Used / New T43P DEAD

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Sam · #1 Post by **Sam** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:27 pm

I just bought a T43P 15" fully loaded from IBM Certified Used Equipment with a 3 month warranty. It arrived 2 days ago, and looks and smells brand new, although it does have the "Used IBM Equipment" stickers on it.

I was installing software and GHOST'ing it, and noticed that my recent GHOST image was corrupt. So I re-created it on another partition, using a different version of GHOST. All of a sudden, it froze in the middle of GHOST'ing.

Now, when i power it up, it immediately sounds a rapid sequence of some high frequency (roughly 2000 Hz) beeps like this:

xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx

and then just sits there - no display, no activity...just DEAD.

I saw the other post (Weird T43) and am wondering if I made a bad decision to purchase this model.

Anyone else experienced this? Am i headed down the road of the dreaded "Selectron Service" that others mentioned?

Any suggestions / ideas welcome.

losmeme · #2 Post by **losmeme** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:24 pm

With IBM, you have a 7-day money back guarantee, no questions asked. Call them, and see if they will replace the unit with another one. If not, I'd send it back and wait for them to re-appear.

They will ask you to send the unit in for repair, as it is still under warranty. In my experience, (if you didn't buy a "blemished" model), most everything is new, (LCD, Keyboard, case, battery, etc.) If you can get them to give you a new motherboard, you will have what is possibly a 90% brand new computer, for a great price.

Don't let this experience get to you. They will make it right, give them a chance.

christopher_wolf · #3 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:28 pm

Welcome to the Thinkpad Forum

First off, did you check the beep code with the HMM for your model of T43p and what it indicated the problem was? I would do that first before sending it off to the repair depot. I had a friend get one from there Certified Used and the only problem it had was with a defective memory stick he installed and that got resolved by the maker replacing the memory stick.

All in all, I don't think you got a bad deal on that T43p at all.

#4 Post by **GomJabbar** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:30 pm

From the Hardware Maintenance Manual:

Four cycles of four short beeps and a blank screen. > System board (security chip)

Sam · #5 Post by **Sam** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:37 pm

Thanks for your replies Christopher_Wolf and GomJabbar. You are both correct - I do have the 7 day money back guarantee, and I did find on page 18 of the Serice and Troubleshooting Guide that this indicated a Security Chip problem. Now I'm wondering what they will need to do to fix this - replace the motherboard?

Thanks,

Sam

Sam · #6 Post by **Sam** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:45 pm

By the way, for anyone who is interested i found this link on decoding security chip credentials:

Mod Edit: This is not the type of thing we allow posted on this website.

christopher_wolf · #7 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:04 pm

In either case, simply popping a new chip in will not work. The easiest, by far, route is to get a new planar for it.

Sam · #8 Post by **Sam** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 9:34 am

What is a planar?

Sam · #9 Post by **Sam** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 11:16 am

planar must be laptop lingo for motherboard

Website · #10 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 6:10 pm

Yes, planar = systemboard

I would certainly let IBM take care of it, instead of trying to hack it, like listed earlier...

#11 Post by **Kyocera** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 6:22 pm

Steve is right, get on the phone tonight and let them know what is going on.

Sam · #12 Post by **Sam** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 6:40 pm

I will not even open the case on something brand new with a warranty - I paid good money for this and IBM can fix it.

The problem is getting them on the phone - the line to the people I bought it from (888-SHOP-IBM) is constantly busy, and when I call at night, their voice mail box is full. I may just end up calling a warranty service number instead.

Frustrating to have such a nice computer dead after only 2 days...

#13 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:08 pm

Just an idea...

Mail IBM Certified Used Equipment a note stating your problem and what you want done about it. Send the letter Certified and keep a copy for yourself. The postmark will verify that you responded within the 7-day period. Mention in your letter that you had problems getting through on the phone line.

Sam · #14 Post by **Sam** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 11:22 pm

Excellent idea...

rabbarba · #15 Post by **rabbarba** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 2:39 am

Hey - it must have been my post you saw (Really wierd t43)

They replaced the mainboard, yes

Done it twice now.. but it works great now!

I wonder why they don't answer the phone - there should be technicians and a lineup, but a voice mail?

Sam · #16 Post by **Sam** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 11:44 am

I was calling the 888-SHOP-IBM and their line is busy / voicemail full.

When i called the REPAIR number, i was able to leave a voicemail and they already called this morning. They are sending out a RMA Tag for me to send it back. When they receive it, they will either ship me a similar unit, or refund my money since it has been under 7 days. The tech told me that they do not repair equipment sold as USED, even though my unit is/was pristine as in NEW.

My only concern is that they ship me something less than what i have, so the tech told me i could call them when i get the RMA number and they will tell me what's in stock.

Here's what I got:

T43P 15"
2.2 GHz CPU
2 GB RAM
80 GB HD
128MB ATI Video
CD RW / DVD Read and Write
Fingerprint Reader
9 Cell Battery
6 Month Warranty
AC Charger
Service and Troubleshooting Guide
Some Lotus Office app that i won't use

All for $961 USD

#17 Post by **draco2527** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 1:26 am

Sam wrote:I was calling the 888-SHOP-IBM and their line is busy / voicemail full.

When i called the REPAIR number, i was able to leave a voicemail and they already called this morning. They are sending out a RMA Tag for me to send it back. When they receive it, they will either ship me a similar unit, or refund my money since it has been under 7 days. The tech told me that they do not repair equipment sold as USED, even though my unit is/was pristine as in NEW.

My only concern is that they ship me something less than what i have, so the tech told me i could call them when i get the RMA number and they will tell me what's in stock.

Here's what I got:

T43P 15"
2.2 GHz CPU
2 GB RAM
80 GB HD
128MB ATI Video
CD RW / DVD Read and Write
Fingerprint Reader
9 Cell Battery
6 Month Warranty
AC Charger
Service and Troubleshooting Guide
Some Lotus Office app that i won't use

All for $961 USD

Amazing....

Good luck!

Sam · #18 Post by **Sam** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 10:03 am

Yes...and I forgot to mention that it also has BlueTooth.

Currently I have and RMA being sent to me to receive a refund (no other ones like it in stock) but I am trying to get what I have fixed instead.

So far, I must say that despite my issue, IBM has impressed me as a company that does care for their customers, even if they only buy one laptop.

Stay tuned...

pianowizard · #19 Post by **pianowizard** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 2:28 pm

draco2527 wrote:Amazing....

Amazing if the screen resolution is UXGA and $961 includes sales tax.

Used / New T43P DEAD

Used / New T43P DEAD

Decoding Security Chip Credentials

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