Yet Another T60 Freeze

[Bruce Guttman]

I've been through the other topics, but nothing suggested seems to work.

I have two T60 series Thinkpads: 2007-C3U and 8744-J2U. Both running Windows XP SP 3.

When I first load Windows XP the systems work great. Then Microsoft downloaded and installed a huge string of updates (I think it was some 80). When they were finished, I no longer could use Fn-F4 to go into Standby, when the system put itself into standby it would return with the keyboard, Trackpoint, and Touchpad all inoperative. Also, sometimes when I boot the keyboard, Trackpoint, and Touchpad are all inoperative. Sometimes a reboot works sometimes not.

Both machines run fine with a Ubuntu CD (but I need to run Windows only apps).

I did the BIOS update and it didn't change the situation. Reinstalled the ATI drivers and it didn't change the situation.

I can set the Thinkpad Power Manager to enable Fn-F4 and lid close to cause Standby, but the Windows Power Manager does not offer this option (at one time it did). Fn-F4 and the lid do not cause Standby (it must be depending on the Windows PM).

One of the batteries suddenly failed. I tried booting the machine with no battery (just AC) and the Thinkpad Power Manager failed to load, aborting the boot (and freezing the computer).

Standby works in Safe Mode.

Clearly our friends in Redmond have installed an update that is not compatible with these machines. Does anybody know which one it is and how to excise it?

[EOMtp]

Perhaps the problem is one of the Windows updates you mention. However, it could also be a heat issue.

Given their age, the thermal solutions on these T60 units are failing consistently, the symptom being that the machine hangs on the Windows logo -- very faint; need to be in a dark place to see it ... barely! The only solution is a new fan/heatsink assembly, or the old assembly remounted with good thermal paste and new thermal pads for the ATI chips.

It's an easy test: place the machine in the freezer for 5 minutes, and then reboot Windows. If it boots every time it just came out of the freezer, then it's the heat issue.

Good luck!

[Bruce Guttman]

Well, I was planning to update the 2007 T-60 to a T5600 so that might be a good test of your heat theory. I'll post experience when I get a chance.

Thing I worry about is that the Linux CD seems to work fine. In fact, I was running Ubuntu on the 2007 and it was working OK. Same for the R60 in my profile (which doesn't seem to be having the same problem).

[EOMtp]

...Thing I worry about is that the Linux CD seems to work fine...

Yes, just about everything runs fine, except Windows. It is whatever Windows is doing to/with the graphics chips that causes the freezing. Example: Acronis True Image, started outside of Windows, backing up with high compression, i.e., CPU intensive, works fine, yet when Acronis True Image ends and one tries to restart Windows, Windows hangs due to the thermal issue. This issue seems to affect only Windows ...

[Bruce Guttman]

Well, the 2007-C3U froze last night. I thought it might be heat (although SpeedFan didn't show it to be unusually hot - around 60 C). I shut it down using the On/Off button and tried to restart this morning. And I had no TrackPoint, TouchPad, or keyboard.

One other thing I notice is that the opening "fanfare" gets interrupted. Something is overloading the machine during startup.

Right now the 8744 is running OK. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Would an upgrade to Windows 7 help?

[ajkula66]

What happens if you boot 2007 unit with no battery installed? Is the freezing still there?

[RealBlackStuff]

Or have you checked for viruses/virii or other vermin recently?

[Bruce Guttman]

I have AVG Free and it's up to date. It would have to be malware not in AVG's repertoire.

[EOMtp]

If the machine has two memory strips, then test running with one, then the other, and see if bad memory is the culprit. Better still, since you have two T60 machines, see if swapping memory between the two machines also swaps the problem.

[Bruce Guttman]

Well, I tried using the other CPU, but it was a T5750 and the system did NOT like it (what does that fit anyway? I originally bought it for my R60 project and it didn't work there either). But now the old 1.86 Core Duo has a new coat of Artic Silver and the thing still hangs and sometimes boots with no keyboard or pointing device. I'm this close to a clean install, but I had started moving all my apps from the old system on it and I really don't want to try the Upgrade Assistant again; it takes an awful lot of time (but I was able to salvage my installations of Project and Visio 2003).

Gaah!!!

[RealBlackStuff]

That T5750 CPU is a C2D for a T61/R61.
T60/R60 can use the CPUs as mentioned here: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=88969

One option is a Repair installation over the old one: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
It allows you to keep all your installed software.
This should undo the Micro$haft update that's killing your machine(s).

[Bruce Guttman]

Hah! Progress is made.

I did a clean install on the T60P and of course it found 95 updates to install.

I installed the regular Update to Windows XP, the updates to dotNet, and all the non-security updates.

Then I started installing the security updates one at a time (talk about tedious!!

After the installation of KB2347290 or KB2360937 it froze.

I was able to roll back to what I thought was the last point that worked and these two updates were at the top of the list.

Anybody know how I can roll back just these two updates on my other T60?

[RealBlackStuff]

If you go to Control Panel/Add or Remove Programs, you can tick a box Show Updates along the top.
Select the bad boys and uninstall them.

[Bruce Guttman]

Thanks, RBS. That was easier than I thought.

Now if I can figure out what is "killing" my Standby. It shows in IBM Power Manager, but not in the Windows Power Manager and hence Windows refuses to allow it.