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BIOS beeps 1-3-3-1 when rebooting

X60/X61 and X60t/X61t Series
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delingren
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BIOS beeps 1-3-3-1 when rebooting

#1 Post by delingren » Sat Oct 26, 2013 1:07 am

I found this X60 in my company's dumpster and thought I would refurbish it by replacing the crappy keyboard and cracked palm rest. It seems to run Windows 8.1 pretty smoothly. The only issue I have had so far is when it reboots, it beeps 1-3-3-1 and blank screens. It doesn't happen when booting from cold. Any ideas where to start? It's a manageable problem but would be nice to get it solved. Thanks.
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Re: BIOS beeps 1-3-3-1 when rebooting

#2 Post by rkawakami » Sat Oct 26, 2013 1:43 am

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

The 1-3-3-1 beep code means that the system has detected a memory problem. That it works when cold but then has an issue later on (when it has warmed up some), typically points to a marginal memory device on one (or both) of the memory modules. Download a copy of memtest86+, boot the system with the CD or USB drive and let the diagnostic run for some time. Make sure you only have ONE module installed when you run the diagnostic. Allow the program to complete at least 3 passes through all of the "patterns". If no errors are detected, move that module to the opposite memory slot and repeat testing. If it again passes, that means the module and both slots are good. Repeat testing on the second module.

I would NOT run the system while this problem exists. I would not consider it "manageable" because you could be getting a memory corruption even if it appears that the OS is running okay. Sooner or later the system will access the bad memory and that could lead to an error in some of your data or random freezes or blue screens.

edit: Almost forgot to give you a pointer to the software :oops: http://www.memtest.org/#downiso
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Re: BIOS beeps 1-3-3-1 when rebooting

#3 Post by Saucey » Sun Nov 03, 2013 2:23 am

I heard that beep when I tried to boot a spare x61t...
Opened up the ram and it didn't have any in it. 8)
Maybe the ram isn't seated properly, but works fine when cold.
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Re: BIOS beeps 1-3-3-1 when rebooting

#4 Post by joester » Sun Nov 03, 2013 8:00 am

It could also be a fractured solder joint on the RAM connector (easy repair if you have the tools and skills). Seen that on other models.

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delingren
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Re: BIOS beeps 1-3-3-1 when rebooting

#5 Post by delingren » Fri Nov 29, 2013 1:53 am

It went away after I replaced the RAM. Thanks.
X60 - X300 - X301 - X230

wagnew73
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Re: BIOS beeps 1-3-3-1 when rebooting

#6 Post by wagnew73 » Sun Mar 13, 2016 7:30 pm

In a lot of cases this in not ram related, it is motherboard related. The issue is a cold solder joint.

There is a quite a simple fix for this if your are mechanically inclined or a little curious. Regardless this fix is not only proven and tested by myself on various computer including a Lenovo E530c. What have you got to loose.

1: remove the motherboard make sure all heat sync pads are removed.
2: lay motherboard flat on a cookie sheet
3: heat oven to 385 degrees yes you heard me right OVEN!! :o
4: bake the motherboard for 9 minutes (use a kitchen timer) this will re-flow all solder joint on the motherboard.
5: remove carefully from the oven being sure for the mobo not to slide, let cool for 20 minutes
6 assemble laptop and power it on. this works 90% of the time.

Good Luck!!

Jeeereme
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Re: BIOS beeps 1-3-3-1 when rebooting

#7 Post by Jeeereme » Mon Feb 08, 2021 8:01 am

After getting the 1-3-3-1 beep and reading this postI was unenthusiastically considering the idea of cooking my motherboard while opening my laptop (lenovo thinkpad x131e) and realized the touchpad connector was slightly out of place. Plugged it in, and the machine powers up just fine. Fingers crossed.

flipped_bit
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Re: BIOS beeps 1-3-3-1 when rebooting

#8 Post by flipped_bit » Thu Jan 27, 2022 12:19 pm

To user @Jeereme: You basically bailed me out of a 3 day bout of misery trying to get my refurbed W530 getting beyond the Lenovo boot logo (no option to enter BIOS).

It was an incorrectly seated touchpad connector!!!

Thank you so so much for getting me to latch on to that! :)

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