**TP 600 stuck in start up loop**

[weenyteeny]

Hope you can help.

The battery died in my TP 600. I bought a new battery but the laptop is doing the same thing it did before I replaced the battery. I thought the battery was the problem but it wasn't.

When you start it up, you get the 163264 KB OK in the upper left of the screen. Then you get a message saying:

We apologize for the inconvenience, but windows did not start successfully. A recent hardwar or software change migh have caused this. If your computer stopped responding, resarted unexpectedly, or was automatically shut down to protect your files and folders,... [and it continues]

Then you get options to start the computer. They are (with a clock counting down at the bottom):

Safe mode

Safe mode with networking

Safe mode with command prompt

Las known good configuration

Start windows normally.

I am asked to highlight one and hit enter but no matter which one I choose, it re-starts and comes back to the same screen. And then the process starts all over again. The loop is never ending.

Any thoughts, advice, help. I'm wondering if it is the CMOS battery because I did have a problem with it before...but as I recall, I got error messages that time.

The computer is running XP Pro.

Thanks a million.

[AlphaKilo470]

If "Last Known Good Configuration" and/or "Safe Mode" option fails to work, you might have to reinstall or at least "repair" Windows (using the original setup disk) because of a bad file or driver.

[cmarti]

Try to start it without the hardrive, to see if instead of the error you are mentioning you see the no operating system was found you may have a faulty HD, If you still see the error without the HD, you will need to remove any rams, PCMCIA,modems, you have installed that can be the cause too. But a coworker mine at one point had the same symptoms on his 600 and whats was wrong was the motherboard.

Good luck!

MOD EDIT: Large quote removed for sake of screen space. Quotes in general are really only necessary when it's not generally obvious what subject the post is in response to...

[carbon_unit]

Try booting to the windows install cd and getting to a recovery console and running "chkdsk /r" without the quotes.
If that doesn't fix it you will have to do a repair install.
Running the Hitachi Drive Fitness test would be a good idea also.

[weenyteeny]

Try booting to the windows install cd and getting to a recovery console and running "chkdsk /r" without the quotes.
If that doesn't fix it you will have to do a repair install.
Running the Hitachi Drive Fitness test would be a good idea also.

I have tried what you suggested. The scan gets to 44% completed and then I get a message saying: "The volume appears to contain one or more unrecoverable problems" and then it goes back to a C prompt.

Any ideas on what I should / could do next?

Thanks.

[cmarti]

I have tried what you suggested. The scan gets to 44% completed and then I get a message saying: "The volume appears to contain one or more unrecoverable problems" and then it goes back to a C prompt.

Any ideas on what I should / could do next?

Thanks.

From what are you saying i would say that you have a faulty hardrive. It must be replaced.

[carbon_unit]

Yep, Sounds bad.
(edit) Did you run the DFT yet?

[Saysana13B]

Have you updated the BIOS? I remember reading the Thinkpad 600e needed an BIOS update to run XP.

[weenyteeny]

Yep, Sounds bad.
(edit) Did you run the DFT yet?

Have not run the DFT yet. Not sure where I get such a creature. Is is something that can be downloaded off the internet or do I need to buy it somewhere?

Thanks.

[weenyteeny]

Have you updated the BIOS? I remember reading the Thinkpad 600e needed an BIOS update to run XP.

S...13B,

I had been running/using XP for some time now so I'm guessing I updated the bios when I first installed it. This problem has happened in the past week or so.