Weird problem with a T23 ????

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Wookie · #1 Post by **Wookie** » Sun May 18, 2008 3:17 pm

Hi

I've got a T23 running xubuntu linux and I've just realized that I've had the same problem after doing 2 different upgrades...

I have had no end of problems with the built in ethernet port, it first started when I put more RAM in it, if I have 2 sticks of RAM in it then the ethernet doesn't work fully, it works from the command line but not from any desktop application, see http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=58284

Now I've tried upgrading from xubuntu 7.04 to 8.04 and get the same problem as when I tried 2 sticks of RAM, see http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=58959

I don't think it's the built in ethernet daughter card that's the problem because I've tried removing it and just using a pcmcia card instead with the same result.

I'm wondering if I have a very weird motherboard problem and am thinking of getting a replacement motherboard to try...

Any help very gratefully received.

#2 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Sun May 18, 2008 4:07 pm

Same answer as last time, throw that 128MB stick out and replace with another 512MB or be just happy with 'only' 1 512MB stick.

Wookie · #3 Post by **Wookie** » Sun May 18, 2008 5:20 pm

RealBlackStuff wrote:Same answer as last time, throw that 128MB stick out and replace with another 512MB or be just happy with 'only' 1 512MB stick.

I am only using one stick of 512MB ram at the moment, but then I've just realized that the ethernet problem I get when trying to upgrade to a later version of xubuntu results in exactly the same symptoms/problems as when I tried using more than 1 stick of memory at a time in this machine.

Either upgrading the OS or using 2 sticks of memory at the same time produces the same problem and wondered if it was somehow related...???

#4 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Sun May 18, 2008 5:31 pm

Maybe this is more a Linux problem.
T23s normally don't have any memory slot problems.
Have you tried other sticks, tried both slots?
What are the specs of those RAMs?
Maybe they are only borderline acceptable.
They need to be Low Density PC133 3.3V CL3.
Some modules with CL2 also work.
Are they a matched pair?
Tried them in another T23?
Tested them with Mem86+?

Wookie · #5 Post by **Wookie** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:53 pm

Been messing about with this problem again. I've now got a 512 Mb stick of RAM with a Lenovo part no. of 19K4657 which according to the Lenovo site is correct for a T23.

Same problem as before, with this genuine stick in either slot (on it's own) the machine bootup, passes memory tests (mem86) and then the ethernet connection fails to work fully when running Xubuntu 8.04, if I revert to 7.04 it works perfectly

If I put only the 128Mb stick the machine came with in, the ethernet works perfectly on either version of Xubuntu. This machine is getting so close to getting both barrels of a 12 bore

How can genuine IBM memory not be upto spec ? As before any suggestions welcome.

#6 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:43 pm

Try taking the modem card out (who needs it?). Reseat the NIC card, or swap it out with a known good one.

Wookie · #7 Post by **Wookie** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 2:59 pm

RealBlackStuff wrote:Try taking the modem card out (who needs it?). Reseat the NIC card, or swap it out with a known good one.

Dumped the modem, no difference,
Re-sat the NIC, no difference,
not got another to try so I whipped it out and tried the 2 pmcia cards I have got but again no better.

#8 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 5:01 pm

This seems to point to a Linux problem rather than a T23 problem.
Have you tried other distros, such as Mandrake?
Are there other drivers available?
Have you checked/posted this (also) in the Linux forum?
Have you tried Windows on it?

Wookie · #9 Post by **Wookie** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 2:31 pm

Stuck XP on it and it works fine, Xubuntu 7.04 works fine aswell, i'll take my problem onto the ubuntu forums as it seams that it's a problem with the later linux drivers rather than this machines hardware.

Thanks for all the help.

poshgeordie · #10 Post by **poshgeordie** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 5:55 pm

I run Xubuntu on T23's and stick to 7.10. With 8.04 there are too many problems (generally, not particularly with TP's).

For instance on an HP laptop with 8.04 and a recent kernel update, I lost wireless which could have been sorted with compiling alternative Broadcom drivers etc. Rather than do this I went back to the previous kernel until they sort this out.

Xubuntu's a great Linux distro for T2x's when installing using the i386 alternative CD.
512Mb of RAM is more than adequate, and I'm not sure you'll squeeze any more performance out of the TP with more than that.

Unfortunately I don't have a T23 to hand or I'd try the two Xubu versions - sorry M8!

Weird problem with a T23 ????

Weird problem with a T23 ????

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