[help needed] Laptop won't boot up from CD

Aralhach · 03-29-2008, 04:48 PM

Hello! This is my first post on this forum. Judging my problem, I don't think that it's a BIOS problem, but if you think it is, please tell me; and if this post is in the wrong place, I apologize.

I just got a laptop that a friend wants me to fix. I got his permission to format the hard drive, but I can't get the thing to boot from CD. Before trying anything though, I first just tried to turn it on. It's an IBM ThinkPad T23. I got this (after the usual IBM ThinkPad screen):

Code:

Intel (R) Boot Agent Version 4.0.18
Copyright (C) 1997-2001, Intel Corporation

Intel Base-Code, PXE-2.1 (build 083)
Copyright (C) 1997-2001, Intel Corporation
PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable
PXE-M0F: Exiting Intel PXE ROM.
Operating System not found

Then I put the CD in, went to the BIOS, and put the CD-ROM up to the top. I restarted the laptop, and the same IBM screen came up. Then the DVD-ROM light (there isn't any problem if booting a CD, is there?) started blinking, and the motor started going. The screen went black, and then the motor went off, and let the screen sitting blank. (The CD I put in was a WinXP installation CD) Thinking that it may just be taking a while, I went away, and came back a few minutes later, to find the computer in the same condition. I turned it off, cleaned the lens with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab, tried again, but I can't get it to work. I'd really appreciate your help!

**TriggerFinger** · 03-29-2008, 05:15 PM

Hi Aralhach,

Welcome to TSF!

Try updating the BIOS. Is the DVD/CD drive tested to work on another system? If you have a floppy drive (I think T23s can take on a floppy drive in CD/DVD bay), try booting from it (use a bootable floppy).

If you can open it up, check also the connection of the DVD/CD drive. At this point I am thinking that it is a mobo problem, that even if it works with the floppy drive, the DVD/CD cannot be recognized by the BIOS.

One option you can try (assuming this is a mobo defect), is to use an external drive via USB. Access your BIOS and enable USB support.

Aralhach · 03-31-2008, 03:52 PM

I don't really know how to update the BIOS, and I don't see how that's possible with the null connectivity it has. I didn't take it apart, as the laptop isn't mine, and I don't want to risk it yet. I didn't find any floppy drive. I don't have any external USB hard drive. I think that the hard drive is somehow disconnected (because of the boot error and because at the bottom of the boot list is "IBA 4.0.18" which matches the Intel Boot Agent, so I don't think that it can find the hard drive.

I really appreciate your help! I returned the laptop today, but if the owner takes it apart and finds a loose cable or something, I should get it back by Wednesday.
Thanks again!

03-29-2008, 04:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Aralhach Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2 OS: WinXP SP2	[help needed] Laptop won't boot up from CD Hello! This is my first post on this forum. Judging my problem, I don't think that it's a BIOS problem, but if you think it is, please tell me; and if this post is in the wrong place, I apologize. I just got a laptop that a friend wants me to fix. I got his permission to format the hard drive, but I can't get the thing to boot from CD. Before trying anything though, I first just tried to turn it on. It's an IBM ThinkPad T23. I got this (after the usual IBM ThinkPad screen): Code: Intel (R) Boot Agent Version 4.0.18 Copyright (C) 1997-2001, Intel Corporation Intel Base-Code, PXE-2.1 (build 083) Copyright (C) 1997-2001, Intel Corporation PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable PXE-M0F: Exiting Intel PXE ROM. Operating System not found Then I put the CD in, went to the BIOS, and put the CD-ROM up to the top. I restarted the laptop, and the same IBM screen came up. Then the DVD-ROM light (there isn't any problem if booting a CD, is there?) started blinking, and the motor started going. The screen went black, and then the motor went off, and let the screen sitting blank. (The CD I put in was a WinXP installation CD) Thinking that it may just be taking a while, I went away, and came back a few minutes later, to find the computer in the same condition. I turned it off, cleaned the lens with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab, tried again, but I can't get it to work. I'd really appreciate your help!

03-29-2008, 05:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,853 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: [help needed] Laptop won't boot up from CD Hi Aralhach, Welcome to TSF! Try updating the BIOS. Is the DVD/CD drive tested to work on another system? If you have a floppy drive (I think T23s can take on a floppy drive in CD/DVD bay), try booting from it (use a bootable floppy). If you can open it up, check also the connection of the DVD/CD drive. At this point I am thinking that it is a mobo problem, that even if it works with the floppy drive, the DVD/CD cannot be recognized by the BIOS. One option you can try (assuming this is a mobo defect), is to use an external drive via USB. Access your BIOS and enable USB support. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE Last edited by TriggerFinger; 03-29-2008 at 05:19 PM.

03-31-2008, 03:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
Aralhach Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2 OS: WinXP SP2	Re: [help needed] Laptop won't boot up from CD I don't really know how to update the BIOS, and I don't see how that's possible with the null connectivity it has. I didn't take it apart, as the laptop isn't mine, and I don't want to risk it yet. I didn't find any floppy drive. I don't have any external USB hard drive. I think that the hard drive is somehow disconnected (because of the boot error and because at the bottom of the boot list is "IBA 4.0.18" which matches the Intel Boot Agent, so I don't think that it can find the hard drive. I really appreciate your help! I returned the laptop today, but if the owner takes it apart and finds a loose cable or something, I should get it back by Wednesday. Thanks again!