From: Alex Bell (afjbell_at_onlink.net)
Date: Sat Jun 05 1999 - 12:44:25 EDT
I have posted several times before about problems with my Thinkpad
385XD and its enhanced port repicator. Please bear with me while I
recapitulate.
The original problem was that occasionally the combination would not
recognise the PCMCIA card in the port replicator. IBM replaced the
port replicator, but when the problem recurred several months later
they instructed me to take the thinkpad into a local technician. This
problem has not recurred since the tech replaced the mother board, but
I now have a far more serious problem - the thinkpad locks up tight if
I leave the computer on but unused for more than about 20 minutes. The
only way I can regain control is to use the emergency power shut down
switch on the bottom of the computer. The technician has replaced the
motherboard again, but the problem is still there.
The problem occurs when I am using Windows 98 and when I am using OS/2
v4 FP10. It occurs whether I am using the thinkpad alone or using it
in the port replicator. When it happens the battery LCD is lit, and
the power on is lit. The suspend mode LCD is not on.
When I press the Fn key and F4 the thinkpad will go into suspend mode,
and the suspend mode LCD is lit. But the thnkpad will not come out of
suspend mode when I press the Fn key, or indeed when I do anything
else. As mentioned I have to use the emergency power shut down switch.
I can press the Fn key and F3 to go into standby mode, and it will
resume if I press any key. But if I leave it in standby mode after
about 20 minutes the thinkpad comes back to life very briefly and then
locks up as described above.
If I use the Thinkpad configuration utility to disable suspend mode the
lockups still occur, but after only about 5 minutes.
For what it is worth if I shutdown properly but do not actually switch
off the thinkpad does not lock up - I have left it for more than 20
minutes with the the 'it is now safe to turn off your computer' sign
showing.
I have run the test option in the Easy Setup program to test the
hardware, and it does not report any malfunction. I have also used the
program to set the default settings, but the problem still occurs.
I really do not see much point in taking it back to get another
motherboard put in. Can any one suggest any more tests I can do to
find out what the problem is, and how to overcome it?
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