Saving a T43p UXGA wreck / find original config using Machine Type

[lukee]

Hello, I got very late 15inch T43p (2679-BN4, manufactured Dec 2006, Lenovo logo at LCD bezel) but I am not able to check the system configuration on Lenovo support pages. I am confident it was possible some time ago, now the Drivers&Software support module does not provide the system specs based on machine type entered. Anyone could help me with identifying 2679-BN4 configuration?
Thanks.

Edit: Topic renamed.

[Tasurinchi]

This is the original config for your T43p:

Code: Select all

ThinkPad T43p - 2679-BN4
Based on 2668-Q1U: PM 770 (2.1 GHz), 2 GB RAM, 80 GB 7200 rpm HD, 15in 1600 x 1200 LCD, 128 MB ATI FireGL
V3200, CDRW/DVDRW, Intel 802.11bg wireless, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, 6c Li-Ion batt, WinXP Pro

Very nice config btw!

[lukee]

Thanks Tasurinchi for that information I was guessing this is FlexView UXGA and YES, it is I will need to solve few things - LCD cover and bottom cover are quiet worn and CPU fan is rattling few seconds after cold start. LCD seems to be in mint condition, I see no scratches or bright spots on it. I have already contacted local used parts vendor for that replacement parts.

[Johan]

Just FYI ("for your information"):

If you wish to find the stock configuration for other ThinkPad's (incl. all those no longer supported by Lenovo), then this can be done via the thread ThinkPad Machine Type - Model lookup table *PIC* and more precisely via the link in this post.

Johan

[lukee]

Thanks Johan, the link seems to be helpful. I can get the configuration information from there as well
http://sm.krelay.de/tp/index.php?type=2679-BN4

[lukee]

Well, running first time yesterday I see the motherboard is probably fully OK - no signs of VGA or USB/southbridge BGA loose issue. Original 7200rpm Hitachi HDD provided some errors in S.M.A.R.T (Reallocation Event Count, Bus CRC Errors records) thus I swapped it for pretty silent, original FRU option Toshiba 80GB 5400rpm drive. After removing keyboard I found the cause of CPU fan rattling sound - the fan shaft has about 0,5mm gap in the bearing. I have already purchased two new fans (only the cage with fan, not whole heatsink) from feebay. LCD hinges are not so tight but much more better than can be seen on T6x/T400 series. LCD itself is perfect, in the direct view it is clean in the entire area and provides nice colors. By setting black wallpaper I did not find any dead pixels. Keyboard and palmrest are clean and without major blemish.

Issues remaining:
- HDD cover need to be swapped (current one has cracked plastic)
- whole bottom case need to be swapped - black layer is peeling off
- LCD cover need to be swapped (there are lot of scratches in the soft-touch layer)

[Johan]

By setting black wallpaper I did not find any dead pixels.

A full (thorough) check for dead and/or stuck pixels may be carried out using the free and very good tool Dead Pixel Buddy. If you have access to the internet, the following online-utilities may also be used: Dead pixel test and LCD test (with many test-patterns) and online monitor test pointing to Monitor test.

Suggestion: Get the free and highly recommended Notebook Hardware Control or the newer IBM_ECW : Power management tool for T4x/R5x and install it (one of them!) on your “new” T43p, to reduce heat-dissipation and fan-noise… I’m certain you’ll like the result!

Good luck with completely restoring your "new" fine FlexView/IPS ThinkPad!

Johan

[lukee]

Thank you for poviding these links. ECW seems to be a very good initiative. However my T43p will be Linux machine (I have already installed Ubuntu 14 LTS) so NHC/ECW will not run there. But I can consider the ECW for my primary T400. In the mean time I will study ThinkWiki to install & run hdapsd, ThinkPad fan control scripts and ThinkPad buttons support correctly.
I will also consider a southbridge heatsink installation, spreading the heat from SB to the optical drive cage. In terms of BIOS, I will keep the original one (at least for now) as my Toshiba HDD is original FRU without 2010 error.

[Johan]

... as my Toshiba HDD is original FRU without 2010 error.

The 2010-error can be removed as described in the thread T43 no more error 2010 (picture warning).

Johan

[lukee]

I am posting some photos from my T43p renovation project:

http://1drv.ms/19k4UB2 (OneDrive album, warning for 56k-ers - 800px pictures in the link)

You can see the laptop shell there, UXGA LCD, Toshiba HDD and heatsink with the fan unmounted (awaiting two new fans from China nowadays). I have been cleaning the plastics whole the weekend using:

- 2x micro fibre wiper (soft and harder)
- parfume "Vespa for Men" - it cleans the impurities well and keeps a good smell of the laptop parts
- old teeth cleaner brush (for cleaning narrow places)
- packaging foam (very good to clean the soft-touch layer on the LCD cover and polish the scratches there)

Imagine that laptop you see on the photos was dedicated for scrap. And how it transformed during one weekend. I will need to puchase HDD cover as the original one is cracked. I will be ready for final assembly once I get the new CPU fan from China.

[Norway Pad]

Nice find and good job. That looks very nice, indeed.

I don't think I have ever seen a T43 with the new style Thinkpad logo and Lenovo branding on the clear plate, so this is definitely a sign that the T60 was just around the corner when this unit was made.

[lukee]

Thanks. Your are probably correct with the T60 around the corner. My T43p's DVD-RAM is the same model and has same manufacturing date (08/2006) as my other T60's/T61's DVD-RW DL drive. Only difference seems to be tray design - T43p has blue tray release button, T60 has gray. This can be a proof that T43/T60 parts were assembled in parallel. I have assembled the ThinkPad already - will deliver photos soon. Thanks to the local vendor I got T42p heatsink with fan yesterday so I have completed the assembly in late hours yesterday. Every part fitted to the shell correctly.

[axur-delmeria]

However my T43p will be Linux machine (I have already installed Ubuntu 14 LTS) so NHC/ECW will not run there.

Do some research on Linux-PHC. It's an out-of-tree kernel module (not included in the kernel source tree) that allows access to voltage controls. I've used in in my X61 T9300 with good results. The only problem is that the stable version (0.32) does not allow you to choose the clock multipliers to enable/disable-- there's a beta version (0.40) that allows this, but I haven't tried it yet.

[Norway Pad]

Only difference seems to be tray design - T43p has blue tray release button, T60 has gray.

Just curious: The lower part of the tray outer cover is beveled on the T43 one, right? One of my T43s once had a T60 optical unit, and I remember the lower edge of the tray cover didn't fit with the lower edge of the machine. It was protruding a little bit. Don't remember how I solved that, I think I maybe managed to swap the covers.

[lukee]

You are correct, lower part of the tray is beveled for the T43p DVD-RAM and for the T6x it is fully flat, aestetically breaking the beveled edge of the ThinkPad's shell. However the labels and model numbers are same for both drives (Lenovo P/N is different of course).

[lukee]

However my T43p will be Linux machine (I have already installed Ubuntu 14 LTS) so NHC/ECW will not run there.

Do some research on Linux-PHC. It's an out-of-tree kernel module (not included in the kernel source tree) that allows access to voltage controls. I've used in in my X61 T9300 with good results. The only problem is that the stable version (0.32) does not allow you to choose the clock multipliers to enable/disable-- there's a beta version (0.40) that allows this, but I haven't tried it yet.

Thanks axur, I will try this. Fact is that my setup has lot of work with Ubuntu 14.04 LTS now. This can be also seen on the bottom side of my T43p - it is getting very hot. I just started thinking about additional fan placed in and powered by the PCCard slot which I do not use anyway. Also will consider more lightweight distribution based on Ubuntu (Xubuntu/Lubuntu).

[lukee]

Today I have updated BIOS with the unofficial, no-1802, no-2010 errors, BIOS using the ISO image from Dropbox link provided in this thread. Update utility started fine, however the flashing program hung at 'Erasing block F' part. Clock in the right bottom corner of the update utility stopped to work. I was scared that I just bricked my laptop, but after hard shutdown and power on the laptop booted fine. Interesting.