Thinkpad T20 giving me grief with XP Pro

Jongamer · Post by **Jongamer** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 1:38 pm

Ok, first the laptop had 2000 on it, well when I decided to upgrade it to Windows XP pro SP3.

First off, I had to attempt to install XP a good 6 times at least (BSOD with a different error every time during the install) I tried both NTFS file system, didn't work either, Tried FAT32, didn't help, reseated the RAM, moved sticks of RAM around, tried individual sticks of RAM to make sure it wasn't the sticks themselves.

then finally I just removed the stick of RAM that I had just bought for it, and it went through the install and I thought everything was finally ok, so I continued to install the Drivers for a Belkin Wireless-G USB adaptor.

Rebooted the computer after installing the drivers like it requested.

Then it would get to the Windows XP logo screen with the loading bar, then it would freeze after about 10 secs.

I can only manage to get it to boot in Safe mode, that is all.

Please Help!

Dr. KillGood · Post by **Dr. KillGood** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:41 pm

Maybe this computer didn't come with XP for a reason?

lifeisbetterwithketchup · Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:44 pm

Your RAM or your RAM connectors on your mobo may be bad. My dad has (at least) three T20-series Thinkpads, and all of them have some sort of issue with the RAM connector being bad. Unless he presses on a certain part of the laptop when it's being turned on, Windows will either not recognize half of his RAM, or will not boot (error beeps). Also, a friend of mine had BSODs installing Windows until he replaced his bad stick of RAM.

tl;dr RAM is probably your issue.

Bibin · Post by **Bibin** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 3:19 pm

Dr. KillGood wrote:Maybe this computer didn't come with XP for a reason?

You are useless. Get out.

The problem is most likely ram related, or a disk I/O error that trips it up. Try replacing the ram with known good ram, and blow some compressed air into the RAM socket. LIBWK is probably right that it's your RAM slots, but just try some other sticks of RAM first.

Jongamer · Post by **Jongamer** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 3:57 pm

Well the Ubuntu Live CD booted fine

I don't think I mentioned that it is XP with SP3, could that be it? I am gonna try installing XP with SP2 and see if that helps.

RAM checks are fine, but it is a little weird that a 128MB stick shows up as 127MB in the RAM check.

Dr. KillGood · Post by **Dr. KillGood** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:24 pm

"127MB stick"

WAT!?!?!?!?!?

EDIT: I think this is what you want.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820145484

Post by **bicostp** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:45 pm

Dr. KillGood wrote:"127MB stick"

WAT!?!?!?!?!?

EDIT: I think this is what you want.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820145484

... Except for the fact that the ThinkPad T20 can't see 512 sticks and only takes PC133 RAM. It can only take 256 sticks.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... PEHK5.html
http://kahlon.com/result.asp?modelid=24487

Research. Do you do it?

Jongamer · Post by **Jongamer** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:59 pm

Dr. KillGood wrote:"127MB stick"

WAT!?!?!?!?!?

EDIT: I think this is what you want.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820145484

No it just shows it as 127MB, but they are actually 128MB sticks.

Bibin · Post by **Bibin** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:34 pm

Often ram counts are a bit off, even when the BIOS is correct. The Darwin bootloader on my other computer reports 510 MB ram, and the ram is not being taken away for the vidoe card; that has it's own 256MB dedicated to it.

And bicostp, he clearly *did not* do his research

Jongamer · Post by **Jongamer** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 6:38 pm

Well XP Pro SP2 didn't help.

ummm, I am gonna try and reinstall 2000 tomorrow.

If that doesn't work it will be down to either 98 SE or Ubuntu.

Post by **bicostp** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:23 pm

Could it be the hard drive?

There's a whole laundry list of potential problems...

Jongamer · Post by **Jongamer** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:32 pm

bicostp wrote:Could it be the hard drive?

There's a whole laundry list of potential problems...

I know and it is driving me nuts >_<

Hmmm, if I get 2000 installed, I am gonna do some tests to pinpoint what the problem most likely is.

Cause the Laptop was fine until I tried to install XP.

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 11:30 am

Like bic said, it could be anything. But doesn't windows XP need at least 256MB to run just the OS?

Even if you got it to work, it would barely run. A T20 is simply way too old. My advice: Keep Windows 2000. Maybe something even older like 95.

lifeisbetterwithketchup · Sat Sep 06, 2008 1:53 pm

Kurt_ wrote:Like bic said, it could be anything. But doesn't windows XP need at least 256MB to run just the OS?

Even if you got it to work, it would barely run. A T20 is simply way too old. My advice: Keep Windows 2000. Maybe something even older like 95.

256MB is plenty for XP SP3 on my Lifebook (I've seen it run on less, and it wasn't pretty). It'll run fine; nothing crazy speedy, but it'll be very usable. Just as long as you're not doing anything too crazy, you're fine. 2000 would work just fine as well, but I would not suggest going with anything older.

Jongamer · Post by **Jongamer** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 10:18 pm

Yeah I reinstalled 2000, works 100% again.