R40 cannot boot from DVD/CD ROM

[r2d2]

Hi Forum Members...

I have an R40 here that cannot boot or recognize CDROM/DVD device. I have read similar post here.. Even though the problem is similar, it seems underclocker's problem there is intermittent where as mine is pretty much consistent.

I changed start up order in BIOS to have the CD/DVD start before HDD but still no go. I also changed boot order during startup (F12) and selected CDROM but resulted the same. I did not install any HDD as I plan to test Kubuntu LiveCD only.

Already replaced CDROM/DVD with another but still the same. I noticed that in BIOS even though I have already saved boot order to start from Removable Devices then CDROM/DVD then HDD... etc., it does not get saved in that order but will go back to default values (Removable Devices, HDD, CDROM, Network).

Seeing this I have some things in mind that might have caused this and I need the members' help in validating them as much as recommending a logical approach in pinning down the cause.

1. Possible defective connector of CDROM
2. Mobo or processor near end of life ( unit is extremely slow in booting to BIOS)
3. CMOS battery dead ( which I really really doubt because I dont have errors and date is current even with both AC and BATT removed for several hours).

Thanks...

[ryengineer]

Is the BIOS up-to-date? are these IBM CD/DVD Rom and importantly compatible?

[r2d2]

Thanks for the reply ryengineer. BIOS is not current. I believe it is like 4 to 5 releases earlier. On the other hand, yes they are all IBM DVD ROM and not generics.

Strangely a floppy drive works. I happen to have floppy drive which can also mount in the same bay of the R40. So I downloaded PC Doctor. Surprisingly it booted from floppy and passed all the tests.

At first I was thinking that it might be the old BIOS but I was a bit skeptical about it. My thinking is, if it is the BIOS, then why did it work before (using the same DVD/CD drives). Forgive my ignorance but my understanding is.. I would need new BIOS if this is a 'new' hardware and would need to be (yet) supported. Hmmm, I think I am just in denial because I do not have working battery that might be required if I will update the BIOS.

At first I thought it was the connector but seeing that it worked with a floppy drive... I am lost. May be I will try to update the BIOS just to get it out of the way. Is there an alternative procedure to update the BIOS without a working battery?

Thanks again...

[r2d2]

Hi.. i just got my BIOS updated last night.

But... after several tests, results show the same thing. This Thinkpad could not recognize a DVD ROM. Another weird thing about this is that, every time I move up the CD device in the boot sequence using F6 in BIOS SETUP, it still goes back to its original position (which is immediately following HDD). I have no idea where this information is kept and stored in the Thinkpad, what I do know is that you should be able to change the order of the devices to which you want it to boot from.

Sadly there are many R30/R40 for sale all over with this problem and it seems to me that there is no solution at all.

[r2d2]

I tried to run PC Doctor again to check the device but I realized I cannot do that at all because my HDD is raw clean and my only option is load PC DOCTOR via floppies. Unfortunately using floppies would mean I would remove the CD/DVD drive and replace it with a diskette drive.

I noticed that when I remove the floppy drive, the laptop starts to beep that even if I plug in the CD/DVD drive, it seems it could not see that there was a device already installed in the floppy drive's place. So I got the floppy drive and plugged it back in but the beep did not stop. I assume it meant that removing these devices while powered ON, in this case with PC DOCTOR running, is NOT allowed.

Given this, I feel that there is no way for me to test the CD/DVD drive or at least know if BIOS can detect its presence if installed.

Any advise on how I can test my CD/DVD drive in this case? Any suggestions or ideas to further isolate the problem (before I throw the mobo away ) is very much appreciated. Thanks.