aj8282

I am having a really strange problem and I am wondering if anyone out there can suggest a solution.

I am teaching at a university and use my laptop to show a powerpoint presentation to my class. I am using a refurbished IBM thinkpad T41 running windows XP. I have no problems with the laptop EXCEPT when I enter the one classroom where I am teaching. When I try to boot up my system it goes directly to a screen asking me to select the mode of boot up (safe mode, without networking, etc.). If I choose normal boot mode then it starts to boot and returns to the selection screen. If I choose safe mode I can show my presentation fine but cannot access some other functions (e.g., wireless internet access). Once I shut down the computer and leave the building I can boot up normally and all normal functions return to my laptop.

I thought that it might be some type of compatibility issue with the digital projector in the room, so I tried to boot up without plugging in and I still received the same message and had to boot in safe mode.

Any suggestions as to what could be causing this would be appreciated as it is truly frustrating!

Thanks,

AJ.

grimx133

That does sound truly strange. Can't really think of what could cause that, aside from some sort of interference, but from what. Have you tried booting the laptop up elsewhere, putting it into standy or hibernation, then bring it into the room and waking it up?

Madcatz

I had something very strange like this happen to a customer a few years ago. She bought a laptop, worked fine everywhere except for in her house, where it wouldn't boot and if it did, everything was screwy.

It was caused by an EMF field from a bad power transformer right outside her house, and also bad wiring in her house.

aj8282

Thanks, I'll try to boot from standby next week when I'm back in the class... to make things even stranger I talked with the prof who teaches in the room before me and he has no issues. Also, none of the students have any issues.