X200 random shutdowns

My new 220x laptop worked fine for 4 days. Then it crashed randomly 6 times. I had installed Office 2007, Lightroom 3, Photoshop 5. I called tech support and this is what i have done:

1. Tech support 1 told me to do a recovery and reinstall the basic image with no additional software. Then I should add first the latest Lenovo drivers followed by the latest Microsoft drivers. This lasted for one day and then the laptop had more crashes.

2. Tech support 2 told me to do exactly the same but I must first install the microsoft drivers and then the lenovo drivers. I erased everything, did a recovery and followed his suggestion. The machine lasted two days and it just crashed again.

I very much like this laptop: size, battery, keyboard, and ISP panel is good enough to do my photography on the road. My wife's MAC pro has a crispier panel but is more reflective. The MAC also is too big and heavy for me as this is just a travel photographic tool. Eight crashes in 8 days is a laptop just below trash however. The MAC does not crash and the WIN7 pro I built two years ago has crashed once in two years. Not happy about one crash every two years but one crash per day renders this laptop useless.

I assume the crashes with my 220x may be the present image ( software problem) not a hardware problem? Does a clean reinstall of WIN7 pro may be a solution? Any suggestions? As is, this laptop is useless to me....but I want to make it work.
hardware an 8 of 10, reliability a 0 of 10

CTO 4286
8 GIG skill ram
camera/finger ready
BIOS 1.16, dated 5/18/11

 

I should say I also have done the following:

1. tested memory with memory Diagnostic tool by lenovo 3x and passed fine
2. run check disk by Microsoft and passed fine.

eduardo

 

It might be a driver problem - it seems whenever you install a specific Lenovo Driver, or Windows Driver, something is incompatible with your hardware. Are you using any custom hardware right now? Perhaps an SSD drive? IF this is the case, you might have a better shot at troubleshooting.

I am not exactly sure what you mean by "crash"; is that in a blue screen? Or does the computer just shut off? If the computer gave you a blue screen fatal error message, your computer should tell you what's wrong at that point.

If none of these solutions are helpful, then I suggest a clean install. AND if that doesn't solve your problem, Lenovo should replace your laptop for you.. if you're in warranty that is.

 

Are you using any custom hardware right now? Perhaps an SSD drive? IF this is the case, you might have a better shot at troubleshooting.

I only added 2 x 4 Skill Ram for 8 gigs. I have tested the memory 3x with the Lenovo Memory diagnostic software. The test says there is no memory problem each of the three times I tested. I have not added any other hardware. I am just running the laptop with the Lenovo and Microsoft drivers, no additional software or hardware.

I am not exactly sure what you mean by "crash"; is that in a blue screen? Or does the computer just shut off? If the computer gave you a blue screen fatal error message, your computer should tell you what's wrong at that point.

It simply freezes and then it reboots, no blue screen as seen in XP. It has happened 8x in the 8 days I've had the machine. The machine always reboots without a problem so far.

If none of these solutions are helpful, then I suggest a clean install.

I am now considering that as a solution.

AND if that doesn't solve your problem, Lenovo should replace your laptop for you.. if you're in warranty that is.

My first call was 4 days after I got my machine. I opened a case then and since then I have called two more times. If a clean install does not work, I plan to exchange rather than send it for service. I am assuming I have a defective laptop and this is not an issue common to this laptop.

Thank you for your reply.

Eduardo

 

I have exactly the same problem with my w520 (frequent but irregular freezes + shutdowns). Ran several test with 3 different sets of RAM DIMMs, all fine, but the problem persists. Was monitoring the CPU and GPU temperatures and all is within the normal range too. Will send the laptop to Lenovo for a motherboard replacement.

 

I do believe the problem with my laptop is software/drivers but I only had it for a few days. At first I did consider sending the machine for service but now I believe I will just replace it if the fresh WIN7 install does not work.

Thank you for the reply

 

have you tried Linux? maybe it's a software problem only.

 

Good idea! Unfortunately I only want this machine to support my photography. I already own the Windows versions of Photoshop, Lightroom, and Dreamweaver. I have never owned a PC that came with software and a OS installed as I have always built my PC's since the 80's. Looks like I may have to do a OS fresh install. Arrg!

Thank you for your reply

 

As a follow up. I warmed up the PC via tests. I run the Quick Hardware Diagnostic by lenovo/pc doctor test 3 consecutive times and tested temps and fan with TPFan software. My CPU went from 50 degrees when not in heavy use, fan at 1800 RPM to a high of 78 when stressed at its max and fan going to 3500 RPM. It does cool down quite fast after the test and seems to stay at about 50.

No crashes during the test. May I assume that I am not having heat problems? I want to rule out hardware problems here.

 

temps looks ok, I'm having similiar with X200s. Idle around 43-45 and stree goes quite high but cools down quickly.

 

If the machine is shutting down on it's own it may be motherboard related. A lot of T400s' had that problem.

 

I now have applied to get a replacement for my X220