T42 loose ethernet connection and terrible support

[J Rock]

Machine is a 2373-4WU. The SLIGHTEST movement causes the ethernet connection to be lost and I have tested it with several different Cat-5 cables.

So I contact Lenovo support as this unit is under warranty, and the representative tells me this is a known design flaw with the 40 and 60 series motherboards. I was like, no, I have 15+ other T4x and T6x thinkpads and none of them do this. She proceeds to tell me there is nothing she can do!

Anyone else experienced anything like this, and/or have any suggestions about getting this fixed under warranty?

[Harryc]

Call back and talk to another rep. She is wrong.

[RoadHazard]

I have the same problem of the ethernet port losing connection easily. Too bad my laptop is out of warranty already so there is nothing much I can do. I'm hoping it to be an easy fix though.

[sktn77a]

So I contact Lenovo support as this unit is under warranty.............. She proceeds to tell me there is nothing she can do!

What rubbish! If the unit has malfunctioned and is under warranty, unless they can PROVE it was abuse, they must repair or replace it! I agree, just keep calling until you find someone that knows what they are talking about.

[chan_man]

I have had 4 T4x machines do this, called IBM/Lenovo service and each time the machine was repaired under warranty. The fix is to replace the motherboard.

I would call up service and calmly state the problem, state that you have tried multiple cables, and that through the docking station, the ethernet connection works fine so the connector on the side of the machine is broken.

[Brad]

What he said.

Exactly.

Brad

[RoadHazard]

I wonder if this is something I can fix myself. I also have degraded USB ports problem but luckily I don't have the GPU problem. I'm reluctant to change the motherboard and risk getting a MB with a bad GPU. I can live with degraded USB and loose ethernet ports but I can't use a computer with a bad GPU.

[cmarti]

I wonder if this is something I can fix myself. I also have degraded USB ports problem but luckily I don't have the GPU problem. I'm reluctant to change the motherboard and risk getting a MB with a bad GPU. I can live with degraded USB and loose ethernet ports but I can't use a computer with a bad GPU.

Don't do that if you still have warranty, why have a partial working computer??

[RoadHazard]

I've been out of warranty for 2 years already.

[cmarti]

I've been out of warranty for 2 years already.

That's the reason!

Well there is a member here on the forum who was selling T4x motherboards are a good price. If you decide to repair it you can place a WTB ad in the marketplace.

[chan_man]

On two machines that I have had this problem with the broken ethernet connector the warranty end date was changed by almost a year. Not sure if this may be tied to any suspect problem with replacement mother boards but I know I did not ask for this and did not pay any money for the extension....

[RoadHazard]

Ok. I have an update regarding the problem with my ethernet port. I tried an easy fix and it worked for me. I was suspecting that some of the pins inside the port were bent causing them not to make contact with the cable firmly. So, I used a needle to bend around the pins to reshape them and now the port has been working fine so far. Can't believe such a stupid problem with an easy fix kept bugging me for years. Next I'll have to try different cables but I hope this is it.

Still can't do anything with the USB ports though.