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disk problems / BSODs on x60/xp

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 10:30 am
by nostriluu
I have an x60 1709-GDJ X60 that unfortunately went out of warranty in June. I bought it in Japan a year ago (with Japanese XP) and was able to install English XP using the same license key. It has been working mostly ok, until the last few weeks.

The problems appear to be disk related. Sometimes when coming back from suspend, the system takes a long time, or it doesn't come back at all. Sometimes unplugging and removing the battery is the only way to get it back. More worrying, for the past few days I have been receiving frequent (several times a day) BSODs, that have different messages (eg "Worker Thread Returned at Bad IRQL" and "A process or thread crucial to system operation has unexpectedly exited or been terminated. ")

I have noticed that these BSODs often happen when I am picking up the computer, which would indicate a connection with the accelerometer/active drive protection and ultimately the hard disk.

I have installed PanteraSoft HDD Health, but it doesn't find any problems.

The only thing I've installed recently has been a Logitech Quickcam, but I don't think the problems are directly related.

I was going to sell this device anyway (to get a tablet :)), but I need to fix it first. Buying a new hard disk seems the obvious route, but I don't want to waste time and money if it's likely some other problem. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks!

David

Re: disk problems / BSODs on x60/xp

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 10:51 am
by jdhurst
nostriluu wrote:<snip>
I have noticed that these BSODs often happen when I am picking up the computer, which would indicate a connection with the accelerometer/active drive protection and ultimately the hard disk.
<snip>
It has been a long time since that particular problem occurred (2004 IIRC), and I have not heard about any new recurrences.
... JDH

Re: disk problems / BSODs on x60/xp

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 11:54 am
by nostriluu
[quote="jdhurst"]It has been a long time since that particular problem occurred (2004 IIRC), and I have not heard about any new recurrences. [/quote]

Thanks, do you have particular keywords I could look for, including a solution? I'm 99% sure this relates to the accelerometer. I'm willing to replace the drive.. if it's the problem.

I just reseated the drive in case that helps. I should also mention I'm using a 2GB third party RAM module (total of 3GB), but it has been more or less stable prior to now so I doubt that's the problem.

David

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 6:56 am
by adrianaitken
David, disable the APS service and see if that helps !!! In theory it shouldn't read the sensor anymore :D

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:02 am
by jdhurst
If disabling the HD APS works, then you should probably report it to Lenovo. This application works in all the machines I have worked with, but there is always a first. ... JDH

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:48 am
by nostriluu
I've disabled APS.. but obviously APS is there for a reason, and in fact I've had hard disk damage in cases where systems like APS would have helped.

I doubt Lenovo is going to be of much help, since it's out of warranty. I did post on their forums, but there's been no response.

I'm really confounded whether this is a hardware or software problem. I have noticed in other threads comments about the electronics of Lenovo computers having issues due to soldering, for example. It's definitely something to do with the hard disk (system) since just this morning it took 2 minutes to come back from suspend, and then a BSOD an hour later when I moved the computer. But when I get more time I will try reinstalling the OS.