T60 sporadically goes catatonic for 1-2 minutes

[Muse]

Check that SP1 is installed, before you run Windows Update.

Yes, SP1 is installed on the Win7 Ultimate 64bit T61 that's given me fits trying to install Windows Updates. Well, as I said it reports 118 important Updates, and I just initiated the download/install. I'm not optimistic.

Now, I am right now on my 3rd Thinkpad, a T60 which has this CPU:

CPU Type Mobile DualCore Intel Pentium M
CPU Alias Yonah
Engineering Sample Yes
CPUID CPU Name Intel(R) Core(TM) Duo CPU T2400 @ 1.83GHz
CPUID Revision 000006ECh
Core Voltage 1.004 V

I just installed TPFC 6.2 on the machine and it reports 40C CPU temp, i.e. 20C cooler than my other T60, which I just reset the heatsink last night (however, the ATI GPU is running at 75C, I think that might be a concern). Don't know what to do/think. Maybe I didn't do the best job with the Arctic Silver 5, but I read and reread the instructions and tried to do everything they said. Cleaned everything, tinted the heatsink using AS5 and lens cleaning tissue. Didn't use too much AS5, spread it out well and pretty even, had cleaned the CPU and GPU and heatsink surfaces with acetone and then 99.97% isopropyl alcohol, blew off dust with canned air before applying AS5.

The machine that's freezing periodically has the following CPU and it's running fully 25C hotter:

CPU Properties:
CPU Type Mobile
CPUID CPU Name Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T5500 @ 1.66GHz
CPUID Revision 000006F6h

CPU Speed:
CPU Clock 1662.88 MHz (original: 1667 MHz)
CPU Multiplier 8.0x
CPU FSB 207.86 MHz
Memory Bus 498.86 MHz

Edit: I just went into Control Panel / Power Options and turned down the Maximum Processor State from 100% to 85% in hopes that it will relieve stress and perhaps stop the freezes. So far, I don't see any decrease in the CPU temps.

Edit2: I looked in my notes and see that I jotted down some temps for the problem machine back in 2010, when I wasn't getting the freezes (was running XP):

1 cpu 51C
2 aps 33c
3 crd 33C
9 bus 37C
10 pci 38C
11 pwr 44C

The CPU was running 10C cooler then. I'd put on Arctic Silver 3 shortly before.

[Muse]

My T60 is similar to yours.. i.e. integrated GPU with an Intel 330 SSD. And I was getting the same symptoms. The machine would lock up every now and then - unresponsive and with the hard drive light on, which would last for a minute or so then back to normal. This is not a machine I use often so I never worried about it too much. I'd just patiently wait for it to finish doing whatever it was doing and then continue on (my assumption was it's trim/garbage collection process related).
Last week I updated the machine to Windows 10 and I'm happy to say the issue has disappeared completely. I'm trialling Windows 10, so have been using the ThinkPad for several hours every day and haven't seen a single reoccurrence (in fact, my T60 is running better than it ever has).

mick

That's very interesting and I have to think it might work for me too, it appears that our machines are very similar and that you were having a similar if not the same problem. I'm wondering if you did an upgrade to Windows 10 or a clean install. A clean install would necessitate my having to install many programs, and upgrade, maybe not many if any.

[Muse]

My Thinkpad T60 laptop occasionally goes catatonic for a minute or two, maybe more at a time. I'd say that if I compute for an hour a day on the machine it generally happens 1-2 times. ... I don't see any correlations to what I'm doing with the machine, it seems random. It's been going on for months now, it's extremely aggravating and frustrating. What could be the problem here? ... Suggestions?

If you have 'Intel Rapid Storage Technology' installed, go to 'Programs and Features' and uninstall it ... your symptoms and error message ("The device, \Device\Ide\iaStor0, did not respond within the timeout period") are sometimes caused by IRST .... been there, done that .... removal solved problem on a Dell M6700.

'Intel Rapid Storage Technology' would be in Programs and Features, right? I don't see it in there.

[Muse]

My T60 is similar to yours.. i.e. integrated GPU with an Intel 330 SSD. And I was getting the same symptoms. The machine would lock up every now and then - unresponsive and with the hard drive light on, which would last for a minute or so then back to normal. This is not a machine I use often so I never worried about it too much. I'd just patiently wait for it to finish doing whatever it was doing and then continue on (my assumption was it's trim/garbage collection process related).
Last week I updated the machine to Windows 10 and I'm happy to say the issue has disappeared completely. I'm trialling Windows 10, so have been using the ThinkPad for several hours every day and haven't seen a single reoccurrence (in fact, my T60 is running better than it ever has).

mick

Mick, if you are there, did you do an upgrade to Windows 10 on your T60 or a fresh install?

Based on Mick's testimonial quoted in this post I'm going to risk upgrading to Windows 10 and see if like his it resolves this extremely (for me) aggravating problem. Mick's T60 is little used, this T60 of mine is by far my most used PC, getting over 75% of my computer activity. I can't be having it freeze for one or two minutes 2-3 times/day while I'm in the midst of computing activities.

Now, I just made a complete backup of the SSD in the machine, so I can if I wish (I presume) safely and without penalty revert to my current Windows 7 install if I have problems I can't handle or don't want to live with after the Windows 10 upgrade. I'm looking now at the following page for instructions on how to go about upgrading the OS on the machine:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread. ... 095&page=3

[Davemci]

I'm having the same issues with my T60p with intel ssd. I'm curious, did you use Acronis to create an image of a previous disk onto the SSD? The reason I ask Is I've had problems with Acronis cloned disks on other computers. In fact the only way I could download MS updates or download anything using internet explorer was to install IRST on those machines. This Acronis problem is documented on Microsoft's forum (can't find the link right now). My T60p isn't a windows 10 upgrade candidate because of the ATI FireGL V5200 graphics card. Anyway, I'm probably way off track on this but I'd like a solution that doesn't involve a windows 10 upgrade.

[ajkula66]

but I'd like a solution that doesn't involve a windows 10 upgrade.

If your Intel is a SF-based one, just go for a different drive, do a fresh install of the OS of your choice and enjoy.

[thinkpadcollection]

What these people are saying need different SSDs without sandforce controller (in that SSD drive circuit board is best way to go.

Phison controller is another low cost and usually not stellar performance, usually onboard DRAM instead of 1MB per 1GB ratio.

Cheers, thinkpadcollection

[Muse]

I'm having the same issues with my T60p with Intel ssd. I'm curious, did you use Acronis to create an image of a previous disk onto the SSD? The reason I ask Is I've had problems with Acronis cloned disks on other computers. In fact the only way I could download MS updates or download anything using internet explorer was to install IRST on those machines. This Acronis problem is documented on Microsoft's forum (can't find the link right now). My T60p isn't a windows 10 upgrade candidate because of the ATI FireGL V5200 graphics card. Anyway, I'm probably way off track on this but I'd like a solution that doesn't involve a windows 10 upgrade.

I did a fresh install of Windows 7 onto the SSD. So far, AFAIK I haven't had problems with Acronis (WD free edition) with restoring backups. In fact, I had to do that only a couple of months ago or so when DBAN wiped the SSD. DBAN's home page declared that although DBAN will wipe any detected HD, it wouldn't detect or affect an SSD. I took them at their word (but did take the precaution of backing up the SSD with Acronis). Of course, I found my SSD wiped! So, I restored and everything seemed as before.

I'm kind of glad I went with the onboard video Intel GMA 950 when I ordered this machine. My other T60 (bought used as non-working, but I saved it!) has ATI, but I have no reason AFAIK to want more in terms of video than the onboard gives me.

I haven't yet done the Windows 10 upgrade, I'm nervous about doing it, of course, and I came to this thread to see if anyone had anything to say about doing the upgrade. Yes, I'm backed up (Acronis) and can presumably return to my Windows 7 installation. Of course, one of my primary concerns is getting over the freezes. I've had a couple in the last hour. They really are a thorn in my side right now. It's the reason I'm hyped on doing the upgrade pretty much ASAP... Mick's testimonial in this thread has me hopeful.

[RealBlackStuff]

For $40 shipped I'll sell you a tested T60 mobo with Intel graphics (fits in all 14.1" and 15" 4:3 non-widescreen T60 models).
PM me if interested.

[Davemci]

but I'd like a solution that doesn't involve a windows 10 upgrade.

If your Intel is a SF-based one, just go for a different drive, do a fresh install of the OS of your choice and enjoy.

I should have checked before I replied. I am having the same problem but I have a Mushkin SSD (MKNSSDCR120GB) which is Sandforce.

However, after installing IRST I no longer have the freezing problem. I suspect it is because IRST replaces the MSAHCI driver with the IaStor driver.

[ajkula66]

I should have checked before I replied. I am having the same problem but I have a Mushkin SSD (MKNSSDCR120GB) which is Haswell-based.

Huh?

There's no such thing as Haswell-based SSD. That Mushkin is SF drive as well.

[Davemci]

I should have checked before I replied. I am having the same problem but I have a Mushkin SSD (MKNSSDCR120GB) which is Haswell-based.

Huh?

There's no such thing as Haswell-based SSD. That Mushkin is SF drive as well.

Darn and I cut and pasted that from specs at some website. It's obvious I know nothing about SSD technology or terminology. I edited my previous message.

Still Intel Rapid Storage Technology drivers fixed my problem, I can keep using my SSD and I'll avoid SF based SSDs in the future.

[Davemci]

I guess I have to come clean. George is right. After over 16 hours of my t60p not hanging after added IRST, this morning when I turned it on it froze again. I took the time to clone the Mushkin SSD to my last hope a Samsung 840 Pro I had been saving for another project. I'll see how this goes.