Battery Life + Screen Noise

[gene303]

Guys,

Two questions/issues.

1. I purchased a new extended battery and I can't get more than 4 hours from it on my 2ghz, 7200rpm, 15 flexview--t42p. Processor is stepped down to 600mhz. Fan off via fan utility and graphics device power management set. Drive spins down after like 2 minutes, etc... Any ideas guys? Is this normal?

2. My screen began making a god-awful noise. It makes it with power plugged in or out, though it is not as loud with the power plugged in. When i flex certain portions of the lcd it seems to stop. Also when i put the laptop upside down it seems to stop. odd. is there any fix for this?

Thanks!

Gene

[Gerryn]

My 14.1" T42 (In sig) with a 9cell only gets about 4 hours battery life with the CPU on "very slow" and screen brightness on full. Graphic powerplay is on and the fan is off via the FanControl utility.

My T42 also has the same problem with screen noise. It's silent on full brightness, but if I lower it one notch it starts buzzing.. and buzzing LOUD, and the same buzzing is present on every level of brightness except full. if I move the LCD back and forth a bit and squeeze on the case underneath the screen by the hinges, I can get the buzzing to stop. This is a pain. I don't know why this happens. It never occured on my other T42 or my old T23.

[gene303]

Gerryn,

Thank's for chiming in. I've had too many problems with the screen on this machine. I am incredibly ambivalent about this machine. Its been to atlanta for fixin' at least 4 timtes this year and each time they muck something else up. Regardless, i had the screen replced about 1.5 months ago because there is a recurring pressure mark problem that i have and the new lcd came with some dust, a dead pixel, a pressure mark that re-appeared a week later, and most of all the EXACT same noise problem you have. If i squeeze it and play with the bottom plastic on the screen then the noise may go away a bit. I also find if you flip the computer upside down(just for testing) the sound will subside. It is incredibly loud, disturbing, and annoying. Anyhow, it seems your battery lasts longer than mine because I only get 4 hours with fan off, cpu at lowest, AND SCREEN BRIGHTNESS AT LOWEST. Anyhow, I am sending my thinkpad back tomorrow and I am going to try to get a replacement. Else I will be contacting the FTC and the BBB.

Gene

[Gerryn]

Sorry to hear about all the trouble you've gone through with your ThinkPad. I hope you can get a replacement without any problems. You certainly shouldn't have to fight for a perfect product.

Besides the screen noise, my machine is perfect and I'm very happy with it overall. In general most ThinkPads are problem-free, though as with any other product there are a few machines with defects that end up disappointing their users in some way.

One more note: The 15" Flexview display will always draw more power than the 14.1" display, so I think 3.5 to 4 hours with a 9cell is pretty good for your machine.

Again, good luck with your ThinkPad.

[gene303]

Gerryn,

Thank's for the support. That a decent point about the lcd display. eventhough it is only an inch difference, the power ratings may be dif ... i don't really care enough to research. Anyhow, I'm sending away this problem child tomorrow with everything included. Currently in the Process of doing a 4-pass wipe on the drive so that i can sleep knowing that no one will ever retrieve my data.

I know all these things are small things, like the sound from the screen, or the recurring pressure mark, but i paid a ridiculous amount of money for this thing so that my ocd can be satisfied. I simply can not concentrate looking at a display with a dark mark in the center and listening to its noise. I have a feeling getting a replacement will be a little battle, but I've read of at least one success on this board and I hope I will have same.

Gene