IT CAME! IT CAME!

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Plinkerton · #31 Post by **Plinkerton** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 9:31 pm

I hope I didn't screw anything up. I did the SP2 update, but I got a little confused a long the way. Everything went fine, but this is what I ended up installing. I don't know if any of these came from the "DRIVER" section or not, because they didn't appear in sections.

Windows XP Service Pack 2

Security Update for Windows XP (KB835732)
Microsoft GDI+ Detection Tool (KB873374)
Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Service Pack 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB828741)
Update for Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) 2.0 and WinHTTP 5.1 (KB842773)

If any of these are from the "bad" section, is there anything I can do about it, before it causes a potential problem?

Thanks again.

sugo · #32 Post by **sugo** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 9:50 pm

Plinkerton, if the pixel doesn't bother you I don't see any reason to go through all the trouble, wait, uncertainties and risk to send it back. IBM won't guarantee the next one has a perfect screen anyway, not to mention other issues that it might bring.

The keyboard is a totally different matter. To me the two are night and sky.

You can call 1-800-426-7378, make up some complaints for the keyboard and asked for a replacement with Thai keyboard's FRU. You don't need to pay for anything. You don't even need to send the bad one back.

Replacing the keyboard took about 5 minutes.

Plinkerton · #33 Post by **Plinkerton** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:02 pm

Okay. Unless they make it really easy for me to get a new T42, I'm just going to keep this one.

I have heard about the keyboard thing. That if you tell them something, they will just send you a new one. If you say they are night and day, well, I guess I owe it to myself to try it. Especially if I have to deal with a retarded pixel.

I'm gonna get something from those [censored]...

Is that previous FRU you game me is the right one? It's for the 14.1 inch T42, Thai version?

What's a valid complaint? Can I say that it's quite noisy (I think it is) and that I heard the Thai one was better?

Thanks again.

darrenf · #34 Post by **darrenf** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:36 pm

P, Those updates look fine. Did you run into any trouble?

As for keyboards. RUN don't walk to get the Thai keyboard. Night and day is exactly right! You get to keep the China made KB, so it's a no-risk situation. I was honest with support and had no trouble. I told them that my last T-series had the Thai keyboard and if I had to keep the Chinese POS keyboard, it was coming back to them (and I was serious). I may not have actually said it that strongly

because they were so accommodating.

I have kept a unit with a hot pixel. I didn't like it, but it just wasn't worth the hassle to get it fixed. If you see the pixel on a black background but not a white one, that is perfectly normal (red is part of white). You should see it on a true green or blue background also.

Whatever you decide on the pixel, I hope you love the ThinkPad -- welcome!

-darren

Plinkerton · #35 Post by **Plinkerton** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 11:03 pm

I should see it on blue or green, but it's SO hard to see. I can find it, but it takes a few seconds. On black, it's the most visible, though it doesn't appear on my black desktop background, when there is no window open.

I didn't run into any problems at all. I guess my computer is now all super protected and what not...

I will now definitely find out about the Thai keyboard. I will do a lot of typing on this for school, and having a wonderful keyboard would be awesome.

Seriously, I love this computer. It's so awesome. It makes me happy I blew all my money on it.

It's so fast, and sleek, and AWESOME!

. I completely love the looks too. So serious and utilitarian, just how a computer should be. None of that bright red Acer Ferarri crap, or "Alien Green" Alienware junk. Though both of those seem to be awesome computers...

And the UltraNav is amazing. I love it all.

Thanks a lot guys, you're all extremely helpful. Well, except for that one guy... Haha...

-Plink-

UCI2CI · #36 Post by **UCI2CI** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 5:29 am

i dont have any dead pixels right now, but is there anything i could do to avoid getting it

Plinkerton · #37 Post by **Plinkerton** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 6:35 pm

Yeah, I was wondering about that too. Can pixels die over time? Are there things to do that would keep them from dying?

I wouldn't imagine there would be a whole lot you could do to prevent it, but I'm curious as well.

Thakns,
Plink

ozoneraider · #38 Post by **ozoneraider** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 7:13 pm

I sent back mine for an obvious manufacturing defect (there was a big bulge in the top of the case below the screen). When I called, they offered me two options: send it in for repair or send it back and order a new one at no more than you originally paid (prices do fluctuate up and down). Considering the defect, I wanted a new one and it should finally arrive on Monday. Either way, they will pay shipping both ways.

Plinkerton · #39 Post by **Plinkerton** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 9:45 pm

When you order a new one, do you have to pay for it before you get the refund for the old on? Or do they just transfer payment over?

jordi32 · #40 Post by **jordi32** » Sun Sep 26, 2004 2:17 am

Just to let you know I received three T42 2379 DXUs with screen problems, in a row. I returned the three of them. I was going to order my fourth one through Bill but I called IBM and they told me that if I did an exchange with them it would probably take shorter to get the new one, since I would be placed in the priority list. I will try one more time. Otherwise I will order from Bill, since he is able to check for dead/stuck pixels before shipping the computer. Exchanging computers and the wait is a very frustrating experience.

Best regards,

Jordi

Plinkerton · #41 Post by **Plinkerton** » Sun Sep 26, 2004 2:42 am

Just curious, what type of screen problems exactly? Just one or two stuck pixels? Or more serious things?

jordi32 · #42 Post by **jordi32** » Sun Sep 26, 2004 2:49 am

Plinkerton,

The first computer screen had a very noticeable shadow in the bottom right corner. The second screen had a big speck of dust inside the screen. The third computer had a stuck pixel near the center of the screen. Besides this screen problems, each of the three computers had some other functional problems (the fan on the first one was dead on arrival; the second computer battery would not charge and the third computer had a creaky left touchpad button plus the chinese keyboard) Needless to say I am very frustrated with IBM thinkpads so far. I will try one more time and if I don't get what I paid for, I may look elsewhere.

Best regards,

Jordi

Plinkerton · #43 Post by **Plinkerton** » Sun Sep 26, 2004 3:52 am

Man... Another pixel just appeared stuck. It's right in the middle of the screen, about 2 inches from the bottom... I was all set to live with that one that appears and dissapears, and now this one is just on all the time... DAMMIT! I really hope they let me keep the HD. I just don't have to time to reinstall all this stuff. I even deleted some of it off my other computer, so I would had to transfer some back. I wish I could afford an external HD!

This sucks. I really don't want to live with this pixel...

dammit dammit dammit dammit....

I just don't have time for this right now... This has become my school computer, and I just can't be without it. I guess I'm calling them monday...

It's a shame how fast I can be stoked about having a great computer with no problems that warrant having to return it, and now, to realizing the inevitable that I will have to be without it, and take the chance of getting another one with worse problems, or more dead pixels, or some other stupid thing.

...

Should I package it up in the same box it came in? I still have it. Or should I package it better, with more styrofoam, etc.

EDIT: AAHH! I'm freakin out now! This pixel just dissapeared from the desktop, but it appears whenever I have a window open...

Can I expect to have these things apppears sporadically for the life of this notebook? I had heard about dead pixels, but didn't realize they could appear so often. Do any of you have years old notebooks with no funky pixels whatsoever?

Thanks again.

EDIT #2: Okay. I give up. This computer is now going to give me an aneurysm... The stuck pixel is gone, and completely back to normal. I'm giving myself a headache looking for it, because it must be there!!! But it;s not. I'm relaxed a little now... Should I expect it to come back? I don't know enough about this [censored] technology...

Thanks for listening to my rants...

rocketman · #44 Post by **rocketman** » Sun Sep 26, 2004 8:35 am

To answer the question "can a stuck pixel appear over time"? The answer is yes. A dead pixel came appear over time also.

ozoneraider · #45 Post by **ozoneraider** » Sun Sep 26, 2004 10:33 am

Plinkerton,
Several days after I shipped it back, a refund showed up on my credit card. They billed me for the new one when it shipped, per normal.

jordi32 · #46 Post by **jordi32** » Sun Sep 26, 2004 6:25 pm

Is it better to wait for the refund and then reorder or request an exchange? I am wondering if the exchange might be a refurbished one. Does anyone have experience in this respect?

Thank you.

Jordi

Plinkerton · #47 Post by **Plinkerton** » Sun Sep 26, 2004 7:22 pm

Okay, that pixel is still gone, and everything is cool, except another pixel just appeared, and it's always on, even on the desktop.

If these pixels appear and dissapear as I restart my computer and what not, does that mean that my particular screen is more susceptible to these problems? Or do all of them have the chance of having these little dots appear after a while?

I guess now I'm just trying to debate whether to live with them, or if there is actually somehting wrong.

EDIT:Okay. It's another "edit". The pixel has now dissappeared. Why? It dissapeard when I ran a media player. It seems to have the same effect on my computer as changing the resolution a little, and now it has dissapeared, and is completely gone.

Then, it came back. Then i ran Media Player again, and it dissappeared again. This is very strange to me.

Is there an answer for why this happens? I'm willing to accetp it if it can be considered "normal", but if this is some strange occurance, I guess I should do something about it.

EDIT #2: Okay, I have investigated more. When I run Media player, it's not that it dissapears. It only dissapears when I play Media player in FULL SCREEN, otherwise, it appears again. Then, when I say after I close media player, it dissapears, that is not the case. It doesn't dissapear, it just turns BLACK. The reason I couldn't see it is because my wallpaper has black on it. Then, after a while, it changes back to another color, and I can see it again.

Something else I noticed, when i magnify the screen, using FN+Space, the pixel goes back to being perfect for a while.

The pixel that appeared previously is still completely gone.

darrenf · #48 Post by **darrenf** » Sun Sep 26, 2004 9:32 pm

P, That behavior doesn't sound like any stuck pixel that I'ver ever seen. It sounds almost like a piece of spyware/jokeware/virus that's messing with your mind!

It sounds a little like a vidram problem, but those are usually triggered thermally or through physical movement (in the case of a cold solder joint).

Still, the problem you describe may be different *enough* from standard stuck pixels to get your laptop repaired under the warranty. It's worth a try anyway.

-darren

Plinkerton · #49 Post by **Plinkerton** » Sun Sep 26, 2004 10:02 pm

Okay. The pixel is completely gone, and has been for a while now. It's been restarted, and I changed everything a bunch of times, trying to make it appear again, and it's just gone. Back to perfect.

I run spybot all the time. Everything else is now running perfectly. This computer is back to how I want it. Now if it will just stay this way!

THanks for listening.
-Plink-

I called technical support, and they said once a pixel is dead, it usually stays that way. They said that most likely, those strange pixels won't come back, and it was just some strange symptom of something.

As of now, the display is still still perfect enough for me, so it seems like it's staying this way for now.

Plinkerton · #50 Post by **Plinkerton** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 9:03 pm

Well... It came it came, and it broke it broke...

I was all stoked that I wasn't going to have to send it in for the pixels, and now the [censored] thing won't turn on at all. It worked a few hours ago, I shut it down, and when I tried to turn it back on, the fan kicks in, the battery light and the "z" light with the circle around it turn on, and that's it. Not even a flicker from the LCD. If I lieave it on like that, I don't get the little Windows bootup sound, so it seems like it's more than just a dead screen.

Is there anyhting I can try before I send it in? I've taken the battery out, held down the power button for 10+ seconds, etc, and nothing works.

Man, this sucks beyond all belief. I got a ThinkPad because I didn't want to deal with quality control issues with "inferior" machines... So much for that...

I'm still within the 30 days, so that part isn't a big deal, but I need the info on the HD. I don't know if they will let me keep it, or if it's an issue with the HD or what...

rocketman · #51 Post by **rocketman** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 10:00 pm

Pinkerton just return it. From what I've read so far this Thinkpad is a problem waiting to happen, why take the chance even if you can get it back up that something else won't happen to it. Thats actualy whats great about buying direct from IBM, their any reason 30 day return policy. For your money make sure you get a perfect one even if it is a pain.

Plinkerton · #52 Post by **Plinkerton** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 10:12 pm

Yeah. I know. I'm gonna call them tomorrow to get a new one. I'm not losing anything too important. The only thing I will miss is every single picture I've ever taken with my digital camera. It's a bit of a shame about that, but the rest is covered.

I want to keep the HD out of this one, but I doubt they will let me. Even if they do, maybe it's not a good idea, just in case something is actually wrong with the HD.

Man, it's just a pain. I've been using such crappy old slow computers, and this one was such a welcome addition. I put everything into it, and trusted it to work for years. I moved all my pictures on it, and deleted them off the other computer, where they were taking up MUCH needed space. I wish this could have happened in a few weeks, when I would have been able to make a backup of everything. I even just got my Booq Powersleeve bag today, and was all stoked.

[censored] broken [censored] computer...

It's cool, at least it will be easy to get another one. Maybe my new one will have zero dead pixels. There's a thought huh?

Wait I know, maybe my new one will actually work for more than a week!

I still love these computers though. They just look and feel great.

I guess I'll keep this thread to update everything that happens.

One question, should I send the computer back in the box I got it in? I still have those styrafoam things that held the computer in the box. Is it better to just get a new box, so it doesn't say IBM all over it?

Also, should I insure the package and everything? Do I pay shipping or do they send me a label/box?

Thanks,
Plink

EDIT: Also, I installed some RAM in it. When I take it out, do I have to store it a certain way so it won't get ruined by static? Or is keeping in a little carboard box good enough. Should I avoid ziplock bags?

darrenf · #53 Post by **darrenf** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 2:27 am

P,

Keep the hard drive. They shouldn't need it for the repair. Have to called to schedule the service yet? They will send you a box right away that you can ship your thinkpad back in.

Good luck!

-darren

Plinkerton · #54 Post by **Plinkerton** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 2:42 pm

That's the problem. I'm not getting this piece of crap repaired. They said it could take MUCH longer than just getting a new one. I'm better off just losing the data ana having a computer, rather than waiting a month and keeping it. They said depending on what's wrong, some of their parts are back ordered, and some people are waiting 6 weeks. I'm still in the 30 days limit.

darrenf · #55 Post by **darrenf** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 8:17 pm

P,

That just sounds wrong. Others jump in, but I've heard that the repair turn around is 3 days including shipping. No way you can return the laptop and order a new one faster. I think you got bad info.

-darren

Plinkerton · #56 Post by **Plinkerton** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 9:52 pm

Really? Those [censored]. It's cool though, I think I'd rather just start all over anyway, and forget this ever happened. I'll get a new machine, all packaged new, and it will be like Christmas all over again...

Christmas, Take Two. Maybe they'll get it right this time.

The computer was awesome when it worked though. I was stoked to have it. Now I have to crawl back to this ridiculous 450Mhz desktop...

They were saying on the phone that repairing it would take "a while".

"How long is a while?" I asked.

"Well, some people are actually waiting almost 6 weeks right now. Depending on what's wrong with your computer, if it needs a new "something" (I forgot what she said), we don't have any right now, and they're severly back ordered."

That's what they said. Those tech support people really aren't that helpful. I was talking to one last night, and she was trying to figure out what was wrong. She sat there and read me off the directions out of a book. It was pretty funny. My mom could have done that too, and she's completely computer retarded.

The customer guy was really nice today. Being all empathetic and whatnot, for me losing all my pictures. At least I got some great service after waiting 30 minutes on hold.

I packed it all back up in the box in came in. Richard the friendly UPS guy will be by tomorrow... I wasn't supposed to see him again for a while...

It's funny, I was reading this thread, from the beginning. It starts off with me all excited, then finding a dead pixel, and being a little bummed, then finding more, then they dissapeared, etc. etc.

Finally, it all came crashing down to this. It's like the evolution of dissapointment. That's the new title of this thread.

THE EVOLUTION OF DISSAPOINTMENT: BASED ON TRUE EVENTS.

Maybe I'll win something...

Later,
Plink

Hangfire · #57 Post by **Hangfire** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 11:33 pm

I've had mine for a couple of months and enjoy it more everyday!

I hope everything works out for you;-)

Plinkerton · #58 Post by **Plinkerton** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 1:01 am

Seriously... I've been missing mine so much. It was such a tease to be able to play with it for a week, now I have to wait probably 2 weeks before I can play with it again...

I think I'm going to cry myself to sleep now...

Plinkerton · #59 Post by **Plinkerton** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 4:10 pm

Well, I shipped out my computer. It was funny, cause he took my conputer, and handed me my Thai keyboard for it... What am I supposed to do with this? Pretend I have my computer back?

The Thai keyboard does in fact feel much nicer, for anyone who is curious.

Tan Mann · #60 Post by **Tan Mann** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 4:38 pm

Hi!
Newbie to this forum..

I have a 2378FUU(Canadian edition) w/o Bluetooth because, apparently, we in Canada do not care for Bluetooth...perhaps because we are too blue from being in the cold north!

Anyway, I can't believe the problems Plinkerton has been having...I read his thread with a growing sense of dismay and thanked the stars for I have not had any issues with the 4 month old until ...

Today...

5 of the keys on SHIFT row are not responding and my ENTER key is not happening either..

I called IBM Canada..they say that they know nothing about the 08K5044 made in Thailand Keyboard...They can only replace with the regular keyboard..and that happens to be the 08K4986...I inquired and cajoled and finally ranted and raved and a supervisor will get back to me soon.

Oddly, that part # 08K5044 does not show up as a FRU part avaialble in Canada!?!? Huh???

Anybody has any idea as to how I go about getting the Thailand Keyboard here in Canada?

Plinkerton, I feel your pain, even though my issue is a bit easier to deal with by way of an external USB keyboard.

I still like this unit a lot though...

IT CAME! IT CAME!

just wondering

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