[SOLVED] faulty laptop component

sycamorex · 01-05-2012, 09:32 AM

There's something seriously wrong with my laptop (Thinkpad T410). I believe it's hardware related as the symptoms are the same on Slackware and Windows (dual boot).
It started happening a few days ago (I had never happened before). Basically the screen freezes and nothing is responsive apart from the power button. Sometimes it happens even before entering X (so it's not X related). Sometimes it happens while I type my username and password. Sometimes it lets me startx and I can use the system normally for anything up to 10 minutes (then I have to do the hard reboot). The system seems to be working fine behind the frozen screen as once I typed "reboot" and although the screen was frozen the system actually rebooted. As I mentioned the same happens on windows once it froze during the startup the screen was frozen but after several seconds I could hear the familiar sounds when windows loads.

Code:

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation GT218 [NVS 3100M] (rev a2)

/var/log/Xorg.0 doesn't show anything out of the ordinary.
/var/log/syslog

Code:

...
Jan  4 16:38:38 thinkware console-kit-daemon[2222]: WARNING: Failed to acquire org.freedesktop.ConsoleKit 
Jan  4 16:38:38 thinkware console-kit-daemon[2222]: WARNING: Could not acquire name; bailing out 
Jan  4 16:38:56 thinkware kernel: [   46.555746] vboxdrv: fAsync=0 offMin=0x1e1 offMax=0xe73
Jan  4 16:39:04 thinkware dhcpcd[2451]: dhcpcd not running
Jan  4 16:39:04 thinkware dhcpcd[2457]: dhcpcd not running
Jan  4 16:39:04 thinkware dhcpcd[2464]: dhcpcd not running
Jan  4 16:40:12 thinkware kernel: [  122.925614] NVRM: GPU at 0000:01:00.0 has fallen off the bus.
Jan  4 16:40:12 thinkware kernel: [  122.925977] NVRM: failed to copy vbios to system memory.
Jan  4 16:40:12 thinkware kernel: [  122.930828] NVRM: RmInitAdapter failed! (0x30:0xffffffff:864)
Jan  4 16:40:12 thinkware kernel: [  122.930838] NVRM: rm_init_adapter(0) failed
Jan  4 16:41:25 thinkware kernel: [   19.818967] hda-intel: spurious response 0x0:0x0, last cmd=0x0f0000
Jan  4 16:41:26 thinkware kernel: [   19.819142] hda-intel: spurious response 0x0:0x0, last cmd=0x0f0000
Jan  4 16:41:26 thinkware kernel: [   19.819323] hda-intel: spurious response 0x0:0x0, last cmd=0x0f0000
Jan  4 16:41:26 thinkware kernel: [   19.819499] hda-intel: spurious response 0x0:0x0, last cmd=0x0f0000
Jan  4 16:41:26 thinkware kernel: [   19.819678] hda-intel: spurious response 0x0:0x0, last cmd=0x0f0000
Jan  4 16:41:26 thinkware kernel: [   19.819855] hda-intel: spurious response 0x0:0x0, last cmd=0x0f0000
Jan  4 16:41:26 thinkware kernel: [   19.820031] hda-intel: spurious response 0x0:0x0, last cmd=0x0f0000
Jan  4 16:41:26 thinkware kernel: [   19.820210] hda-intel: spurious response 0x0:0x0, last cmd=0x0f0000
Jan  4 16:41:26 thinkware kernel: [   19.820387] hda-intel: spurious response 0x0:0x0, last cmd=0x0f0000
Jan  4 16:41:26 thinkware kernel: [   19.820566] hda-intel: spurious response 0x0:0x0, last cmd=0x0f0000
....
Jan  5 14:59:48 thinkware kernel: [  831.324291] hda-intel: IRQ timing workaround is activated for card #0. Suggest a bigger bdl_pos_adj.

I'd assume it's the video card - is there anything I could do to verify it?
Any suggestions? Thanks

corp769 · 01-05-2012, 09:56 AM

Does your laptop have a VGA or HDMI output? If so, I would hook it up to an external monitor, and note if it does the same. If it does, it will definitely be your video card and/or motherboard, depending on the severity of the actual physical problem. If not, then maybe your screen is going? I would still regardless check the connections going from the motherboard to the monitor just to be on the safe side. I have a giant feeling that your video card is fried.... Well, I pretty much know it is. I'm just trying to help you out.... LOL.... But seriously, try hooking up to an external monitor and see what happens.

Cheers,

Josh

camorri · 01-05-2012, 10:34 AM

I downloaded the hardware maintenance manual for this laptop. File name 63y0535_01.pdf. I had some fun finding it. The US site listed a HMM, "file not found". Went to Lenovo.ca and found the file.

As far as I can tell, the video chips are on the system board. ( that isn't good news ). There is a fan assembly that cools things. Is it running ( not dirty ). Looks like the intake is the rear left corner from the front edge.

If you have any warranty left, I would take it to Lenovo ASAP.

If not, download the HMM, if you decide to open it up, you need that manual. There are screws everywhere, and places you won't find easily. You need good eyes, and steady hands. I used to tell my students " You need the eyes of an eagle, and the hands of a brain surgeon ". Bit exaggerated, but it got the point across.

Best of luck with it.

corp769 · 01-05-2012, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camorri

I downloaded the hardware maintenance manual for this laptop. File name 63y0535_01.pdf. I had some fun finding it. The US site listed a HMM, "file not found". Went to Lenovo.ca and found the file.

As far as I can tell, the video chips are on the system board. ( that isn't good news ). There is a fan assembly that cools things. Is it running ( not dirty ). Looks like the intake is the rear left corner from the front edge.

If you have any warranty left, I would take it to Lenovo ASAP.

If not, download the HMM, if you decide to open it up, you need that manual. There are screws everywhere, and places you won't find easily. You need good eyes, and steady hands. I used to tell my students " You need the eyes of an eagle, and the hands of a brain surgeon ". Bit exaggerated, but it got the point across.

Best of luck with it.

+1 to having luck with it....

H_TeXMeX_H · 01-05-2012, 02:06 PM

I've had the nvidia "fallen off the bus" error as well. If you are using the nvidia drivers use version 275.28, I have tested it and it does NOT have this problem. The bug was introduced AFTER this version. I've seen posts on the nvidia forums about this, but I don't think they fixed it yet.

sycamorex · 01-06-2012, 07:21 AM

Thanks a lot. I'll be back at home on Sunday (still visiting my family) and will try an external monitor and the NVidia driver (it seems it's a hardware issue though).

I don't think I'm going to take it apart as it's still under limited warranty. I don't think the retailer will help me as I bought it over 1 year ago but I checked the lenovo website and there's a 3 year limited warranty on this particular model. I'm just wondering whether I'll have to remove linux from it before I send it. It'll be difficult to bring the laptop back to its original state.

camorri · 01-06-2012, 09:04 AM

Quote:

I'm just wondering whether I'll have to remove linux from it before I send it. It'll be difficult to bring the laptop back to its original state.

I wouldn't remove linux. I would just make sure you have any files backed up off the laptop before you take it in. After all, we buy the hardware to use, M$ license doesn't say you can't dual boot.

Worst thing that can happen is Levono does a restore, assuming you still have the partition with $M code in tact. If not, they may re-image the disk to original. I don't think they would do that unless its part of their problem determination.

sycamorex · 01-06-2012, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camorri

I wouldn't remove linux. I would just make sure you have any files backed up off the laptop before you take it in. After all, we buy the hardware to use, M$ license doesn't say you can't dual boot.

Worst thing that can happen is Levono does a restore, assuming you still have the partition with $M code in tact. If not, they may re-image the disk to original. I don't think they would do that unless its part of their problem determination.

Thanks. That's good. I'll just backup and remove any private stuff. Would they expect me to remove system passwords?!

camorri · 01-06-2012, 09:21 AM

Not to the linux system, if you have the 'guest' account on windows that should be all they need.

H_TeXMeX_H · 01-08-2012, 12:16 PM

It is NOT a hardware issue, it's just the buggy nvidia driver, trust me.

sycamorex · 01-08-2012, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H_TeXMeX_H

It is NOT a hardware issue, it's just the buggy nvidia driver, trust me.

So how would you explain the same symptoms on Windows 7 (see the original post)? It's the same driver I've been running for weeks (months?) (linux 285,05.09 (Windows: NVIDIA Corporation, File Version: 8.17.12.6721)

On a separate note. For some reason, the freezing stopped yesterday without any action on my part. I've been running that laptop all day to see what happens.

H_TeXMeX_H · 01-08-2012, 01:05 PM

The same bug is also in the Window$ nvidia driver. Try the version I said, you shouldn't have any more crashes after that.

sycamorex · 01-08-2012, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H_TeXMeX_H

The same bug is also in the Window$ nvidia driver. Try the version I said, you shouldn't have any more crashes after that.

Ok, I shall do as you said. It'd be great if it was only a buggy driver.

sycamorex · 01-16-2012, 03:34 PM

It seems fine now. There's been only one crash since then and the laptop has been running 24/7. I think I'll consider it solved.

Thank you all.

Wayne Sallee · 01-18-2012, 12:22 PM

Also, anytime you send a laptop in for hardware problems, take the hard drive out, and keep the hard drive. They don't need your hard drive to fix a hardware problem. And they can stick their own hard drives in to test the computer.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne@WayneSallee.com