X40 intermittent boot problems - fix!

[icebag]

Posting this in case it may be of some use to someone.

***See further developments below***

My X40 -- wonderful machine that goes everywhere with me -- developed a problem a couple of days ago. When powering up it failed to get as far as the IBM splash screen; no beeps, just a blank screen. After switching off and on about a dozen times I gave it a bit of a thump on the underside -- OK, OK, but I was desperate. That worked and the machine booted! The fault reappeared next time I powered up, and a thump underneath cured it again.

Looking for a more permanent fix (and one with a little more technical credibility) I took the memory cover off the underside and re-seated the memory strip. Since then no problems -- fingers crossed. The memory strip felt like a very loose fit in its socket, much looser than on any other machine I can recall. Entirely plausible that some contacts had been lost.

[sjthinkpader]

Since X40 has solder down DRAM chips; loose DRAM module should not prevent it from booting. But you got it working, so that's what counts.

[icebag]

That's an interesting point. I suppose that if there was no contact at all with the plug-in module then it would boot OK, but what about a situation where some contacts are make and some are break? Might that 'confuse' the machine so that it doesn't boot? Not a very high-tech description, but I am sure you know what I mean.

[sjthinkpader]

That is a possible reason.

[icebag]

Further developments. The intermittent boot problems returned, and then became non-intermittent. The machine just wouldn't boot at all. I tried unplugging the memory but it made no difference. Neither did re-seating the memory. Then, just because it was next to the memory, I tried unplugging the wireless card: the machine fired up! The problem became totally reproducible. Wireless card in: no boot. Wireless card out: boots perfectly.

So I have removed the old card (Actiontec) and fitted an Intel.

My favourite computer is working again!