R31 USB use causes choppiness

[Barry Fivecoat]

I recently bought an R31 Thinkpad. Here's the specs:

Thinkpad R31 2656-1CU
OS: XP Professional w/SP2
Mobile Celeron 1.13GHZ , 632 MB RAM
14.1 XGA (1024 X 768) TFT LCD
Modem (CDC)
Ethernet
No CD ROM

Here's the problem. Anything plugged into the USB port at first takes several moments to recognize. I've noticed that system resources are sucked down to nothing when a device is plugged into the USB port (specifically, 1 GIG Cruzer thumbdrive and Logitech USB Mouse, both tested on 2 other desktop machines and known working). The mouse technically doesn't even need drivers. It is not a serial mouse, either. The USB hub in Device Manager never did show a problem.

What I've done: Downloaded updates from Microsoft's site and installed anything pertinent and more. Downloaded and installed all possible applicable software from IBM website. This fixed the secondary display problem and sound problem that it came with, but nothing else. I've put new chipset, BIOS, USB, sound and other drivers in. The effect was the same. No change at all. Warm or cold, sometimes the mouse will work fine but eventually the machine hangs for a varying long period of time. While I'm not highly adept at computers, I think I did all of the above correctly. I followed their instructions anyway.


There is a secondary problem concerning the Thinkvantage update utility. When used, it will download upgrades till it displays 24%, then I get an error message saying "There is not enough disk space to perform the current task"
Don't know what that's about either. There's17 GIG left on a 20 GIG drive...

Since I only got it a little over a week ago, I Emailed the seller (Ebay) and informed him of the problem. No response from him yet. If I can't get proper suggestions to fix it here I WILL send it back and get a replacement, but I'd rather not. It seems to me the problem should be fixable, but then again this is my first laptop. I know this post is long, but I want to be thorough (and want to appear a little bit smart about what I've done!!)

What could the problem be? Anyone seen this before?

[Barry Fivecoat]

I've seen several lookers to this thread, but no helpers yet...Hope someone is watching because I'm about to send this machine back. I really don't want to do that. I almost had it the way I wanted it.



Can't someone please help?


Thanks,
Barry

[Barry Fivecoat]

I hope this helps someone. After HOURS of trying to find the mysterious USB problem above, I think I have it pinned down. I found that a bit of pressure just below the mouse controls or a slight flex of the chassis without exception makes the above mentioned devices work.

This appears to be a physical problem. Odd how it only appears when a USB port is in use. I'm going to take the PC apart and check for a crack in the mother board or loose connections. I'll post again with results.

Anyone know if this is common with this model? Could the PC have been dropped and caused this damage and not show it externally?
The case is in pretty good shape save a very fine 1/2 inch split in the screen.

[tom lightbody]

maybe it's an OS problem:--have you tried Knoppix?

[Barry Fivecoat]

The OS doesn't see any errors. The Thinkpad even sees my cellphone where my desktop (boat anchor) will not. As I stated above, pressure ALWAYS causes the choppines to abate. I've dismantled the thing partially, bottom screws, hard drive, keyboard etc. Now I'm having trouble getting the cover off. I have a bad eye which screws with depth perception, so I'm exercising extreme caution. I've never done this before, but I am a troubleshooter by trade. What I don't know is if I have to take the display off before I can access the lower chassis. I don't hold a lot of hope out that I can even find much less fix this, but it could be something simple and I can't let it go I've been searching for a step by step to dismantle it, but haven't found it yet.