a drive loaded in one machine normally boots fine in another. Bonus, you get Linux instead of Windows. Ubuntu LTS worked fine on my A31.
Windows on the other hand can be annoying. You could have a friend install it using another A31, or you could install using another PC then "sysprep" the hard drive after which you can plug it back into your machine, boot it, then let it detect and load your hardware. If your spare PC is a desktop, adapters to connect notebook PATA drives to desktop cables are only a few dollars and are a useful toolkit item.
Another method, allowing you to copy 2000 or XP to the hard disk, then insert it in your target PC, and install:
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/578/wind ... harddrive/
Then there's the Hat Monster method, proven for many years now:
http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=42051
Lastly, the techniques to run "frugal" installs mean you can boot a live CD image from the hard drive, and those are easy to install via USB.
My A31 is mostly used with an install of FalconFour's 4.5 live multiboot PE/DOS/Linux CD since I now use it for a troubleshooting machine. When in the live PE environment, it runs "Portable Apps" from a folder I designated for the purpose.
http://falconfour.wordpress.com/2011/03 ... cdusb-4-5/
I've played with my A31 quite a bit, and it also boots fine from a SYBA SD-ADA45006 2.5" IDE 44-Pin To Dual Compact Flash Adapter .
My 31 doesn't see a card in the second slot, but the second card I tested was a Transcend which doesn't boot either in the primary slot.
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
-
Talk about ANYTHING? What kind of music do you like?
by whoknows88 » Mon Dec 04, 2023 7:07 pm » in Off-Topic Stuff - 5 Replies
- 1475 Views
-
Last post by Brad
Sat Dec 09, 2023 12:07 am
-
-
-
How to tell if a screen will be matte?
by ghanwani » Sun Feb 04, 2024 10:33 pm » in ThinkPad X1 / X1-Carbon / X1-Extreme and later Series - 3 Replies
- 793 Views
-
Last post by ZaZ
Mon Feb 05, 2024 2:32 pm
-
-
-
Can you add a GeForce GPU in a G41 with Intel GPU?
by Gonzaleitor » Thu Oct 26, 2023 1:51 pm » in ThinkPad R, A, G and Z Series - 2 Replies
- 4976 Views
-
Last post by Gonzaleitor
Thu Oct 26, 2023 5:22 pm
-
-
-
Internet Speed Test, who can you believe?
by RealBlackStuff » Tue Nov 14, 2023 3:51 am » in ** HOW TOs & FAQs ** - 20 Replies
- 5853 Views
-
Last post by ajkula66
Mon Feb 19, 2024 8:21 am
-
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 25 guests