Thinkpads Forum

So when I bought the machine it was running windows 7 just fine, except it had a locked BIOS with no easy fix

So I got a new board, different kind but the CPU was the same as was the rest, it just added a dedicated GPU.

Gone through 2 motherboards now, ebay seller just shipped me the 2nd one, both had the same issues, it will boot to Gparted and it's been running for 30+ minutes so I don't think there's any instability or overheating. I have a fan blowing down on it as well, it's not passing 40C on the heatsinks.

https://i.imgur.com/nleOgoY.jpg

But trying to install Windows 7 Windows 10, or Even getting Linux Mint to run live fails, 7 crashes and the other 2 make the machine turned off

Tried 2 different AC adapters and nothing, I know the rest of the components work as they were working before, so the motherboard seems to be the issue.

Anyone have any suggestions? Would just be nice if I could get it working, only losing like $80 total if it's not working, Thanks for any help.



Side Note does anyone make a simple Thinkpad Keyboard to USB adapter? I know it needs external processing, but still.

Bad CPU comes to mind...

RealBlackStuff wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 05, 2017 8:26 pm

Bad CPU comes to mind...

At this point I won't rule it out, but it was 100% running windows 7 booted, working fine as far I could tell before I tried to replace the board.

8ad HDD / SSD perhaps?

Bad RAM? Nothing tests memory like installing an OS. Try memtest86

hwattys wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 06, 2017 7:07 am

Bad RAM? Nothing tests memory like installing an OS. Try memtest86

Swapped between a few kits of RAM, it was originally running perfectly fine under windows 7

TPFanatic wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 06, 2017 6:01 am

8ad HDD / SSD perhaps?

Had an OS previously installed on the SSD

I have a new CPU installed and it's sitting with Gparted Live running been about 30 minutes again, if It can do that and format the SSD as many times as I want I still don't see why an OS refuses to install, already tried changing my flash drives around and I use them all the time to install OSes.

It just baffles me. Currently it shuts off when I try to install an OS, though I can get farther with my new CPU, at least to the windows install loading screen, didn't get past 10% on extracting files though.

Sounds like an over heating issue. I have a T60 which very easily overheats with windows and freezes or shuts down. Linux runs without issues. Try changing the bios settings; use battery optimized also for AC or something similar setting. Try installing in cooler place. If this helps fix the cooling.

When you swapped the motherboard, did you also mount the heatsink?
Did you put some thermal paste on the cpu before mounting the heatsink?

A common debugging is to disconnect all periferal devices, dvd, wifi, hdd, one stick of ram, and try booting/installing/etc.

jaspen-meyer wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 12, 2017 2:51 am

When you swapped the motherboard, did you also mount the heatsink?
Did you put some thermal paste on the cpu before mounting the heatsink?

A common debugging is to disconnect all periferal devices, dvd, wifi, hdd, one stick of ram, and try booting/installing/etc.

Don't have a heatsink for the new motherboard but I'm checking the small heatsinks I have installed and they're working fine as far as I can tell, not going past 40C

RistoE wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 12, 2017 1:52 am

Sounds like an over heating issue. I have a T60 which very easily overheats with windows and freezes or shuts down. Linux runs without issues. Try changing the bios settings; use battery optimized also for AC or something similar setting. Try installing in cooler place. If this helps fix the cooling.

If it was overheating I don't think it would sit running Gparted forever

Got a new CPU, still can't install an OS, going to try with the hard drive it came with I suppose, but I doubt it's the SSD.