My IBM Thinkpad A22 only stays on for a couple of minutes

cdp · 05-17-2008, 01:20 PM

Starting a few weeks ago, it randomly shut down every 30 - 60 minutes. It has gotten worse and worse. At best it stays on for a few minutes, at worst it won't even power all the way up. I have tried using the power cable, not using the power cable, using the battery, not using the battery, and nothing makes it better.

I bought this computer used a few months ago. I haven't tried re-installing the operating system since I don't have a copy of windows 2000 pro (maybe I'll have to buy it?). I do not use this computer on the internet, all I use is Word.

It isn't worth paying $100 to take it to a computer repair shop.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am a computer dummy, and I don't know what to do.

**TriggerFinger** · 05-17-2008, 01:42 PM

hi cdp,

try monitoring your temps. observe the temp until it shuts down (within 30 to 60mins of use). also get hold of the service manual for your model from the IBM website. it will come in handy. also run PC Doctor for your model. All these can be downloaded from IBM website.

cdp · 05-17-2008, 02:07 PM

How would I monitor temps? And what would I do about if it is a temp problem?

The biggest problem is, I can't get it to stay on for more than a few seconds or minutes. It might be impossible to load and run any programs on it.

**TriggerFinger** · 05-17-2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdp

How would I monitor temps? -- try SpeedFan or NHC

And what would I do about if it is a temp problem? -- start with cleaning the insides (motherboard, heatsink, etc.). reapply thermal compound on the CPU and heat sink.

The biggest problem is, I can't get it to stay on for more than a few seconds or minutes. -- i thought you said 30 to 60mins as per your first post in this thread?

It might be impossible to load and run any programs on it.

cdp · 05-17-2008, 02:21 PM

The computer has gotten worse over weeks. Now it is just stays on for a few minutes.

**TriggerFinger** · 05-17-2008, 02:27 PM

so have you tried PC Doctor?

cdp · 05-17-2008, 03:20 PM

No. Could you tell me more about it or provide a link? I appreciate it!

**TriggerFinger** · 05-17-2008, 05:32 PM

here's the link

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si...id=MIGR-4JRMNE

i checked this thread but i cannot seem to find what specific A22 model you have.. so here's a link to the IBM website.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si.../homeLenovo.do

just enter the required information (easy and straightforward) and it will bring you to the Download page.

you may need to have a floppy drive and 3 floppy diskettes to create diagnostic diskettes.

since it seems you have not tried to install SpeedFan or NHC to monitor your temps, we cannot really say if it is overheating.

also here's the link to the service manual. ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs...df/23p0896.pdf

you may need that if you want to open the laptop up to clean the insides or reapply the thermal compound (if it is overheating). the manual will also be your guide in finding locations of certain components like RAM or WiFi card.

as i said RUN PC DOCTOR. if all hardware checks out OK, then it could be Windows causing this random shutdown.

05-17-2008, 01:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
cdp Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4 OS: Windows 2000	My IBM Thinkpad A22 only stays on for a couple of minutes Starting a few weeks ago, it randomly shut down every 30 - 60 minutes. It has gotten worse and worse. At best it stays on for a few minutes, at worst it won't even power all the way up. I have tried using the power cable, not using the power cable, using the battery, not using the battery, and nothing makes it better. I bought this computer used a few months ago. I haven't tried re-installing the operating system since I don't have a copy of windows 2000 pro (maybe I'll have to buy it?). I do not use this computer on the internet, all I use is Word. It isn't worth paying $100 to take it to a computer repair shop. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am a computer dummy, and I don't know what to do.

05-17-2008, 01:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,791 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: My IBM Thinkpad A22 only stays on for a couple of minutes hi cdp, try monitoring your temps. observe the temp until it shuts down (within 30 to 60mins of use). also get hold of the service manual for your model from the IBM website. it will come in handy. also run PC Doctor for your model. All these can be downloaded from IBM website. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

05-17-2008, 02:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
cdp Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4 OS: Windows 2000	Re: My IBM Thinkpad A22 only stays on for a couple of minutes How would I monitor temps? And what would I do about if it is a temp problem? The biggest problem is, I can't get it to stay on for more than a few seconds or minutes. It might be impossible to load and run any programs on it.

05-17-2008, 02:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
cdp Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4 OS: Windows 2000	Re: My IBM Thinkpad A22 only stays on for a couple of minutes The computer has gotten worse over weeks. Now it is just stays on for a few minutes.

05-17-2008, 02:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,791 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: My IBM Thinkpad A22 only stays on for a couple of minutes so have you tried PC Doctor? __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

05-17-2008, 03:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
cdp Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4 OS: Windows 2000	Re: My IBM Thinkpad A22 only stays on for a couple of minutes No. Could you tell me more about it or provide a link? I appreciate it!

05-17-2008, 05:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,791 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: My IBM Thinkpad A22 only stays on for a couple of minutes here's the link http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si...id=MIGR-4JRMNE i checked this thread but i cannot seem to find what specific A22 model you have.. so here's a link to the IBM website. http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si.../homeLenovo.do just enter the required information (easy and straightforward) and it will bring you to the Download page. you may need to have a floppy drive and 3 floppy diskettes to create diagnostic diskettes. since it seems you have not tried to install SpeedFan or NHC to monitor your temps, we cannot really say if it is overheating. also here's the link to the service manual. ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs...df/23p0896.pdf you may need that if you want to open the laptop up to clean the insides or reapply the thermal compound (if it is overheating). the manual will also be your guide in finding locations of certain components like RAM or WiFi card. as i said RUN PC DOCTOR. if all hardware checks out OK, then it could be Windows causing this random shutdown. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE Last edited by TriggerFinger; 05-17-2008 at 05:33 PM.