Three beep error BUT PC Doctor loads

[RRHODY]

Curious situation.

T61 type 7661-BF3 with Intel X3100. [Windows 7 Pro on the hard drive]

When turned on gives one long, two short beeps, but ThinkPad screen is visible. F12 boot choices works and PC Doctor disk loads. The unit passes ALL the tests, both Quick and Full.
If I let it cycle twice through the boot screen, with the beeps each time the ThinkPad screen comes up, it will give me the screen with the choices to start Windows normally, which I choose. It then cycles again through the initial ThinkPad screen – with the beeps as before – and then a Windows Boot Manager screen with this message:

Status 0xc000000e

Info: The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible.

Question – If it passes all the PC Doctor tests, what device is required that isn’t tested by PC Doctor?

[Harryc]

one long, two short beeps

System board failure
Video adapter problem
LCD assembly failure

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Error_Cod ... Beep_Codes

Personally I'd remove all drives to see if the error changes.

[RRHODY]

Even stranger - re-installed Win7Pro, now the OS loads AFTER the beeps, with one recycle of the ThinkPad screen and more beeping [still one long two short]. Going through Windows updates like normal. HUMMMMM??

[RRHODY]

I knew what the beeping meant, that's why I ran the PC Doctor tests to find out which of the three was the culprit. PC Doctor said EVERYTHING PASSED. The unit loads the "new" Win7Pro installation, and seems to run OK even with the beeps at startup.

[Harryc]

Well, you could disconnect the LCD from the systemboard and reconnect the keyboard and an external LCD to see if that is the problem ...

[RRHODY]

That's a good idea, but if PC Doctor checks the LCD can there be a problem with it?

[Harryc]

You'd have to ask the developers of the PC-Doctor program and a Lenovo engineer. It's just something to try ...

[rkawakami]

From my experience in running the normal (i.e., non-interactive) PC Doctor for DOS video tests, it's mainly an automated check on the video memory and some processor functions. I believe if there's a physical defect in the panel, a broken column decoder or stuck pixels for example, the diagnostics will still pass. There's also a series of interactive video tests. You're supposed to run them and look at the screen for any defects. However, the beep code is probably something more basic than what PC Doctor is looking at.

At this point, I'd also run a check on the main memory as well using a dedicated memory diagnostic program like memtest86+. It would remove one other thing that (remotely) might be giving this strange error. You could also put PC Doctor into a looping mode and continuously test one of the sub-systems (Systemboard, CPU, Video, etc) by selecting the test and pressing the F2 key. Change the "Set Pass Count" value from 1 to whatever number you like and PC Doc will loop through that diagnostic the given number of times. I generally use a value of 25 for the motherboard and CPU and 3 for the video tests.

[RRHODY]

Excellent suggestions. I'm in San Diego now, but will give these ideas a run through when I get home.
Much thanks.

[RRHODY]

As suggest by rkawakami, I ran the PC Doctor looped tests on the system board, CPU and video for the numbers suggested - ALL PASSED.
Ran MemTest86+ "Pass complete, no errors."

The three beeps are at the ThinkPad flash screen when booted, but the unit then goes on to load Win7Pro as if nothing is wrong.


If there's nothing more to do I guess I'll live with it until the unit quits entirely. Fortunately it is a backup unit and not the prime laptop in the stable.

[RealBlackStuff]

If need be, you could disconnect/remove the speakers.
But first check in the BIOS settings (especially power saving) that all settings invoking a beep are OFF.

[RRHODY]

Much thanks for all suggestions. Unit now gives blue screen that Windows can't find a component and doesn't load anymore. The three beeps must be correct, but can't determine which of the three possibles is the answer.
Anybody want to buy it?

[RealBlackStuff]

Made an offer!

[RealBlackStuff]

I am the very lucky buyer of this machine, which I received today.
After checking out all the suspected BIOS settings without any satisfaction, I went for the next likely culprit.
Remember this?

Info: The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible.

ThinkPad T61 (7661-BF3)
Based 7661-12U: T7300(2GHz), 2GB RAM, 80GB HD, 14.1in 1440x900 LCD, Intel X3100, CDRW/DVD, Intel 802.11agn wireless, Bluetooth, Modem, 1Gb Ether, UltraNav, Sec Chip, FPR, Camera, Turbo Mem, 7c Li-Ion, WinVista Business 64

I removed the Turbo Mem and that was it, faulty Turbo Mem (who needs it anyway...).
No more beeps, jayyyy!

Thanks RRHODY, you made my day!