Very strange night with T42p -- all usb ports are now dead!

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fake · #1 Post by **fake** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 4:21 am

So, I was transferring a bunch of stuff to my iPod through USB 2 (connected directly to laptop even though I was on the MiniDock). Normal everyday usage.

Suddenly, the system died. Completely. As if I had pulled the plug and there was no battery (which was obviously not the case.)

I tried to turn it back on but no such luck. All dead. So after a few minutes of switching power cables around and popping the battery in and out, it miraculously started up again.

Now, everything works fine, except NONE of the USB ports will recognize my ipod as a drive or even acknowledge that I connect it. Not even the ports on the Mini-Dock.

I have no idea why a) my system died all of a sudden b) now my usb ports don't work at all.

Any ideas? What should I do? I really hope there is a solution to this besides sending my laptop away for service -- I'm a CS student and depend on my laptop in many classes.

Thanks in advance.

PS. The system is a 2378DYU and I just noticed that the top USB port on the laptop itself actually charges the iPod. It still doesn't get detected in Windows though ..

Cat5 · #2 Post by **Cat5** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 4:29 am

fake wrote:So, I was transferring a bunch of stuff to my iPod through USB 2 (connected directly to laptop even though I was on the MiniDock). Normal everyday usage.

Suddenly, the system died. Completely. As if I had pulled the plug and there was no battery (which was obviously not the case.)

I tried to turn it back on but no such luck. All dead. So after a few minutes of switching power cables around and popping the battery in and out, it miraculously started up again.

Now, everything works fine, except NONE of the USB ports will recognize my ipod as a drive or even acknowledge that I connect it. Not even the ports on the Mini-Dock.

I have no idea why a) my system died all of a sudden b) now my usb ports don't work at all.

Any ideas? What should I do? I really hope there is a solution to this besides sending my laptop away for service -- I'm a CS student and depend on my laptop in many classes.

Thanks in advance.

PS. The system is a 2378DYU and I just noticed that the top USB port on the laptop itself actually charges the iPod. It still doesn't get detected in Windows though ..

Maybe your USB short circuted, or the Ipod...
Try to plug in a USB mouse or a cheapo USB unit... why? if it doesn't work, it's toast... if it works, great, your Ipod's toast... Try the cable, maybe there is a short circuit in the cable. Definitly test the USB ports if they are operational...

fake · #3 Post by **fake** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 4:33 am

It's my laptop -- I just plugged in a Microsoft USB mouse and it doesn't get detected. Upgraded all drivers, bios, etc

fake · #4 Post by **fake** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 5:16 am

Just got off the phone with IBM. They're sending me a box out today. Too bad I have to do a huge assignment to do over this weekend but hopefully I can send it out monday and get it back sometime next week.

Let me know if you guys know of any fixes, though .. not having a computer for a week is going to suck.

bapatterson · #5 Post by **bapatterson** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 11:36 am

I had a friend who had a similar problem with his T42. He had plugged an external hard drive into the USB port and the system died.

Here is the solution he received from IBM:

Well, I called IBM to have them send me a box for shipping the laptop to them. This time, they transferred me to a representative in their technical support department. The representative told me that it sounded like somehow the capacitors had gained too much static electicity and had shut down to protect the computer. She gave me a silly set of operations to perform which I doubted would work. I tried them on the phone with her. What do you know? It worked! All is working fine now. I asked her what causes this so-called static electricity to which she allowed that she did not know and it ''just happens''. I told her I had never heard of such a thing and she replied it was quite common in her experience. Oh well, what do I know? Only that my laptop has been miraculously fixed and I do NOT have to take it to FedEx it back.

If you're interested, here is the procedure:

IBM T42 Fix Procedure

(to discharge excess static electricity from capacitors)

- unplug laptop from AC cord

- remove battery

- press "power" button 10 times

- on 11th time, press and hold "power" button down for 30 seconds

- re-install battery

- plug in laptop to AC adapter and plug

- turn power on

fake · #6 Post by **fake** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 1:21 pm

Sounds crazy but I'll go try it right now ..

fake · #7 Post by **fake** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 1:28 pm

I think that procedure is just to revive the laptop after it dies, because my usb ports are still dead.

fake · #8 Post by **fake** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 2:38 pm

Guys, do I need to worry about backing up everything before sending my laptop to IBM? I removed all the IBM recovery junk and I wouldn't want to lose all my files anyhow.

Plinkerton · #9 Post by **Plinkerton** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 2:53 pm

Man... I wish I would have known about that. Mine died a week ago, and I sent it back in... I wonder if that woulda worked...

ychandrani · #10 Post by **ychandrani** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 4:06 pm

fake wrote:Guys, do I need to worry about backing up everything before sending my laptop to IBM? I removed all the IBM recovery junk and I wouldn't want to lose all my files anyhow.

IBM does not make any guarantees that they will protect your data files on the harddrive; in fact they recommend that you make backups of all files that are important to you before sending in a computer for repairs. If you have an Ultrabay CD-RW or DVD burner, I recommend that you make a back up right away. You can downloard rescue and recovery software from the IBM website do a backup onto blank CDs or DVDs and then restore individual files once the machine comes back. If you don't have a recordable optical drive, then borrow a friend's laptop or ask someone who will let you temporarily move files to their computer over a local area network (wired or wireless). If your files are precious to you, then do not count on IBM to value them as much.

fake · #11 Post by **fake** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 4:08 pm

ychandrani wrote:
fake wrote:Guys, do I need to worry about backing up everything before sending my laptop to IBM? I removed all the IBM recovery junk and I wouldn't want to lose all my files anyhow.
IBM does not make any guarantees that they will protect your data files on the harddrive; in fact they recommend that you make backups of all files that are important to you before sending in a computer for repairs. If you have an Ultrabay CD-RW or DVD burner, I recommend that you make a back up right away. You can downloard rescue and recovery software from the IBM website do a backup onto blank CDs or DVDs and then restore individual files once the machine comes back. If you don't have a recordable optical drive, then borrow a friend's laptop or ask someone who will let you temporarily move files to their computer over a local area network (wired or wireless). If your files are precious to you, then do not count on IBM to value them as much.

Thanks. I was reading some other posts and one mentioned that you can actually just take out the HD when you send it if the problem is hardware related. Since it seems my USB ports are physically dead (I've tried all software options), I might just do that ...

ychandrani · #12 Post by **ychandrani** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 4:10 pm

Yes, thats an option too. I forgot to mention that. But do check with IBM tech about whether they want the disk also.

#13 Post by **JaneL** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 9:08 pm

>Guys, do I need to worry about backing up everything before sending my laptop to IBM? I removed all the IBM recovery junk and I wouldn't want to lose all my files anyhow.
>

Item #5 in the FAQ at http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=1689

(Amazing what you can find in a posting called FAQ, isn't it?)

fake · #14 Post by **fake** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 9:24 pm

nonny wrote:>Guys, do I need to worry about backing up everything before sending my laptop to IBM? I removed all the IBM recovery junk and I wouldn't want to lose all my files anyhow.
>

Item #5 in the FAQ at http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=1689

(Amazing what you can find in a posting called FAQ, isn't it?)

Yes, I read that before and the one sentence answer is quite amazing -- how do I know they won't claim that it is a software issue and send it right back to me?

#15 Post by **JaneL** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 11:43 pm

You don't, but you can deal with that issue then.

Item #5 was the result of years of experience in dealing with EasyServ by members of the TP Mailing List and is applicable to other manufacturers. I suppose I could trot out the true story of someone in IBM's old CompuServe forum who sent his TP for repair complete with HDD only to lose the whole shebang when the FedEx plane caught fire on the tarmac. Would that convince you?

fake · #16 Post by **fake** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 12:06 am

nonny wrote:You don't, but you can deal with that issue then.

Item #5 was the result of years of experience in dealing with EasyServ by members of the TP Mailing List and is applicable to other manufacturers. I suppose I could trot out the true story of someone in IBM's old CompuServe forum who sent his TP for repair complete with HDD only to lose the whole shebang when the FedEx plane caught fire on the tarmac. Would that convince you?

I'm not arguing that your advice is unfounded. Obviously you have more experience than I do. However, did you really think you were helping by pointing to an unqualified one line statement in a sarcastic tone to someone who is obviously distressed?

Maybe you could elaborate on the likelihood that IBM will blame this on software and/or what happens after that..

#17 Post by **JaneL** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 6:35 am

I'm just tired of seeing the same questions over and over again that could have been answered by either reading the FAQ or searching prior threads. It makes me testy even when it's a new question never posted before but is covered by the FAQ. Now, if your question had been something along the lines of "I read the FAQ and just want clarification about the followup procedure etc", you may have gotten a different answer.

I have no idea whether IBM will blame the problem on your software or not. If they do, you may have to have another round of phone calls with them to either convince them it's not or you may have to give in and send the HDD in. However, I do know that any TP under my control goes back to EasyServ in a stripped down condition only including the parts that comprise the problem. In particular, they would only get the HDD as a last resort because I've known too many people who got theirs back freshly preloaded.

fake · #18 Post by **fake** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 2:13 pm

Fair enough. Do you think I should send the MiniDock since those ports are dead too?

JHEM · #19 Post by **JHEM** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 3:55 pm

fake wrote:Fair enough. Do you think I should send the MiniDock since those ports are dead too?

No, the min-dock ports are simply passthroughs and merely mimic whatever they are, or aren't, fed by the laptop.

WRT sending your HD in with what's obviously a hardware problem, I assure you that the first thing that EZServe does on receipt of a laptop for repair is remove your HD and install one of their own that contains proprietary diagnostic programs.

Regards,

James

#20 Post by **JaneL** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 5:40 pm

What James said. If the MiniDock does prove to be a problem after you get the TP fixed, it can be sent in separately. No point in sending it in now.

And you're a good sport to understand where my ill-temper was coming from. Welcome to the forum!

fake · #21 Post by **fake** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 10:52 am

Well I got my ThinkPad back from EasyServ (took one day!). They replaced the system board. I plugged in my iPod and it was recognized! Yay! ... then two minutes later I smell the same smell of burning. My USB ports are once again dead... argh! What do I do? Send it back *again*?

JHEM · #22 Post by **JHEM** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 11:26 am

fake wrote:Well I got my ThinkPad back from EasyServ (took one day!). They replaced the system board. I plugged in my iPod and it was recognized! Yay! ... then two minutes later I smell the same smell of burning. My USB ports are once again dead... argh! What do I do? Send it back *again*?

I must have missed the part in your initial post where you mentioned you had smelled something burning prior to the USB ports failing! (Sarcasm intended.)

WTH you would expect a different outcome following the same procedures that had resulted in the initial failure without having checked other device failure possibilities is beyond me.

There's a short in either your cable or your iPod! I've been using my iPod (and before that my Nomad) for months without any problems with the USB2.0 ports on my T40. But the connecting cables are a known weak link in the device chain as they are subject to damage from external causes such as being pinched when caught in desk drawers (DAMHIK!).

Whether or not IBM will again repair your system after it failed as the direct result of connecting it to what is arguably a faulty device will probably come down to how well you can prevaricate.

Regards,

James

fake · #23 Post by **fake** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 2:06 pm

JHEM wrote:
fake wrote:Well I got my ThinkPad back from EasyServ (took one day!). They replaced the system board. I plugged in my iPod and it was recognized! Yay! ... then two minutes later I smell the same smell of burning. My USB ports are once again dead... argh! What do I do? Send it back *again*?
I must have missed the part in your initial post where you mentioned you had smelled something burning prior to the USB ports failing! (Sarcasm intended.)

WTH you would expect a different outcome following the same procedures that had resulted in the initial failure without having checked other device failure possibilities is beyond me.

There's a short in either your cable or your iPod! I've been using my iPod (and before that my Nomad) for months without any problems with the USB2.0 ports on my T40. But the connecting cables are a known weak link in the device chain as they are subject to damage from external causes such as being pinched when caught in desk drawers (DAMHIK!).

Whether or not IBM will again repair your system after it failed as the direct result of connecting it to what is arguably a faulty device will probably come down to how well you can prevaricate.

Regards,

James

You say "WTH would I expect a different outcome given the same procedure". Your criticism would be warranted if the initial failure happened the very first time I plugged in my iPod. This, however, is not the case. I had been using my iPod for months and the USB ports suddenly failed. How the hell could I have concluded that the iPod/cable is at fault? In reality, how often do USB cables develop shorts? I haven't seen it.

Obviously, it is clear that my iPod is at fault given the second failure ... but I don't think plugging my iPod in was that foolish.

So, yes, it is now evident that there is some short in the iPod/cable.

Now, will EasyServ categorically deny my request for another repair unless I lie and say that another device caused the problem?

Also, in the meantime (I'll wait until a school break until possibly sending it in again), I want to get a PCMCIA firewire card. Any suggestions?

PS. I did try my mouse and keyboard before the iPod and they worked fine.

Kenn · #24 Post by **Kenn** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 7:32 pm

nonny wrote:You don't, but you can deal with that issue then.

Item #5 was the result of years of experience in dealing with EasyServ by members of the TP Mailing List and is applicable to other manufacturers. I suppose I could trot out the true story of someone in IBM's old CompuServe forum who sent his TP for repair complete with HDD only to lose the whole shebang when the FedEx plane caught fire on the tarmac. Would that convince you?

To be fair, that's not quite "dealing with EasyServ," but it goes back to the point of common sense - why send a shock-prone hard drive full of all of your data over the mail when there is no reason to? That faq answer is pure wisdom.

Very strange night with T42p -- all usb ports are now dead!

Very strange night with T42p -- all usb ports are now dead!

Re: Very strange night with T42p -- all usb ports are now de

A Can of Worms!!!

Re: A Can of Worms!!!

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