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IBM Thinkpad locked up

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by wysong1

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My IBM Thinkpad T42 has been working fine with no problems. Suddenly upon startup, I could hear the fan come on, saw the same lights lit on up the LED, but had a black screen that just sat there. I turned it off, rebooted it after a few minutes and it booted up fine to the point in XP where you choose the user. I clicked on my name, and it was locked up. I could not ctrl-alt-del, I had no cursor, could not do anything. I rebooted again after a few minutes, and it beeped 4 times, paused beeped 4 times, paused etc and would not boot up. I turned it off, unplugged it, waited a few minutes and turned it on again. It booted up, and I was able to work briefly on a Word document, then just when I closed out Word, the machine locked up again. No cursor at all and I could not do anything. The ONLY thing I have done differently was recently purchase a USB mouse, which I have used only 2-3 times, and it worked fine until this issue today. I have read that these machines have some USB issues. Any ideas? I let it rest a while, and tried a few more times, and when it is able to boot up, it gets just so far in the process, and the cursor either disappears or locks up totally where I am unable to do anything. It is running Windows XP home addition.

7 replies

by rob miners

1. Shut down the operating system and turn off the computer.

2. Repeatedly press and release the F11 key as you turn on the computer.

3. When you hear beeps or see a logo screen, stop pressing the F11 key. The Rescue and Recovery workspace opens. Note: For some models, press the Esc key to enter Rescue and Recovery.

4. From the Rescue and Recovery workspace, select Diagnose hardware.

5. Follow the prompts on the screen. The computer will reboot.

6. When the computer restarts, the diagnostic program opens automatically. Select the diagnostic test you want to run. Press the F1 key for additional help.

by wysong1

Jacky, I did as you suggested. When I pressed F11, I got a "Startup Interrupt Menu" screen with the following options:

ESC Enter normal startup
F1 Enter Bios setup
F12 To choose temporary startup device

There was no choice about rescue and recovery.

by rob miners

1. You can download the latest version of the PC-Doctor for Windows and PC-Doctor for DOS diagnostic programs from http://www.lenovo.com/support/. Type your machine type into the Use Quick Path field and click Go to find the downloadable files that are specific to the computer.

2. Log files are created when you run PC-Doctor for Windows and depending upon your machine type and model, PC-Doctor for DOS or PC-Doctor for Windows PE. Save and print the log files created by both diagnostic programs. The log file created by PC-Doctor for Windows is automatically saved in C:\PCDR\DETAILED.TXT.

by rob miners

try removing and reseating the Hard Drive.

Flashing cursor with an otherwise blank display.

1. System Board

2. Primary Hard Disk Drive

3. Hard Disk Drive Cable
< add a bit >

Hitachi / IBM - DFT "Drive Fitness Test" Use this to test the Drive.

http://www.hgst.com/hdd/support/download.htm

Works with all manufacturers

by wysong1

Jacky, I tried your suggestion. My hard disk is apparently fine. I did get a big clue today though. It ONLY does this "cursor lock up" when it is running on the battery. When the unit is plugged in, it does not lock up. I kept it on for 8 hours one day to see how long until it locked up, and it never did. As soon as I unplug it from the wall, and let it run on battery, here we go again. It has been booting windows fine, then within 2 minutes of the bootup, whatever I am doing, the cursor stops dead in its tracks, and the computer is locked up tight. I have to manually turn it off. Plug it in again, and all is well. I have removed the battery and put it back, made no difference. Ideas now?

by rob miners

when you are running on Battery it doesn't seem to be supplying enough Power. It may be time to replace the Battery or just use it from the mains.

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