Boot / startup problems : hang / keyboard error / key stuck.

[re404]

Hi all dear thinkpadders,

I have an X41 tablet and I've been having startup problems for a while: When I power on, quite often (and very unpredictably):
- the systems hangs at the RGB IBM logo screen (nothing happens, beating on the keyboard doesn't work)
- OR a little later with messages like 'keyboard error, press F1 to continue' (which is a ridiculous message because the keyboard doesn't work then.) or 'key stuck' and it hangs.
- OR it manages to get to the boot menu (GRUB) and hangs there (keybord does not respond).
- OR, Now the weirdest thing: Sometimes (before GRUB, when there's the blinking cursor for a while) it stays at the blinking cursor. The only way to get through is a little BANG (for real ). I guess this has to do with the shock detection chip or something? (good that I have an SSD anyway )

Maybe you'd say: loose connection(s) inside. But I doubt that, because once the system runs, it runs fine and almost never gets stuck (even though I carry it around a lot!)

I have the idea that all of the above are somehow related but I have no idea and couldn't find appropriate topics where this is discussed. I remember my old T40 having the same problem sometimes and I have seen people mentioning it here on the forum before too I think.

The only solution I found is basically trying over and over and over again until I get through. After that everything works fine and I never have keyboard problems. Standby also works fine. (This is why I always put it to standby. Turning it off completely might take me 10 tries to reboot.)

I hope you can help me and other people having similar problems.

Thanks again!
REmko//

[rkawakami]

I guess the first thing that I would do would be to the PC Doctor diagnostics, assuming that you can boot the system with this CD: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-56222 Since the motherboard is suspect, run the systemboard and CPU/Coprocessor tests.

It may also help to remove the hard drive, MiniPCI wireless card and modem/bluetooth card as sometimes if those units go bad it could lead to strange operations.

[re404]

Thanks rkawakami.
I'll do that some day. I can still live with it by never turning my computer off completely, and retrying to boot a few times if I do, but it would be nice to solve this problem in the future.
bye//R