[LBo] Fw: Thinkpad problem

[tim]

Begin forwarded message:

Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 19:53:03 -0500
From: tim <lnx4vr at 2fords.net>
To: qna at linuxbasics.org
Subject: Thinkpad problem


I recently bought a cheap old laptop, Ibm 390e, and everything has been
what I expected, slow, not enough storage, maximum memory is more like
minimum memory, but it worked.  Last night I booted dsl-n from cd and I
decided to close the lid to make sure suspend wasn't working (!) and it
froze.  I did press the fn key and various F keys but eventually
shutdown manually.  When I rebooted instead of a normal post with
processor speed, etc, I had a splash screen with Ibm at top right
corner and a bold Thinkpad lower left.  And telling me to press F1 to
enter bios utility.  Whether I waited and did not press any keys or
pressed F1 I was taken to the bios utility.  Then two symbols appeared
and normally I would at that point press enter, and OK would print and
then I would be into the utility.  But now enter displays a small x,
pressing enter again, and then again, displays a hand with a slash
through it.  I guess it wants a password, but I have not set any
passwords, and so far have not needed one.  I have been playing with
several different distros and have had a few lockups, but each time
turning off and on and back in business.  I did decide to check the
cmos battery and it was nearly dead.  I have been losing time and
should have checked sooner.  But replacing it didn't change anything.
I know long story, but if anyone has any suggestions other than buying
another I would like to  hear them.