On Wednesday 29 November 2023 00:16:11 GMT you wrote: > On Tuesday, 28 November 2023 15:49:10 GMT Daniel Frey wrote: > > On 11/28/23 03:38, Michael wrote: > > > Over the last 8-9 months I noticed an old Lenovo G505s laptop is > > > spending > > > a > > > long time in the POST process, before eventually the OEM logo shows up > > > on > > > the screen. Last time I timed it, it took 2.5-3.0 minutes. Normally it > > > would only take ~20-30 seconds. Once the logo shows up the boot process > > > proceeds without further delay. > > > > > > Initially, this delay to POST would happen randomly and rarely. Now it > > > happens every time. > > > > > > Things I tried: > > > > > > 1. Reflashing the UEFI firmware - it didn't work because it already has > > > the > > > latest firmware. > > > > > > 2. Removing the main battery and holding down the power button for 15 > > > seconds, hoping to reset the firmware. > > > > > > 3. Leaving the PSU cable connected overnight. > > > > > > 4. Testing the RAM and HDD. > > > > > > None of the above improved the situation, or indicated what might be > > > wrong. > > > > > > I'll reseat the RAM sticks and the HDD next, in case a contact is > > > oxidised, > > > but what else could cause this noticeable delay to POST? A failing RTC > > > CMOS battery? > > > > We have had a few of these at work and these symptoms were cured by a > > new CMOS battery. The voltage on the battery has likely dipped to > > 2.9-3.0 volts; they get unreliable then (i.e. it's dead.) If you leave > > it long enough you'll start getting RTC errors on POST. > > > > I'd try that first, assuming you can still get the CMOS battery for these. > > > > Dan > > Thanks Dan, will do. I was planning to take it apart soon to replace the > HDD with an SSD, so this would be the first thing to check. I expect > finding a replacement unit will be difficult. Every Lenovo RTC battery > seems to have a different part number.
Some things are worth waiting for, others no so much. :-( So, this laptop was taking longer and longer and longer to boot, until it eventually stopped booting 3-4 months ago: When the power button is pressed the cooling fan spins for a second or two, then it stops. A few minutes later the CPU overheats and eventually it goes into a thermal shutdown. Using an external fan to push air through merely delays this process, but the laptop still does not boot. I am getting a black screen and no POST for many minutes until it cuts out. I tried to reset the MoBo BIOS by pressing the power button with no battery or mains connected. I also removed the newly replaced CMOS/RTC battery and pressed the power button, but the same failure mode remains after I reassembled everything. Do I have: 1. Corrupted MoBo UEFI firmware? 2. A dying/dead chipset? 3. Something else? Is there anything else I could possibly try?
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