Thinkpads Forum

I am having serious problems with my 760ED (9546 u3a, running Windows 98)
I am not certain if there is a virus or if my hdd is toast.
Here are the symptoms:

When I try to shut the machine off, it appears not to be shutting off completely. It has 3 green lights on the outside of the case, and one (the middle one) remains on, even when it is powered down and whether or not the AC adaptor is attached.

If I do not use the AC adaptor and try to start it, it beeps twice and will not start at all.

If I use the AC adaptor on the first try, it beeps, the sound icon flashes, then nothing.

On the second try, it will go into startup, but if I try to boot normally, it will get from 16% to 22% of the way through scandisk and then I can hear the hdd slowly stop spinning, and it powers itself off.

If I try to boot into safe mode, it will start the boot process, but at a certain point the same thing happens: the hdd will stop spinning and it will shut itself off.

The same thing basically happens if I try to boot into DOS. It will get into a c prompt, but then, even when I don't enter anything, it will shut itself off.

I can get into the BIOS without any of this happening. I tried leaving it on for a while in just the BIOS screen and there is no problem, it stays on and doesn't power itself off. I've run the BIOS tests, and everything checks out OK, including the hdd.

It shows what I assume to be an error code of 11 with an exponent of d
(earlier I believe there was an error code of 12 with an exponent of d).

Right now I have the additional problem of no other bootable device.

What is wrong and how do I fix it? Is there any hope?

1. Have you tried to reset using the little reset button (located next to the dock connector)?

2. Your hard drive may have a problem. What accessories do you have? Is there a floppy? If you can, boot from a Windows 98 Startup Disk (the floppy that ships with the OS). Run Scandisk from the floppy.

3. If you can't boot from the floppy, can you pull the hard drive out of the caddy, hook it up to an adapter, and check it out from a desktop?

Unfortunately, you can't boot a 760 from the CD, so diagnostics included on a CD won't work.

Could you be a little more specific about the location of the reset button? I didn't know it had one. And no, I can't boot from a floppy either. I have neither the CD or floppy drives. (This was a $16 charity sale purchase, so I suppose even if it is dead, I've already gotten my money's worth.)

If you flip down the back door of the computer (there is a sliding panel which fits in another door that can be swung down), there is a depression with a small, dark-red button inside. It is "inboard" of the large dock connector. You have to press it with a pencil or paper clip.

If you need a floppy or CD, I have a few. Cheap. e-mail me.

Hope this helps.

I used to own a 760ED. These computers which were introduced in 1996 were ahead of their time, to ahead of their time. IBM tried cramming too much stuff into it. The result, IRQ issues, which lead to stuff like 5 minute boot up times, long and incomplete shutdowns, inability to wake up from suspend, etcetera. If there are any devices that you don't use, disable them. I had my modem, infrared and docking ability disabled most of the time. You will also spend some time playing with IRQ configurations. The 760ED can be a really nice computer, you just have to set it up right, this computer was never intended for anyone below power user and you will have a lot of tweaking to do before you have this thing set the way you want it. Go to IBM's support site, and do a search on the 760ED, you'll find plenty of resources there, including drivers and manuals. Well, good luck and good job with the $16.00 purchase. Back in 1996, you would have paid $6999.00 for one.

Anyone else here currently or formerly a 760CD, ED or XD owner? Will you vouch for me these things were the epitamy of IRQ hell? (EL, L, XL exempt from this...)

My first T-Pad was a 760E. I have owned ED's and an XD; and a 765D. Also a few EL's and XL's around the way.

Big problem was the MWave system, and the fact that when you install an OS you have to do it in a very specific manner or you can get locked out of your display

Nerdette, did you find the button yet?

Bruce: I looked for the button you described but have not yet found it. With the additional information you've provided, I'll look further when I return home. I only just now have read your reply. As the thinkpad is down, I am having to access the internet on a library computer (limited to 60 minutes per day). Thanks very much for the info and I hope I'll be able to address the problem. Given the symptoms, and what I know about my thinkpad, it does sound like some sort of hibernation or suspend mode problem may be the culprit. My thinkpad is still using an older BIOS, and I understand a newer one addresses a problem of returning from suspend (or it may be hibernation) mode, so that may be it. Why it would go into suspend mode upon what I thought was shut down is another question, I suppose, for another day.

To the other poster: you are certainly right, I've already gone thru IRQ hell a couple of times. I think I worked that problem out (or at least had a workaround for it) so I don't think that's what it is (this time).

Again, thanks very much for your assistance.

Nerdette:

Maybe I didn't describe the button properly. You have to either slide the panel over, or drop the door. There is a small (1 mm) hole just inboard of the large dock connector. At the base of the hole is something dark red (maybe maroon is a better description). You will need something to push into the hole to trip the button. I use a straightened paper clip.

Does this help?

Bruce:

Whew! A quick reply!

Yeah, that's a great explanation of where the button is located. I just have to print all this out and get home now to see if I can find what you're talking about.

Nerdette,

There's a switch in the keyboard that senses when it has been opened to access the drives and automatically Suspends the machine.

This is frequently the culprit for the type of problem you're experiencing and you might want to check that switch.

Regards,

James

JHEM:
OK, but then what? I am hoping that what Bruce Guttman recommended is likely to solve the problem. Do you concur? If it has gone into hibernation then how do I get it to come back?

Whoops...what I actually should have asked, I suppose, is where the switch you mention is located, and how I reset it, if possible. Thanks for your help.

Check the keyboard switch first, if that's the problem the unit should "wake up". IIRC the switch is on the right side of the keyboard, although it's on the front on some 760s. Open the keyboard and look for a protrusion on the lower case that would stick into the keyboard, the protrusion points to the switch.

If that fails, then try the hard reset that Bruce suggested.

The reset switch is right next to the VGA connector on the back of the unit.

Regards,

James

I will go home and try the things you recommend! I truly hope they will help. I'll report back if they do, or if they don't for that matter. Thanks so much!

Neither of the ideas (keyboard reset or red restart button) worked. Is it dead?

No, I don't think your 760ED is dead, but you will have to spend a ton of time tyring to make it work the way you want it to. Unless you are a very experienced power user who really likes tinkering with computers and have lots of patience, the 760 series is something to avoid. I'd reccoemnd you sell the computer on eBay and use that money to buy a 380 or 560 series laptop. Those have a much better reputation for reliability and durability. don't get me started with how many drops my 380ED has survived, in contrast to my 760E which just lost one of the lcd latches today because I bumped into it.

I dont think a new purchase is in the cards right now. Any other ideas?

Well, fi a replacement laptop is not in the question, then you have a pretty nice computer learning experience ahead of you. You'll need to spend some time on IBM's website reading product literature and downloading the appropriate files so your computer will run fine. IF you run Windows 95, the setup will be easier as Windows 95 does not bring out all the design flaws in the 760 series. If you install Windows 98, you'll need to search around on IBM's site for all the mWave patches and APM fixes. Once you have all of IBM's drivers installed, which will take a while to do, you'll have a pretty nice laptop for home or work just so long as you don't load to much onto it. Limit the software you put on it to Microsoft Office and whatever else you use frequently. Also search around for some EDO SODIMMS for your laptop so you can have more ram.

ThinkPad 760ED Product Troubleshooting:
http://www-1.ibm.com/support/search.wss ... 0+D100&dtm

ThinkPad 760ED Product Literature:
http://www-1.ibm.com/support/search.wss ... +DA300&dtm

ThinkPad 760ED Downloads:
http://www-1.ibm.com/support/search.wss ... c=D400&dtm