T30 problem....where to go?

[wags1970]

I have a T30 laptop that is having a problem. It will no longer boot up to the Windows XP that is running on it. It POSTS ok, and I can get into the setup utility, but as soon as it finishes POST where the next step should be to see the starting windows screen, the screen goes black. I can boot to a Windows XP CD, but the last thing I see is "press any key to install windows". Once I hit that, the thing goes black. I have run a disk diagnostics and it passes ok. And maybe its my imagination but it seems like its running hotter than I recall. Is this the sign of a bad CPU? How do I rule out one thing or another?

[rkawakami]

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

Try removing the MiniPCI card (wireless and/or modem) and the ethernet card (aka CDC). You can download a copy of the Hardware Maintenance Manual from here:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 42308.html

Turn the system over, remove the panel covering the MiniPCI bay and carefully detach the wires, cables, shield and screws. Then try booting the system again. As you have said that the disk diagnostics are passing, my guess is that another piece of hardware is hanging Windows.

[wags1970]

I tried all that to no avail. It doesn't make sense. I can even boot to a network boot disk and execute a program (like ghost) and it brings up its GUI. But when I put in an XP CD it goes blank right after I hit any key to install. Its like it doesn't like the windows GUI or something. Any ideas?

[rkawakami]

Have you tried booting from your hard drive and entering Windows Safe Mode (pressing F8 on boot)? I would imagine that the XP CD would also default to generic VGA drivers but it might be worth a shot. Also, if you are running Ghost, that "GUI" may actually be text mode (at least that's what my version of DOS mode Ghost 2003 does).

Other things to try:

- connect an external monitor
- press the Fn+F7 key combination a couple of times to cycle between LCD and external monitor
- press the Fn+F3 key combination to turn on/off the LCD display

[wags1970]

ok, I tried all that unsuccessfully.

out of curiosity, I put in a Linux bootable CD. It opened up the linux GUI where I could choose to install. I did that and it took me to the next screen where it just seems to hang, although its within the linux GUI, but it doesn't install. definitely a hardware issue somewhere on this thing. would software like disk doctor or something similiar figure out the issue on this thing?

[RealBlackStuff]

I think you may have either a bad hard disk or a bad hard disk controller. PC Doctor should be able to tell you more.

[rkawakami]

Definitely try PC Doctor. Run the video tests first and if they pass, try the fixed disk controller test (probably the first one in the list of tests). All of the other fixed disk tests will move the heads over the surface of the drive and therefore may cause problems. If you have any important data on the drive, I'd make a backup copy beforehand.