Thinkpad/laptop repair service any good

[rdjack21]

Just wondering if anyone has tried out ezlaptoprepair and if you have what experience did you have with them?

While I could maybe figure out the issue with my machine I don't have the tools/test equipment to verify and then fix it so I thought I might try them and see. The tools would cost more than sending the machine to them ($10 plus shipping to them). Any ways anyone have any thoughts on this...

thanks
Richard Jackson

[ajkula66]

Anyone who claims that they can permanently fix dead pixels is a scam artist. Period.

[rdjack21]

Anyone who claims that they can permanently fix dead pixels is a scam artist. Period.

That is one of the issues they can fix true and turn your laptop around in one day as well as long as they have your LCD in stock which I would assume means they are replacing the LCD screen to fix said dead pixels.

[ajkula66]

That is one of the issues they can fix true and turn your laptop around in one day as well as long as they have your LCD in stock which I would assume means they are replacing the LCD screen to fix said dead pixels.

That's not fixing the dead pixels then, it's called swapping the screen, which you can do yourself with one screwdriver and an open HMM...

What ThinkPad is causing you grief, and what seems to be the issue?

[rdjack21]

X220 think point and the buttons for it not working. The problem is in the motherboard. I have put a known good keyboard on the x220 and it has the same issue. I've put the keyboard from the x220 into a t410 and it works as expected. I have read here in another thread that this issue was caused by a bad smt fuse. As I stated earlier I might be able to find the fuse but I do not have a multimeter to test it to see if it is actually bad. Nor do I have a soldering iron capable of doing work that small if I did find that the part was bad. Now this particular place does not charge you to look at your machine but they will charge you shipping both directions which is cheaper than the tools. I have not made up my mind if I want to send my x220 to them or not but I thought I would ask if anyone has used them in the past to help me make up my mind. I still need to look into local options as well especially for something this simple.

Thanks
Richard

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[rkawakami]

Quick cost analysis:

- cheap DVM (digital volt meter) or DMM (digital multimeter) from Radio Shack or Fry's Electronics (Austin, TX); from $5-$25
- 25 watt, pencil-tip soldering iron (also from RS or Fry's); about $10
- solder; $3-$5
- fuse, most likely mail-ordered from Mouser or DigiKey; $5-$10 (shipping is the expensive part)

So for about $25 to around $45, you'll have what you need to measure the fuse (assuming that you can find it) and install a replacement (again assuming you are able to work with the tiny SMT fuse). The DVM will come in handy for many other uses: measuring battery voltages, testing fuses, light bulbs and extension cords, verifying AC power outlets; the soldering iron, much less so.

You may also want to check with Fry's tech-heads and see if they offer laptop repair. I know the stores in my area will work on desktop systems but I'm not sure if they do laptops, nor if their expertise goes as far down as troubleshooting individual components on a motherboard. I would exercise some caution and talk to the techs first and find out what their experience level is with board-level repairs. Fry's is known locally as a hit-or-miss proposition when it comes to getting help in the aisles and with knowledge about what they are selling.

Contrast this with the dangers inherent in shipping your laptop back-and-forth to my neck of the woods (Santa Clara is next door to San Jose). Total loss or damage while in transit is a possibility.

edit: Found this on Yelp.com http://www.yelp.com/biz/laptop-rescuer-co-santa-clara

[ajkula66]

I have not made up my mind if I want to send my x220 to them or not but I thought I would ask if anyone has used them in the past to help me make up my mind. I still need to look into local options as well especially for something this simple.

OK if I remember correctly that's a pre-production unit? What makes you believe that they would know what to do with it?

That's a job for someone who does ThinkPads and nothing BUT ThinkPads...

[rdjack21]

OK if I remember correctly that's a pre-production unit? What makes you believe that they would know what to do with it?

That's a job for someone who does ThinkPads and nothing BUT ThinkPads...

You are correct it is and it is the internal debate I'm having with myself. Do or Do I not see about getting it fixed. As it is I can get some good use out of it but I would really prefer to use it as a light travel laptop which means I really want the track point to work because to be honest I really don't like to use touch pads. True I can plug in a wireless mouse and I actually have one but I still prefer to use the track point. I think for the time being I'm going to live with it the way it is.

[rdjack21]

Quick cost analysis:

- cheap DVM (digital volt meter) or DMM (digital multimeter) from Radio Shack or Fry's Electronics (Austin, TX); from $5-$25
- 25 watt, pencil-tip soldering iron (also from RS or Fry's); about $10
- solder; $3-$5
- fuse, most likely mail-ordered from Mouser or DigiKey; $5-$10 (shipping is the expensive part)

So for about $25 to around $45, you'll have what you need to measure the fuse (assuming that you can find it) and install a replacement (again assuming you are able to work with the tiny SMT fuse). The DVM will come in handy for many other uses: measuring battery voltages, testing fuses, light bulbs and extension cords, verifying AC power outlets; the soldering iron, much less so.

So true I may have to run down and just get a DVM. Replacing those little SMT parts is not that hard with the right tools I'll have to take a look at what Fry's has because I can't justify the money for what I consider the right soldering iron but for this one job what they have might work.

As far as the fuse goes I think I have already found it I just need to test it now. I have to say these ThinkPad's sure are easy to get apart and easy to put back together every time I open one up they impress me.

edit: Found this on Yelp.com http://www.yelp.com/biz/laptop-rescuer-co-santa-clara

Interesting Thanks for the link. But man some of the prices they have are steep. I know or I should say I used to know of a few SMT repair shops around here (Austin) that would replace a BGA for $25-$50 back when I was in manufacturing.

[rdjack21]

Well I ran down to fry's and picked up a DVM and poped open the x220 to test those fuses and well darn they are just fine. So I guess I'm going to just have to live with out a TrackPoint for the time being. Maybe I will give it to my kids they need a computer and they don't really use the TrackPoint on the X61 they have. Oh well I have some things to think about.

[ajkula66]

May sound like a dumb question, but have you checked the BIOS settings?

[rkawakami]

Forgot that the option exists to disable the trackpoint in BIOS. If that's the case, maybe you can return the DMV to Fry's.

[rdjack21]

May sound like a dumb question, but have you checked the BIOS settings?

No question is a dumb question especially if it fixes a problem. But in this case yes I did check the BIOS and it is enabled. And just to make sure I checked it again in the slim hope that I was mistaken and it was turned off but no luck

Other than this one issue it is a really nice machine. If I didn't love the TrackPoint so much this would really be a non issue but I much prefer the TrackPoint over all the other mouse like inputs I have. But I can live with a trackball if I have to for now.

[RealBlackStuff]

Have you tried uninstall/reinstall the Ultranav drivers and utility?
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/researc ... MIGR-77280
Scroll down to Mouse and Keyboard.