A31P: embedded controller update 1.05 buggy???

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friedrich-eugen · #1 Post by **friedrich-eugen** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 9:42 am

Hello all,
as my post joined the queue in its original thread at the end, possibly taking notice may have become a bit to difficult...:

[/quote]friedrich-eugen Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 8:37 pm Post subject: Embedded Controller Update 1.05 (for both types A31P) buggy?
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Hello all,

since two days an update of the embedded controller software (V.:1.05) is "online". It is said to fix problems concerning battery care (!) and charging.

I did the update on one of my thinkpads (A31P-N-Type/XP) and in effect found that after the update (now again) the 2nd battery in the the ultrabay 2000 did not charge ... I had to take the primary one off to have the second one charge again (this is a difference to the older problem, as with the 1.03 the second got not charged at all)

Anyone having done the same update and making the same experience? Let me know (I'm already in contact with IBM/...) Thanks in advance[/quote]

my plea remains the same... Thank You

FrankK-F · #2 Post by **FrankK-F** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 12:05 am

I did the same upgrade on my A31p 2653R3U ... and shortly thereafter noted an overheating problem .. the vent air was unusually hot and started smelling as if a component were burning up.

To be sure I did a lot of restarts after the upgrade .. and started getting blue screen msgs to shut down to avoid damaging the unit.

Next morning I tried starting the unit, but the display backlight never turned on.

I cannot say that the failure of the unit had anything to do with the upgrade ... but then again I can't say that it did not.

At any rate it is a curious confluence of events. What concerns me more than the failure is the overheating and the burned smell that was quite strong .. suggesting that some component was burning up. With all the working papers that I have quite near my TP, I have started to a couple of years ago to shut down my TP's at day's end .. just to be on the cautious side. Yet when I leave my office during the day I do leave the unit on .. and am not sure now that this is wise.

Has anyone in the TP community had a fire on their machine?

a31pguy · #3 Post by **a31pguy** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 7:10 pm

On the charging of the 2nd battery (ultrabay).
I just had my system board replaced and it came with 1.04. I will upgrade to 1.05 and see what happens.

On the overheating and burning smell.

Disassemble your unit and take a look at the fan, CPU, and thermal paste. Use a can of compressed air - clean and blowout the heatsink and fan, then clean the thermal paste and apply a small dab of artic silver thermal paste compound. See if that solves your problem. Also blow out the intake in the rear of the unit under the printer and video ports.

a31pguy · #4 Post by **a31pguy** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 7:39 pm

Nope - as of 1.05 - no issues with either burning, overheating, or a lack of battery charge in the ultrabay. Check the health of those batteries that you have. Batteries have a short lifespan.

FrankK-F · #5 Post by **FrankK-F** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 9:01 pm

a31pguy.

thanks for your suggestions. I called IBM service the morning that my unit's display stayed dark ... told them about the sequence and the burning smell. The rep was quite animated and told me that someone from another IBM unit was to call me soon thereafter.

A couple of hours later I called IBM service to inquire what they planned to do (this machine is still in warranty). They sent the shipping box ... and that is the last I know for now.

Fortunately I have second identical TP ... so my work has not been interrupted.

I will follow your suggestions for cleaning the innards, and redoing to thermal paste.

Many thanks, (and enjoy your comments)

Frank K-F

friedrich-eugen · #6 Post by **friedrich-eugen** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 3:00 am

Hello,

thank You A31Pguy,

Nope - as of 1.05 - no issues with either burning, overheating, or a lack of battery charge in the ultrabay. Check the health of those batteries that you have. Batteries have a short lifespan.

I happened to have my experience after reconditioning both batteries: The 1st one did reload, the ultrabay one did not. Only after lifting the 1st one, did the 2nd start to load.

The fact, that the 1st one (!) seems to come near to the end of its electrical lifespan (the 2nd one is relatively new) should not (!??) effect that reloading process, at least that is what I think.

Nevertheless today both batteries do load ("together") ... I 'm not able to explain why.

By the way: We were told by the industry, that LIon-Batteries would not wear (reconditioning should at least do the trick) My experience is rather disappointing... And I am not sure, whether the guidelines for reconditioning do what they were intended to: help the user along.

Any guess? Thanks in advance