T23 graphics related crashes

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systemparadox · #1 Post by **systemparadox** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 3:10 pm

Hi all,
I am getting increasingly worried that my recently purchased T23 has some serious problems with it. I bought it from a very well reputed seller, and have had a very good experience with him- I had to send the first one back, and I'm not sure how it will go if I have to send another back (I have already left feedback). Besides, I don't really want this one to go back- it's in absolutely immaculate condition.

Anyways...
When I boot up after the thinkpad has been off for a long time (like... overnight), I sometimes find that while the power is on and the hard disk spins up, the screen does not initialise and there is no hard disk activity (so no OS is loading).
This usually fixes itself on the second boot attempt, but a little while ago it carried on for another 10+ attempts.

If I leave it for a while, or at random times when I type or move the trackpoint, the whole laptop freezes. I have to hold the power button for 6 seconds to get it to do anything. One the keyboard and trackpoint just didn't do anything, my usb mouse still worked, but it froze 30 seconds later anyway. Usually when I boot up again after this windows says that "there was a problem drawing to a graphics device, please contact your hardware manufacturer and install the latest drivers".

I think these 2 problems are related, but at the moment I'm just using one incredibly defective piece of software on a defective operating system (windows xp pro - i guess it could be worse). I have installed all necessary drivers and supplements from ibm, but apart from that no other software has been installed yet.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated
Thanks
Simon

egibbs · #2 Post by **egibbs** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 7:13 am

What do the system event logs say?

I had a HDD once cause similar problems - random and complete lockups, but without the graphics error. Still, if you have a spare around might try swapping it out.

Ed Gibbs

mdarnton · #3 Post by **mdarnton** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:31 am

Bad memory chip? If you've added memory, try removing that and running it that way for a while to see if things are better, and if not, then switching chips with the one that's inside farther (assuming the chip layout is like my T41, with one accessible from outside, and one you have to dig for)/.

systemparadox · #4 Post by **systemparadox** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:48 am

egibbs wrote:What do the system event logs say?

I had a HDD once cause similar problems - random and complete lockups, but without the graphics error. Still, if you have a spare around might try swapping it out.

Ed Gibbs

System event logs? I currently only have windows on it- where are the system logs for windows xp pro?

systemparadox · #5 Post by **systemparadox** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:53 am

I have only one card in it (a 512mb), but 2 slots. I tried taking the card out, but it just beeps at me, so I guess it doesn't have any built in RAM.

I think I'm going to try swapping it with the RAM in my T20.

JHEM · #6 Post by **JHEM** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 9:44 am

systemparadox wrote:I think I'm going to try swapping it with the RAM in my T20.

You can't, the T23 requires PC133 RAM, the T20 takes PC100.

There's no base RAM on the MBs of any T or A system.

Regards,

James

systemparadox · #7 Post by **systemparadox** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 9:56 am

Just found that out.

egibbs · #8 Post by **egibbs** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 11:24 am

systemparadox wrote:System event logs? I currently only have windows on it- where are the system logs for windows xp pro?

Open "My Computer" and then right click on "My Computer" in the folder list, select "Manage." You should get a computer management console with "Event Viewer" and "Performance Logs and Alerts" trees in the left pane.

Ed Gibbs

systemparadox · #9 Post by **systemparadox** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 1:11 pm

hmmm... the S3 card keeps getting stuck in an infinite loop. I guess it could still be a number of things (ram, mobo, gfx card, controllers, etc) though.

MadeInJapan · #10 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 8:11 pm

Have you actually tried to upgrade the drivers for your graphics card as windows cautioned you to do? If not, I would try that as a first step. Go to www.ibm.com and look up your machine type and you'll find the drivers under support.

Good luck.

lilserenity · #11 Post by **lilserenity** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 8:29 pm

Ahhh the old S3 driver stuck in an infinite loop stop error. That is a fickle one that I have had occur on both a 2647-4MG and a 2647-9KU (my current machine).

As MadeInJapan suggests your first port of call is to verify the driver and reinstall it, sometimes this solves it.

That said though, I had to reinstall Windows XP when my 48gig drive failed last September; which was since updated with SP2 and I cannot recall the problem happening since.

My suggestion is reinstall the graphics card driver (should be for SuperSavage IXC/16) and then install DirectX 9.0c; as per WIndows Update and all should be fine, as I have no encountered it since SP2 and installing DX 9.

Vicky

DavidNY · #12 Post by **DavidNY** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 9:13 am

There was a nasty problem on my T23 that made graphics write into non-graphics memory, bring the computer to a grinding halt. IBM finally fixed this issue by releasing an updated video driver and the iproblem disappeared. Definitely update your video driver to the latest version.

systemparadox · #13 Post by **systemparadox** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 5:23 am

I got the latest version of most drivers from IBM before I did much else.
I really don't think that it's much to do with the driver though- I get the same problem with Linux (in console mode!), which definately suggests a hardware fault. Fortunately, the machine is still in warranty, so IBM should fix it soon.

lilserenity · #14 Post by **lilserenity** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 8:37 am

If it does it in a non MS operating system then yes sounds like a hardware fault, although I just have a sneaking suspicion this might be also a BIOS related issue - are you using the latest system controller/BIOS from IBM?

I used to suffer the lock up you describe; however I have not had the lock up now for some time, about six months, and I used to get it around once a month - and my T23 could hardly be described as little used

(I'm surprised the key glyphs have yet to wear down and fade)

Vicky

T23 graphics related crashes

T23 graphics related crashes

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