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X201 sleep mode problem and slow startup.

Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 1:02 pm
by cfds
Hi all,

Recently bought a cheap X201...the seller (computer pro) on ebay declared it as US and sold it for spares altough he stated that it booted fine into the BIOS.
Anyway, after installing a new battery and installing a SSD with a fresh windows 7 64 bit it was time to test it...

I run into the following problems...its very slow to start-up. Between pushing the start button and seeing the thinkpad welkom screen 50 sec have elapsed.
Then the windows start screen comes on after 1min 45 sec and after 3 min I get the windows log on screen.
Once its running it runs fine and fast without any fail messages.
Currently I dont have many programs on it.

The second problem is that it does not come out of sleep mode...it will not respond to any input and the only way to get it running again is to hold the start button and force it to shutdown. Also in sleep mode the laptop gets very hot, almost impossible to touch at he LH underside and while in sleep mode the fan comes on from time to time...
Normal shutdown works but the battery light stay's on indicating that the laptop is not fully powered down. Puling the battery solves this problem.

Been reading a bit on the internet and the X201 seems often to suffer from sleep problems and the cure would be replacing the mainboard.
Before I invest into a "new" mainboard I would like to hear your opinions.
The X201 is in very good condition, looks like only 1.5 years old. I still have warranty according to the toolbox software but I dont have an original invoice. Also the laptop came without the original HDD...

The idea is to replace the X61S with the X201.

Re: X201 sleep mode problem and slow startup.

Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 1:42 pm
by 91011
In the US the warranty follows the machine and not the owner. So we only need to call Lenovo with the model and serial number, confim it's still in warranty and it will be repaired.
No proof of purchase is necessary.

I'm sure someone from the EU will describe the warranty procedures there; I wouldn't be surprised it's the same.

Re: X201 sleep mode problem and slow startup.

Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 1:43 pm
by rjwilmsi
On the boot performance:
* is the SSD known good from previous use? Latest firmware?
* have you tested the X201 RAM with memtest86?
* if you boot off a Linux live USB stick how is boot performance: if noticeably worse than outgoing laptop then the X201 has a problem rather than the SSD
* Once in Windows if you run a benchmark e.g. 7-zip benchmark does it run at full speed (i.e. CPU-Z shows full CPU speed reached).
* have you checked vents/taken off keyboard to check fan in case of dust or other obstruction?
* Is X201 BIOS flashed to latest?

On my X200s the battery light will stay on when machine is off but plugged in to mains to indicate that battery is fully charged. So that sounds normal.

On sleep issues:
* My X200 tablet won't return from sleep from Windows 7 (no Lenovo software installed on it), but does so fine from a Linux live USB, so can you resume from sleep using a Linux live USB? That could rule out a hardware issue
* Overheating: CPU fan comes on? Must be linked to boot speed problems. Sounds like you're maybe hitting a thermal limit. Could try disabling wake on LAN and always on USB/powered USB, though fan coming on implies something else.

Re: X201 sleep mode problem and slow startup.

Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 1:52 pm
by cfds
The SSD has been running fine on another laptop.
Dont have linux live USB stick so I cannot confirm this...
Venst/fan are all clean.
Latest Bios flashed from Lenovo site...
Battery light stays on when swithed off and unplugged.

Will check the ram and perform benchmark...

Will report back!

Re: X201 sleep mode problem and slow startup.

Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 2:41 pm
by cfds
Ram tested via windows, no problems found.
Fan working fine, comes on from time to time...