T60 2007FHG ACPI/ESCD hardware failure?

[ziemeck]

I would like ta ask for help here. I have tried both AHCI and Compatibility mode for HDD. It seems the problem appears on switch to graphical mode for Rescue and recovery - and after displaying the welcome screen of WinXP (no loading bar update - freezes right away). Since the machine is no longer under warranty and I am willing to repair it myself, what diagnostics steps should I take?
I have already:
- checked both AHCI and compatibility mode for SATA HDD
- tested start with and w-o battery
- used diferent HDD from exactly the same 2007FHG T60p
- disassembled DVD-RW
- run memtest, no errors
- boot in safe mode with command prompt - hangs on Mup.sys, right after Ntfs.sys and NDIS.sys
- updated BIOS to 2.26, no change, then flashed back to 2.22 no change
- successfully booted Xubuntu 10.4 from CD in ACPI=off mode, UXGA mode works properly
- tried other memory stick
- replaced CPU
- tried booting from R&R partition, hangs on initial loading screen, message please wait/press F8 for advanced ....
- tried booting from original recovery 5CD-set, hangs on the same textmode loading stripe as R&R
- swapped CMOS batteries with another laptop

Of things that made no sense I also
- replaced keyboard (found such an advise on one of forums elsewhere)


What is your diagnostics routines advise (except sending it to service) - and initial diagnosis?

UPDATE
I succesfully booted the laptop under Windows XP in "Standard PC" mode - updated driver from "Multiprocessor ACPI" to "Standard PC" (Device Manager->Computer->Standard PC). Of course to switch to different driver I had to use my second 2007-FGH T60p. The broken laptop boots properly and operates properly. This narrowed the problem explicitely to ACPI hardware. Any suggestions now?

[Yacek]

I would like ta ask for help here. I have tried both AHCI and Compatibility mode for HDD. It seems the problem appears on switch to graphical mode for Rescue and recovery - and after displaying the welcome screen of WinXP (no loading bar update - freezez right away). Since the machine is no longer under warranty and I am willing to repair it myself, what diagnostics steps should I take?
I have already:
tested start with and w-o battery
used diferent HDD
disassembled DVD-RW

I haven't yet
run memtest
tried other memory stick

What is your diagnostics routines advise (except sending it to service) - and initial diagnosis?

To be sure that I got the right message:

1. Does WinXP load with no problem in normal mode (no RnR option?

[ziemeck]

No, WinXP does not start neither in safe mode nor safe mode with command prompt - nor normally. If I put the same HDD into another 2007-FHG machine - no problems.

[Yacek]

No, WinXP does not start neither in safe mode nor safe mode with command prompt - nor normally. If I put the same HDD into another 2007-FHG machine - no problems.

When did it happen for the forst time? After some software/BIOS update/install or hardware uprade? Or just like that once upon the time? For me it looks like some software problem, no hardware issue.

I would try to restore the system - have you tried the system recovery mode? Does it work? Have you tried another HDD with WinXP? (you said that HDD from your machine DOES work in other one... DOES other HDD work in your?

[ziemeck]

The defect appeared out of the blue sky - after bluescreen the restart of winXP failed. It is not possible to boot the winXP, Recovery, no matter what drive is used - original or one from another 2007FHG. I tried Xubuntu 10.4, it fails after initial menu. Apparently it is not possible to switch to other resolutions than 640x480. All diagostic programs that use DOS mode or 640x480 are working. If anybody could suggest some tool for verification of 'GPU failure' hypothesis - please do. I suspect I will have to swap system board. I wonder what should I do with the malfunctioning motherboard - have it repaired and sell or sell as partially operating?

[Harryc]

Well, if you can boot a CD run PC-Doctor graphics diagnostics, and all other tests.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 56222.html

[ziemeck]

Thank you for advise. I have run all tests. There is one failure -
Paralell port test category 5/13
Command and data port LPT1 failed

I restored factory defaults in BIOS, disabled paralell port and serial port, nothing changed ...

By the way - the tests of the GPU that were run were only VGA in my opinion.

[Harryc]

Try this, even though you've tried another drive, you need to find out why boot is stopping on mup.sys. See the post in the linked thread about running chkdsk /r and try it.
http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic63315.html

[ziemeck]

I have investigated further. In this thread http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=46295 I found some hints to ACPI. I tried Xubuntu 10.4 in ACPI=off mode - and it booted properly from CD in 1600x1200- proper resolution for the screen. I can switch to other resolutions too.
This might narrow the problem to ACPI or ESCD, but now - what other diagnostics steps should follow - and if any hardware replacements are needed - what would be the low-cost beginnings? Updating BIOS?

[Yacek]

I have investigated further. In this thread http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=46295 I found some hints to ACPI. I tried Xubuntu 10.4 in ACPI=off mode - and it booted properly from CD in 1600x1200- proper resolution for the screen. I can switch to other resolutions too.
This might narrow the problem to ACPI or ESCD, but now - what other diagnostics steps should follow - and if any hardware replacements are needed - what would be the low-cost beginnings? Updating BIOS?

Well, if you still have an access to BIOS, the problem is definetely not related to CPU/GPU failure... I think. I would further investigate ACPI issue... try to update the BIOS to 2.27 release (available at lenovo site). I do not believe that HDD controller went dead.... I cannot remember such problerm reported in any forum
Update BIOS from bootable CD.

[ziemeck]

Flashing with BIOS 2.26 79uj33uc.iso did not help (in the process of flashing no errors were reported, if anything suprising - I heard 2 very long beeps - one on supposed start of flashing and the other - at supposed end of flashing). I tried original IBM/Lenovo recovery CDs (5pcs set) to restore recovery partition. I set SATA to compatibility mode just in case. I cannot pass the initial white bar - it fills entirely and I get "Please wait ..." message above it (all in text mode). Well, waiting does not change a thing.

I am running out of ideas. I suppose if I could disable ACPI loading in winXP it would run. Anyway - I am interested in fully operational unit. If anybody would like to take a look at maintenance logs from my BIOS I could send them.

[Yacek]

Have you tried to boot from USB?

[ziemeck]

I run memtest from bootable USB. I have no USB HDD to boot Win/unix from, but I doubt it would change a thing - I bet Xubuntu would run in non-ACPI mode and not - in ACPI one.

[Yacek]

I run memtest from bootable USB. I have no USB HDD to boot Win/unix from, but I doubt it would change a thing - I bet Xubuntu would run in non-ACPI mode and not - in ACPI one.

Succesful boot from USB HDD would proof HDD controller failure.. I guess. You could run hardware tests to check what is wrong.... USB HDD cases are cheap...

[ziemeck]

I installed Xubntu on pendrive. ACPI hangs, non-acpi - starts properly.
I put here BIOS log contents (extracted with PC-Doctor).
There's something strange:

Code: Select all

Structure Type:      Flash Error Log
Address of Piece of Corrupted Code in the FWH: 0xFFFFFFFF

Any ideas?

[wap32]

Any ideas?

Re-flash the BIOS maybe?

Download the BIOS flash boot CD from Lenovo and give it a try.
Although if you already have the latest version I'm not sure if it will let you re-flash.

[ziemeck]

I already upgraded BIOS to 2.26. Please read above. I upgraded it, cause I thought the problem was ESCD (so I flashed AFTER the problem appeared and flashing is not the cause of my problem) and it will be overwritten with fresh values by new BIOS. All went OK, except the problem persists. Now I cannot re-flash 2.26, cause the software writes "no update needed".

[wap32]

Sorry, missed that detail.

If you still want to force a re-flash though, I think it's possible, someone here should know better than me, but looking here you should be able to use phlash16 for that.

[RealBlackStuff]

You should be able to flash DOWN to a previous BIOS version, then back up to V2.26.
But I think you may have a near-dead CMOS battery!
What's weird in that BIOS log file: the dates are all over the place.
e.g. Line # 10: Last NVRAM Write: 2016/07/01 00:57
Try replacing the CMOS battery and set the date/time correctly before you do the next thing.

[ziemeck]

You should be able to flash DOWN to a previous BIOS version, then back up to V2.26.

Thank you for hint. You think this might help - I mean reflashing Bios down and once again - up?

But I think you may have a near-dead CMOS battery!
What's weird in that BIOS log file: the dates are all over the place.
e.g. Line # 10: Last NVRAM Write: 2016/07/01 00:57
Try replacing the CMOS battery and set the date/time correctly before you do the next thing.

Well, the CMOS batt isk OK, I left it for several hours (unplugged AC, removed laptop battery) - the time was still OK after 1.5 hour. I will leave it overnight like that, to see what happens. But the battery time might have been set badly long ago, maybe even back in factory - cause I did not ever set the BIOS time and it is correct 2010-07-01.

I have just tested if with other memory module it would run - no luck. I also replaced keyboard (as suggested on some other forum, I doubted it would help anyway) - also no effect.

[RealBlackStuff]

To test the CMOS battery, you need to take it out, then measure with a multimeter.
It should read at least 3.0V. If less, you should replace the battery.
Letting it run for a couple of hours (or overnight) without main battery and AC does not proof anything!

[ziemeck]

To test the CMOS battery, you need to take it out, then measure with a multimeter.
It should read at least 3.0V. If less, you should replace the battery.
Letting it run for a couple of hours (or overnight) without main battery and AC does not proof anything!

OK, I just have replaced CMOS batt (I used one from another working 2007FHG). The result - except for need to re-set the date is precisely the same. The laptop that worked OK, works OK with the batt from the malfunctioning one - so definitely not the battery ...

I flashed down to 2.21. Restored default settings. No change.

I wonder what must be wrong to hang on ACPI initialising?

Should I buy new motherboard or what else is there left to try?

[RealBlackStuff]

I have no more ideas, except as a last resort, to swap out the CPU with a known good one.
Other than that, I suggest you get another motherboard.

[ziemeck]

I have no more ideas, except as a last resort, to swap out the CPU with a known good one.
Other than that, I suggest you get another motherboard.

I have purchased a T2500 CPU for $35 and will report back after tests. Thank you for help.

[ziemeck]

I have tested last thing I could - processor replacement did not help either. So motherboard replacement is where we go ... not very happy about that.

By the way - I was sold a chipped-core processor - it is working, but I guess chipped ones do not live very long .... vultures, vultures everywhere - the description did not mention that "feature" ...

[ziemeck]

I have done last thing before replacing motherboard: I switched on another 2007-FHG laptop the computer type from Multiprocessor ACPI to Standard PC (Device Manager->Computer->Standard PC). The broken laptop boots properly and operates properly. This narrowed the problem explicitely to ACPI hardware. Any suggestions now?

[RealBlackStuff]

Does this maybe help? http://support.microsoft.com/kb/810903

[ziemeck]

Does this maybe help? http://support.microsoft.com/kb/810903

Thank you for reply and advise. I have visited today service (no certified lenovo service, where techs say "problem? - we'll swap your mobo", but where techs do BGA/SMD soldering). The diagnosis was not clear. Most probably southbridge should be either re-soldered or replaced. I have a spare x1400 system board (got one for $30) - and now I wonder - pay $115 for repairs or just swap motherboard on my own?

[Harryc]

Seems like a no-brainer. Try the cheap board first.