T43 motherboard replacement and a whole host of errors

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Trip · #1 Post by **Trip** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 3:48 pm

Well, it's been a while since I've posted here, but my T43 has developed a veritable crop of problems in the last week and a half, and I'm at a loss as to what to do about it now.

I had the motherboard replaced under warranty a couple days ago as a result of some incredibly perplexing hard drive and drive controller issues. It certainly solved all of the hard drive recognition problems I had been having (although my hard drive was also quite dead).

However, shortly after running the recovery disks and bringing back the factory OS, I have encountered constant lockups and a variety of BSODs. At first, I thought this was the product of an update gone awry, so I ran the recovery process again. It worked for a while, and I ran through all of the applicable Windows and Lenovo updates, but soon after that I started getting the lockups and errors again. So, still thinking one of the updates was the culprit, I reinstalled everything yet again, and this time I didn't do any of the Lenovo updates. Well, the same problems keep cropping up.

I've had it run Memtest 86+ for 10 hours with no problems, and I've run all of the diagnostics that Hitachi's Drive Fitness Test has available with no apparent errors. I've also run all of the diagnostics that the PC Doctor software on the machine has to offer, and still nothing turns up.

So, I'm out of ideas and I could really use some help. Is there anything else I can do to narrow down what the issue is?

Thanks in advance!

#2 Post by **richk** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:39 pm

It is certainly possible that they fixed your machine by putting a bad MB. After you did the recovery, what applications did you install? Are you using the machine hooked to a network? What kind? (wired, wireless)

Trip · #3 Post by **Trip** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 5:22 pm

Thanks for the reply richk!

With my most recent installation attempt, all I've installed is Avast! antivirus, Firefox, and Pidgin. I've also let Windows run some of its usual updates. The machine is connected to a wireless network.

#4 Post by **richk** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 7:13 pm

Is it possible for you to use the machine without the wireless card? A malfunctioning card can cause all sorts of problems. Best would be to remove it and see if things improve.

ajkula66 · #5 Post by **ajkula66** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 7:56 pm

Or, borrow/download/whatever a copy of "live" Linux CD (my recommendation would be Kubuntu 7.10, but most of them will do) and see whether you're getting the machine to freeze, crash or anything like that.

I'll agree, however, that there is a good chance that the mobo replacement may be required again...

Good luck and keep us informed.

Trip · #6 Post by **Trip** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:58 pm

Thanks for the replies.

I'm beginning to think that the problem is Pidgin! It seems absurd, but it's the only program that I didn't have running on my old setup, and now that I've shut it down my laptop's been up for hours with no problems.

I did have one crash when running Ubuntu 7.10 off of my second hard drive, but it was very different than the lockups I had under Windows so I'm a little hesitant to say that they're related.

If I keep having problems I'll definitely take your suggestions and swap in my old Intel 2200BG wireless card and switch into Linux again, but for the time being it seems to be resolved... somehow! :p

EDIT: Looks like I spoke too soon. It's still crashing for no apparent reason.

Trip · #7 Post by **Trip** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 3:27 pm

Well, I got Ubuntu 7.10 up on my second hard drive, and it's turned out to be even less stable than Windows. Constant system lockups and the odd kernel panic (flashing Caps Lock light).

Because of that, I think I've finally found a common thread among all the crashes I've been having - moving the laptop! Just about any sudden motion will crash Ubuntu, and Windows will typically go down after a bit of vigorous shaking too. So I suppose this is probably the result of a loose connection somewhere or (more likely?) a bad solder joint on the replacement mainboard.

Is there anything I can check before calling up Lenovo and trying to convince them to send a tech out again?

ajkula66 · #8 Post by **ajkula66** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 3:29 pm

Just call Lenovo and give them a piece of your mind...no one should have to go through the nonsense that you're currently experiencing...

Good luck.

T43 motherboard replacement and a whole host of errors

T43 motherboard replacement and a whole host of errors

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