Thinkpads Forum

I'm just curious to find how how many times in 3 years of warranty does an average user get parts of his laptop replaced? How many times did you require a replacement until now?

Does the IBM warranty means nothing bad can happen to you in 3 years or is it more like the high price of IBM laptops includes 3 years of free service and repairs?

My T42p is now 5 month old. They already replaces the 6 cell battery and the DVD/CD-RW drive. Now it looks like i'll have to take it back again, the new CD drive is even worse than the one they replaced. It reads about 50% of all CDs or DVDs and causes bad system crashes. It's not a problem to take it back, the IBM repair is just around the corner but of course i don't want to take it back every single month...

Is this the way it is or are me and my computer just really unlucky?

Petra

Honestly my formerly TPs doesn't need any repair in the past 11 years and some of them are still running problem free. So you could definitely expect trouble free 3 (or even more) years with your TP.

The battery (has 1 year replacement guarantee only) is often pretty weak and the only part I have replaced for some of my TPs in the past after a few month only. Curiously was that the replaced battery then lives for many years. So this is not very unusual for me. All other parts live in general many years...so you seem to be a bit unlucky...

I have had the following:

1. A22e I sold had the hard drive expire on the new owner after three years. I purchased a new hard drive and rebuilt the machine for the owner (it was out of warranty).
2. T23 I sold to an associate had the hard drive expire after two years and a bit. I got a new hard drive under warranty and rebuilt the machine for the owner.
3. T30 I sold to a client had the famous memory slot error and got a new motherboard under warranty.
4. T41 I own now has had a monitor replaced (not defective in the first instance but cracked); the bottom case replaces (not defective in the first instance but cracked); a new hard drive (not defective, but I salivated over the 7200 rpm drive); a new CPU (not defective, but I wanted the Dothan).

... JD Hurst

A31p-R5A - Have this fault and been replace :
1. LCD (there's a black shadow, I guess it's my fault cause I put a few kilos on top of my notebook - horayy!!! Thanks IBM)
2. Complain my bluetooth doesn't work after upgrading to SP2 and my wifi couldn't detect 8 out of 10 wireless network at my workplace, IBM doesn't help much on my btooth and wifi fault cause by software. I reformat and reinstall, still have the same result, bought a 3com xjack wifi to solve my problem, and it did. Hmm...
3. LCD (again, after diagnostic found out mobo + lcd problem), the backlight gone dead. At this point IBM says the mobo also faulty (so have to wait 3 months to get them replaced). They replace my LCD, put another mobo with lower end spec and have me use it first.
4. Keyboard (#5 break, I'm sure some kid playing with my nbook, sent to IBM and replace them FOC. horayy!!! Again - Thanks IBM)

I use my IBM as my desktop, having it open 10am till 8pm everyday, i mean everyday unless when the day it get faulty, then continue 10pm to 2am one or two days in a week. Everything else are cool. Got a ultraybay to fit another 40gb hdd, external fdd, sandisk pcmcia>cf reader, 3com xjack, 2nd adapter and 512mb ram upgrade. IBM serve me well, and with all those fault, i still gave it two thumbs up!

755cx - motherboard got flaky (intermitent crashes when I move the machine) just after the warranty expired. Replaced with 770.

770 - paint peeled off bezel, backlight inverter went bad. fixed under warranty. some minor stuff went wrong too, I think. Upgraded to A20p.

A20p - case broke near the hinge just as the warranty expired. IBM jerked me around about it, I'm not too happy. I got an incident number from them before the warranty expired but they wouldn't service it because I couldn't ship til I got back from the trip, even though it was under warranty at the time of failure. Good thing I don't travel with it much; I use it at home so I don't have to open and close it and the hinge problem isn't so bad as long as I leave it open. Also, audio (speakers) have gotten flaky--sometimes they work, sometimes not, seems to be a connection problem (comes and goes when I jiggle the machine). Audio through headphones works.

240 - notorious flaky screen connector. IBM replaced the screen to MB cable under a hidden warranty program after the regular warranty expired, but that didn't fix the problem. They said it needed a $700 motherboard replacement, I said screw it. Got along with no ultraportable for a while, then broke down and bought an X40. Meanwhile, I eventually got a replacement 240 motherboard on ebay for $10, but haven't yet tried swapping it in. I might just use the 240 screenless, as a printer server or something like that. (Just put in a network card and control it remotely).

X40 - one of the keys popped off the keyboard after just 1 month. It wouldn't go back on. IBM shipped me a new keyboard. Also, the supposedly "sealed" X40 had a completely screwed up software config, but I think that was the dealer's doing. I had to pay $45 to IBM for a set of recovery CD's. Those used to come free with the computers.

Oh yes, forgot to mention, I've had several travelstar disk drives fail. The most annoying was the 20gb in my A20p. It started making weird noises and I called IBM. IBM said run the diagnostic software (drive integrity test or something) and the software didn't report a failure. IBM refused to do anything about the drive as long as the test software reported success, even though the drive was obviously failing and making really annoying sounds. I bought a replacement drive (another travelstar, stupid me) and copied the files over and retired the original drive. Within a year or so, the replacement drive (#2) started making similar noises. I bought ANOTHER replacement (#3) (this time a Toshiba) but before I had a chance to transfer the files from drive #2, drive #2 failed completely. The head positioner goes berserk, slamming into the stops, when I power it up. I had an old backup but the more recent files on it (done during a trip) were lost. I may send the drive to a big-bucks data recovery place sometime to get those files restored.

I have the impression that travelstar reliability has improved since hitachi acquired the disk division, so I overcame reservations and bought an X40 even though that can ONLY use Hitachi disks, but I may be thinking wishfully. I do like the X40 form factor. I went back and forth a few times between the X40 and X31 and am still not sure I made the right choice. But the X40 is certainly nice.

I have had my T41p since september 2004 now, and have had no replacements whatsoever. Im very, very satisfied.

Bought in January.
Out of the box faulty keyboard, mouse button connection.
1st LCD had an enormous slow red subpixels issue.
2nd LCD had a medium sized slow red pixel problem.
3rd LCD (not yet replaced, IBM seems not to cooperate very well with this issue (at least those who have the power to "make things happen"), demanding it for analysis with me either accepting the lower spec loan machine or simply be without one for months) still exhibits the red glow and has ripples on the screen. I have yet to notify them about the ripples, haven't had the time to again go to IBM's HQ in my city.
Battery was rather loose, this got changed to Sony's version. That was a nice gesture :)

I'd like to get this display problem sorted out though, currently not happy with IBM suggesting it may be caused by my software, which is well, simply impossible, this way evading solutions that do not cause major discomforts for me. It upsets me a little to think that I (or other IBM's clients) have to sacrifice my/their machine for a fault that is not so uncommon.

I)
A31, bought in December 2002 with on-site warranty extension (IBM ePack 3 years onSite-Service)

1. noise when charging battery and using CPU at the same; service technician replaces the mainboard; noise is still there; when replacing the board, he scratched the top cover of the thinkpad
2. service technician replaces the scratched top cover
3. I realized that the noise is produced by the externel Power-Unit and got a second one as replacement by express delivery for free; the noise ist not so loud now but still there
4. Total crash on August 2003. Thinkpad isn't booting any more; display is dark and even with external screen there is no positive result. Two service technicians change the mainboard (they need 5 hours!!, because they are only experienced with servers; can't believe this!!!); Thinkpad can be used with an external screen then, internal display is still dark
5. The two technicians come back to replace the display unit about 4 days later (they need more than 4 hours again!!)
6. The bottom plastic case was not fixed right by the technicians. In the trackpoint area, the keyboard rises a little bit and the keys and the trackpoint are scratching the display over weeks till I realize that problem. I reassamble the bottom case and call the support for the display which is exchanged by the same technicians on site.
7. Next crash on May 2004. Nothing works. The board is replaced by the same technicians. Everythins works fine but on internal and external screen you can see some stripes indicating that the internal graphic card is not working right (it was a refurbished mainboard not a new one).
8. Another technician is replacing the mainboard again and wants to set the ROM of the new mainboard to the serial number of the whole system (which was never done any time before on my TP after replacing the board unit). The software crashes and the board is not usable any more. He builts in the old one with the defect ATI chip and orders a new board for a second replacement
9. Unfortunately, this is going wrong again when trying to update the serial.
10. He comes againg with another mainboard and this time it works.

Since December 2004 I don't use the A31 every day (before I used it about 10 hours a day, 6 days a week) and everythin is OK till now.


II) X20 bought as a used unit on May 2004 with 1 year send-in warranty provided by the reseller.

everything works fine, X20 sold in December 2004


III) X31 bought in November 2004 with on-site warranty extension (IBM ePack 3 years onSite-Service)

1. The first X31 arrives with a subpixel error (one pixel is on green color all the time). The resellers has offered a Zero-Pixel-Warranty on arrival for 30,- EUR which I ordered together with the notebook. I got a new X31 by the reseller which works all right in every day use since December 2004.


IV) IBM P275 21-inch-CRT-Screen as addition to the Thinkpads;bought in January 2003 for nearly 1000 EUR with IBM 3-years-on-site-warranty-extension

1. The screen doens't have a good picture. Black colors are shown a little bit green. When asking at IBM they cannot help me. There is not adjustment tool available and the phone support cannot provide me with further information.
2. In summer 2004 I order a second P275 for only 200 EUR at eBay. The picture is clear and black is shown as black and not as dark-green. I call the IBM support again to get my screen exchanged.
3. Weeks later IBM tells me that a screen is now available and a technician will come to exchange.
4. Two weeks later I call again because no one came to replace the screen. The told me something about delivery problems.
5. A week later they call me: The technician cannot load the screen into his car. It will be send to me by UPS.
6. The screen arrives another week later and unfortunately it is not the screen I have ordered but a newer one (C220p) that doesn't fit to my second one (using as a dual screen environment with a dual head graphic card in the IBM dock). It takes another 2 weeks to get the information that a P275 isn't available as FRU-part anymore. The old screen cannot be repaired either, so I have to take the C220p
7. I sell the C220p on eBay and buy a second P275 as a used one.
8. No ePacks for on-site-service any more when buying an IBM-screen. Doesn't make any difference (next 2 screens will be Xerox or Marmaid TFTs anyway)

I must be one of the lucky ones. Been using Thinkpads for about a decade now (some models I have owned were the 701C, 755, 760XL, 560E/Z, 600/E/X, X23. X31 and all the T4x series up to T42) and the only thing I had to send was a 6GB Travelstar drive belonging to a TP600. Of course, I am trying not to be ridiculously picky (like sending my battery back because it was Sony instead of Sanyo or whatever) but I never had a hardware failure.

Oh, actually, I remembered something. A T23 I still have broke at the usual spot (lower left palm rest). I didnt even bother to send it back. Ordered a new palm rest, got it for free (sometimes IBM dont charge if the parts are of low value) and replaced it in about 10 mins myself.

Hello,

after having used Laptops from AST, which is no more ...

I leased an TP 770X 1999, which besides the almost traditional backlight-problem ( in the first months after purchase and a second time after about four years of continous use) produced no problem whatsoever. (Using the maintenance manual I was able to upgrade CPU and repair the display in a go within several hours of one evening.)

I leased an TP A31P 2002, which besides the almost ... produced no problem whatsoever. May be , the "four" years will be up for the display in summer.

I bought an TP A31P (second hand, warranty till 12/2005) 2004 for my wife, which besides the almost traditional ... produced no problem whatsoever up to now (and I do not expect it to).

IBM's laptops may sometimes have hardware bugs, some even "traditional" ones . But, as IBM publishes its hardware maintenance manuals and sells necessary spare parts/miscellanceous items (screws & the like), it is possible and not very difficult to repair the notebook, when running out of warranty, without risking to much. And IBM's TPs are reliable tools: my notebook runs 7 days a week, each day at least 6 hours, weekends far more, and they do not complain... ! (My wife does...)

Summary: You had bad luck...

Well, of the models and spare parts I've got of them (all secondhand)...

A31p: Just sent in due to well-documented inverter problem (screen going pink). For all the features, it's easier to service than the T4x's, even w/o manual.

600E: Either I'm spoiled by FlexView, or it's the age of the the display - it's just a bit dull. No service needed, and it ironically outlasts the A31p in battery life. No 85->30% in 1 second battery problems so far, but I do have spares for this documented problem.

The 730T's: Nothing wrong until they're unplugged.

I'd have to agree with friedrich-eugen on IBM's current hardware - they have bugs, but it's not terribly hard to work around them with the parts and documentation.

As far as the dead pixel problem, I must be inordinately lucky for not having it at all(or I just cant see it on a 1600x1200 display), but I've seen it on other devices.

Bought my T40 in April 2003. System board failed for undetermined reason and had to be replaced in March 2004. Video chip on new board failed in November 2004, requiring yet another system board replacement.

The 3-year warranty has been worth it to me, though I am miffed that such a nice machine has blown out on me twice

I bought my T40p in July 2003. Since then I had following issues:
1. cdrw Combo Drive replacement (DVD read errors)
2. Battery change after just a few cycles
3. Sytemboard replacement (graphic adapter failure)
4. palm rest exchange (crack between hd and arrow right key)
5. Power supply adapter exchange

A little bit much, but the IBM service was always fast and excellent. And I had to send it in just once. Though, my 600X is 5 years old and had no issue so far.