Dead Lenovo Small form factor IdeaCentre 310S Desktop PC restored to life!

Sometimes machines come in to the workshop locally that aren't the usual Macbooks; while often it's not economical to try do board repairs on these machines, sometimes it's worth having a 15 minute look in the case of it being something obvious.
In this situation, the board on the first glance looked perfectly clean, no bugs, no liquid damage, no lightning or surge damage, so what could it possibly be?

[@dtiglio]

Hello Paul, great job! Same model and same problem here... I removed a couple of CPU caps and PC works again. Thanks!

[@ilyas.7209]

It's insane how I have just had this exact model come in, and there are water traces at the exact same places, both the unpopulated pad and the two capacitors. The symptom was no image (no boot). CPU fan spinned, mouse lit up, keyboard didn't, no caps lock, pulled constant current ("stuck" level of constant). Removed the two caps (removing the one you did didn't help, so I removed the other one too), got instant boot. I suspect it's probably condensation. The customer said they replaced the CR2032 CMOS battery, after which it failed to turn on. Probably shook the computer in the process of handling it, some droplets shorted stuff out or smth. Gonna replace those caps with similar caps off another CPU package (2011 Macbook Pro board happened to be at hand). After all, all CPU voltages are under 1.5V, I suspect these long parallel on package caps should be compatible at least in that regard. Glad I found this video, I would have never guessed to look under the cooler. Thank you!

[@pldaniels]

Always good when a video, even if it's a few years old, helps someone find a fix - congrats!

[@lepointrepair7855]

Thanks Paul. One more same model and same problem solved here.

[@KortechUK]

A good result Paul

[@HamedAdefuwa]

That infrared is amazing, I've never seen anything like it before.

[@pldaniels]

Custom written software using the FLIR One Pro USB-C model

[@HamedAdefuwa]

@@pldaniels As a 2nd year EE student, I'm inspired! Thanks Paul.

[@pldaniels]

@@HamedAdefuwa enjoy the EE studies. To be fair, this instance of the iR camera was fairly out of the norm for just how clearly it showed up ( especially on the bottom side ).

[@HamedAdefuwa]

@@pldaniels thanks Paul, I'm definitely interested in getting good at both the electrical side of things and the programming side. Writing custom software to aid me, like what you've done, is my goal. Appreciate what you do.

[@HeTake123]

Nice fix

[@PHONE-LAPTOP-REPAIR]

Great and fast job plus additional tools i just see.

[@d.c.7301]

Paul you went in your bag on this one.

[@josephking6515]

Holy moly, the great Paul Daniels is now repairing CPUs (well AMDs which are really not _real_ CPUs) 😱 That Chipmonk is faulty because you were able to insert it without having to turn it over and get it correct on the third attempt. 🤦‍♂️

[@pldaniels]

It’s a special Schrodinger’s edition, exists in all states until it’s plugged in

[@BeastoftheMiddleEast-u4c]

Thanks for this video this worked perfectly

[@rodrigomaero]

Hey Paul how do you feel about the flir cam now that you have used it for quite a while? I mean in comparison to the seek compact pro... I'm about to buy one but still undecided

[@pcvitamins]

he got his own software for his flir camera :)

[@pldaniels]

Can't compare as I don't have any other iR camera. The FLiR is nice for macbooks, a little more difficult for iPhones due to the lack of macro lens ( I could just make it that the software doesn't display the visible camera view )

[@ndumisodube76]

Paul Daniel's always wins

[@Msingh1915]

hi, can you tell me what is the name of the usb tester you used? or where can i get it to buy?

[@pldaniels]

www.cmizapper.com/products/usb-tester.html

[@AndreaScorza]

after cap removal and oxide clean up the pc starts.....but we have black screen. Any hints?

[@Timpano_Francesco_Repairs]

Hi Paul, nice job...and very good the Software you write for the thermal camera, i have a TTI camera but Is not so clear the image... If i send you the exact model you can valutate to make me a quote to develop the sw for my model... Thanks in Advance..bye Francesco Timpano from Florence Italy

[@pldaniels]

Do you have the exact model code or a website showing the specs for the camera? Quite possibly it just doesn't have enough pixels?

[@johnybravo8454]

Hello sir, i have the same pc. I am having a black screen when trying to boot up. Not a monitor issue i have tested a few monitors with the same effect. Powers on, cpu fan spins. I do not hear any beeps or anything when booting up. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance

[@pldaniels]

Always check clock battery - replace first and test

[@johnmayersangma1088]

My Lenovo 310s 08asr Lightning damage problem power is on,and not screen no buzzing sound and hhd led not blinking.🙏 please help me

[@shinepanangad3611]

Same issue

[@annafan83]

Nice, Paul! :-)

[@KrissBartlett]

wow that was difrent Paul

[@enzomat]

same problem, same repair, but the mb doesn't start to bios

[@postventatewis9968]

hello Paul great fix and thanks for share. in my case the cpu fan starts and the hdd make sound but nothing else happens, no video , any idea?

[@AndreaScorza]

same here, did you solved?

[@postventatewis9968]

@@AndreaScorza unfortunately no.😢

[@ravishankarponnada7538]

I am have same PC, No responce from CPU when power ON. i have taken this CPU to nearby all repair shops but they cannot repair. All technicians said, it is motherboard problem, you want to change CPU. Only useful parts in this CPU are Ram and Harddisk. I cannot afford new CPU now😭

[@Chriva]

That red thing in the USB port is a tester. Also called a chipmunk. It can be bought from here: www.cmizapper.com/products/usb-tester.html

[@Chriva]

Sorry. Force of habit :)

[@AvrangePoor]

Im only getting 3 watts into my motherboard. What do I do?

[@org4ngrinder]

Paul where the hell do you get new macbook pro screens that work? Last 30 have had a 60% failure rate! What is going on?!

[@pldaniels]

I get them domestically or unionRepair, a bit of a premium but at least there's warranty/return options.

[@org4ngrinder]

@@pldaniels we have been sourcing locally for the sake of warranty but it seems to be consistently bad with all of our suppliers. Some are asking for 1k+ too... We're almost at the point where we are going to start denying screen replacements cause it isn't worth the hassle.

[@org4ngrinder]

@@pldaniels which sucks cause we get at least 3-5 a week

[@pldaniels]

When I see A1398's with broken screens, it's just safer to read out the last rights :(

[@org4ngrinder]

@@pldaniels I feel like I can rely on a second hand a1398 screen more than a new a1990 screen haha

[@horriblemrturtlez8556]

Can u add an m.2 ssd to this motherboard?

[@Fuzzy.2023]

Hey if any one in 2023 nov to dec pls reply how big the motho

[@sergre1505]

Corrosion in that place.. u find it

[@zx8401ztv]

Odd how the fan changed direction a few times. A crappy cap is to blame again!.

[@josephking6515]

Don't you mean a *zombie* cap? 🤭

[@Your4K]

I HATE THIS PC THEY ARE GARBAGE AND 2. Failed on me had power but not coming on!