Solution: The battery power is getting low. Connect the ac power adapter to the computer and plug it
into an electrical outlet, or replace the battery with a charged one.
• Problem: The computer display remains blank after you press Fn to return from sleep mode.
Solution: Check whether an external monitor was disconnected or turned off while the computer was
in sleep mode. If you disconnected or turned off the external monitor, connect it or turn it on before
resuming the computer from the sleep mode. When resuming the computer from the sleep mode without
attaching the external monitor or turning it on, and the computer display remains blank, press Fn+F7 to
bring up the computer display.
• Problem: The computer does not return from sleep mode, or the sleep indicator stays on and the
computer does not work.
Solution: If the system does not return from sleep mode, it may have entered sleep or hibernation mode
automatically because the battery is depleted. Check the sleep indicator.
– If the sleep indicator is on, your computer is in sleep mode. Connect the ac power adapter to the
computer; then press Fn.
– If the sleep indicator is off, your computer is in hibernation mode or power-off state. Connect the ac
power adapter to the computer; then press the power button to resume operation.
If the system still does not return from sleep mode, your system may stop responding and you may not be
able to turn off the computer. In this case, you need to reset the computer. If you have not saved your
data, it may be lost. To reset the computer, press and hold the power button for 4 seconds or more. If the
system is still not reset, remove the ac power adapter and the battery.
• Problem: Your computer does not enter sleep or hibernation mode.
Solution: Check whether any option has been selected to disable your computer from entering sleep
or hibernation mode.
If your computer tries to enter sleep mode but the request is rejected, the device in the USB connector
might be disabled. If this occurs, do a hot-unplug-and-plug operation for the USB device.
• Problem: The battery discharges slightly while the computer is in hibernation mode.
Solution: If the wakeup function is enabled, the computer consumes small amount of power. This is not a
defect. For details, refer to Power-saving modes.
Drives and other storage devices
This section includes two drive problems which are hard disk drive and solid state drive.
Hard disk drive problems
• Problem: The hard disk drive makes a rattling noise intermittently.
Solution: The rattling noise might be heard:
– When the hard disk drive begins or nishes getting access to data.
– When you carry the hard disk drive.
– When you carry your computer.
This is a normal characteristic of a hard disk drive and is not a defect.
• Problem: The hard disk drive does not work.
Solution: In the startup menu of the ThinkPad Setup, make sure that the hard disk drive is included in the
“Boot priority order” list. If it is included in the “Excluded from boot order” list, it is disabled. Select the
entry for it in the list and press Shift +1. This moves the entry to the “Boot priority order” list.
Chapter 10. Troubleshooting computer problems 139