Hardware problem? Virus? Hidden partition reload failed ...

[Tõnis]

This just happened. Was using the computer and got a BSOD. The computer rebooted by itself. It got to the Black Windows XP screen with the moving bars at the bottom, but it just hung there, bars moving, and no visible or audible hard drive activity.

I forced a shut down and booted into safe mode. It went to the screen where I could choose safe mode, safe mode with networking, etc., but when I tried either one (did this a couple of times) it would get to the part where it loaded code (looked like it said drivers) and just stopped there. Again, no hard drive sounds or lights. I forced another shut down and went into R&R. There I ran some of the tools (skipped the monitor and mouse tests) and found the following problems:

* SM Bios Test FAILED
* CPU MultiCore Test MISCONFIGURED

I then tried to do a full factory restore from the hidden partition. It didn't get very far and gave an error message that the system could not be restored from the hidden partition.

Fortunately, I had made recovery discs when I bought the machine, and they seem to be working. It's almost ready to let me work with Windows.

Any ideas what just happened here? Do I have a hardware problem that will cause this to happen again, or did some virus break my Windows? Any thoughts would be appreciated. I'll post my progress on the reload.

Tony

[Tõnis]

I'm working with Windows now. Another variables I can think of:

just yesterday I started using the classic Windows log-in screen (w/out fast user switching).

Not sure if this had anything to do with this "glitch" ...

[Tõnis]

Windows seems to be working well. Another variable at the moment of the BSOD:

I disconnected a network cable a split second after terminating an aim voice call.

Coincidence?

[Tõnis]

I'm happy to report that the ThinkPad is working quite well. I'm even giving Access Connections another try (for the first time on this notebook), and it seems to be connecting to my home network faster and better than Windows ever did on this ThinkPad. No failure to enter standby problems either as I had with my last (recent) OS reload. I'm still not sure what happened, but I'm just relieved that the recovery discs I made when I took delivery of the machine three years ago worked ...