[beachfeet]

Hello,

I have a Lenovo 3000 G530 Laptop, that shuts down on its own, after running, for 5-20 minutes. The Lenovo, has an approx, 250GB SSD, with 3GB of RAM installed, and is running Ubuntu 14.04.4 as the OS. I originally thought that it was possibly a corrupt battery causing the issue, so today I only used the AC adapter to power the machine. The system powered up fine, and when I opened a web browser the system shut off instantly. With the battery out, and the AC adapter unplugged, I held down the power button for 60 seconds, with hopes of resetting/draining the power and starting over. Unfortunately, after booting up, (Still without the battery) the system shut down in a few minutes. I am not sure if this is a hardware issue, or if there are some Ubuntu settings that I am not aware of, that could be causing this issue, but I would really appreciate some advice. Thank you very much.

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   beachfeet,

 

That behaviour is typical of an overheating system, see example cleaning guide here

 

Let us know how it goes after the clean out.

[phillpower2]

   beachfeet,

 

That behaviour is typical of an overheating system, see example cleaning guide here

 

Let us know how it goes after the clean out.

[beachfeet]

Okay, I will do that. Thank you, for the fast reply.

[beachfeet]

phillpower,

I would like to add that I am able to keep the BIOS open, and up for hours. Actually, it seems like the BIOS will stay up, until I power down the PC. Once I attempt to boot into the installed OS, or boot off a live drive, that is when the system will start to turn off by itself. In the past, I was hoping to use Live media, and run some diagnostic tools, to help pin point the issue. Unfortunately, the machine will not stay on long enough for me to do this. I dusted out the vents again, for good measure, after you posted the link. I should have added in my original post, that this is something that I do regularly. One of the recommendations on the list, that you posted, suggested that I update the BIOS. Currently, I have BIOS version 0CCN58WW(V1.24) installed. I could not even find the proper BIOS update, in the driver section, of the Lenovo website. A couple of questions, if you don't mind. One, do you know if a BIOS update, is possible? Also, do you know why the System BIOS has no problems running, but any sort of Live media, or booting from the HDD, is guaranteed to turn the system off?

Thank you, very much.

Edited by beachfeet, 10 August 2016 - 04:00 PM.

[beachfeet]

I took the rear casing off, and booted the machine, into the BIOS. I noticed that the fan, was no longer spinning. I am wondering if the CPU fan, usually spins, while accessing the BIOS. So, the CPU fan is not spinning when the BIOS is active, yet the system remains on. Once booted from live media, or the HDD the system shuts off. Strange.

Update: The fan was spinning properly, for the 2 minutes that the installed OS, was running. I had the rear casing off, and tried it out. I also swapped out the RAM, from a working machine, and the system still turned off.

Edited by beachfeet, 10 August 2016 - 04:30 PM.

[phillpower2]

I took the rear casing off, and booted the machine, into the BIOS. I noticed that the fan, was no longer spinning. I am wondering if the CPU fan, usually spins, while accessing the BIOS.

 

 

The cooling fan/s should begin to work as soon as the power is turned on and you should be able to hear them start up at full speed and then decrease within a few seconds and in some cases stop until a thermal sensor activates the fan/s again., you should also keep in mind that the computer is not under any particular load when in the BIOS so the fan behaviour will differ.

 

Update: The fan was spinning properly, for the 2 minutes that the installed OS, was running. I had the rear casing off, and tried it out

 

 

After the two minutes did the computer shut down itself or did you manually shut down the computer.

 

Do you have access to another computer that has internet connection and a disk burner or alternatively a computer with internet connection and a spare USB thumb drive that you can use to download Puppy Linux to, this will allow you to use and test the computer without the need for the HDD to be accessed,

 

Tip

Please avoid adding multiple posts while waiting for us to reply to your last post, edit your last post to include anything that you wish to add, this will ensure nothing gets overlooked which can sometimes happen if a thread has more than one page. 

[phillpower2]

Not heard back from you beachfeet, do you still require assistance or is the issue now resolved, an update would be appreciated.

[beachfeet]

Philpower2,

So sorry, about the delay. Life got in the way. Below, I will list a series of steps that I took to diagnose the issue, and where I am now.

-I installed Windows 7 Pro x64, on the Lenovo. The machine ran smoothy, and did not shut off by itself once.

-While MS Windows was installed, I tested the following:

GPU-Tested with Furmark, and Unigine's Valley Software. No issues were reported.

CPU-Tested with the Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool, and Prime95. While using the IPDT, the only test that failed, was the 'brand string.' However, the CPU passed the torture test, supplied by Prime95.

RAM-Tried alternative sticks, from a fully functional laptop, and ran the Windows memory diagnostic tool, on the main sticks that I was using. No issues were detected.

 

-I ended up using the Lenovo Diagnostics 4.7.0, to test the health of the mother board, chipset, PCI/PCIe, RTC, and the USB ports. All passed with flying colors.

-I even looked for a firmware update, on the wireless mouse, that I use with the system

-I upgraded the firmware, on my internal Kingston SSD. The SSD, was also in perfect health.

-I generated a power report, using the Windows 7 command prompt, by using the following commands:

cd %userprofile%/Desktop

 

powercfg –energy

 

Results show that the the battery is in perfect health, and the power analysis was successful. No energy problems were detected, on the system.

 

When these 'power outages' were occurring, Ubuntu 14.04 was installed. Everything that I read told me that Ubuntu could not have been the source of the problem. After installing Windows, and ensuring that the internal hardware was in good health, and that the battery did not have any problems charging (I even tested two separate batteries), I am brought back to my original gut instinct. Ubuntu, was the culprit. Now, I already have a couple of Windows machines, and I did not want a third. I installed Windows 7 pro, specifically to test my theory. Once I found out that everything was running smoothly, I went ahead and installed a later Ubuntu release, Ubuntu 16.04  Xenial Xerus. The install went smoothly, and the system has not shut off. However, I am experiencing some of the same power issues, that I was having while Ubuntu 14.04 was installed. I forgot to mention this in my original post, but I did not just turn the system on one day, and it started shutting off. I noticed a series of steps, that eventually led to the system not being able to stay on. One of those steps, was that the battery refused to constantly charge. Eventually, it would just stop charging all together. So, I have my machine, with the SSD formatted, internal hardware thoroughly checked, and monitored,  Windows wiped, and an alternative/later release Ubuntu installed...the once fully functional, healthy machine, is once again experiencing unknown power issues. For one day, while the AC cord was plugged in, the battery would charge, only when it would want to. Now, the battery is not charging at all. These are some of the same exact symptoms, that I was experiencing, while Ubuntu 14.04 was installed. As stated, as time progressed, the system eventually shut off. I have been searching, and searching, and the only solutions/explanations that I have been able to find, say that:

1)My problem is caused by failing hardware, or a dirty machine (Not the case)

2) There is no way that Ubuntu can cause this to happen (I disagree, just have not been able to produce evidence)

3) It may be a Kernel issue. Why don't you try to run updates, or upgrade to a newer release. (Tried both. and the issue remains)

 

The next step, in this journey, is to try out  a few Linux distros on the Lenovo, and hope that I don't have battery, or power problems. This machine, ran Ubuntu for a good while, before I had to experience any power issues. I just cannot find any other explanation, besides a software related issue. Would you happen to know of any?

 

Thank you, for your time.

Best

Edited by beachfeet, 20 August 2016 - 01:10 AM.

[phillpower2]

No worries beachfeet, we understand that you have other things to deal with but we get so many abandoned threads that I like to check back with members to see if they are still around.

 

A thorough update from you there and it is apparent that you have looked into this with some time and effort on your behalf 

 

Away from software as the cause for a minute and a look at hardware;

 

For one day, while the AC cord was plugged in, the battery would charge, only when it would want to. Now, the battery is not charging at 

 

 

Couple of questions if I may;

 

Will the computer run ok with the battery removed and only the AC adaptor powering the notebook.

 

Will neither of your two batteries charge.

 

Are you using Lenovo branded batteries and AC adaptor.

 

Does you AC adaptor have a power LED on it to confirm that power is going through it.

 

Is the DC jack port on the notebook in good condition as in not loose and the same for any central polarity pin.

[beachfeet]

Thank you, for understanding, Philpower.

 

Will the computer run ok with the battery removed and only the AC adaptor powering the notebook.

Yes, the system performs fine, while running on the adapter, and with the battery removed. It ran fine, while Windows was installed, and it runs fine, with Ubuntu Installed.

 

Will neither of your two batteries charge. Are you using Lenovo branded batteries and AC adaptor

Both batteries, experience the same power issues, while using Ubuntu. Both batteries, had no issues at all, while Windows was installed. I have a genuine Lenovo AC adapter, and the stock battery that came with the system. The stock battery, is not made by Lenovo. It is a Sony product. The second battery, is a backup, that I purchased on Amazon, a few months ago.

 

Is the DC jack port on the notebook in good condition as in not loose and the same for any central polarity pin.

Yes, they are all secure, and in great condition.

 

Does you AC adaptor have a power LED on it to confirm that power is going through it

Yes, the adapter lights up blue, to confirm power. Even during those previous random shut offs, if the adapter was plugged in, the light has never dimmed. I have even checked the adapter for damage, and bent wires. Nothing.

 

Edit: Just recently, I turned the machine on, and everything was running smoothly. I forgot that the battery was not attached, and I accidentally unplugged the power adapter. Of course, the machine then shut off. After reattaching the power adapter, the machine would boot up, flash to the Grub screen, then immediately shut off. I tried this several times, and the same thing would happen. I then plugged the battery in, the machine booted up, and remained on. As a matter of fact, I am editing this post, using the machine. I am not sure if that is a hardware issue, or a software issue. I say this because I ran this beast through all sorts of scenarios while windows was installed, and nothing like this ever happened. I do not just mean various hardware scans, like the ones previously listed. I would also try various cable configurations with the battery installed, and removed. The fact that this machine just booted into Grub, then shut down, raises some suspicion. If there was a hardware problem, or there was an issue with the adapter, the machine might just stay dead, or have various random shut offs. There is something not right about the machine shutting down, right when Grub appears, multiple times, over and over again until the battery is inserted. 

 

Second edit: I would like to add that there have been times while Ubuntu was installed, and I would have the adapter plugged in, the indicator charging light on the machine would not be on, and even though the adapter was plugged in, the system would not charge. If I accessed the settings, and switched to 'guest mode,' the system would start charging right away, and the charging indicator light, would turn on. I wouldn't unplug any cables, and I would not even restart the system. I would just switch to guest mode, and just like that, the system would begin charging. The indicator light would come on, and everything. Very strange.

Edited by beachfeet, 20 August 2016 - 08:23 PM.

[phillpower2]

No problem and thanks for the additional information 

 

Only ever use Puppy Linux so not familiar with the Ubuntu guest setting that appears to be able to turn on the AC adaptor, what I would suggest is that while trouble shooting you stick with the one OS and preferably Windows 7, remove the battery and see if you can install Windows 7 and the Lenovo drivers while using the AC adaptor, once reinstalled fully update Windows 7, reinstall the Lenovo drivers (starting with the chipset drivers first) and see how the computer behaves while still only being powered by the AC adaptor.

 

Apart from the odd Ubuntu and AC adaptor LED behaviour I am leaning towards a power issue with three possible causes coming to mind, faulty AC adaptor, faulty charging circuit within the notebook and a break in a soldered circuit that is expanding when hot thus breaking the electrical flow.

[beachfeet]

Phillpower,

Thank you, for those suggestions. I will have to look into them.

Kindest regards

[phillpower2]

You are welcome beachfeet 

[phillpower2]

Not heard back from you beachfeet, do you still require assistance or is the issue now resolved, an update would be appreciated.