T60 won't boot, H/W & HD seem fine

[westsailor]

I have a 'backup' T60 (WinXP) that suddenly won't boot. I've known the battery was pretty much dead so I've been running it every couple weeks or so to recharge. Last time I booted it successfully was about a week ago and it booted fine.

Yesterday I tried powering it up and POST told me I needed to reset the date/time. I did so, saved changes and reset. It got to the Windows loading screen and 'froze', then 'rebooted' to a BSOD telling me Windows shut down to avoid damaging my computer (run chkdsk) then to the screen for booting to safe mode, load previous config, etc.. No options worked (just kept bringing me back to that screen).

I swapped batteries with my W500 and got the same result. When I removed the battery from the T60 and installed the W500 battery I again needed to reset the date/time again which tells me my CMOS battery is dead as well (once past that the date/time settings are retained using the good laptop battery).

Unless I'm not waiting long enough (5-10 min) the BIOS HD test fails. It just sits there 'spinning' at 0%.

I removed the T60 HD and connected it to my W500 via USB. First I tried booting the W500 from the T60 drive but got a Drive read error. However, when viewing the T60 drive as an external drive all files are there and accessible.

I ran chkdsk /r and Norton WinDoctor (full scan with 'find & fix problems') and no problems were found.

I installed my W500 HD in the T60 and (aside from minor video driver issues) it booted fine. So the T60 itself seems OK.
I installed the T60 HD in my W500 and never got past the Windows loading screen lockup (i.e. similar results as on T60).

I replaced the T60 HD on the T60 and 'booted' to R&R. The 1st time I did this system services apparently needed to repair Windows. All subsequent booting to R&R does not require a Windows repair... it 'passes' and goes directly to R&R recovery screen. R&R does not enable the 'Quick repair' (Windows) button, only full restore from backup or copy individual files to external media.

Conclusions;
1. T60 H/W is fine
2. While something does seem amiss, 'physically' the T60 HD appears fine.
3. I can't help but think the now dead CMOS and/or laptop battery somehow contributed to this?

My 1st step is I have a new CMOS and laptop battery on order. Since the drive looks healthy and all files are present and accessible I am holding off restoring a full (but older) backup until I exhaust all other ideas/options. At least until I have the new CMOS/Laptop battery anyway.

In the meantime, any ideas/suggestions?

[westsailor]

No one has any ideas/opinion as to why an otherwise 'healthy' HD (per chkdsk & Norton) hangs/doesn't want to boot windows?