Toshiba Tecra TE2100 - Parallel Loopback Problem...

**daktees** · 02-07-09, 05:16 PM

I recently acquired a Tecra TE2100 (with no charger) from a friend who forgot the power-on password, however everything else is in working order. I have been doing a bit of googling and found out that the only way to delete the password from this computer was to make a that plugs into the Parallel port of the laptop.
After making this device with an old printer cable, I plugged it into the laptop and booted up; nothing happened. All I get is the green power LED on and nothing else; no hard drive, no screen, no sounds what-so-ever from the machine. I have to power it off by holding down the power button for a number of seconds. After removing the loopback device, the laptop still doesn't boot up, just the LED. After inspecting the device and the port, I realized that the schematics I used were in the direction of the port and not the cable, making all my soldering round the wrong way. Since that, the laptop has run out of charge, so I cannot boot it until I receive the power supply I just bought off ebay... In the mean time;
I have re-soldered all the wires into the correct spots on the parallel cable.

Now my question is, is it possible I could of fried the motherboard by having the wrong pin connections? Do you think maybe the laptop isn't booting up because of the parallel loopback device or because it has no charge?
I know it seems silly to make a post about this however I am stressing over it as I was planning to use this computer on holidays...
I guess I can't really know anything for sure until I get the charger however any input into my problem would be great...

Thanks.

**daktees** · 09-07-09, 05:29 PM

Bump.
Just received the charger and gave it a charge; no go.
After charging it for a while, I unplugged it and attempted to boot it.
I press the power button and the green power led comes on steady however the laptop doesn't respond at all, I then have to hold down the power button for about 4 seconds to shut it off.
I put my ear to the thing and booted it up and I can't hear anything, so not one thing is actually booting inside it.
Anyone that knows anything about these laptops then help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers.

**urban_s0ulja** · 09-07-09, 06:09 PM

**daktees** · 09-07-09, 06:14 PM

Thanks urban_s0ulja but I had already constructed the loopback, my problem is now that the laptop doesn't work after using the loopback because of my 3am-soldering. The laptop will now not boot because the schematics I used were for the port and not the cable; making all my soldering the opposite to what it should be.
Any ideas?

**Aboulaly** · 09-07-09, 06:14 PM

me thinks it's fried.

**daktees** · 09-07-09, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by Aboulaly

me thinks it's fried.

What part exactly? Motherboard?
Any idea what I would be able to sell this thing for?

**urban_s0ulja** · 09-07-09, 06:18 PM

ouch
might have fried the mainboard....

theres a toshiba expert on this forum maybe he'll lend a hand

**daktees** · 09-07-09, 06:36 PM

Cheers, hopefully he'll see this thread.
Does anyone have any idea what I'd get for this thing if I sold it as is?
I stupidly went ahead and bought a charger and a PCMCIA SATA card for it and now I have no use for these...

**Aboulaly** · 09-07-09, 06:37 PM

It sounds like a fried motherboard mate.
you can always sell it as parts.

**Aboulaly** · 09-07-09, 06:40 PM

what is the exact model number?

**daktees** · 09-07-09, 06:45 PM

Damn.
It's a Toshiba Tecra TE2100 PT210A-006QT
40GB HD, 256mb RAM, P4 1.7, DVD.
Everything works fine besides the obvious problem...

**Aboulaly** · 09-07-09, 06:50 PM

how much would you be hoping to get for it as is?

**daktees** · 09-07-09, 08:11 PM

I'd be hoping to get at least $100 however I'm not entirely sure what it would be worth with this problem...

**ageno2gen1** · 09-07-09, 10:05 PM

you can buy a motherboard/ram/vga tester on ebay for around $20^ mite b worth it for ya.

**z1gg33** · 10-07-09, 02:00 AM

Quick question, did the machine boot up to the password screen before you used the "dongle" that is did you actually see the machine work, or were you given it, with out power and told it has a bios password and she can not remember it.

**z1gg33** · 10-07-09, 02:14 AM

remove the battery plug in power.... any lights?

**daktees** · 10-07-09, 11:06 AM

Yes the laptop booted up fine to the password screen when I got it, it was only after I did the loopback that the problem arised...
I removed the battery and plugged it in and the little power plug light came on. So I take it's probably the mainboard and not the powerboard?

**aceycv8** · 10-07-09, 12:00 PM

the TE2100's have 3 common problem's.
problem 1: it has a power board that connects to the mainboard - when you pick up the machine this causes it to flex and disgldge the connector or cause a harline crack in the powerboard.

Problem 2: the Video card in this machine is also a seperate bit of hardware - this too sufferes from the flexing problem.

Problem 3: the video tans cable connected to the video card - the connector / cable can get that hot that it simply comes off the video card and this is also helped by the keyboard when your typing as the card is right under the keyboard.

temporary fix if the machine likes you

give the machine CPR

place one hand on the top mouse buttons just where the keyboard is and push down applying pressure and then push the power button to start the machine keep the pressure on at all times and see if the machine starts. if not push down on the right hand side of the keyboard once or twice and then apply the pressure back ontop of the mouse buttons where the keyboard ends and turn the unit back on.

see how you go.

**daktees** · 10-07-09, 12:22 PM

Thanks for your help mate but no go

No change in the machine's behavior whatsoever.
Any other help would be great

Originally Posted by aceycv8

the TE2100's have 3 common problem's.
problem 1: it has a power board that connects to the mainboard - when you pick up the machine this causes it to flex and disgldge the connector or cause a harline crack in the powerboard.

Problem 2: the Video card in this machine is also a seperate bit of hardware - this too sufferes from the flexing problem.

Problem 3: the video tans cable connected to the video card - the connector / cable can get that hot that it simply comes off the video card and this is also helped by the keyboard when your typing as the card is right under the keyboard.

temporary fix if the machine likes you

give the machine CPR

place one hand on the top mouse buttons just where the keyboard is and push down applying pressure and then push the power button to start the machine keep the pressure on at all times and see if the machine starts. if not push down on the right hand side of the keyboard once or twice and then apply the pressure back ontop of the mouse buttons where the keyboard ends and turn the unit back on.

see how you go.