Thinkpad T500 freezes minutes after startup

[Emil]

Hi everyone,
I am from Switzerland, bought in the USA my 3rd Thinkpad, a T500 Model 2242CTO, traveled with it always without any problem around the world and I am now in Sri Lanka. It happened yesterday that - while working since hours properly - it froze suddenly. The cursor could be moved around, but there was no clicking possible. I restarted the machine and could open some files during 2 to 6 minutes, before it froze always again in the same manner. Then I used “ThinkVantage Rescue and Recovery” and rescued some files and folders, before using the “Quick Restore”. It didn’t help - same as before. I expanded the free capacity on the 320GB hard disc from 9% to 29% - it didn’t help either, same as before (between 2 and 6 minutes normal work and suddenly freezing, thus only power cut and new start up “helps”). I am using XP Prof-sp3, but I am not a professional, just a user. Does anybody have an idea? Best regards: Emil - http://www.weltrekordreise.ch

[billp117]

Try removing the keyboard and reseating the connector...also you might try cleaning the fan with a can of air (when you have the keyboard removed) making sure to not let the fan spin. There is also the possibility the keyboard is defective. This would be my first guess.

Of course warranty repair may be an issue...have you called Lenovo yet?

Good luck...

[Harryc]

I am guessing it is a hard drive problem. Run a diagnostic (download the .iso and burn to CD) from the hard drive manufacturers website.

[Emil]

Hi, Thanks to all for the tips but nothing helped than reloading the machine with "ThinkVantage" to factory restore and re-starting with the updates of all the programs. Now it's running again. Again - a lot of thanks for the advice! Best regards: Emil