T61 continues to Blue Screen, Lenovo no help

I bought a new T61 in August. I did not start using it until late september as I was out of the country. Ever since I have been using it, it continues to Blue Screen every 15-20 min. My primary use is web browsing and I have noticed that this happens when I am on battery.

Following are the steps I have taken so far.

1) Re-imaged the machine and installed all vista updates. Problem got worse.
2) Re-imaged it again and did not install vista updates. Problem not resolved.
3) Called tech support. They asked me to send it to the Depot or take it to a local IBM tech.
4) The local guy ran all kinds of tests and could not find anything wrong. He re-imaged it again and returned the machine back after 4 days.
5) Problem continues. Called tech support. They had me install new BIOS, turbo mem drivers and bunch of other stuff from System update. Problem persists.
6) Called tech support. They said that system is unfixable and they transferred me to Sales for a return/exchange. Sales said someone would call me from Returns in 72 hrs.
7) No one called me. I called Returns dept and they asked me to work with Tech support. I yelled at them and got transfered to level 2. He further transferred me to Warranty Support. All these guys kept telling me that they cannot see on their end the details of work done by tech support.
8) Warranty Support told me that someone from "Resolution Team" will call me and work with me on this.
9) Guy from Resolution team called me and told me that he would research this and get back. Gave me a direct ph no.
10) Havent heard from this guy. Been a week. Left him 2 VMs.
11) Replaced battery at my end. No help.

I am stuck with this Blue Screening Laptop. This whole process has been going on for the past 2 months. Any suggestions on how to fix this or get it returned to Lenovo?

Thanks.
T61
2GB Ram
60 GB Harddrive
Turbo Mem
N-Wireless
DVD R/W

 

Maybe try runing some program like memtest86 and hard disk daig

do you get full dump file from you bluescreen you can run them thoght debug tools if so

 

What is the BSOD error? If you cant see it then disable auto restart under "startup and recovery"

A few things that can cause BSOD on these machines:

1. Intel Turbo Ram, updated drive
2. Active protection system, update software

If all of this has been done then the likely problem is the Planar.

But disable the auto restart and please post the exact error message of the BSOD.

 

try fresh windows install. They work lol

 

I get the same error everytime. The error code is 0x00008086. The local IBM tech ran complete diagnostics of the HD. I have updated the Turbo Memory driver. I dont think I have done anything with the Active Protection System though.

Please note that most of my BSODs occur while running on battery.

Installed Windows thrice to-date.

 

do this...

 

Ignore the error code. Look for what it is, like "NMI parity check error" etc. Use pc doctor in your hidden partition to run all the test and not just the HDD. Also keep in mind that if it is the Planar, none of the test will tell you that is the Planar that failed except if its the /audio/video chip.

 

This is a known problem. I found many references to it on the net. All of these issues point to a matrix storage driver problem. Please see:

1.

http://www.dellcommunity.com/suppor...hread.id=233706&view=by_date_ascending&page=1

2.

"possible answers
Pellinore: the Kprobe problem is the result of the drive being run in AHCI mode with the Intel driver (iaStor.sys) controlling the SATA controller. Running Kprobe with this setup causes a Windows XP STOP 0X00008086 error. This Intel driver is part of Intel Application Accelerator. I don't know if it is the AHCI mode, or the Intel driver causing the problem (or both), but I strongly suspect the Intel driver--the driver seems to think the 716SA is a hard drive. To solve this problem, go into the BIOS setup, and switch the SATA mode from AHCI to ATA, and then *reinstall* Windows XP and all of your drivers and software. In ATA mode, the SATA controller uses standard Microsoft drivers--which is probably why the drive works perfectly and doesn't crash when Kprobe or pxscan is run (to be used on a Liteon drive, but while the Plextor drive is hooked up).

3.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?p=338660&sid=eb3c292fcad0a90284baebbe22a64047

 

If you are reinstalling Windows XP, I highly suggest you use my guide. It has caused me no problems and I have tested it many times over. No blue screens or anything. It's also a T61 that I used to test it. Good luck.

 

whatever you do, Install XP in the disk's ATA mode. set in the BIOS. Then install the latest version of Intel's matrix manager, shut the notebook down and change the BIOS to AHCI mode.

 

I am sticking with Vista. After reading your responses, I researched this a lot more on the web. It seems that is a known issue with Turbo Mem. Our X61 friends have experienced something similar. A temp fix suggested is to disable hybrid disc power management when on battery.

I did that last night and it seems to be working stable now. Keeping fingers crossed. I will also run the memtest and the PC doc.

 

I thought you were running XP. I'm sorry. I'd never recommend XP over Vista.

 

i had to reinstall vista on my t61 about 2 weeks ago. just BSOD out of the blue and vista wouldnt even load and i couldn't even get to safe mode.

was able to get most of my data, but it was still pretty terrifying. hah.

 

I know, that there is a driver issue with the nvidia grafics card in the lenovo T61, that causes BSOD´s. There is no help at the moment, a new driver will probably fix the problem. But I can´t tell, if it´s the problem with your notebook.

 

I would call Lenovo directly and ask to speak to a manager until you get one on the line. No matter how many times you have to hang up, be transferred etc.

Getting ahold of a manager is your best option.

 

I updated my nVidia card driver and I haven't had a problem. Which issue causes BSOD's?

 

that is exactly what i was going to suggest. Many x61 users have experienced the same thing, along with my t61. just disable hybrid disc power management and you should be good to go!

 

I havent gotten a BSOD ever since i stopped using firefox while on battery. Might sound stupid, but thats what I have noticed.

 

I´ve got the problem with the latest driver .5666 and the one before using office, especially power point or some video material.

 

well, I do not have nvidia. So thats should not be the cause.

I am finally in the hands of the "Customer Satisfaction" team. Had to leave 3 VMs for the guy. Finally, today, when I was leaving him the 4th VM, he started speaking. Probably he was monitoring his calls. Pretty weird. Anyway, the same story continues. He says that my case has been transferred to someone else on their team and this lady was supposed to get in touch with me. Well, it goes on and on.... Seems like no end to their poor service.

So far, I am doing pretty ok with the Hybrid Disc Power Mgmt disabled. But would be curious to see what solution they offer. I am sure they will want me to send it to their depot.

 

unfortunately, i doubt they have any solutions for you am100....so far disabling hybrid disc is the only solution...

the problem with that is that we are just curing the symptoms while the underlying disease is still there

 

So if disabling Hybrid Disc Power Management disabled has resolved your issue, what is your desired outcome with Lenovo? I've disabled this on my machines as well to fix the problem with Intel's Turbo Memory drivers w/Microsoft's Vista OS. Lenovo's only hook here is they sold a hardware component with crappy drivers supplied by their OEM. If you send it to the depot, they are going to wipe your hard drive and send you on your merry way, but I don't think this is what you want.

 

You are right. My only hook is to let them know that the computer continues to blue screen and is unusable. I have done everything they wanted me to do so far (ph tech support, local IBM tech, Re-imaging, Systems Update etc). The disabling of hybrid power is a temp fix. Although it might fix the problem, it is not what we are supposed to be doing. I do not plan on sending my laptop to the depot after reading all the horror stories about the depot. Keeping fingers crossed.

 

You can take it to a local *authorized* service center instead of sending it to the depot. Not sure how to find a list of authorized centers though.

 

http://d03bphrb.partner.boulder.ibm....nsf/PublicSPPartnerSearch?OpenFrameset&NL=en

Just make sure you call the business partners first because they dont always update their info and you end up driving to the site only find out they are out of business.

 

I have already done that folks. I took it to the local IBM authorized center. No help. They re-imaged it and gave it back. That is part of my hook too. Hopefully I dont have to send it to the depot.

 

by now... I think I'd start the process of sending it to the depot as many times as it requires for them to make a new machine for you.

 

it's the op that is going to lose out by that process....in fact..i have my hybrid disc disabled to keep it from freezing or bsod'ing....i don't think they can do anything for you.....it is up to Intel to come out with more stable drivers...and for MSFT to make Intel drivers more compatible

 

It would be interesting to know what this feature is designed to do, and if it even applies directly to Turbo Memory, or if it is designed for the true nextgen hybrid drives that combine flash memory and traditional magnetic media in the same device... It's possible that this feature is really not intended for Turbo Memory and it gets enabled mistakenly by the setup program. It could indeed be bugs in the drivers, the release notes from version to version on turbo memory seem to fix numerous blue screen issues...
Hope your stability continues, enjoy your machine (finally).

 

In fact...it is the matrix storage driver that installs this option on windows power options....if you do a clean install w/o matrix storage driver..this option does not even exist...and the matrix manager driver is bundled witht he turbo memory driver...so yes..it would be interesting..

However, a hybrid disc is simply a hard drive that has a hard disc (spinning) along with flash memory, which is essentially what the turbo driver is.

I do see what you're saying that this may be for future HD's with a flash drive built into, whereas, turbo memory is an extra component outside of the HD

 

hey man i know how you feel about BSOD i know i had tons of it. but you know seomthing man it is all from the turbo memory. it is the turbo memory that really causes the problems well you know something man i have done everything from recovery, backup, fresh installation, i thought of just going back to linux. well noting really worked. untill i found on the intel website the new driver for it. and ooo baby my prayer are all answered 1.5.0.1013

just get that driver and it would fix all the problems

 

Turn off APS. It causes blue screens/freezes.

 

sure hey just do the upgrade to new driver for intel turbo memory 1.5.0.1013

 

what is the date of the driver?

 

I'm confused about something. I have a new t61p whose build date was 10/7. It no longer has Turbo memory because I replaced that card with a WWAN card but I ran that card for over a month with stock drivers, Vista 32 and Quadro graphics. And I never saw a single blue screen. I've only seen one on this system and that was while I ws installing drivers in Vista 64. I also installed the the late Oct Bios as soon as I received the problem. I'm confused as to why so many people have seen problems and I haven't. I certainly use my machine, I just haven't had any problems.

 

hey for everyone with BSOD or vista crashing just use this drive it is fix to the problem. just remember you this for the intel turbo memory.


the link ::
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/det...2813&dwnldid=14824&agr=n&lang=eng&prdmap=2813

it should fix all the problems. i have been problem fix since this driver

 

not only should you do that...but you must disable the hybrid disc saving feature in power management to completely fix the problem for bsod's and freezes.....for some...installing the new driver was enough...but that is very rare

 

Unless I'm mistaken, I don't think there is a way to disable the hybrid hard disk capabilities of Vista. At least not a simple way via the power management options.

The advanced power manangment option is not "Hybrid Hard Disk"... it is "Windows Hybrid Hard Disk Power Savings Mode".

There are two options: "On Battery" and "Plugged in". If you have these set to "disable", hover your pointer over one of the two options and you will see a pop-up that explains what happens when this is set to "disabled". The pop-up explains, "Do not enable the Windows Hybrid Hard Disk Aggressive Power Savings Mode". So... this does not disable hybrid hard disk, but rather it disables "power savings mode" associated with hybrid hard disk.

This could be a turbo memory problem, but I tend to believe it is a Vista problem. It seems to me that Vista should be intelligent enough to know if Turbo Memory or a hybrid hard drive is installed and make whatever options available in the power management settings based on the hardware that is installed. AND, apply the appropriate power savings based on the hardware that is installed. Basically, I think it is a problem with power management since disabling this option has solved many peoples problems.

 

But not to ignore Renee's confusion, I have had the same experience. I have only had my T61p for a month, but during that month not a single freeze, on battery or otherwise - and it has been on most of that time. Ran 3dmark, games, etc. no problem. Are we just lucky, or has it just not hit yet? Time will tell...

 

I have my T61 for 11 months...started BSOD-ing about bi-weekly soon after it arrived....past couple of months it was doing it daily. I was ready to scrap the machine!!!

Two weeks ago I followed apoddar's advice to ugrade "driver for intel turbo memory to latest 1.5.0.1013"...I haven't had a crash since!!! I am not sure if I can declare success as yet, but so far it looks good!

Thank you apoddar....great lead...perhaps Lenovo needs to find out about this

 

disabling the hybrid power management works just as good as upgrading the turbo driver