T42 soldering/GPU issue timing?

[eric99]

Hi all. This is my first post here; just bought a T42 2378 FVU on eBay, for a steal of a deal. While researching it before and after the purchase, the issue of the GPU coming loose as a chronic problem worries me a bit.

My question: When did the manufacturing process change to the improved soldering technique? My TP was manufactured in March 2005---or so I gather from the end of the serial number, (0503) and the March 2005 first-use date of the OE battery that was still in the machine when it arrived.

It has the 64 MB Radeon 9600/9700 graphics, if that matters. Not that there is much to be done even if this thing dates from the 'bad' soldering days....but it's always nice to know what to expect.

Thanks,
Eric M
TP T42 2378 FVU, Pentium M 735 1.7, 1.25 GB RAM, ATI Radeon 9600 64 MB, HTS 40 GB 5400 rpm HD

[RealBlackStuff]

The retarded European RoHs regulation is the cause of all this mayhem.
It was during 2005 that the makers of Thinkpad motherboards finally started to get their [RoHs] act together, but there is no specific date.
The T42 series was withdrawn between May and October 2005.
Yours could be a 'good' one (relatively speaking).
Also, most problems were with the ATI 7500 GPU (of which by far more were sold than 9000/9600).
If you always use two hands to lift the machine, carry it with one hand holding it vertically, with the hinges at the bottom, and don't switch it on/off constantly, chances are you will never come across the GPU problem.
Of course you don't know what the previous owner(s) did, so it can be iffy.
Just use common sense, and NEVER lift it with one hand, especially not on the front corners.

[eric99]

The retarded European RoHs regulation is the cause of all this mayhem.
It was during 2005 that the makers of Thinkpad motherboards finally started to get their [RoHs] act together, but there is no specific date.
The T42 series was withdrawn between May and October 2005.
Yours could be a 'good' one (relatively speaking).
Also, most problems were with the ATI 7500 GPU (of which by far more were sold than 9000/9600).
If you always use two hands to lift the machine, carry it with one hand holding it vertically, with the hinges at the bottom, and don't switch it on/off constantly, chances are you will never come across the GPU problem.
Of course you don't know what the previous owner(s) did, so it can be iffy.
Just use common sense, and NEVER lift it with one hand, especially not on the front corners.

Thanks for the tips. I will be especially careful not to carry it flat, like a plate. It's frustrating not to know whether I have a 'problem' model, but for the price it was worth taking a chance. (Once I bought a replacement battery and a cord for the charger it came to just over $100, soup-to-nuts.)

BTW, is there something in the air around here? Including myself, I note four posters from more-or-less northeastern PA on this forum.

Thanks again. This looks like a good place to mine nuggets....

[ajkula66]

There's something in the air, alright...

Living in NEPA gets your ThinkPad fixed faster if needed, so count your lucky stars...