600x and XP -- battery out, no problem, battery in.. FREEZES

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600X_User · #1 Post by **600X_User** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 5:42 pm

I recently 'inherited' a Thinkpad 600X that has the original Windows98 on it. Worked with no problems, but wanting to use Windows-XP instead, I wiped it clean and attempted to install XP (format & convert to NTFS of course).

PROBLEM: computer freezes up part way through Windows install. Pressing the 'Fn'-keys plus one of the volume buttons or manually (& repeatedly) hitting the lid-closed switch seems to 'jog' things and allow things to continue. It's a temporary solution, but annoying. Once XP is successfully installed, it freezes as XP loads (actually after agp400.sys is displayed on a diagnostic startup, next file is P3.sys).

A quick search on Google shows that:
- this is/was a common problem on XP installs on (older) Thinkpads
- the problem ONLY OCCURS WHEN BATTERY IS INSTALLED;
(remove the battery and running on AC power there is no problem either during installation or during Win-XP operation).
- it appears to be an ACPI issue (have reinstalled using 'Standard-PC'(F6) and system runs great under normal operation, though Device Manager shows many IRQ conflicts (Infrared, Printer Port, IDE Controller(x2)).

So far I've tried:
- XP install from original MS CD, using format option
- XP install with 'Standard-PC'(F6 during install) on blank drive
- XP install with 'Standard-PC' over top of exisiting ACPI install
- IBM restore CD to Win98, then upgrade to XP.
- IBM 'XP-supplement' (reg keys mods)

Google (Groups + web) shows plenty of similar reports dating back many years, but I have not come across one thread where someone has a confirmed 'how-to' to solve the problem. Just plenty of "it should be .." or "My brother did this..".

HELP!

Leon · #2 Post by **Leon** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 6:18 pm

latest firmware?

600X_User · #3 Post by **600X_User** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:07 pm

Yes, newest BIOS (ITET55WW).
I even re-flashed just to be sure it was the latest.

I mentioned that it is some kind of ACPI power issue - using Motherboard Meter utility I discovered early on that whenever it freezes, the processor also changes speed (Intel's SpeedStep technology). I installed a utility called SpeedSwitchXP utility that allows you to disable the speed switching of the chip, and this seems to help somewhat - though it still freezes on boot when battery is installed until the Fn-keys are pressed.

Safe mode can be entered with no problem, and there was no problem when running Win98, so it is definitely some kind of XP driver issue. What it is that the Fn-keys do that allow the freeze to continue, I wish I knew!

SeanM · #4 Post by **SeanM** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 4:55 pm

Is your battery ok? How long does it last?

crj · #5 Post by **crj** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 2:09 pm

Sean & 600 User....

I have a similar problem that just started... upgraded 600x 650MHz speed step 320RAM from 98SE to XP Pro many months ago. Updated all drivesrs and BIOS before upgrade. All oworked k until I used ghost to clone new drive from 12GB to 40GB. Tried to fix with another update of all drivers and BIOS, and clean install of XP. No luck. Did you guys ever figure out this issue?

pit · #6 Post by **pit** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 12:33 pm

I had the same problem which in my case was caused by the dvd/cd-rw-drive. If I remove it from the device bay, Windows XP starts and runs without any problems. The dvd/cd-rw-drive however is not recognized. This problem does not occur in Windows ME. I find it strange that the dvd/cd-rw-drive is not recognized also in the BIOS (version IBET54WW 09/18/99), although the notebook can boot from it.

shai · #7 Post by **shai** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 6:28 am

Try to update your ACPI .

Darkfire01 · #8 Post by **Darkfire01** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 9:06 pm

when it says "press f6 for extra drivers" on the install, press "f7" it is suppose to be an undocumented feature which removes acpi from the windows install