X Series ThinkPad Laptops

[#1]

My machine:  A brand new Lenovo x300 running Windows Vista Business SP1 Spanish with all the ThinkAdvantage/Microsoft updates as of October 22 - 2008

My symptoms:  My computer freezes at least three times in a week with NO specific patterns. The freeze is COMPLETE (no mouse movements, screen freeze and the only way to restore everything back is to hard-reset the machine).  I use my computer at work usually more than 12 hours/day.

What I have tried:

• The first weeks I thought it was an installation problem.  I re-installed the included recovery DVDs more than once and the problem persisted.
• Then I took it to Lenovo tech-support and they ordered a HD-SDD change.  Two weeks later when the hard-disk arrived, I re-installed everything again and the problem persisted
• Then I started changing the different power-settings in Vista ......  nothing worked either.
• Finally I went to LENOVO's direct support service (visited Lenovo's offices in Bogotá) and they ordered a set of new RECOVERY DVDs, waited for the DVDsto arrive, reinstalled everything again and nothing happened.
• I'm suspecting there is a VISTA BUSINESS problem with the Lenovo X300:  Hardware seems to be right but software seems to be what is causing the freezing problem.

I am now very dissapointed and I don't really know what to do with the most expensive laptop I have ever bought!

Anybody has any suggestions?  I have heard simmilar problems on X61machins regarding the Intel Turbo Memory drivers but I don't know exactly how to disable/enable that feature on my x300.

Thanks for your help! Any new direction would be greatly appreciated!

CARLOS SIERRA

Message Edited by csierra on 10-22-2008 09:57 AM

Message Edited by csierra on 10-23-2008 08:18 AM

[#2]

I doubt your X300 actually has Intel Turbo Memory installed. AFAIK on the X300 that PCI-E slot is reserved ONLY for the WWAN card which you may either have or not.

BTW: My X300 also freezes sometimes, but its so rare that I decided to live with it because I am not using that machine 24/7.

[#3]

I  use to have the same problem with my old computer. What causes this kind of freezing (no restart or blue sreen only no movement on your screen) I thought that is usualy RAM problem. Or is it memory problem in graphic card, or some another chip in PC?
Some experienced technician, could you explain possible reasons of that?

Thanks.

Message Edited by petkos01 on 10-23-2008 07:02 AM

Message Edited by petkos01 on 10-23-2008 07:05 AM

[#4]

Thanks for the reply.

I have already run all the PC-DOCTOR's deep tests (memory, hard-disk, proccessor) and nothing pops-up.  For PC Doctor everything on the hardware side seems to be fine ...

[#5]

Well, since you have already decided that it is no inconvenience to wipe the hard drive, I suggest temporarily trying a different OS. If you happen to have a valid XP Pro cd laying around, then try that. Or, if that is not an issue and do not want to spend money on a solution that may or may not work, then you can always opt for the linux distro.

The reason I suggest this is to determine whether it is a software/driver or hardware issue. I just recently recieved my X300 and I have not yet had a problem with it. However, I did install Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron) as soon as I got it (mine came preloaded with Vista Business 32-bit). Seeing as my machine works rather well, you can see if Ubuntu can do the same trick for you.

You may or may not be familiar with the linux OS, but that is ok. Simply go to Ubuntu.com and download the latest version, burn it to a CD using [the free trial of] Nero Burning ROM, and pop the cd in your tray while Windows is already booted up. Then you can do what is called a linux install "within Windows," meaning it installs Ubuntu while in Windows, and if you ever want to get rid of Ubuntu you can go to Add/Remove programs and simply uninstall it, but when you boot up the computer you can boot into Ubuntu without ever touching Windows. 

I suggest this just as a thing to try. It will not harm your computer in any way and does not make you lose any data (no need to reformat or repartition!). You can then try Ubuntu for awhile and see if it ever freezes on you (which is very much possible). If it does, then your RAM itself may be corrupt and you may need some new sticks (or it could be a list of other things). My point is, is that you will know if you have a faulty $2,500 machine, or just faulty software.

If you want to try this and need any help with it, feel free to PM me.

Hope this helps,

Rovdjur

[#6]

x300 freezing problem? there is a similar problem about my x300 ,sometime it will freeze over 10~30s when i switch to desktop from war3 or some work which may take up a lot of cpu usage.is it the freezing problem you have?

i am confused

[#7]

Do you have the COMODO firewall installed?

My X300 (WinXP Pro SP3) freezes whenever pushing the mute button.This problem seems to be related to the comodo firewall (Version 3). Please see these posts for further information on that issue:

http://forums.lenovo.com/lnv/board/message?board.id=T_Series_Thinkpads&thread.id=11979

http://forums.comodo.com/help_for_v3/lenovo_thinkoad_mutebutton_freeze-t23558.0.html;msg168623

However,  the problem could not yet be solved. The only way to avoid freezing is not to press the mute button or to uninstall COMODO.

Besides the mute button problem, it also sometimes happens to me that the X300 freezes after rebooting the laptop from stand-by or from hybernation. But this didn't occur since at least 2 weeks now. I also use the laptop at least 8hrs/day.

Any help would be appreciated.

Chris

[#8]

Hmm.. nope, No COMODO firewall installed

[#9]

I have the X301 and I think we have the same problem. It just freezes and you can't CTRL-ALT-DEL, right? The only way is to hard-reset it, which is very annoying. Do let me know if you find any solution and I will do the same.

[#10]

Hi,

I'm starting to suspect that Lenovo didn't do his job correctly testing Windows Vista Business for their USD$2500 laptops.

I am very disappointed with it given the fact that this is the most expensive laptop I have ever bought and I'm having a problem that looks that nobody can solve

I'm now forced to downgrade to XP and see if the OS is the problem... I will post the results after a week of intense testing.

Question:  Has anyone managed to have Windows Vista Business running smoothly on an X300/X301 Thinkpad?

Carlos.