I think my laptop is about to die...

A little over a year ago I bought a used IBM ThinkPad (R40) for about $400 bucks. It's been a real trooper ever since. HOWEVER, just recently I've been gettting intermitant screen freazes (no inut accepted from mouse/keyboard - no obvious activity of any kind, no hard-drive activitity.)

I tried rebooting several times and on last boot I actually recieved a boot error and was brought into BIOS. However, I was locked out of BIOS, so couldn't do anything if I wanted to. So, instead, I held the power button down and powered down that way. Then as a further step I disconnected power and pulled out the battery to clear electrical activity. This "seemed" to "work" as I was able to boot back up and the computer cursur is moving and the machine is accepting inputs.

The only "strange" thing before all this started was hard stop the machine with the power button. Wonder if this could be what caused the problem.

Is this the beginning of the end? Does this sound like a virus? Is this a common problem?

I have an initial Acronis backup image, plus who knows how many elsewhere, but have never actually performed a restore. Plus I don't have a CD of XP, but don't know if that makes a difference.

Anyway, I think it's time for a trip to WalMart and a purchase of a backup drive. I've been meaning to do this anyway for quite a while.

 

here's addendum number one.

I have wireless Internet connectivity, but the wireless indicator shows as off with "no networks found ". There's definitely something rotten here.

 

Tried MS System Restore and that wouldn't work (of course)

had to turn-off via power button again. Restarted and got
ERROR
0211 : Keyboard error

Press <F1> to setup

...maybe its the keyboard?

 

Restart computer into BIOS view.
Does computer correctly reconize hard drive (presence and proper size)??
While in BIOS, check other settings, example keyboard.
If all above look good / normal I would wait for additional suggestions. Your last resort would be restore to a previous Acronis image. Hopefully you have a current image to work with. You will need to set boot order to have computer boot from CD via Acronis boot disk. Once loaded, choose restore option.

 

Hi,

Consider that it is on it's last legs and at least treat it that way. If it turns out to be merely a hiccup, you are in front, if it stops working you will need to be able to start again on a new system. Make plans as though, suddenly, it will stop working completely.

It seems to be throwing up different types of errors and "crashing" at different stages. Unless it did the same thing repeatedly, I would start by suspecting major hardware. Has it ever been cleaned out? I now treat laptops like desktop computers and look at blowing the dust out them regularly (you will see the air intakes and exhausts on the sides and maybe underneath). If you can access the fans, hold the blades steady while blowing. You can pull out and reseat the RAM module/s. If the HDD is easily accessible, pull it out and reseat it.

In the BIOS you should see a Reset Defaults setting, use that, but then go back and look at making it "redetect" the items like the harddrive. If you keep getting keyboard errors, can you disable the keyboard in the BIOS and use a PS/2 external keyboard?

How old is the battery? Can you run from mains power without the battery installed? Batteries at the end of their life can cause strange problems.

Matt

 

Wow...

We've gone from bad to VERY BAD, very quickly. No longer boots at all no matter what tricks I pull.

Now all I get is
0211: Keyborad error
ERROR
0260: System timer error

Believe it or not I went to WalMart to buy a Seagate backup drive (250 gig for under a hundy...can't complain) in a effort to put files/folders in a safe place.

Alas, is it to little to late? Don't know. It concievably could be dirty...maybe it's worth gettting a profesional cleaning checked out?

 

Just trying to think ahead. If I need to buy a new laptop is there a way to pull old hard-drive files on this machine into a new one? I'm of course assuming the hard-drive is functional.

 

Well, win some/lose some. After blowing it myself with compressed air it did reboot and I was able to put a bund of files onto the Seagate external.

However, when I went to put the large, original Acronis image to the external drive the laptop froze again. I'll try to reboot and see if it'll play nice.

Might pop for a profesional cleaning and maybe a diagnostic.

Oohh!! As I type this, the harddrive of the laptop has restarted transfering of the Acronis image. We'll see what happens.

 

Seems a little hopeful(?)

IBM should provide a service manual for download (let me know if you need help finding it, you will need the model number of the machine). If you may not feel confident opening it up, most people with some tinkering experience could probably open it far enough to get it "mostly" cleaned out.

Considering it is several years old and may still possibly have problems, I would be more inclined to spend some spare time on it rather than money.

Matt

 

Yeah, I've got the Service and Troubleshooting Guide. As for
ERROR
0260: System timer error
it says to "Have the computer service "

...very helpfull

Thing of it is. It may be old, but it's a beast; built very heavy duty with one of the early true mobility chipsets. It's just a great beater laptop that does what I want.

 

Been checking things on the web. Seems that error code 0260 refers to the CMOS backup battery and that it should be replaced.

Could that be the source of all these ills? Doesn't seem to make sense, but you never know.

 

Some updates for anyone still interested.

I took the ThinkPad to CircuityCity and had a $50 dollar diagnostic run. Turns out one of the kids there took the thing apart (presumably brushed it out) and put it back together again after running some unsuccessful diagnostic tests (who knows what they really did in terms of testing). Well, they called back saying it was working again. I was pretty happy to say the least as I didn't expect much of anything for my money.

I picked it up and brough it home. Sure enough it was working....for about 10 minutes at least Things went back to where they were originally. Basically, I could only occasionally boot to Windows with the bulk of the startups only being to a DOS based error screen mentioned above. I even purchased a "megafix CD" from e-bay which was supposed to be bootable...yeah right, sure.

Enter my friend Joe who after hearing about it all wanted to take a look. What did I care, I was all but ready to buy a new T41 from e-bay.

Well, Joe tried a couple of things to no avail (same as me really). Then took the "caveman approach" basically smacking/pressing the keyboard and chassis both during boot and after a full boot and a subsequent keyboard/input lockout. Well, surprisingly he found that if you press firmly on the chassis top after a lockup, right below wear the keyboard meets the palm rest on the left hand side, the computer actually resumes normal function. the cycle now is - it locks - you press the chassis - it delocks - repeat as needed.

Joe's and my mutual thinking is a crack in the mainboard.

Was wondering if anyone agreed or had a different opinion?

 

You asked, so ........ I'll disagree. Replace your CMOS battery. You'll probably have to pull the shell apart to do so. While you have it apart, check your connections. Note: you will find small ribbon cables with delicate tight fitting connectors - don't force anything but my bet after a mandated CMOS battery change is that you have a loose or corroded connector somewhere. Could also be a pinched wire but doubtful unless you've had that apart a few times before. Oxidation buildup can occur and thus - intermittant erractic behavior; however, your earlier description is exactly what happens when a CMOS battery goes and the machine can no longer "remember" its own hardware settings.

You can keep squeezing and banging but that will eventually lead to certain death. Think about it - since when did a sophisticated piece of electronic equipment respond to a good thrashing? Wait - don't answer that. Let me put it differently - would you pay a tech who told you, "just bang on it for a while and it will be fine." As to the "cracked" motherboard - I have yet to see a "cracked" motherboard and I've seen more than my fair share of motherboards. Your problem is a old CMOS battery and perhaps a bad connection somewhere in that puppy. Just be careful and be delicate. Send Joe out to the Pub or off to the movies whenever you decide to tackle this.

 

Rockster2U,

After reading this I'm going to replace the CMOS battery for sure. To my knowledge, it's never been replaced (at least I haven't and I believe the machine was built back in 2004 ...maybe 2003. I remember something in BIOS)

But I admit I'm surprised that these problems would continue once the laptop is booted and connetected to a power outlet. Why wouldn't plan old wall outlet power take over?

As I was typing this I was running a differential Acronis backup that "failed" part way through. By failed I mean the drive has stopped and the laptop is simply holding a stagnant image. HOWEVER, if I simply press in the chassis below the keyboard on the left side in just the right spot the drive kicks back into play. Granted I have to press hard sometimes and maintain pressure.

Yeah, I agree, pressing and/or banging delicate electronics = bad long term strategy - or even short term one at that BUT it is interesting....

Also, I've never had the laptop taken apart before.

So based on this pressure thing... CMOS or faulty connection? Hoping CMOS cause I'm gonna order a battery tonight.

 

Both.

 

Well, that kinda stinks as I'm not sure about me pulling apart and reconnecting parts of a laptop. Though I built my buddies PC about a year ago. I guess I'm just worried about unfamiliar territory here.

As another note, I just order not one, but two CMOS batteries last night via priority mail. For 10 bucks, it's worth it just to satisfy curiosity.

 

Getting the hard drive out shouldn't be a big deal. More than likely it's under one of the covers on the bottom. 4 screws, take the cover off and lift the drive out. Either that or it may be on the side of the computer. My daughter had a Dell that had a tray on the left side where the hard drive was located. Just hast remove two screws and pull the tray out (similar to a cdrom tray) , then lift the drive out of the tray. There were no wires to connect. The contacts were built into the tray and drive so that simply putting the drive in the tray made the connections. I don't know if they are all that way or not but if yours is, possibly removing and putting the drive back in is all that's necessary.

 

OkAY, just pulled out the HD and RAM; gave it all a good biologically initiated air cleaning....

Reboot, got to the DOS error screen, pressed chassis, got to BIOS, then exit to Windows and here I am typing again on the laptop. Which is good since many times just typing would cause a lockup.

I did ordered the CMOS batteries as mentioned and I do have the original users guides. But here's the rub, nothing I have mentions ANYTHING about where the CMOS battery is located let alone how to replace it. I also didn't see anything obvioius under the RAM and the HD is located and installed via a slot under the front left palmrest.

So, still typing... hasn't locked, but not expecting miracles though.

Should I consider a "professional" cleaning (i.e. - local kid takes it apart at BestBuy)? I would really love to dis-assemble to the point of stripping off the chassis and air-blowing everything thoroughly - (oops, just detected a slight keyboard lock, but came right bacK).

Also, can anyone help with locating and replacing the CMOS battery when the replacement arrives?

Oh, yeah, my differential back up via Acronis was successful. Though I've NEVER actually had to restore from a backup (something I should probably learn to do).

Also, as an afterthought, Acronis v9 has a "clone" function. Does anyone know whether if I cloned this HD to a mass-storage HD I just bought and then put in a new laptop (bigger/faster) if the clone could be transfered to the new one and operate effectively?

Hhmm, I'm still typing without much of a hiccup... perhaps things are looking up

 

It's quite possible that the problem is due to bad connection. The fact that when it froze before, you could get it going by pressing on the area where the hard drive is installed would seem to indicate it. With a little luck, perhaps removing the hard drive and putting it back in will be all that's necessary. Time will tell.