Thinkpads Forum

After finally finding how to actually submit a warranty claim contrary to Lenovo instructions, submitted one, received approval, and shipped my defective T480 to Lenovo‘s repair centre in ON, …
… it was returned as ‘beyond economic repair’ and ‘biohazard’.

Eventually I opened the package and found false labelling as having fungus and maggots so warranty void. In fact it was clean, perhaps some fool thought the rectangular strip of double-sided tape beside the CapsLock key was fungus (I had tried a hinged protector over the key). A bit of white adhesive beside it from first location, and a white strip of nail polish beside the Esc key and remains of same beside USB jack on right (plus blue nail polish beside two other keys and scroll enable trapezoid). No communication to me of a problem.

And it would not turn on.

I got it going again to external display by using the secret reset button in the tiny hole in the base cover.

So I am back to where I started, Loonovo is USELESS or worse. I had paid for several years extra warranty, at high cost.

For now I’ll use it as a mule for Internet browsing, for security, using my good T480 for personal documents and financial activities on Internet.

I use today’s version of SneakerNet to transfer files between the two computers, avoiding real-time connection.

Will reinstall anti-malware software and some applications on the mule, have to cope with MicroSloppy’s errors in Help function and Start list, and my User ID. (I had removed much for security.)

Someday may dig into replacing display. (I now have five T480s, with uncertainty I ended up buying three used ones, keyboard on one of those quit soon after I started testing and updating it. I have two UltraDocks, one I used with mule does not have keys.

Oh! Microsloppy still does not support that computer. (CORRECTED: My other active computer is later chip number.) I want to keep it to keep Windows license, would be a rigamorole to transfer though I am the original purchaser.

iTxchange pricing for more than 2 keys is crazy, no discount for volume purchase, key blank is expensive from locksmith but is findable, but at least between they and Lenovo key is identifiable.

I want five keys as backups including safe and daughter.

Much better key/lock than x4/x6 dock of which I have several locks (got good deal on several of those docks and cannibalized the x6s as x41 requires x4, had a few key matches so swapped locks).

Am keeping one x41 going for old software, with effort. (I ended up with six, countem 6, having found good deal on lot of three.)

Docking Station Keys | IT Xchange itxchange.com

After several hours of use it quit again, secret reset did not work.

I'll look that feature up as there are variations, obscurity, confusion, supposedly a risk of wiping out data if hold switch in too long.

Could be a power supply problem, though red dot on lid flashes a few times when dock connected (I've seen that before).

'Dead Parrot' troubleshooting advice is not clear, without ability to boot cannot turn internal battery off.


I will open and check all connections, need to open to move SSD anyway.


Beyond that I will prepare to move the SSD to another T480, earlier I saved Windows 10Pro license number. (I have a spare T480 w/o HDD.)

BTW, you can find parts on eBay, I purchased replacement USB-C power jacks and a drive cage earlier. SSD card goes into a cage that contains a PCB signal adapter or such, as bay was designed to hold a typical HDD. Nice touch would have been to handle two SSDs, though 1TB WD Blue replacement SSD is not very high priced.

T480 has two memory card slots, typically came with one 8GB, so can add any surplus 8GB to get 16GB total.

Beware that SSD cards are a zoo, you have to fully understand lingos to get it right. Botch Buy tech manager sold me wrong one.)

I finally got satisfaction from Lenovo.

I was slow to make my case, some turmoil, but I am now satisfied.

I am happy for you.