T30 shows IBM startup screen for 45 seconds!

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#1 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 5:23 am

My T30 waits about 45 seconds from pressing the start button, and only then brings me the next stage (the Atheros-wifi error 01C9, where I have to press Esc to continue).
After that it immediately continues with XP Pro booting, which only takes about 30 seconds.
Is there a way to shorten this 45-second initial wait, which also happens at a warm reboot?

truk · #2 Post by **truk** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 6:44 pm

Upgrade your BIOS. Might help to restore default settings.

#3 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 1:14 am

Thanks, but it already has that (v2.10), incl. the latest Controller Pgm v1.07.
Any other suggestions?

truk · #4 Post by **truk** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 5:52 pm

I can't think of much else to do after restoring and reinstalling the BIOS. You might want to try popping out the CD-rom and start it. I once had a bad CD in it that made my computer take 5 min just to get through BIOS, I made the CD-rom secondary boot device to prevent such problems.

#5 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 6:07 pm

Unfortunately no joy without the CD-drive either. Still 45 seconds.
Otherwise there's absolutely nothing wrong with it.

#6 Post by **rkawakami** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 6:24 pm

No experience with a T30, but how about removing all "extra" pieces of gear, including the hard drive as it might try to re-configure the OS when it doesn't see the usual stuff.

Pull the ethernet card, modem, WiFi, Ultrabay, hard drive, PCMCIA card(s), USB and leave only one memory module and see if that helps. If it does, swap the memory (if you have two 256MB), then try full memory. Replace pieces one at a time (starting with modem or wireless) and see what happens.

I'm assuming from your past posts that you've verfied that the BIOS is set for a "quick boot". If your BIOS has a "diagnostic" mode, try that.

danage · #7 Post by **danage** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 2:27 am

do you have any usb devices connected? if so, that will slow down the boot device as the bios scans them for bootable media.

i think the 01c9 has a delay as well - it cannot be shortened except of course by doing a no-01c9.

try pressing the spacebar after powerup. that wont solve your problem but accelerate the POST because certain steps are skipped.

cheers

#8 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 5:44 am

Thanks Danage, pressing the Spacebar sorted the delay immediately and perfectly!

There are no USB or other devices attached.
I tried all previous tricks as suggested by Ray, but without any improvement.

My BIOS has the 'fast POST' set, but that does not seem to do much.

danage · #9 Post by **danage** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 10:31 am

fast post is disabled automatically if the 01c9 occurs, that's why it's taking so long. it does a full memory test.

why cant you disable the 01c9? it's annoying anyhow.

#10 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 7:19 pm

The Atheros chip on my wifi-card is covered completely with some metal plate. I don't want to pry that off, otherwise I would modify the chip's legs.
http://sparklan.com/product_details.php?prod_id=24

I don't mind hitting the Esc, as I don't boot that often anyway. Mostly put it in hibernation.

danage · #11 Post by **danage** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 3:51 am

true. and if you have to hit escape anyways you might as well hit the spacebar before it.

truk · #12 Post by **truk** » Wed May 16, 2007 10:10 pm

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Problem_w ... et_devices

Would that do the trick?

#13 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Thu May 17, 2007 1:26 am

I contributed my Sparklan wifi-card (and other info) to that wiki.
Mine is one of the 'problem' ones that cannot be modified.
After pressing Esc it works perfectly, so I don't bother any more.

T30 shows IBM startup screen for 45 seconds!

T30 shows IBM startup screen for 45 seconds!

RE:Slow BIOS

RE:Slow BIOS

RE:slow bios

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