I think i need a new cdrom(video of the noise it makes )

[igotyofire]

Hi, this is my first post on the forums and i made a video as i thought it would be helpful, and didn't see anything in the rules saying i couldn't.. i just ebayed this computer, and i am trying to get an OS loaded. onto it but it just spins a little bit and sometimes not at all, then speeds up and then stops again......as seen in link below

(may need to turn up your speakers)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUOfbqvFzn0

i just want someone elses verification before i go spend money on a replacement basically, thanks!

[pianowizard]

I watched the video. That doesn't sound good at all. Have you tried another bootable CD? If other discs also can't be read, then open up the drive and see if there's anything obviously wrong inside (I've repaired three laptop optical drives this way). If you don't see anything, you need a new drive. They are cheap.

[igotyofire]

I appreciate your quick response and yes i have tried another bootable disk. when i first powered on the system the cdrom was behaving better and making its way into the beginning stages of windows xp installation, now it wont even boot. I also tried a windows 2000 disk to which it began to boot but never actually did. I will try opening it up to see whatever i can see. Ive built numerous desktop computers but this will be the first time ever working on a notebook computer

[tfflivemb2]

As I replied to your video:

Try opening the drive and blowing it out. I have had hair cause similar problems...

[rkawakami]

I have had hair cause similar problems...

Couldn't have been any of yours, right? I've seen your picture

@igotyofire: Try downloading DVDInfoPro. I have been using it in the last couple of days to check out some optical drives. It will tell you the capability of the drive (what kind of media it supports), as well as having a diagnostic program which attempts to read the disk and report on the errors it detects.

You can also try cleaning the lens on the laser carriage with a cotton-tipped swab and isopropyl alcohol.

[Robbyrobot]

You can also try cleaning the lens on the laser carriage with a cotton-tipped swab and isopropyl alcohol.

Very good advice, and this has helped me with balky CD-ROM drives many times. But be careful to be very gentle and do no more than brush lightly over the lens with the swab, since otherwise you can throw the alignment off and thus render the drive inoperable even with a clean lens.

[igotyofire]

well my cdrom is still dying, altho the alcohol and and cutip seemed to help a little bit, its still picky on whether or not it wants to work it seems. But now i have some pictures of what happen. the first stop error was with trying to install windows 2000. I remember when i tried to install XP i also got a bluescreen error. So i stuck in my linux LiveCD just for kicks and saw memtest and decided to run it. it looks like i need new memory in the system as that could be another problem? This t22 i picked up for a $100 is turning out not to be such a good deal it seems & as a sidenote i have a flash drive comming in today that i planned to try and use to boot off of and install an OS

http://i19.tinypic.com/4pnsxzr.jpg
http://i13.tinypic.com/4uxjtcw.jpg
http://i19.tinypic.com/4tk6nag.jpg

Moderator edit: Please no in-line images without warning in original subject line. Also keep them ~50KB in size.

[igotyofire]

well i just saw to the left it said bad ram, so im going to go ahead and order some ram. i saw the ram sticky at the top of the page, but i do not want to pay that price. as this was suppose to be a budget labtop which has already cost me more then i was expecting. i was just wondering if this sounds like a compatible ram type

Kingston ValueRAM 256MB 144-Pin SO-DIMM PC 133 Notebook Memory Model KVR133X64SC3/256

not sure if it will run at pc133 speeds, but should be backwards compatible regardless? also looks like certain ram has specific timmings for labtops, i didn't see config options in the bios so i might want to stick with whats been proven to work?

[rkawakami]

The T22 uses PC100 memory modules. You can use PC133 modules as long as they are the "low density" type. If your 256MB module only has a total of eight memory chips on it, then that's not the right one. A low density 256MB module needs to have 16 chips.

A Google search of that Kingston part number says your's is a high density module (8 chips for 256MB) and therefore will not work in a T22.

[igotyofire]

well along with the ram im ordering, i decided i might as well get a harddrive too, so i was wondering if this would be a good choice

SAMSUNG Spinpoint M Series MP0402H 40GB 5400 RPM ATA-6 Notebook Hard Drive

im pretty sure most ata6 drives are compatible with most notebooks, just wanted some assurance as i dont want to throw money away

[tfflivemb2]

well along with the ram im ordering, i decided i might as well get a harddrive too, so i was wondering if this would be a good choice

SAMSUNG Spinpoint M Series MP0402H 40GB 5400 RPM ATA-6 Notebook Hard Drive

im pretty sure most ata6 drives are compatible with most notebooks, just wanted some assurance as i dont want to throw money away

Yes, that hare drive will work just fine...

[igotyofire]

The T22 uses PC100 memory modules. You can use PC133 modules as long as they are the "low density" type. If your 256MB module only has a total of eight memory chips on it, then that's not the right one. A low density 256MB module needs to have 16 chips.

A Google search of that Kingston part number says your's is a high density module (8 chips for 256MB) and therefore will not work in a T22.

so even the pc100 sticks compatible need 16 chips on them? or is that only for the pc133 sticks, in which case i would assume this wouldn't work either based upon what u said http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid ... -N&cat=RAM

[rkawakami]

Sorry, I wasn't clear on that. Either PC100 or PC133 modules need to be of the "low density" type; 16 chips on a 256MB module (and by inference, 8 chips on a 128MB module). As I don't believe there were any PC100 8 chip 256MB modules made (I could be wrong), I only mentioned PC133 since I know those came in both densities.

[Temetka]

I know I am chiming in late and all but...

I just saw the video and looked over the posted pics of blue screen and failed Memtest results.

Does the machine have any physical damage to it?

The CD behavior is like the lens is not aligned and thus cannot tell the beginning or end of a CD track so it keeps trying to re-read.

I remember reading that some laptop optical drives have a small screw which can be used to 'tune' the laser so it will read again. I know there is a website with pics buried somewhere in my bookmarks, I just need to figure out which machine and OS has the link.

[igotyofire]

I know I am chiming in late and all but...

I just saw the video and looked over the posted pics of blue screen and failed Memtest results.

Does the machine have any physical damage to it?

The CD behavior is like the lens is not aligned and thus cannot tell the beginning or end of a CD track so it keeps trying to re-read.

I remember reading that some laptop optical drives have a small screw which can be used to 'tune' the laser so it will read again. I know there is a website with pics buried somewhere in my bookmarks, I just need to figure out which machine and OS has the link.

no it does not have any physical damage that is apparent other then normal wear and tear. Today my ram cam in, and it works fine. I played with the cdrom layer eye as it seems to be very picky, i didn't actually move it much but i kept putting pressure on it from various directions and finally got it to recognize and boot off a cd where i ran memtest. I then ran my xp cd and it failed during halfway of the installation it seems. I played with the eye a bit more and then went to install windows2000 which it did install with no problem. The drive barely works and i have a dvd drive coming in next week. i will be using a flashdrive hopefully to finish up the driver installs.

The only thing other that i know is wrong is on a cold boot up.....and not restarts the LCD monitor has a reddish tint to it for a few seconds, and then it goes away. Im assuming this is the inverter board or whatever its called? as now everything seems to be running smooth i plan to focus on this problem now, i really appreciate all the responseful help and knowledgeable people here

[Temetka]

The red tint can be either the inverter or the backlight.

I used to own a T23 and even though I know a lot about them, you would be better of asking ray about your LCD problem.

Actually, hold on.


HEY RAY!

Whats up with his LCD?


See, that was easy.

[rkawakami]

Shhh! It's 1:20am and the wife is trying to sleep!

Actually my vote would be for a dying backlight (CCFL). I think that all of the inverter problems I have seen on the T2x systems are that it either works or it doesn't. While a reduced voltage/current output from an inverter can cause a red or pink tint, my experience has been that the real cause is a backlight that is reaching the end of its life. Your options are to replace just the lamp (~$15 and guts to open up the fragile LCD panel) or a complete panel or lid assembly (I'd say $85 and up).

[Temetka]

It's 1:29AM here and my Wife is watching a baseball game she recorded earlier. I am in the next room checking out forums.

So the CCFL huh?

If I were the OP I would wait for the LCD to die completely before replacing it. This way you can get the most out of the system without spending more $$$. Who knows, it may last for a month or 2 like this before finally giving up the ghost.