T41p defective again!

[hox]

Hello,

I am on my second T41p, the problem I had with the first notebook is the same as with the replacement which has been a month in coming. Briefly, the notebook ran fine until I hooked up the network cable to it. Immediately it reconfigured itself and now most of my desktop icons such as my computer, control panel etc stop responding. (Not responding message). I can browse the internet fine. I checked the things discussed in this and other forums, the rundll32 does not seem to be running when this happens. Updates: Latest bios, ATI FireGL2 drivers from IBM, something called PC Doctor, and I even tried updating the intel pro/1000 drivers. Two system restores produced the same problem. Nothing has worked. Does anyone out there have any suggestions? My Toshiba notebook with XP Pro has none of these problems, My Dell doesnt either. I have never had to spend so much time troubleshooting a new machine, and IBM has not been helpful. I probably will return it, and buy something that does not require such a steep learning curve just to get it to work, which is what I need a notebook to do so I can work. Of course I have checked for viruses/worms. I have two new Hi Capacity batteries in addition if I return it, that I bought separately. I could sell them to someone here who has a functioning T41.

Thanks for your suggestions

 

[eLinux]

I'm really sorry to hear about your problems.

I think that's pretty sad, considering IBM t series laptops are one of the highest rated, and most expensive laptops a person can buy. That's a real shame, to think that plugging in a cable can make a computer stop running the way it should.

I've read about problems like yours before while browsing other forums, too... At least you're not alone.

Maybe you could escalate your problem. I'm sure with all the problems that people are having with that model, IBM recognizes the problem.

Good luck.

 

[Bruce6323]

I am convinced that the problems you are experiencing have to do with IBMs preloaded software that somehow interferes with Win XP. Could you try click on My computer or control panel and confirm that they don't respond. Then kill them from task manager. After this, startup PC doctor but don't run it. With PC doctor in the background, click on My computer or control panel and now see if they work.

 

[hox]

OK I tinkered for about two days now and here is what I believe is going on:

I tried the system restore from the hard drive again and watched very carefully what was going on, the setup is so fast that you never see all the stuff going on, particularly when the notebook is connected to the network. Three services are loaded in Xp when you click My Network then the entire network Icon. All this is under My Computer and therefore linked. I am writing from home so I cant remember the other two services but I believe that one is the culprit, possibly conflicting with my office's Netbeui protocol (I know XP does not officially support it but I cant make the sysop get rid of it, he feels its a more secure system). Anyway the problem is definitely software because when I restored from the recovery CDs a harrowing experience as the disks make an awful scraping noise in the drive due to the IBM labels being slightly out of center and the paper exceeds the outer edge of the cd!. Anyway the restore from the CDs did not install the other two Network options so now when I click My Computer and Network Neighborhood the only option that comes up is Microsoft Network. Also the recovery CDs also installed a slightly different , older, ATI FireGL2 driver. Everything works fine now. I am not sure if these other two Network options are updated to the notebook from Microsoft or they come from the hard drive when a network is attached. But the conflict seems to be resolved, I appreciate all your suggestions and If someone can help me interpret my solution better I would be willing to look at the setup in more detail to help others experiencing a similar problem. Removing the Netbeui protocol did not resolve the initial Not Responding problem so I think that something with the installation of these other Network options lies at the matter. I updated the ATI driver and had no problems.

 

[Shalmanese]

IBM laptops have a hidden partition on their HD from which you can do the restore from. Unless you've deleted it that is. You dont need a CD to restore