IBM Docking Station - troubleshooting
 

Hi Folks.... in my latest round of headaches with my beloved IBM ThinkPad, here is what Ive got now.

I have an IBM ThinkPad Dock II (type 2877) that I use with a ThinkPad T30. I seem to be having some sort of 'hanging' problem that I think occurs (at times) when I boot up the system. Im not completely sure it does this 'hang' only at the time of booting, but Im not tracking this closely to make sure. My doubt is whether this hang may also happen overnight, when I leave the computer on and docked... but, bottom line is that Ive never experienced this 'hang' while operating the computer.

Now, what does this hang do or show... here is the strange part. No blue screens, no messages of any type, its just that the system freezes, and my external monitor (hooked up to my docking station) turns into a garble, and the look of the monitor is very hard to describe. Nothing can be read, its looks like a the fabric on a sofa, black background and like little white and grey bits and pieces... it all comes together like some sort of sofa fabric with these grey and white bits and pieces.... I cant find how else to describe it. Ive tried taking digital photos of the hang but cant get anything see-able on the pic...

OK, so I also cant seem to be able to systemize the hang. It does it only when the computer wants it....

So, how do I fix it? When it hangs, nothing responds. The external keyboard goes dead, and if I open up the docked laptop I also cant get the internal keyboard to work. I then have to manually force the undocking button to lift itself (using the paper clip thingie you get with the dock), undock the machine, and then play around with the power button until the machine turns off. Again, even undocked, I cannot see anything on the built in LCD (not even that nice sofa design I described that is shown on the external monitor), and no keystrokes respond, EXCEPT for the function to turn on the keyboard light that you have on the upper section of the LCD display. Everything else is dead.

To make things even more weird, when I manage to turn off the laptop (either through extended pressure on the on/off switch, or by removing the battery), if I try to re-boot, it works pefectly. I dont get a message for recovery or anything similar. I can reboot it various time with success from outside the dock (ie. undocked position).

If after removing the dock, I again dock the machine and reboot, I am also able to boot in as normal.... here is the part where I say that this error doesnt seem to happen all the time. I guess my initial diagnosis is that Im getting some sort of boot failure when the sistem is docked, but it seems to be a non-consistent error (ie. doesnt happen all the time).

As I post this, I have the sistem fully docked and operational.... I have done 3 consecutive reboots and system shut offs and turn ons, and still today no error.

Has anybody ever had any issues like this? Any tips, comments and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading... (this is one long tech post) http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif


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Gaucho100K

You might want to do a bios upgrade, I had a similar wake on lan hang problem, that the new bios cleared up
head to ibm.com and support and then type in your laptop numbers and it will present you the upgrade stuff.

BTW, and for what its worth (nothing since Im an IT idiot), my guess is that Im getting random boot failures, as when I get this screen the hard disk does not seem to operate. But, it would have to be some very early stage boot failure, since I dont get any blue screen or other similar message.

In terms of virus infection, Ive kinda ruled that out since I have a fully licensed verion of Norton that is constantly updated. In any event, Im running a full system scan as I type this.

Thanks.

Gaucho100K:

IBM, Microsoft should hire you for their labs ... You seem to produce any and all problems there are.
Help this guys to design and produce "FOOLPROOF" PCs! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif

Good tip. I got new BIOS about 3 months ago, but maybe I need to update again.

Any other ideas?

You should check to see if your (1) country, (2) state or (3) city has a "Lemon Law" for computers such as many USA states have for autos.

If its still on warranty (my IBM T-40 has a 3 year warranty) sent it back and have IBM give it the full battery of diagnostics. I sent mine back Mar 2 at noon and it came back Mar 4 at noon.

MisterNice

drive to nearest Apple store, buy Mac laptop.

I think Im gonna try the full battery of Diagnostics.

Thanks.

Guys.... I think that a recent new piece of hardware may be causing my booting problems. Its a GemPlus smart card reader, model 430, USB port connection. Can this be the case....?

Thanks.