T400 not booting

[MTBombers]

I read an earlier message with a similar problem, but I have another issue that doesn't allow me to follow the instructions.

I installed a Window 7 update yesterday.  Today the comuter will not boot.  It gets to the THinkPad screen, then stops.  No matter what keys I hit, I cannot get it to respond.  Then after about 15 min it will shut itself back down.

One other problem I have is that when i start my computer from cold or from hibernation (but not sleep), it takes about 5-10 min before it begins the boot process - but booted fine until yesterday.

Thanks for any help.

Bill

[tripplec]

Something has happened to the boot partition or HD. Since it did work for some time normally you've indicated.

Go to the BIOS and be sure the HD is detected and that the controller is set for SATA. If in doubt you can load defaults and then double check the settings before saving and trying again.

[MTBombers]

Thanks, I will give it a try

[MTBombers]

The keyboard is frozen and I cannot get into the BIOS.  I am trying the ThinkVantage key as well as F1, F2, F8, Esc, and Delete.

Any other suggestions?

[tripplec]

Are you getting any beeps on startup. Some other failure. Could be a bad memory module. If you have two then take the 2nd module and insert in the first slot leaving the 1st out all together. See if it comes up, try the 2nd only if it doesn't in the 1st slot. Both modules won't be bad but one may have failed.

You should remove the battery and of course no AC adapter. You won't need the AC adapter for these attempts anyway.
NOTE: Memory is sensitive to static as is the motherboard

[lead_org Microsoft MVP Contributor]

have a look at your usb ports, to make sure none of the pins are broken.

[tripplec]

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lead_org wrote:
have a look at your usb ports, to make sure none of the pins are broken.

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I have seen that mentioned before. But its made me wonder why would they be broken. I have used and use USB ports a lot and never see any bend break on my systems or anyone elses over a decade.

The port is a straight in/out insertion and should not fail as its a swiping action of the contacts.

[lead_org Microsoft MVP Contributor]

i am not sure why these ports are fragile in early models of the T400, T500, W500, R400, R500 (my T400, T500, R400 and R500 are all fine). It could be that not enough plasticiser was used in the plastic moulding mixture, which causes brittle fracture during the insertion and extraction process. But that is my theory only.

[tripplec]

I notice my USB T520 ports are a much snugger port fit then my other notebooks. Noticably so and there is no side to side play. I am carefull to pull out straight because of it. For a while I was double checking I did not have the connector the wrong way around since it would not go in without some extra force. Sure is snug!!!

[lead_org Microsoft MVP Contributor]

T400 generation drive USB ports are that snug. The problem of fragile USB isn't really a snug usb port or things like that. It is to do with the plastic used for the USB port.