T42 recurring mother board failure (EZServ help)...

[delba626]

My machine, T42 2373-6VU, started crashing and freezing at random times about 2 weeks ago. I noticed the screen would sometimes flicker when I held it by the corner of the palmrest. Other times, it would just freeze while sitting still on my desk. I did my research on this board and it seems like faulty MBs are not an uncommon problem with T4x's, some users reported having their MBs replaced 3 or 4 times...

I sent my T42 in last week for the first MB replacement and recieved it yesterday. Work order said system board replaced and HD reimaged at my request. After I loaded all my old files back on to the machine and did the IBM Software Installer updates, the same crashing/freezing problems began. This was only about 5 hours after I recieved my "fixed" machine. I again called IBM, got a box, and sent it out to Solectron again today. I was told by the EZServ rep that my T42 would go to the "Level 2" technician.

I am wary of the status of my machine after reading about repeated MB issues on this board. It seems that the T42 "flexing" design flaw is something that EZServ just wants to deal with by replacing MBs for temporary repair.

For others who have had this similar problem with their machine MBs, what has been the final outcome of your EZServ experience? I have read many threads but the final conclusions are often missing. Did EZServ finally fix the problem with a capable MB, or did IBM finally decide to send you a replacement Thinkpad. I remember reading one case where the user's T42 MB kept dying so IBM sent him a new T43 with similar configuration. I am trying to avoid receiving and returning my T42 before I can finally get a working one. What is the best way to speed up the process and possibly request a new T43 similar to my "dying" T42?

[K. Eng]

As you've probably read in my other thread, the final outcome was that my T40 is now dead. Third time in 3 years... my dad suggested that I call up IBM and see if they'll cover it under warranty because it died so soon after the coverage expired.

For others who have had this similar problem with their machine MBs, what has been the final outcome of your EZServ experience?

[delba626]

Sorry to hear. I have warranty until 8/07, so if the problem persists, I can continue to send my TP in for repair. However, that is what I am trying to avoid. Does anyone have any tips on what to say or do in order to speed up the option of receiving a new TP altogether?

[Kyocera]

That might be tough if it is outside the initial 30 days purchase.

[markwang]

delba626,

did u overwrite the re-imaged hard drive with your old partition image? I had a similar problem after the system board was replaced by IBM on a T43. It turns out the system board and the video card both have much newer version of BIOS/firmware. and my old windows system had an obsolete driver that causes the problem. updating all the driver and disable powerplay solved my problem. The current ibm video driver is still faulty on powerplay and i am waiting for their next update.

See my "Beware..." post

[hnq]

Do you have onsite in your warranty? The first time my motherboard went out, they had me send it to the depot. A tech informed me that techs could replace the motherboards in the field, and I had a new motherboard and fan put in this week - at my house!

[delba626]

My T42 came back with a new motherboard. First thing I did was disable Powerplay as markwang suggested. So far so good. It seems like the crashing problem is fixed, knock on wood.

[thedonnybrook]

you may want to consider a heat problem. my mb died twice within several months, and i found out the real problem was a bad heatsync and fan, continually burning out the video and processor units. try running notebook hardware control with a really heavy work load on the cpu and watch for temp spikes. so far so good with a new mb and cooling system for me.