Bad onboard memory? (CF-28)

My Toughbook only passes POST once out of every 5-10 tries. Once it does, it says that the previous boot was incomplete and then I push F1, and it boots to XP fine.

All other times it either freezes on the PANASONIC logo or the video BIOS before that.

I have removed the RAM, battery, HDD, all cards... same problem. I'm guessing I have bad onboard RAM... yes?

 

Can you boot an Memtest CD?

 

What model? If it's a P, they have an issue with a particular resistor falling off and causing post fails but you get random fails if it's only starting to come off.

A bad battery will also cause that.

 

I have no CD-ROM to boot to

The model is: CF-28MCFAZEMBKB

I wish it was the battery, but it does it with it removed as well.

 

You may have a faulty AC adapter as well; however, for a proper memory test you can go here:

http://www.memtest.org/#downiso

download the executable for "Pre-Compiled package for Floppy (DOS - Win)" and run it with a blank floppy in your PC; it will create a bootable MemTest Floppy you can use.

If, once you get the laptop to start it actually runs without issue, I'd suspect some other issue - faulty solder joints, loose connections between mainboard & sub-boards or somesuch thing.

Good hunting,

mnem
Ahhh... that's it... a little lower... now to the right... No, MY right... ghaaaaaahhhhhhh...

 

Well the good news is, if you do have a faulty component on the mobo, several of us have extra CF28M motherboards if you need one. I know I've got one or two.

 

I just tried literally 12 times to get past POST and it wouldn't. I give up with this motherboard!

If someone has a proper motherboard for sale, please PM me and let me know.

 

Ok, after trying on and off all morning I got it to boot.

I don't think it's memory... reason being, once in XP everything is fine. I can surf the net, open Office up, listen to music, you name it. No errors, no problems. If it was bad memory I'd be getting errors all the time, right?

 

I'd say yes; is it possible you have issues with the HD ribbon? I'd look for it poorly seated at the MoBo or perhaps even a rip; intermittent connections there can play h#ll with your POST as sure as a RAM issue...

mnem
POST Problems? No problem... let me get my POST MAUL...

 

aaron7, I'm curious. What exactly did you do to boot successfully now or you're still having boot-up issues?

 

I bought a 800MHz CF-28, that's how I fixed the problem! haha

It wasn't the hdd or caddy, keyboard, screen, floppy, power adaptor, or battery as I transferred all that to my new one.

Must have been a flaky motherboard... I guess.