X31 freezing - any ideas?

[tp-fan]

I have searched the forum, and found a few similar posts, although not identical, so here's my problem...

My trusty X31 has started freezing from time-to-time. The common factor seems to be when it's in the middle of doing several things at once, and the fan seems to be at top speed (making me think it's a heat issue). Everything freezes, any USB devices seem to get powered down, and the mouse pointer freezes wherever it is. The only fix is to hold down the power button until it switches off. Every time, it refuses to power on for a little while after this happens (well, it powers on, but the screen is blank). I usually shake it, thinking this might help - and it seems to, but quite possibly, it's more the time to cool down that is helping.

I seem to think I can hear something loose when I shake the laptop (at the back right-hand side of the laptop, near the hard drive). I've removed the keyboard, and the system battery is loose, so it could be this. I've switched out the RAM, and reseated the HDD. But it still happens. If it is a heat issue, then I wonder why it has just started happening (although I am now using it as my main PC which I never used to, so it could just be that). I read something about CPU voltages, which I don't really understand - could this be a cause? Also, I have been using the laptop during several brown/black outs recently, and am worried that a power spike may have fried something on the MB (can this hurt through a PSU?).

Not sure I've given enough info for a reply, but any suggestions would be a help. I LOVE using the X31 (inherited from my wife) and would like to replace the tiny 30GB 4200 RPM HDD for a bigger 7200 one, and use this laptop for many months to come, but I don't want to spend money on it if it's unrecoverable...

thanks in advance!

[sojourner]

Hi tp-fan and welcome to the forum!

You wrote quite a post (was informative) but what an issue to have to address. I have a T41 and follow that forum as much as possible. Some people have made posts similar to yours and ended up have to face an issue with their GPU (video chip). Hate to say it but sounds like you might need to consider this as well.

Did a search for 'X31 GPU' issues and found a thread you may want to check out:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... ht=x31+gpu

Regarding heat; do you use TPFanControl? If so what temps does it show when the freezes occur?

When you removed the KB, was there any dustballs or 'stuff' in there blocking air flow? If so, clean it out. Are the vents around the unit free of dust etc? Do you position the laptop so it can 'breath' (on a desktop for example as opposed to on a bed surrounded with blankets)?

You asked if brown-out can hurt it:
Likely no. The AC adapter takes the brunt of those and has quite wide input voltage flexability. Output voltage would change little.

Shaking the TP with something loose inside can be asking for problems!
CPU voltages are likely not the problem although reducing them from factory settings could reduce some heat (use NHC, notebook hardware control).

don't want to spend money on it if it's unrecoverable...

There are not a whole lot of issues with these MOBOs which cannot be fixed. If you determine the GPU solder joints need to be 'reflowed' there are a number of guys doing it in the UK!

Hope you'll let us know how you make out.

[ajkula66]

Things are unfortunately a lot more complicated with X31 than with its bigger T4x siblings...

Heat has started being an issue for X series beginning with X24, and is still an ongoing headache. I've buried three X31 machines due to what I believe were heat-related problems...

What you can do:

a) Install ThinkPad Fan control and monitor temperatures, to see whether the machine gets that hot that it shuts itself off...usually at 95 degrees C. Earlier versions of TPFC (0.25/0.33) will likely work better with your ThinkPad...

http://www.tpfancontrol.com/

b) Take off the heatsink and carefully re-apply thermal paste.

c) Remove the wireless card to see if that makes a difference.

Good luck.