I need help: My Thinkpad T61p is misbehaving

[Siddhartha]

Five days ago my Thinkpad did not boot up and gave three beeps, (one long and two short?). I searched this online and read that it could mean either the memory and or the motherboard was bad.
1. I took out the hard drive to see if I could savage it and my desktop was able to access it and it passed a virus check.
2. Today, I reinstalled the hard drive to take the computer to the shop and it booted normally.
3. I rebooted it and ran Lenova's system diagnostic tests. Everything passed except for the CDR\DVR\CD burner.
4. After I finished the tests, it did not boot up and gave the three beeps again.
5. I took out the hard drive and after about a half hour reinstalled it and it booted up normally. I am writing this thread using the laptop.

Does anyone have any idea WTH is going on and possible solutions to fix it? After it did not boot up last Thursday, I started shopping for another laptop. It would be great to keep this one if I can.

 

[pelov]

Run Memtest86+ overnight to rule out a memory issue. You can do that by putting memtest86+ on a disc and booting from it via changing the boot order.

If it passes 8-12 hours or so, it's likely the mobo, judging by what you say the 3 beeps signal.

 

[corkyg]

Since the optical drive/burner did not pass muster, remove it from the boot sequence completely and see what happens. If that seems to boot/load OK, then replace the optical drive - or better yet, replace it with the Ultrabay HDD adapter. I believe T-61 uses UB II.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I can't help your specific problem. But I've found this forum super helpful for troublshooting my T60.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewforum.php?f=29&sid=2efa24be0bded61ba4fec9a8848b40e0

 

[Siddhartha]

Everyone thanks for the posts. I took the laptop to an authorized Lenovo service provider and they called me back about two hours after I handed it to them. They said they had to resolder the gpu chip back on the motherboard.
Anyway it was cheaper buying* another and or a new laptop.

*I was trying to justify getting a new Thinkpad W530....