After installing Windows updates, XP fails on 600E

[Kike G.]

Hi,

This story is about my old (but reliable) 600E 2645-4AU (196 MB RAM, 30 GB HDD, wireless PCMCIA adapter, LAN Ethernet PCMCIA adapter).

This is what happened:

STAGE I
1) I installed Windows XP Professional. I let Windows installation disk format the HDD (FAT32).
2) Results: XP Pro ran even faster than my old Win 98 SE!! I was very excited.
3) I visited Windows Update website for some automatic XP patches and updates. My system downloaded 85 updates altogether, but while installing them, I had to shut down the machine (I can't remember if I hit "Cancel" first, but I'm pretty sure I did used the "Shut down" option at the end). So I interrupted the process maybe when it was installing patch number 17 or something.
4) I turned on the system a couple of hours later: The black "Windows XP" screen appeared normally, but when the logon screen was about to appear, the system rebooted automatically, and this happened again and again... It was impossible to access Windows.

I decided that it was my fault for having interrupted the installation of the upgrades, so I decided to install again.

But this time I did differently.

STAGE II
1) I performed a BIOS update (after reading Lenovo/IBM's site recommendations for installing XP on 600E). I performed the update with the "/u" parameter, since my battery is already dead.
2) I installed Windows XP Pro again. This time I asked the installation disk to format the HDD in NTFS system.
3) Results: now Windows ran notoriously slower than in Stage I!!!
4) I downloaded Windows patches and updates little by little. First I downloaded and installed 11; then I went for some 19 more.
5) When rebooting after those 19, the system showed the same problem as in point 4 of Stage I.

So, here are my questions:

a) What might be happening when installing XP to TP 600E? I read that although XP could run pretty slowly on them, it does run.
b) I have this idea: To install Win XP and disable Windows updates. Do you think is a good plan?
c) Is it possible to downgrade the BIOS version? I think that in Stage I (before BIOS upgrade) Windows performed faster, although Lenovo/IBM's site says that upgrading is a must-to for XP installation.

Thanks for your advices, folks,

Enrique

(P. S. Just for the record: The word "Kike" in my user name isn't an insult. I am Peruvian, and in my country that word is just the way how men named Enrique are called by friends. It even has a different pronunciation than the insulting word).

[sktn77a]

I had a similar thinkpad (288Mb RAM, 366MHz CPU, 12Gb HDD) - worked great with XP and XP/SP1 but when I upgraded to SP2 it just bogged down. I think you need more RAM with SP2.

Oh, by the way, XP was never faster (or anywhere near as fast) as 98 on my computer (!)

[joester]

I have a 2645-4AU, 192MB RAM, 30GB HDD formatted to NTFS running XP SP2 with all the upgrades available.

No troubles, and yes, a bit slow. I installed the HDD, formatted with the XP disc.

I installed, and let the automatic updates do everything.

I do know it did all 85 in one shot, and that I left the computer run overnight because I didn't want to stay up with it. The only thing I did really differently was to install the SP2 upgrade via thumbdrive and the downloaded SP2 service pack before the majority of the windows upgrades.

Looking back at your original post, I see that we have almost identical TP's. My wireless is PCMCIA Cisco Aironet 350 and my ethernet is PCMCIA D-LINK DFE-690TXD.

<EDIT>
When is the last time you replaced the CMOS battery? Mine was dead enough to do some really funked out stuff when I tried to use the laptop.

Joe

[Kike G.]

I have a 2645-4AU, 192MB RAM, 30GB HDD (...) I see that we have almost identical TP's.

Hi, Joe, ThinkPad brother! I have an aunt living in NYC (actually, I've been there visiting and picking up my just-bought refurbished T40 last July), but now I think a have a brother too! Now you know you have a brother in Peru

TP's. My wireless is PCMCIA Cisco Aironet 350 and my ethernet is PCMCIA D-LINK DFE-690TXD.

My PCMCIA adapters are TRENDnet Wireless CardBus PC Card TEW-226PC (IEEE 802.11 b/2.4 GHz, 11 Mbps wireless LAN) and a Xircom CardBus Ethernet 10/100 RBE-100.

No troubles, and yes, a bit slow. I installed the HDD, formatted with the XP disc. (...) The only thing I did really differently was to install the SP2 upgrade via thumbdrive and the downloaded

Actually (and you'll be more surprised, for another coincidence we share), I did the same: I installed first Service Pack 2, and then all the other updates through Windows Update site.

So, that's weird: You have almost exactly the same equipment as I do... but my system doesn't work.

Somebody told me it could be a lack of RAM problem. But I see your machine has the same RAM capability as mine...

When is the last time you replaced the CMOS battery? Mine was dead enough to do some really funked out stuff when I tried to use the laptop.

Yeah, I know what you're talking about. As I bought it already refurbished in 2001, the CMOS battery lasted till last year. I replaced it in July 2006 by the way, is there a way to know if maybe the CMOS battery that my technician sold me was already in its last months when he transplanted to my 600E?).

If it helps, sometimes it appeared an error code number in the screen... but I didn't get it. Now it doesn't appear anymore: the computer just restarts.

Any help?

[joester]

That number is important for debugging the laptop.

I ensured my CMOS battery was fresh by clipping the leads from the original and attaching a newly purchased one. I know mine is good.

Weird ,mine works and yours won't...

This weekend I'll note my BIOS settings. Maybe you have something set differently.

For now, it's almost 1:00am my time, and I need to be at work in 5 hours. Better get some sleep while I can.

Joe

[phineasfreakears]

After installing XP home edition W/ sp2 on my 600E 2545-aau, (228 ram,400m cpu) I had some similar problems. The computer seemed to be bogged way down, and the hard drive was working overdrive, even without any applications running. But after downloading & installing the thinkpad configuration from Lenovo, then all the windows updates, it is now running better than it ever was. I used to run Windows 2000. It is now lightening fast compared to the old os, and a lot more fun to use.
Like I said though, this was the home edition, not the xp pro.

By the way, the dvd now runs flawless without any skips or brake-ups using Power DVD. VLC and Mediamatics DVD express will still max out the cpu and skip when playing, Power DVD does not.

[cure]

A BartPE disk based on XP1 Pro worked for me. But the same disk based on XP2 failed to load. Still investigating the cause . . . .

[Kike G.]

After installing XP home edition W/ sp2 on my 600E 2545-aau, (228 ram,400m cpu) I had some similar problems. The computer seemed to be bogged way down, and the hard drive was working overdrive, even without any applications running. But after downloading & installing the thinkpad configuration from Lenovo, then all the windows updates, it is now running better than it ever was..

Actually, Phineas, after installing XP Service Pack 2, the first things that I install are ThinkPad TrackPoint Driver for Windows XP, ThinkPad Configuration Utility and ThinkPad Windows XP Supplement Files (version 1.20). However, the problems begin whenever I install Windows XP updates.

[vanaya]

@Kike

I have loaded about 10 or so 600e's with xp pro with no ill effect. The only problem I've had is with a system board of a -5BU. As you have stated FAT32 has run faster than NTFS, all of my have been NTFS. I am about to load another 600e with XP Pro, this time I'll try the FAT32 as stated and post results.

As far as the windows update, I install SP2 (I have d/l SP2 on disk) then let update do its thing. Then install .net framework 1.1 to install system update.

How fast is your HDD?

[Kike G.]

Hi, Vanaya,

As you have stated FAT32 has run faster than NTFS, all of my have been NTFS.

In my 600E Win XP Pro installation experience there's no difference concerning speed between formatting to FAT32 and formatting to NTFS. Actually, this has been my itinerary (differences are in BIOS version and HDD formatting):

1st installation
-BIOS version INET30WW
-HDD formatted to FAT32
-Software installed without any trouble: Win XP Pro, Win XP Service Pack 2, ThinkPad TrackPoint driver for Windows XP, ThinkPad Configuration Utility, ThinkPad Windows XP Supplement Files (version 1.20), .NET framework 2.0 (or was it 1.1?).
-Results: system performed really fast, even faster than with my old Win 98!!
-Problem: system showed error c000021a after installing Win XP updates, which made it impossible to log on to Windows.

2nd installation
-BIOS version INET36WW (I performed an upgrade)
-HDD formatted to NTFS
-Software installed without any trouble: the same as on 1st installation except for .NET framework, which I didn't install.
-Results: everything OK, but system performed slower than in 1st installation.
-Problem: the same error that ruined my 1st installation: system showed error c000021a after installing Win XP updates, which made it impossible to log on to Windows.

3rd installation
-BIOS version INET36WW
-HDD formatted to FAT32
-Software installed without any trouble: the same as on 1st installation except for .NET framework, which I didn't install.
-Results: everything OK, but system performed as slow as in 2nd installation.
-Problem: the same c000021a error after installing Win XP updates.

4th installation
-BIOS version INET36WW
-HDD formatted to NTFS
-Software installed without any trouble: the same as on 1st installation except for .NET framework, which I didn't install.
-Results: everything OK, but system performed as slow as in 2nd installation.
-Problem: the same c000021a error after installing Win XP updates.

5th installation
The same as in 4th installation, but this time I disabled automatic updates and decided not to install any Windows update. Now system runs slow as in the las four installations, but at least it does run!

As far as the windows update, I install SP2 (I have d/l SP2 on disk) then let update do its thing.

What's "d/l"?

Then install .net framework 1.1 to install system update.

Yeah, I tried to do so too, but I read in IBM/Lenovo's support web page that System Update isn't supported on 600E systems, so I quit. Does it work on yours? And what about .NET framework 1.1? I'm not that sure, but I think the latest .NET version is 2.0. Will 2.0 run on 600E? Why did you install 1.1 instead of 2.0? (I repeat: Maybe I'm just getting a little bit confused about versions and there is no 2.0).

I am about to load another 600e with XP Pro, this time I'll try the FAT32 as stated and post results.

Please, I beg you to do so.

How fast is your HDD?

I have no idea. How can I find out that?

[vanaya]

The reason for Framework is so the lenovo.com page can auto-detect your system. Then you download (d/l) drivers.

Framework 1.1 is the minimum required by site.

Surefire way to find out what HDD is to take it out an read model #. Otherwise, right click My Computer, properties, hardware, device manager. It will give serial# and then google that number.

[Kike G.]

The reason for Framework is so the lenovo.com page can auto-detect your system.

Yeah, I knew that. I mean, I know that in order to install Lenovo System Update, you first need to install .NET framework. I was asking not why did you install .NET but why did you install version 1.1 instead of a later version.

Framework 1.1 is the minimum required by site.

I guess that answers my question.

Surefire way to find out what HDD is [...:]right click My Computer, properties, hardware, device manager. It will give serial# and then google that number.

Thanks for the advice. I did that. This is my HDD: HITACHI_DK23EA-30 (30 Go, 4200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/100).

[vanaya]

VERY SORRY for the delay on this update but here goes:

Here are the specs on the test machine.
2645-8bu, 400mhz CPU, 256mb (2 x 128 pc100 sticks), 20gb 4200, BIOS updated to INET36ww, XP Pro SP2, 2wire wireless cardbus adapter, and AVAST Anti-Virus Free Edition.

When I loaded the system the first time, OS asked which format I preferred and I picked Quick Format NTFS. When all done (to include, SP2 and all 92+ updates), I started timing at switch on and stopped when Task Manager Performance Gauge stayed below 10% for 5 seconds. 1) 2m09s. 2) 2m10s. 3) 2m10s. 4) 2m08s. 5) 2m09s. So average was 2m09s.

For the second test, same as above but Quick Format FAT32. When all done (to include SP2 and 10 updates* (I triple checked that I had all of the updates even manually)). 1) 3m02s. 2) 2m25s. 3) 2m41s. 4) 2m37s. 5) 3m00s. So average was 2m45s.

Even using the machine for 2 days of web surfing and such, I felt that NTFS was quicker and more responsive. I think that if I would have used a 5400rpm drive, the difference would be a bit greater. Too bad I didn't have an extra . Hope this helps...

[Kike G.]

VERY SORRY for the delay on this update but here goes:

Thank you so much for coming back to answer, Vanaya!! You're cool. And what a scientific mind, ha, ha, ha! I'm impressed. Actually I'm working right now in a research in Education Sciences, so your approach to comparing NTFS with FAT32 reminded me a lot of the methodological procedure that I'm thinking about to apply in my paper, he, he....

Thank you very much.

[vanaya]

Always glad to help.

Gives me another excuse to use my operating table