Restoring IBM Thinkpad A31 - Revision history

Dr-marco at 16:38, 4 December 2025

2025-12-04T16:38:37Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:38, 4 December 2025
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	We decided to install Windows XP Service Pack 3 as main OS. After some minor issues with the disk drive and the boot order, we were able to install the operating system. The last thing we did was installing the GPU driver to enable the 3D acceleration for retrogaming. After that, the '''THICKpad''' is full restored and capable to launch ''Donald Duck: Goin' Quackers''.		We decided to install Windows XP Service Pack 3 as main OS. After some minor issues with the disk drive and the boot order, we were able to install the operating system. The last thing we did was installing the GPU driver to enable the 3D acceleration for retrogaming. After that, the '''THICKpad''' is full restored and capable to launch ''Donald Duck: Goin' Quackers''.

			[[File:A31 restored.jpg\|thumb\|Restored ThinkPad A31 running Windows XP]]

	== Previous issues ==		== Previous issues ==

Dr-marco: Restore: DONE

2025-12-04T16:35:25Z

Restore: DONE

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:35, 4 December 2025
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	{{Project		{{Project
	\|Picture=T31 booting.PNG		\|Picture=T31 booting.PNG
	\|Project Status=~~Active~~		\|Project Status=Finished
	\|Participants=Dr-marco, Ceres-c		\|Participants=Dr-marco, Ceres-c
	}}		}}
	Restoring an old [https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:A31 IBM Thinkpad A31], AKA the '''THICKpad'''.		Restoring an old [https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:A31 IBM Thinkpad A31], AKA the '''THICKpad'''.

	Recently bought AC power supply and a broken ~~Thinkpad~~ A31 for new LCD		Recently bought AC power supply and a broken ThinkPad A31 for new LCD.

	The motherboard <s>seems</s> is working with no big issues ~~but~~ the display <s>needs</s> needed some spare parts. Now it boots into the bios, we have to ~~upgrade~~ the hardware with an IDE SSD and some extra RAM (a whopping 2Gb total)		The motherboard <s>seems</s> is working with no big issues, turns out the display <s>needs</s> needed some spare parts. Now it boots into the bios, we <s>have to</s> upgraded the hardware with an IDE SSD and some extra RAM (a whopping 2Gb total).

			We decided to install Windows XP Service Pack 3 as main OS. After some minor issues with the disk drive and the boot order, we were able to install the operating system. The last thing we did was installing the GPU driver to enable the 3D acceleration for retrogaming. After that, the '''THICKpad''' is full restored and capable to launch ''Donald Duck: Goin' Quackers''.
	== TODOs ==
	* Install OS

	== ~~Issues~~ ==		== Previous issues ==
	The original LCD display had a red tint, which hints at a defective lamp, and the backlight went dark shortly after powerup. On the other A31 we purchased, the backlight was not working at all, which hints at a defective inverter. Using the LCT from the new machine and the inverter from the original one, we now have a working screen.		The original LCD display had a red tint, which hints at a defective lamp, and the backlight went dark shortly after powerup. On the other A31 we purchased, the backlight was not working at all, which hints at a defective inverter. Using the LCT from the new machine and the inverter from the original one, we now have a working screen.

	== Hardware Spec==		== Hardware Spec==
	The '''bATtlEsTatIOn''' ~~has~~ ~~512Mb~~ of PC2700 RAM~~, which we want to upgrade,~~ and we scavenged a 140 Gb hard disk from some other laptop, but that will also be upgraded to a IDE SSD.		The '''bATtlEsTatIOn''' had 512MB of PC2700 RAM and we scavenged a 140 Gb hard disk from some other laptop, but that will also be upgraded to a IDE SSD.

			EDIT: We did the upgrades! Now the A31 has 2048MB of RAM and 60 GB IDE SSD, plenty of memory for this big boy.

			* '''CPU''': Mobile Intel Pentium 4-M 1.90GHz
			* '''GPU''': ATI Mobility Radeon 7500
			* '''RAM''': 2GB of memory
			* '''Storage''': 60GB IDE SSD
			* '''Display''': IBM ThinkPad 1024x768 TFT LCD panel
			* '''Floppy drive''': y
			* '''Disk drive''': y
			* '''Ports''': 2x USB 2.0 type A, 1x VGA port, 1x PS/2 port, 1x serial port, 1x parallel port, 1x Ethernet port, 1x S-Video port, 1x RJ11 modem port

Ceres-c at 08:45, 13 June 2025

2025-06-13T08:45:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:45, 13 June 2025
Line 12:		Line 12:
	== TODOs ==		== TODOs ==
	* Install OS		* Install OS

			== Issues ==
			The original LCD display had a red tint, which hints at a defective lamp, and the backlight went dark shortly after powerup. On the other A31 we purchased, the backlight was not working at all, which hints at a defective inverter. Using the LCT from the new machine and the inverter from the original one, we now have a working screen.

			== Hardware Spec==
			The '''bATtlEsTatIOn''' has 512Mb of PC2700 RAM, which we want to upgrade, and we scavenged a 140 Gb hard disk from some other laptop, but that will also be upgraded to a IDE SSD.

Ceres-c at 08:42, 13 June 2025

2025-06-13T08:42:01Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:42, 13 June 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{Project		{{Project
	\|Picture=~~T a31.png~~ T31 booting.PNG		\|Picture=T31 booting.PNG
	\|Project Status=Active		\|Project Status=Active
	\|Participants=Dr-marco, Ceres-c		\|Participants=Dr-marco, Ceres-c
	}}		}}
	Restoring an old [https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:A31 IBM Thinkpad A31], AKA the '''THICKpad'''.		Restoring an old [https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:A31 IBM Thinkpad A31], AKA the '''THICKpad'''.

	The motherboard seems working with no big issues but the display needs some spare parts.

	Recently bought AC power supply and a broken Thinkpad A31 for new LCD		Recently bought AC power supply and a broken Thinkpad A31 for new LCD

			The motherboard <s>seems</s> is working with no big issues but the display <s>needs</s> needed some spare parts. Now it boots into the bios, we have to upgrade the hardware with an IDE SSD and some extra RAM (a whopping 2Gb total)

	== TODOs ==		== TODOs ==
	* Fix LCD inverter or swap display
	* Install OS		* Install OS
	* Add new components from broken Thinkpad
	* Check [https://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=60211 fuses]

Ceres-c at 08:38, 13 June 2025

2025-06-13T08:38:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:38, 13 June 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{Project		{{Project
	\|Picture=T a31.png		\|Picture=T a31.png T31 booting.PNG
	\|Project Status=Active		\|Project Status=Active
	\|Participants=Dr-marco, Ceres-c		\|Participants=Dr-marco, Ceres-c

Ceres-c at 15:05, 12 June 2025

2025-06-12T15:05:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:05, 12 June 2025
Line 14:		Line 14:
	* Install OS		* Install OS
	* Add new components from broken Thinkpad		* Add new components from broken Thinkpad
			* Check [https://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=60211 fuses]

Dr-marco at 19:04, 8 June 2025

2025-06-08T19:04:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:04, 8 June 2025
Line 4:		Line 4:
	\|Participants=Dr-marco, Ceres-c		\|Participants=Dr-marco, Ceres-c
	}}		}}
	Restoring an old IBM Thinkpad A31.		Restoring an old [https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:A31 IBM Thinkpad A31], AKA the '''THICKpad'''.

	The motherboard seems working with no big issues but the display needs some spare parts.		The motherboard seems working with no big issues but the display needs some spare parts.

			Recently bought AC power supply and a broken Thinkpad A31 for new LCD

			== TODOs ==
			* Fix LCD inverter or swap display
			* Install OS
			* Add new components from broken Thinkpad

Dr-marco: Create Thinkpad A31 project page

2025-06-08T18:32:06Z

Create Thinkpad A31 project page

New page

{{Project
|Picture=T a31.png
|Project Status=Active
|Participants=Dr-marco, Ceres-c
}}
Restoring an old IBM Thinkpad A31.

The motherboard seems working with no big issues but the display needs some spare parts.