T42 having issues - CD-ROM, Access IBM Button, and More.

[suzannetf]

I bought my T42 through my college so I have the same computer as most people I know. In the past week I've noticed that the Access IBM button doesn't work, the volume bars and brightness bars do not appear on the screen, and my Matshita DVD-RAM UJ-812 drive will not write/read CDs or DVDs. My Excel program was also not working but a patch I found on the Microsoft web page fixed this. There was a warning about midweek that some file had been replaced and that I needed to put in some CD (I don't actually have on hand the cds that restore my computer, etc.) Anyways, I found out yesterday that at least two other friends have the same deal up with their computers. Does this sound like a virus or something inherent in these computers or maybe something to do with my school's software? I'm kind of nervous because I want to back up my files but my CD-ROM no longer works. I'm on break at the moment so I can't bring it in to my on-campus service people now. I've learned in the past year that the Motherboards on these comptuters stink... I've already been through 2. I've been sold that the R series is more prone to failing hard drives so I suppose I prefer the motherboard thing. Still... it really feels like something is up with my computer.

[christopher_wolf]

Welcome to the Thinkpad Forums

Ouch...Well, I would have recommended to try making the recovery set of disks, backing up your data, and re-imaging the factory install; but your Optical drive doesn't work. You could save them to another computer and then poke around on the T42 until you find a problem. What confuses me is the slow degeneration of your system and those of at least 2 of your friends.

As far as I know, Academic Institutions don't usually put their software in the factory preload of the Thinkpad; rather, they put it in a nice little bundle of disks or on a download site...

If you can get your Thinkpad back to the factory image; that should work without problems.

If that presents issues, call up IBM/Lenovo and see what they have to say

HTH

[suzannetf]

Hmm... I know that I have a partitioned drive with everything there that I can recover back to if I ever need to of the computer the way it was when I bought it. I'm going to work on tranferring files to another laptop to burn anyway just in case. I'm very nervous about my files getting deleted by anyone... I also kept my harddrive when I sent my computer in for it new motherboard. As for backing up... I'm a bit behind anyways... the DVD upgrade I got with my computer is a real disappointment since it can't handle the 8x and 16x sold today leaving me stuck with CD-ROMS (when they work). My laptop has also been giving me frequent Internet Explorer errors when I exit a web page (you know, the ones when one locks up and they ask if you just want to quit or report the problem to Microsoft.) This has been happening quite a lot... no matter how many times I restart my computer or let it rest.

[suzannetf]

Ok. I remember that it said some file had been altered or deleted and that I needed to insert some disk/cd (I think it was something from the Windows pack which I don't have but my tech support center does). What disk does it sound like it was probably talking about (since I have stupidly forgotten) and where would I go to make the change now since I remember clicking out of that box and not doing anything when they asked because I couldn't?

[simms]

Sounds like you should run the software installer to get back some functionality.

After you do that, the On screen display, access IBM button should work.

[suzannetf]

What is the software installer exactly? Most of my stuff is still here somewhere... I can still access Access IBM through the start menu. The keyboard button for that doesn't work though. Where is the option that adjusts the font/color of on-screen bars for volume/brightness? I've seen it several times and I can't find it now although I don't remember exactly where it was...

[suzannetf]

Anybody know?

[simms]

log onto lenovo.com and click support, then update drivers, automatically detect my system.

[Kyocera]

simms is right that has happened to me a couple of times, i think it is part of another program that someone may have deleted. You can also try going to thinkpad configuration, highlight display at the top and click on OSD on screen display if nothing happens do the softare installer thing.

[suzannetf]

Is there a particular update I'm looking for? It's just giving this long list of general programs and things after it detects my laptop.

[ThinkPad R]

Hi suzy net.

no, IBM motherboards rock & my R40 has no trouble with hard drive - I dropped it 3 times now while the hard drive was spinning wild w/ norton & antispyware etc.

there are viruses that create effects & scenarios that make the motherboard seem as the source of trouble -especially just for IBM computers.

seriously. why in the world is it that ONLY IBM computers -some $500 more expensive have these sorts of problems?


anyway, back to the subject.

1) This is how you fix Access IBM. Go to My Computer. IBM PRELOAD. IBM TOOLS. APPS. ACCESS. Access IBM Windows Installer Package.

Get the installer from Lenovo that assigns Fn keys, and Access IBM key.

This will also fix your sound buttons, etc.

Get the audio drives from Lenovo.
2) As for your DVD... disabling & enabling the DVD by going to the My Computer properties & clicking on the hardware tab and opening the device manager.