boot problems

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krcmd · #1 Post by **krcmd** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:12 pm

Past few days after a couple of years without any troubles the t43 sometimes doesn't boot - the disk doesn't even light. Other times no problem.

Tried F8 to go to dos; freezes on the boot ladder consistently.

Hardware or software?

Brad · #2 Post by **Brad** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:43 pm

I would download the Hitachi DFT to test the hard drive. If that passes I would run PC-Doctor and then I would test the memory. If nothing fails I am sorry to say your motherboard has gone south.

Brad

#3 Post by **schen** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:44 pm

Could be either, but I'd try a cheap solution first. Take out everything that you can: MPCI card, CDC card, optical drive, 1 of the RAM modules, then try the boot again. If it boots, then start putting parts back 1 at a time (booting after each item), until you find a component that stops the boot process.

If that doesn't do it, then you might try a OS reload. If you have another drive, try the reload on that, so you don't lose data. If not, then back up your data before you restore.

krcmd · #4 Post by **krcmd** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:14 am

Working again.

Is it possible that this was a temperature shut down? The problem seems to have resolved when I moved the computer so that the fan on the left had more clearance.

#5 Post by **Harryc** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:34 am

Heat problems are very rare on a cold boot. Personally I 2nd what Brad has recommended.

krcmd · #6 Post by **krcmd** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:35 am

sadly, the boot problem is still intermittent. Once the hard drive spins, it seems to do OK.

Could this be a bios problem. The computer is only 3 years old.

thanks

Temetka · #7 Post by **Temetka** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 6:08 pm

I think the HD might be dying.

Did you try brad's suggestion?

Or if you can get into Windows for a few minutes, run a scandisk.

I bet swapping in a new HD would do the trick for ya.

krcmd · #8 Post by **krcmd** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:11 am

Seems to be working consistently now. I did several things so I can't be sure what worked (assuming the problem is in fact resolved).

scandsk

spybot scan - found two cookie trackers

updated thinkpad update and installer - this caused several messages from antivirus and comodore malware and firewall-I believe someone else in this forum had a similar problem that seemed to them to be related to these updater programs.

booted several times to hitachi disk feature and disk health checking programs - no problems identified.

Temetka · #9 Post by **Temetka** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 4:53 pm

Good.

Now do an AV scan to complement the spybot scan. (not for HD health, but AV scans should be done on a regular basis).

Hope the system remains stable for you.

Just out of curiosity are your drives under warranty?

krcmd · #10 Post by **krcmd** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 1:10 pm

Sadly, still not stable.

The problem is always before windows launches. Once the windows loading bar appears, all is well for the session.

Also, if the HD light blinks at all during the boot process, all is well.

If I try to go into safe mode, sometimes freezes.

Should I reinstall BIOS? If I do, will my security systems recognize me afterwards or will my encripted files(by Windows XP pro) be toast?

I have an unused HD. Is any point in taking out my current HD as is and restoring to the new HD with an image of my current HD?

Thank you all very, very much for your generous efforts!

Ken C

agarza · #11 Post by **agarza** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:30 pm

Nah dude, you have a slowly dying hard disk. Do an image or backup the info you have there. The HDD needs replacement. I also had problems like that in my 7+ year old A22e

, Windows will randomly boot or not. Lucky me, that day was the last one of the laptop 1-year warranty. Replacing the disk did the trick under warranty. It is still running as the main OS drive.

One thing you could do to assure this is true is reaching one ear closer to the right palmrest just when you hit the power button. You should hear the drive 'trying' to initiate, eventually it will power-on, but it's already dying man.

krcmd · #12 Post by **krcmd** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 6:52 am

Sadly not the HDD; replaced it with a spare. Same problem only intermittently during boot. The interesting things: fan slows down before freezing, and freeze may occur during up -down arrow motions in safe boot choices or in bios configuration ladder.

Where is the code the controls

krcmd · #13 Post by **krcmd** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 6:54 am

cont'd

the boot sequence and bios configuration? Can I re-install bios? The bios update utility won't proceed because it says I don't need to update! otherwise I figure it has to be the motherboard.

#14 Post by **Harryc** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:06 am

You can't replace BIOS with the same version, you can downgrade to a previous version however. Nonetheless, you are guessing at the cause. You received some excellent advice earlier and I didn't see any evidence from you that it was followed; "I would run PC-Doctor and then I would test the memory".

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 58693.html
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 56222.html

krcmd · #15 Post by **krcmd** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:59 am

followed that advice days ago. No problems detected by PC doctor(including PC Doctor memory testing). Is there a separate memory test?

Problem freezing in bios configuration even w/o HDD in computer.

Interesting that once windows launches, no problem. Maybe I need to wait until the problem becomes continuous.

#16 Post by **Harryc** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:14 am

http://www.memtest86.com

krcmd · #17 Post by **krcmd** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:45 am

ran windows mem test. No problems detected in memory but on some runnings I was unable to terminate the test as per the program by pressing X -- memory test kept on going.

Also took out second 512 RAM w/o affecting problem.

sojourner · #18 Post by **sojourner** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:21 pm

Sounds like a fustrating issue! Nobody has mentioned the problems you are experiencing might be caused by a weak CMOS battery. A weak battery can cause symptoms ranging from clock being off by several minutes, or when you boot you'll notice the system does not retain bios settings, or bios settings get corrupted, or you're unable to access certain peripherals, a "CMOS Checksum Error" or "System Configuration Lost" message may be displayed, or simply not boot!

Lithium batteries (typically used for CMOS batteries) can have a life of 5 to 10 years (some has high as 15), but I've had batteries go south in a few (3) years. That's as old as your TP.

Have you checked the CMOS battery voltage?

Noticed your posts express a BIG concern that the BIOS may be corrupted. Considering that, personally I'd write down all Passwords and BIOS settings then clear all passwords, set BIOS to defaults, insert the extra HDD (just in case something goes funky) then pull the battery and check it's voltage. Here's instructions from IBM for pulling the battery:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-52603

If the voltage is 3+ volts you're ok. Not sure how low a voltage the PC will accept before corruption occurs ... perhaps someone else has that technical aspect.

Let us know how you make out!

agarza · #19 Post by **agarza** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:13 am

So then could be a failing component on the motherboard. Hard to pinpoint which is causing this behaviour. I do not have enough experience troubleshooting a Thinkpad as all the machines I own have never had such a bizarre issues freezing.

krcmd · #20 Post by **krcmd** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:00 pm

Evidently Power manager release =<1.18 had a known problem with intermittent boot failures. I have now installed update. So far so good. But....it is an intermittent problem.

krcmd · #21 Post by **krcmd** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 8:08 am

still intermittent. Fortunately can still boot by repeating.

guess I'll wait until it's constant then send for repair.

sarbin · #22 Post by **sarbin** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 8:13 am

what is your 7-character machine "model-type"?
what versions are your bios and embedded controller?

krcmd · #23 Post by **krcmd** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:03 pm

Bios 1YET65WW(1.29
Embedded controller program update 1.06

krcmd · #24 Post by **krcmd** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:03 pm

2668-72U

sarbin · #25 Post by **sarbin** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:06 pm

well... so much for the thought you might have had a bios/ec mismatch.

i'm running the same combo on my 92u.

Temetka · #26 Post by **Temetka** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:52 am

krcmd wrote:still intermittent. Fortunately can still boot by repeating.

guess I'll wait until it's constant then send for repair.

Is the machine still covered by warranty?

If so then send it in.

krcmd · #27 Post by **krcmd** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 7:11 am

No longer covered, barely.

sarbin · #28 Post by **sarbin** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 7:52 am

if barely is "very barely", they might do something for you. all they can say is no. worth a shot...

krcmd · #29 Post by **krcmd** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 1:48 pm

any point in "restore to factory"?

Does that revert to factory bios?

sarbin · #30 Post by **sarbin** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 2:08 pm

nope. won't affect bios. it will only set the hd back to factory set up.

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