T42p won't come out of standby or won't boot after shutdown

[cn487311]

Hi folks,

I just bought a used T42p (2373-C96) from IBM. I did a clean install of Windows XP Pro SP2 with latest drivers. I also updated BIOS to the latest. Everything is working fine except one odd problem.

I set power button to standby. However, the machine won't come out of standby (either power button or Fn key). What happens is the machine is turned on but the moon light is still on. Screen is blank. No operation is possible. I have to press the power button for 4 seconds to turn it off. Then it won't boot. Pressing the power button only gives me a blank screen. The IBM logo screen is never shown. Only the fan is running. I must unplug AC power and the battery, let it stay like that for 1 minute. Then it can boot normally. By the way, AC power on or not, no difference.

If I shutdown the machine, it turns off normally but it will not boot. As described above, I have to remove power source for one minute for it to be able to boot normally.

I tried to re-install the power management driver but no luck.

Does this sound like a hardware problem or a software problem? I never encountered such weird problem before. Anyone has any idea before I call IBM?

Thanks much.

[ajkula66]

Your motherboard is shot. Send it back now.

[sjthinkpader]

If you look at the Device Manager under Systems Property, do you see any problems with drivers? ACPI driver is in the list?

Normally, Power Button is assigned to Shutdown and Closing the Lid is assigned to Standby. When you change to these settings, does it work ok?

[Johan]

As George says, chances are that your motherboard is dead - and in such case you will need to rush before your very limited warranty runs out (especially the 7-day money-back-no-questions-asked warranty, if you end up choosing this - you will find links to threads discussing this issue in Report on IBM Certified Used T42p).

But! I recently had a somewhat similar problem to that you describe here (with my T42p 2373-Q1U which is almost identical to your 2373-C96), and it turned out that it was a bad 1 GB RAM module that was the cause of the error (all the details about "my problem" is described in the thread IBM/Denmark deny to honor warranty confirmed by IBM-Support - you may read the first post there and then the one on page 2 of Mon Jan 28, 2008 12:28 pm). My T42p was also a "re-manufactured" machine, sold by IBM via ThinkPad World.

I therefore suggest that you try take out one of your 1 GB RAM modules out at a time, and swap them - to see if one is dead and the other one functions OK. To see how to do this, go to the "ThinkPad movie index" found at Hardware removal and installation - ThinkPad T40/p, T41/p, T42/p, T43/p.

If you are able to boot from a CD-ROM, I would strongly suggest you try all the following:

1) Download and burn a bootable CD-ROM with PC Doctor for DOS bootable CD - ThinkPad - and run it numerous times.

2) Download, burn and run (multiple runs!) a bootable CD-ROM with memtest86+.

3) Consider enabling "Extended Memory Test" in the BIOS; see where in the BIOS simulator - ThinkPad T42/p with fingerprint reader (--> Config --> Memory).

Best wishes with your error-hunt!

Kind regards,

Johan

[cn487311]

No question mark found in device manager, all devices have been installed and functioning correctly. ACPI driver included.

Looks like it is a hardware problem. I have burned a PC-Doctor bootable CD and will do some extensive test. The idea that memory module is the reason is a plausible one - I have experienced memory problems on a T30. Let me report back my test results soon...

Thanks much.

[cn487311]

Ran PC-Doctor and memtest for almost whole day - did not find any problem.

Spoke with an IBM representative in the evening. He is very helpful. He says it sounds like a motherboard problem, probably some capacitator (not sure whether I heard it correctly) are out of power or something like that. He has arranged to replace the motherboard.

I will report back whether the problem is solved later.

Thanks.

[cn487311]

A technician came on site to replace the motherboard. So far the problem seems fixed.