T23 Cannot Resume Error

[JoeJMCO]

Hi all,

I just upgraded my memory from 256MB to 1024MB on a T23. After the upgrade, my screen went blank. I pulled the memory out and then got the following error on boot (red background with white letters):

"Cannot resume because hardware was changed. Turn me off and reinstall what you removed, or remove what you installed, while I was asleep. If you do not succeed after a couple of tries, I will abandon your saved system state. After the operating system is running again, do a full shutdown and install or remove hardware."

Well, I returned the ThinkPad to its original configuration 256MB and still see this screen.

Any suggestion?

Joe

[Thinkpaddict]

That's the first time I hear of such a thing. When you say that you pulled the memory out and turned the computer on, do you mean that you turned it on with no memory whatsoever on it? I thought that you can't even get into the startup screen without RAM...

What I would suggest is installing the original memory (in the same slot as it was originally installed, so you probably will have to try one then the other if you don't remember). Disconnect the computer from the electrical source, then remove the battery. Then push the power button 10 (or is it 20?) times, and the last time hold it pushed for a few seconds. Reinstall the battery, connect the adapter, and see if it will start. If not, change the RAM stick to the other slot and repeat the ritual. I don't know if all this will work, but it is worth giving it a try.

I don't think the source of this problem would be a loose HD, but if nothing else works you might want to make sure it is seated well.

Good luck and keep us informed.

[rkawakami]

Couple of questions:

1) What operating system are you using?
2) How are you turning off the laptop when you are changing memory?
3) Assuming you answered "the power switch", for question #2, then what is the power management option for using the power switch to "shutdown" the system?

The reason I ask all of this is because it sounds like you are using the power switch to turn off your T23. However, if Windows has been programmed to "hibernate" or "standby", then you are not actually putting the laptop into a state whereby you can change memory. The phrase "while I was asleep" seems to indicate that the laptop was not completely powered off.

Solution? Well, assuming you can get past the RSOD (red screen of death), and get to a Windows desktop, then use the Start button to "turn off" the system, then try installing the new memory. That seems to be possible based upon the wording of the warning message ("If you do not succeed after a couple of times..."). Along with that warning is the statement that you will lose your "saved system state". This would imply that whatever files you had open at the time you first tried to change the memory may be damaged/truncated.

If you can't do that, then unless someone else here has a better answer, I would say disconnect ALL power (battery and AC) while at one of the red screen prompts. There is some amount of danger if you do this, so I would do this as a last resort.

[JoeJMCO]

I ended up removing the CMOS battery and it worked fine.

My shutdown originally was using the "shutdown" in Windows.

Well, the removal of the CMOS battery got me past the Red Screen o' Death.

Thanks for your help.