Need advice on refurbished t40p issues

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gauthier · #1 Post by **gauthier** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 6:53 am

Hi, I'm new to this forum.

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I just received a refurbished (not by IBM at first sight...) t40p today, but I allready found 2 issues with my new laptop:

- the screen has a dark little arc on the bottom center.
- the base form factor has a hole between optical drive and the keyboards arrows keys.

After a checkup on ibm.com website, my computer is still under the 3 years warranty (a bargain for an used laptop).

I called them as well as the company that sell me the notebook.

IBM says they will change the display when I told them the issue (somewhat minor), but when I explained the problem with the hole, they said that it will not be covered by the warranty (since it's a usage breakdown made by the previous customer). They directed me to the salers.

After contacting the salers, the rep told me that all model in stock have such minor problems, I could exchange the laptop (but it will be a waste of time). I've 7 days to return the laptop in order to be refunded or have it exchanged with another one.
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What I wonder is:

1 - If I don't want to exchange the laptop (because it will take too much time), can I order and exchange myself the base form factor (the upper part in my case) from IBM?

2 - Will IBM exchange my lcd with a defect-free one? I really prefer to have a little dark arc than dead pixels.

3 - Did I've a way to extend (with supplement cost) the warranty period? (it end 30 august 2006)?

Anyone have some recommandations?

Thanks and don't bear with my english!

cmarti · #2 Post by **cmarti** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 7:18 am

Welcome!

Let the replace the lcd dont worry about that the replace my mobo in just three days and i am in puerto rico.

About the bottom case,
Do you have pictures of the hole you are describing? Post them here or send me one via email maybe it's normal.

Keep us posted.

gauthier · #3 Post by **gauthier** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 5:46 pm

Here is some crappy snapshots (I don't have a real digital camera...)

I will try to get a real camera and post better displays as well of the problem with the lcd screen.

I don't think the hole is factory design

Thanks for your support!

christopher_wolf · #4 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 6:24 pm

It looks like the frame and/or the palmrest isn't seated right from what I can tell from those pictures.

#5 Post by **underclocker** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 9:39 pm

Definitely get the LCD fixed.

The hole you see is a very common problem on the T-series. A screw secures the palmrest below that area and when it is over tightened or just from use, a small piece cracks and sometimes fall out. As yours has done.

My T40 had the same problem. Just tell IBM that the palmrest cracked and a piece fell off from wear. They should know what you are talking about.

Even if they don't, a new one is only about $20.00 (I think).

You may be able to extend the warranty up to 5 years from new - or 2 more years for warranty expiration. Check with IBM on options and cost.

Good luck and be nice on the phone with IBM.

underclocker

gauthier · #6 Post by **gauthier** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 8:40 am

Christopher: you may be definitly right, when I look at it closer, it seems the keyboard bezel (as well as the lower base frame) doesn't straight align with the optical drive, and the same can be said about the hard disk case.

Underclocker: I think you described my cracked palmrest problem, at worse case is it easy to replace the part (keyboard bezel upper part) myself? It seems to me that only the front-side is affected. Your note about the warranty extension rocks, I will try to get an update, this laptop really deserve it!

thanks to you all for your helpfull and quick replies!

I've called the shop that sold the unit to me, they offer to exchange with any other units (with same specs) they have in stock. I will make the swap monday morning, also I've some other questions:

- the current battery (9cells) indicate 3h (max battery, min brightness) and 266 cycles, what can I expect from a factory new battery (either 9cells or 6 cells) according to the specs of my t40p (1,6ghz, 7200rpm hd, 1gb ram)?

- when operating, the unit is humming, the problem is that it do so with a periodical br(e)akedown noise occuring every 5 secs approx, I find this noise annoying, I think it come from the main vent/cooler but I'm unsure. Is it something I can mention to IBM if I send them the unit?

- the screen also have a slighty dark halo just at left of the allready described problem, will I be sure to have a better lcd screen if I go for replacement (most consumer-level lcd I've seen have such discrete problems)?

- I will have to choose among multiple units to replace the one I got, did anyone have advices on what and how to check (the sales may try to deal with me quickly...), my requirements are:
1: no dead pixel (minor problems like I've described are not crippling if all have similar problem, I prefer in the bottom middle than plain center of the screen or other places).
2: mint condition for the whole frame (I don't care about minor scratches on the cover)
4: no defect sectors on hd (however I can't run a full chkdsk, it will be problematic to be sure on this point)

how to check if usb 2.0 is correctly working (I don't have any bringable usb 2 device, I only have a usb midi interface)?

Does anyone have other recommendations/advices to makeup my choice when I will compare the several units available at the shop monday morning?

Overall, I'm very satisfied with the unit, it's just better if they can give me a better looking one (cracked frame), but I find the ergonomy quite amazing when compared against my work's D610, the keyboard is AMAZING, it litteraly push my fingers upward once a key is depressed, wich is not the case on the dell...

I'm also looking for help to configure graphical drivers to support opengl games (I've tried some open source ones with 0fps as result...), will check this forum.

gauthier · #7 Post by **gauthier** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 1:26 pm

Just to tell that the laptop is going into servicing for the lcd problem and the crackled palmrest.

My only hope is that I don't get a lcd with dead/stuck pixels...

#8 Post by **underclocker** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 2:36 pm

Good decision. Don't freak out. IBM usually does a great job in one day. You are very likely going to be very happy.

Let us know.

underclocker

gauthier · #9 Post by **gauthier** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 5:18 pm

Hello,

Just to keep you informed that my laptop has been returned but was sadly mishandled by the technical service: they changed the motherboard (for no reason) and didn't fix any of my two issues.

Now I'm feared that my laptop come back (if it come back...) with a wrong motherboard (from a T40 without firegl card for example, with less memory or such issues), I called IBM to ask when they will deliver it to the shop, and they told me about 5 business days.

So I'm desesperatly waiting for my laptop, I wonder if it wasn't a best idea to fix the bezel myself and live with the dark areas on the screen instead of doing all this hoopla

I will keep you informed when the laptop finally come back...

Thanks.

#10 Post by **underclocker** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 9:32 pm

Sounds wierd. Did you get it back already with a changed system board? No new LCD or palmrest? That would be a serious screw-up.

I usually include a note that describes the problems with the laptop when I send in for depot repair.

Let us know, maybe Solectron has taken a turn for the worse...

JHEM · #11 Post by **JHEM** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 10:39 pm

underclocker wrote:Let us know, maybe Solectron has taken a turn for the worse...

As we have no idea where in the universe Gauthier is posting from, we can't be certain that Solectron is part of the equation!

Regards,

James

gauthier · #12 Post by **gauthier** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 4:51 am

The process was done by the shop that sell it to me, they gave instruction about the screen and the bezel while opening the incident with IBM.

I didn't get back the laptop (they don't even asked me), it was returned illico from the shop.

The phone number that I got as the 'service center' was at Altis Semiconductor, I don't know about Solectron.

BTW IBM phone support is really effective, but it doesn't seem that their are doing the servicing work themselve

Thanks.

#13 Post by **underclocker** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:39 am

Very confusing. Since nothing is clear here, I'm signing off with a few words of wisdom.

Be persistent, but polite.

beeblebrox · #14 Post by **beeblebrox** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:22 pm

gauthier wrote:The process was done by the shop that sell it to me, they gave instruction about the screen and the bezel while opening the incident with IBM.

I didn't get back the laptop (they don't even asked me), it was returned illico from the shop.

The phone number that I got as the 'service center' was at Altis Semiconductor, I don't know about Solectron.

BTW IBM phone support is really effective, but it doesn't seem that their are doing the servicing work themselve

Thanks.

Well, they have professional contractors in every country. When I lived a few years ago close to Paris I had my Thinkpad 560 sent to a company in Evry, south of Paris. They were very professional, after 3 days I could personally pick it up again, in perfect shape

gauthier · #15 Post by **gauthier** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 3:26 pm

Hello,

the laptop was returned from 'servicing' for the second time, and the shop tell me there was not any fix done...

I'm waiting for the laptop to be delivered next comming days. What would be your advices concerning my two issues:
- a dark shape + dark areas in the middle bottom of the screen (I could live with but will lower the price if I want to resell, I don't know why but still prefer this as dead pixels)
- a case's crack on the

Actions:
- ask the shop for a discount? (I bought the unit 800 €, wich I find 'expensive' for a laptop that need servicing, also, it was advertised with no defect or scratches)
- ask IBM (bypassing the shop) to come again and fix the issues?
- buy the required part (I think it's the keyboard bezel) and fix the crack myself? (IBM told me they will not service this within warranty)
- ask the shop for a refund (I'm unsure to find a t4xp serie in this range of price)?

Anyway thanks for your (posted/comming) recommendations.

PS to beeblebrox: the first 'servicing' occured in this exact company, the second one seemed to be at IBM technical center (the phone they gave me was identified as IBM), both didn't fix any issue

gauthier · #16 Post by **gauthier** » Wed May 03, 2006 3:20 am

Hi,

I just got my laptop back, almost as identical state as it was sent (power brick missing btw); but soon after my initial checkup, the screen became blank under Windows. After successive reboot, the screen appears to stay alive some tenth of seconds, before being blind (no more backlighting).

The issue seems to arise in normal use condition, but does not occur so frequently when I'm in bios/test tool.

Does anyone know what the issue could be? how to determine the issue?

Sadly, I've not any external screen at this time, so can't check if it's video card problem or not.

I'm worried to have my laptop out for another month

Thanks for your guidance.

EDIT: After cheking it up, the system mainboard was replaced (no longer matching with the serial when looking up on ibm site, and during bootup, it display LENOVO...), and it seems to be very sensitive to even slight moves, since the screen goes blank (no way back outside of power down) if I move the laptop. I've decided to return the laptop. I hope I will find another t4xp and this time it will be a good bargain.

Need advice on refurbished t40p issues

Need advice on refurbished t40p issues

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