T42 keeps freezing up

[astros55]

Hi. I bought my T42 back in August of 2004, and had not experienced any problems for 11 months; the system had only frozen up maybe 3-4 times at most, but each time I could hold down the power button to reboot. Couple of weeks ago, I updated my BIOS from 3.06f to 3.16 and Embedded Controller from 3.02 to 3.04 to prep for the Windows SP2 install. Later that day it froze and could not be shut down unless all power was disconnected. Stupidly, I went ahead and installed SP2 a couple of days later. The system has frozen about 6-7 times since then with no real pattern, and each time I have to disconnect all power to reboot.
IBM tech said that it's a memory/resource problem and that neither upgrade/install would be responsible and rolling back the BIOS and EC wouldn't do any good. But it seems too coincidental. Any ideas would be appreciated.

[dexta]

I have the same problem on my T42 too. There is no pattern on when it freezes up.

[astros55]

I have the same problem on my T42 too. There is no pattern on when it freezes up.

Did your system start acting up after any particular upgrade/install?

[Kyocera]

I bought a T42 last October and about two days into breaking it in it started freezing. Everything on the desk top would get twice as big, like a resolution problem. I wish I could remember the error msg but I know it was related to the Raedon driver. It would reboot after removing the battery and work for a short period of time. I did endless searches and found that there was a small community out there with the same problem and got many suggestions on how to fix it, first I used the restore and rescue to completey reinstall the operating system, about an hour after I finished that it locked up again same problem. After trying a few other things (reinstall PCI bus driver, reinstall the RAEDON driver, update BIOS, leaving service pack two out of my reinstall) I called the support center. IBM did at first try to blame SP2 but they finally relented and sent me a new machine. I use my laptop almost everyday for work and this one has not locked or frozen up. Do you get an error msg? Look in admin tools, event viewer, system and see if there are any errors at the time the machine locks up .

Try googleing your problem and see what you can come up with. If it is still under warranty I'd get on the phone now.

[sugo]

Couple of weeks ago, I updated my BIOS from 3.06f to 3.16 and Embedded Controller from 3.02 to 3.04 to prep for the Windows SP2 install.

I have been running 3.06f / 3.02 / XP SP2 since August 2004. Never had a freeze here. To me, BIOS is not something worth changing unless there is an actual issue.

[astros55]

I bought a T42 last October and about two days into breaking it in it started freezing. Everything on the desk top would get twice as big, like a resolution problem. I wish I could remember the error msg but I know it was related to the Raedon driver. ... Do you get an error msg? Look in admin tools, event viewer, system and see if there are any errors at the time the machine locks up .

Fortunately, my problem doesn't seem to be as bad as yours was. I haven't had any issues other than just the freezing up: no error msg., no resolution problems. I checked the Event Viewer right after one episode, but nothing of note there.
Maybe it's unfortunate that my problem isn't as bad as yours since it will have to deteriorate substantially to have any chance at replacement (and with school starting up next week, that's a scary possibility).

[astros55]

Couple of weeks ago, I updated my BIOS from 3.06f to 3.16 and Embedded Controller from 3.02 to 3.04 to prep for the Windows SP2 install.

I have been running 3.06f / 3.02 / XP SP2 since August 2004. Never had a freeze here. To me, BIOS is not something worth changing unless there is an actual issue.

Yeah. I really don't know anything about the BIOS, so I thought I was being a good owner by listening to tech support by updating it for SP2. Oh, well.

[jd2020]

My friend has had an R40 for two years with unexplained freeze ups. While I've been using it over the past two weeks, I've had two lock ups while screensaver is on, one while surfing the interent, and one while trying to do a backup with IBM Rescue & Recovery. They system has 256MB of RAM and 40GB hard drive. No apparent setting or config problems. She reports that its always done this if left on for a long time. Her standard procedure is to shut down after use.

Appreciate any ideas or places to look.

JD