A31 occasionally freeze

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maxandruby · #1 Post by **maxandruby** » Wed May 10, 2006 12:25 pm

This is the first post here, I have an A31 (2653-BU2), since last year, it began occasionally freeze, sometimes 5 min sometimes only several seconds before it dead.

When it dead, i have to physically power it off. And when it is hot the running time is getting shorter and shorter.

Most of time when it dead, the cpu fan is not on, and never turn on even it is very hot. but sometime it is on, and keep on forever.

I changed RAM, no help.

I dropped it to Staples, during the test it dead several times. They finially said it is a motherboard issue.

1. is there any one had the same problem, and know how to fix it?
2. If I want to change the motherboard, what is the FRU number, I can't find a motherboard for 2653-BU2.

thanks

JHEM · #2 Post by **JHEM** » Wed May 10, 2006 12:56 pm

Common problem, replace the cooling fan. Look on eBay for IBM part number 62P4092, the larger capacity cooling fan for 2GHz CPU equipped A31 models.

Regards,

James

maxandruby · #3 Post by **maxandruby** » Wed May 10, 2006 10:43 pm

it seems not the cpu temperature problem, some time the cpu is cool (just open less than 1 min) and then dead.

I test the temperature of CPU it is not high. Does anyone know which motherboard should 2653-BU2 use?

Thanks

Wilsonflyer · #4 Post by **Wilsonflyer** » Thu May 11, 2006 4:31 pm

maxandruby wrote:it seems not the cpu temperature problem, some time the cpu is cool (just open less than 1 min) and then dead.

I test the temperature of CPU it is not high. Does anyone know which motherboard should 2653-BU2 use?

Thanks

(sigh)

I tend to believe what James said but if you're unwilling to accept that answer, try pulling our Access Connections. I was having exactly the same symptoms as you and that's what finally fixed my problem after a TON of trial and error.

maxandruby · #5 Post by **maxandruby** » Fri May 12, 2006 11:52 am

Ok, I will buy one and try. So you think it is just the cpu overheating? Do I have to buy heatsink thermal paste as well? thanks

maxandruby · #6 Post by **maxandruby** » Sat May 13, 2006 6:56 am

Sorry. What you mean "pull out Access Connections" where is it? Thanks Welsonflyer.

Puppy · #7 Post by **Puppy** » Sat May 13, 2006 7:07 am

Are there any erros in Event Log ?

maxandruby · #8 Post by **maxandruby** » Sat May 13, 2006 9:02 am

Where can I get that error log? Nothing in Root directory, so I guess no.

It just freeze, most of time the fan were even not running, so I have a little concern whether put a new bigger fan would work for it.

Thanks for the help

Website · #9 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Sat May 13, 2006 9:09 am

The log can be found in Win XP by going to Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Event Viewer.

P.S.
My son LOVES Max and Ruby.

maxandruby · #10 Post by **maxandruby** » Wed May 17, 2006 3:12 pm

My computer was dead even when the cpu fan was not working, so I just wonder if change a more powerful fan would help?
thanks

rajm · #11 Post by **rajm** » Mon May 29, 2006 8:52 pm

I am having a similar problem with my A31p (1.7 Ghz). I upgraded the fan and have formatted the HDD many times. I even tried a different HDD to make sure. However, it still freezes about 1-5 minutes after Windows loads. The strange thing is, though, that it was able to go through the entire recovery process without a hitch. What could be wrong?

rajm · #12 Post by **rajm** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 3:04 pm

any suggestions?

relax · #13 Post by **relax** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 5:15 pm

rajm wrote:I am having a similar problem with my A31p (1.7 Ghz). I upgraded the fan and have formatted the HDD many times. I even tried a different HDD to make sure. However, it still freezes about 1-5 minutes after Windows loads. The strange thing is, though, that it was able to go through the entire recovery process without a hitch. What could be wrong?

Did you follow the maintenance manual when reassembling the fan? The screws must be tightened in a particular order.
And did you use thermal paste between the cooler and the cpu? If so, how thick was the layer of thermal paste that you put on the cpu and did you also put it on the fan?
It might be a coincidence (don't believe in those myself), but you can always try a diagnostic utilitie like memtest to see if your memory got faulthy after replacing the fan. I don't know of any other programs that might be helpfull to you to diagnose the problem.

Good luck

FuguTabetai · #14 Post by **FuguTabetai** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:55 pm

I had a similar problem with my ThinkPad A31. It would randomly freeze, usually about 5 minutes into a session. Mouse wouldn't move any more, sometimes there was some slight distortion of the video.

I believe it was a bad motherboard - video controller actually, because I could run the system just fine in text console mode with the screen shut, but if I did anything to engage the video circuitry, it would freeze (use VNC to get a remote desktop, etc.)

In the end, I bought a used A31p off ebay for $800, and used the parts in the A31 to get the A31p going. (It is my home file server, so 3xHD, PCMCIA Firewire+USB2 card for external HDs, and linux to run a bunch of networking services.)

Since my A31 was about 5 years old with very heavy usage, I wasn't surprised that it just had issues from age.

I hope your problem isn't motherboard-related, because they are expensive to fix. It was cheaper to buy a new A31p than to get the same type of mother to fix my A31! (The 1600x1400 was nice, but I actually prefer the 1400x1050 resolution.)

rajm · #15 Post by **rajm** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 2:41 am

FuguTabetai wrote:I had a similar problem with my ThinkPad A31. It would randomly freeze, usually about 5 minutes into a session. Mouse wouldn't move any more, sometimes there was some slight distortion of the video.

I believe it was a bad motherboard - video controller actually, because I could run the system just fine in text console mode with the screen shut, but if I did anything to engage the video circuitry, it would freeze (use VNC to get a remote desktop, etc.)

In the end, I bought a used A31p off ebay for $800, and used the parts in the A31 to get the A31p going. (It is my home file server, so 3xHD, PCMCIA Firewire+USB2 card for external HDs, and linux to run a bunch of networking services.)

Since my A31 was about 5 years old with very heavy usage, I wasn't surprised that it just had issues from age.

I hope your problem isn't motherboard-related, because they are expensive to fix. It was cheaper to buy a new A31p than to get the same type of mother to fix my A31! (The 1600x1400 was nice, but I actually prefer the 1400x1050 resolution.)

I have a feeling it is motherboard related, but I have a z60m now. I just want to see if there is any way I can fix up my A31p with minimal cost.

ThinkPad R · #16 Post by **ThinkPad R** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 10:04 pm

rajm wrote:I am having a similar problem with my A31p (1.7 Ghz). I upgraded the fan and have formatted the HDD many times. I even tried a different HDD to make sure. However, it still freezes about 1-5 minutes after Windows loads. The strange thing is, though, that it was able to go through the entire recovery process without a hitch. What could be wrong?

I don't even think it's motherboard.

People are constantly saying IBM motherboards are bad or whatnot.

No, I think that there are specific spyware & viruses that aim to cause to bugs.

I think that re-installing the entire computer completely will help.

For example, I had audio that began to make blabbering sound & finally doesn't work.

I had this intuition that it was artificial working that made audio accelerate in blabbering rate.

So, I reinstalled the audio drive & it works perfectly.

Seriously, there are some people who actually do such things. Targeting companies they don't like.

FuguTabetai · #17 Post by **FuguTabetai** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 1:47 am

ThinkPad R wrote: I don't even think it's motherboard.

Well, in my case it certainly was the motherboard, because I ran linux on the system, pretty much wiping out the chance of spyware or other crazy trojan software. Swapping out the hard drive in the A31p I bought for $600 (cheaper than a mother board replacement for the A31) into the A31 would also freeze, pointing to something other than OS or hard drive trouble...

It certainly isn't out of the question either way though.

I'm so tempted to pick up another A31p because they make such great servers when you throw 3 hard drives in there. I just don't have the need for another LAN server though with this one.

I do want to get another HD for my T60p though since I rarely use the DVD burner. I really love those ultrabays.

maxandruby · #18 Post by **maxandruby** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 4:16 am

relax wrote:
rajm wrote:I am having a similar problem with my A31p (1.7 Ghz). I upgraded the fan and have formatted the HDD many times. I even tried a different HDD to make sure. However, it still freezes about 1-5 minutes after Windows loads. The strange thing is, though, that it was able to go through the entire recovery process without a hitch. What could be wrong?
Did you follow the maintenance manual when reassembling the fan? The screws must be tightened in a particular order.
And did you use thermal paste between the cooler and the cpu? If so, how thick was the layer of thermal paste that you put on the cpu and did you also put it on the fan?
It might be a coincidence (don't believe in those myself), but you can always try a diagnostic utilitie like memtest to see if your memory got faulthy after replacing the fan. I don't know of any other programs that might be helpfull to you to diagnose the problem.

Good luck

I do not have maintenance manual, what is the order to tighten the screws? thanks

dewey · #19 Post by **dewey** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 2:47 pm

I had the same freezing issues. At first, occurrences were 20-30 minutes apart, then closer to every 5 minutes.....
I was under the IBM warranty and they fixed it........It was the motherboard and just this replacement covered the cost of the warranty.....Motherboard and labor was around $600. Warranty was $199.
Do the math.......go get an IBM warranty......

A31 occasionally freeze

A31 occasionally freeze

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