boot problems

[krcmd]

Took a deep breath and opened it up.

Bios battery checks OK

swapped memory cards

Major league dust bunnies blown out.

Will keep you posted.

[pathma]

I think its the keyboard. On power up, after batt led comes on
and the IBM screen logo stays on, the fan starts running. But then,
there's a pause before the Hard disk led flashes more then
once. If its not going to boot it just stops there, if the HD led keeps
flashing then alls well. Find that initially flexing the keyboard
helped. I doubt its the mobo as it was just replaced (less then 50
bootups ago) and occasionally the screen will beep and throw out
the keyboard error code. Definately not the Hard Disk. Maybe a
weak CMOS? or some other dry solder joint. I do find that letting it
sit for a week helped it boot up once, which makes me think its the
CMOS batt. I didn't move the laptop so there was no flexing. Will
swap keyboards and see if it goes away, else swap/change CMOS batt.

[Brad]

Are there two members with the exact same problem?

Brad

[krcmd]

Evidently. I'm one.

[sarbin]

Are there two members with the exact same problem?

Brad

gets confusing around here sometimes.

[Brad]

Evidently. I'm one.

I see that. There was another member who seems to have followed in your footsteps.

I am confused Nate.

Brad

[pathma]

Sorry, if I wasn't clear. Yes, I too have theproblem
with a T43 that bootsup to the Thinkpad logo, and
then just after the batt LED, the HD led may flicker
once, then just freeze there. Sometimes the HD LED
continues to flicker, in which case it boots fine. I thought
it was the keyboard as occasionally I got a keyboard
error onthe screen. But I swapped keyboards and the
problem continues. I wonder if its the keyboard connector.
I have swapped hard disks without any difference.

Pathma

[pathma]

Has anyone seen the heat flow method shown in some off the
U-tube videos, I guess it helps with dry solder joints but I would
be wary of doing that on my motherboard. Google T43 Utube
heat flow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR8L3B3eDr0

Fortunately I have two identical T43's so I can swap parts.
These problems started off when the sound stopped working
and IBM service said they had to change the motherboard
everything worked fine when I got it back,
but after less than a year the same problem again.
IBM's service replaced it again, the service guy said
it might be flexing of the laptop.
I tend to carry it with one hand by the edge,I've istopped doing
that now.

I suspect that someother peripheral connector might have become
weakened with all this opening and closing. My warranty ran out
a few weeks ago, so I am on my own now.


Pathma

[krcmd]

My problem is still intermittent. For the most part it seems very close or identical to Pathma's.

In addition, my computer sometimes freezes in BIOS setup program or the keyboard might stop responding in PCDoctor or memtest program booted from CD.

No problems once in WXP pro.

[krcmd]

OK. Now booting from CD PC Doctor shows:

"Error 32 writing to hardware events log

301-250-000-20080827-88 Keyboard : Failed (Keyboard IRQ Failed)

301-254-000-20080827-20 Keyboard: Failed"

Now what. Fixable w/o replacing MB?

Thanks

[krcmd]

Left PC doctor on overnight testing MB:

Interface chip internal diagnostics error: Keyboard failed

How do I get a new motherboard? IBM/Lenova repair will be $500-$600, with no assurance that MB replacement will be new, and 30-60 day warranty on the repair!

[sojourner]

Well, this has been a l-o-n-g process trying to figure the problem but perhaps the cause has finally been found but are you sure it's the MOBO? Maybe it's a bad KB!

Replacing the KB is very easy but before you do I'd try removing and reinserting the ribbon connector first (just to make sure the problem isn't bad contacts). If problem persists, eBay has loads of replacement KB's.

TIP: make sure you have the right screwdriver with a good tip (the screws are sometimes a little stiff coming out and you don't want to mess up the screw slot)

Replacing the MOBO? That's a whole other story, hope you don't have to go that route.

[krcmd]

Replace the keyboard? Not the motherboard?

Any way to distinguish without a purchase?

Thanks

[sojourner]

Replace the keyboard? Not the motherboard?

Any way to distinguish without a purchase?

Thanks

The diagnostic error returned indicated a KB NOT KB controller error (ref. IBM diagnostics codes). The code returned for you was a 301, KB controller (on MOBO) is a #303. Lucky you!

Actually, from what you've given for information I think there may be a sticking key , was anything spilled on it ever?

[krcmd]

ever is a long time. I did notice for a while before the boot problem that it would sometimes miss a space. There haven't been any characters repeating without holding down a key.

So this might just be the keyboard! Fabulous.

Before I buy a new kb, can they be cleaned?

Thank you very much!

[sojourner]

So this might just be the keyboard! Fabulous.

emphasis on MIGHT!

Before I buy a new kb, can they be cleaned?

I've cleaned desktop KB's before but never the TP's. Don't know if I would even try!

If it were my TP I'd remove the KB and reseat the ribbon connector. If problem persists I'd replace the KB, if problem persists I'd think about it further before spending money on a new MOBO ...

Let us know how you make out!

[xxPaulCPxx]

I just bought a keyboard for my system on EBay for about $25.

[krcmd]

replaced the keyboard with one sold as new. Same problem.

Is there such a thing as a bios virus?

[krcmd]

Can a loose DC connector cause boot and DOS problems? (without crashing Windows?)