Is this even possible with my warranty? (Thinkpad T42p)

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jodathmorr · #1 Post by **jodathmorr** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 2:02 pm

In February 2005 I bought my first Thinkpad. With that purchase I also made sure to get an extended warranty (I purchased the 3 year plan) since I knew I was bound to run into problems along the way and IBM's excellent support and replacement services was worth the extra money. It especially came in handy when the graphics card on my T42p (a Radeon 9800 128MB/FIRE GL2 at the time) went on the fritz and made it impossible for my monitor's back light to turn on. This was about 2 years ago. Ever since then I've been forced to use the Radeon 7500 that now inhabits my motherboard, which not only downgraded my machine's performance but it has also been responsible for some other system incompatibilities.

Now, over the very last few weeks, I've noticed some real problems when I try and run 3D games on my machine. I get a lot of graphics artifacting, random blue screens, and even flat out reboots sometimes which has really begun to frustrate me. I believe I am still covered by my IBM warranty until February 2008, and I'm not really sure if this is possible or not, but I'm wondering if there's any way I can talk support into replacing my Thinkpad unit with a refurbished or new laptop. The problems I've been encountering have stemmed only from IBM's poor machine design in terms of the graphics chip on my T42p, and while I really like my Thinkpad, this computer is not like the computer I paid for initially and now after being fixed it's still giving me problems.

Does anyone have any experience with this kind of support request? I don't want to be a jerk on the phone to the tech but I feel like I'm entitled to some kind of compensation here, especially since I can't even run a stable system now, and I think a replacement or refurbished laptop might be appropriate. Thanks.

kosse · #2 Post by **kosse** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 6:09 pm

Is it normal to get a replacement motherboard with inferior graphics card?

I don't know if they'll replace the whole machine but you'll get a new mobo for sure. Make sure that you get a real T42p board this time. You have paid for that after all.

jodathmorr · #3 Post by **jodathmorr** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 6:51 pm

According to IBM atleast they've stopped making my motherboard with the onboard Radeon 9800. I was told that it was the graphics card that was causing my backlight to blank and it had to be replaced in order to fix the issue. To be honest one of the main reasons I went with my particular configuration was to get the 9800, so I've been feeling a little gypped the past year or so.

#4 Post by **Harryc** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 7:00 pm

That's totally unacceptable. Call Lenovo and get what you paid for. If they don't have it then talk to whomever you need to to get a new machine.

#5 Post by **bill bolton** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:31 pm

jodathmorr wrote:This was about 2 years ago.

(Snip)

I think a replacement or refurbished laptop might be appropriate. Thanks.

Well, give it a try, but the time to stand your ground was when they replaced the planar the first time!

Pragmatically, two years down the track you might have a lot of difficulty in getting the outcome you desire.

Cheers,

Bill B.

flashstar · #6 Post by **flashstar** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:58 pm

If there actually are new issues with the replacement board, then just state that and they will replace it. Request kindly that they include the right board this time. If not, ask for a discount on a future purchase or money back. I wouldn't think that they would jump on the money back idea, but you should be able to get a better graphics card.

I had a similar problem with Fry's electronics and they were extremely difficult to motivate.

dr_st · #7 Post by **dr_st** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 12:42 pm

A small correction: the onboard chip is a Radeon 9600, not 9800.

Even if they no longer make this motherboard (why would they? It's not like T42s are made anymore), they gotta have stocks of them available for services: refurbished T41p/T42p units or faulty units whether the defect was not in the mobo/planar board. If they try hard enough, I'm sure they can find you a replacement, without even resorting to replacing the entire laptop with a newer model or something.

jodathmorr · #8 Post by **jodathmorr** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 12:46 pm

I thought the FireGL2 cards were based off of the 9800?

ajkula66 · #9 Post by **ajkula66** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 2:06 am

Out of sheer curiosity: why have you agreed to an inferior motherboard in the first place?

jodathmorr · #10 Post by **jodathmorr** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 11:30 am

Hehe, there was no real discussion on the matter. I sent my laptop out for service, they sent it back with the downgrade. Once I got it back and discovered what the service center did I called IBM and asked if there was anything they could do for me but the tech said that was the way it had to be. Hopefully they'll change their tune if I put up a fight over it.

Brad · #11 Post by **Brad** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 9:54 pm

It is unfortunate that you have had to be dissatisfied for so long.

Unfortunately the level of helpfulness when you call for service varies greatly. If you don't get what you think you need on the first try you can try again and usually with dramatically differeint results.

I believe another call, without even a complaint just explaining what has happened, will get you what you should have had two years ago.

Also they could have upgraded the motherboard instead of downgrading which would have been a better result.

Just my .02c.

Happy Holidays to all....

Brad

#12 Post by **bill bolton** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 11:18 pm

Brad wrote:Also they could have upgraded the motherboard

It's a tad hard to upgrade the top of the line planar

The T42 had a fairly short market life compared to the other T4x models, and perhaps we are now starting to see why that may have been the case!

Cheers,

Bill B.

Brad · #13 Post by **Brad** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 2:52 am

My mistake I thought the 128MB ATI FireGL T2 was the top GPU that was standard on the T42p.

Brad

Is this even possible with my warranty? (Thinkpad T42p)

Is this even possible with my warranty? (Thinkpad T42p)

Re: Is this even possible with my warranty? (Thinkpad T42p)

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