Thinkpad T510 Shutsdown unexpectedly.

[psrinivasan9128]

Hi,

I purchased my Thinkpad T510 in around May 2010. Recently i observed a strange issue with my laptop, when ever i shutdown the machine and the next day i restarted it the battery was totally drained. This process continued for some time.

Since last 2 weeks, my laptop has become totally dysfunctional, it starts to boot and when i login into the Windows 7 environment, it shuts down unexpectedly as if all the power is drained out. This happens even when it is connected to a power source. I assumed it must be a virus and tried reinstalling the OS, but this unexpected shutdown is happening during installation also. Now the machine is completely unusable, only time i can login without shut is if i select WIndows SAFE MODE login.

I also tried removing the battery and boot only through the power, still during a normal login, this behavior is happening.

Please advise on what could be the issue and what actions i should do to diagnose the issue.

thanks

venkat

[Ron_9972 Retired Support Specialist]

Have you tried using System Restore to return to a point when it was running properly?  Have you run a virus scan?

The Hardware Maintenance Manual tells you how to run diagnostic tests, starting on page 45:

http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles_pdf/63y0536.pdf

[psrinivasan9128]

Hi

thanks for your reply. I did try system restore, however before the restore is even completed, the laptop shutdown abruptly and reboots.  However i will try the system diagnostics and verify if i get any error information.

thanks

venkat

[Ron_9972 Retired Support Specialist]

Ok. Let me know how that goes.

[Mark_Lenovo Former Administrator]

Venkat,

Try going into BIOS and reloading system defaults.

Also, try reseating the system memory (obviously with it powered off, battery and AC removed)

This sounds more like hardware to me.   Is the time from a cold start to shutdown at all consistent and reproducable?  If so, it could be thermal if the fan / heat sink aren't doing their job.   If it is totally random, then either some bits are stuck (why I suggested reloading BIOS defaults, and could try also pulling battery and AC and pressing / holding power button several times for several seconds each time) to clear them...

Reseating memory and running diags, especially memtest might help isolate it...

Mark

[psrinivasan9128]

Hi all

Thanks for your suggestions again. I will try reloading the bios today and run the memtest. It surely is not random. Since now i see the behaviour almost every time. My machine was trying to boot, just after getting the windows 7 boot logo screen, it will restart as if it lost all the power.

I did get luckly 1 time, when i booted full with no issue, i ran the PC doctor tool from lenovo, it passed all the scenarios.

My antivirus (CA antivirus) had issues and i tried uninstalling it, at that momemt my machine restart abruptly.

I will try resetting the Bios and update my findings.

thanks

venkat

[psrinivasan9128]

To add further on my above information

1. Yes the time from cold start to boot to shutdown is quite consistant. The machine shuts down after it start loading my window profile. i.e after the windows 7 logo appears. Some time, it does shutdown after i try login under my account.

[tripplec · Accepted solution]

Is the AC power supply good and plugged in. You should try safe mode (Press F8 continuously after power on).

Have you looked under and see if the fan is actually spinning on power up and after.

Your problem is either:

- CPU overheating and shutting down the system at the hardware level

- Power problem but least likely

It does not seem it will stay on long enough to run any diagnostic and that usually points to a thermal condition. TO HOT

[psrinivasan9128]

You are right, the fan seems to have some issue. Since the side where the fan is located, seems to be overheated.

I guess i will have to replace that, i am not very good in hardware. but being in USA, it looks it can be a expensive work if i give my laptop for support services to lenovo, since my laptop is out of warranty.

Can anyone please provide some links which has images on how to change the CPU fan and also the parts i need to purchase in order to do so.

[tripplec]

There are plenty of notebook service centers if you look around. I see them driving around here.
Get a can of compress air and blow it in the vents so the dust comes out the fan opening. Otherwise you could put the nozzel of a vacuum over the fan area suck out anything in the cooling channel.

Then power it on while looking at the fan. See if it spins on power up, if it stays on or not. Good luck