R61e w/4GB RAM problems in depot repair - odd situation

[mymonstor]

In March I got my first personal Thinkpad with the intent of creating some C# code & database work for a consulting project.
I purchased the machine with 2GB RAM from Lenovo. I also bought a Kingston 2GB module for it for a total of 4GB. I have my own 64-bit Windows OS copies (Vista & Server 2008).

I built the machine up with 2GB installed and it ran well for a week. I installed the Kingston module and it bluescreened with a PFN_Corruption list error. BIOS/Controller flashes did not fix it, nor did swapping RAM in slots. PC always ran fine with a 2GB module installed. The specs for the machine posted on the Lenovo site when I bought it said that the PC supported 4GB of RAM. Those specs have since disappeared sometime in late March 08. The original link was http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-68200 and it still shows in the index of a search on the site for MIGR-68200.

I thought the Kingston RAM was bad, but after buying another 2GB Kingston module and running extensive memory tests from PC-DR on all 3 modules I now had, in all slot combinations, I concluded the system board was bad. When I attempted to run memory tests on WinSrv2008 or PC-DR with 4GB of RAM installed, in any combinaion of brand/slot, the memory tests locked up with video artifacts appearing all over the screen.

I opened a case for repair, sent the machine in and got back my PC 2 days later with a freshl flashed BIOS and the problem still present.

I opened another case and sent the PC in again, this time including extensive written documentation of my testing. That was 2 weeks ago.

Each time I called this week for status I was told the unit was with the engineers. Friday I was told that the unit is in OEM Hold.

With the disappearance of the MIGR doc and the machine being in OEM Hold, what ever that means, can anyone offer insight into what might behappening here? Can any Lenovo folks share their thought? I'm really disappointed with this experience. I've never had anything like it in my 7 years of using Thinkpads.

(The machine basics, minus the useless info)
ThinkPad R61e - 1Yr Depot Warranty
-Intel T7500 (2.2GHz 800MHz 4MBL2)
-Display type: 15.4" WXGA 1
-System graphics: Intel GMA X3100, GL960, PC Card 1
-Total memory: 2 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM) 1
-3 Year Depot Upgrade with 3 Year ThinkPad Protection 41C9334

Regards,

Andy McKenna

[ajkula66]

Welcome to the forum!

Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for you, but a suggestion instead: try posting your story on the Lenovo forum as well, and I'm sure one of their "top guns" for customer relationship will respond, they have been pretty good with that to the best of my knowledge.

Good luck.

[mymonstor]

Thank you. I will cross post there.

[getsandy]

(The machine basics, minus the useless info)
ThinkPad R61e - 1Yr Depot Warranty
-Intel T7500 (2.2GHz 800MHz 4MBL2)
-Display type: 15.4" WXGA 1
-System graphics: Intel GMA X3100, GL960, PC Card 1

Just want to know if GL960 supports C2D with 800MHz FSB?

Sandy

[erik]

The specs for the machine posted on the Lenovo site when I bought it said that the PC supported 4GB of RAM. Those specs have since disappeared sometime in late March 08. The original link was http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-68200 and it still shows in the index of a search on the site for MIGR-68200.

i just visited the above MIGR document and it displays the following:

512 MB, 1 GB and supports up to 4GB maximum memory

Notes:

* ThinkPad notebooks with a Windows Vista 32-bit or previous Windows 32-bit operating system can support up to 3 GB of addressable memory.
* ThinkPad notebooks that have a Windows Vista 64-bit operating system can support up to 4 GB of addressable memory.

if anything disappeared then it was most likely because a server was down.

[mymonstor]

I found that the MIGR reappeard, too. I was confused.
This whole episode resulted in a new unit. The repair depot tried multiple RAM modules and system boards in my R61e. They could never get it to work with 4GB of RAM.

I am working with Richard S at IBM. He arranged for a replacement that is a T61. So in the end I am supposed to get a better machine. I am yet to see it and Richard has no info apart from advising me when he placed the order for the replacement.

I'll post the final word on this when I actually geta functioning laptop.

[mymonstor]

After many weeks of waiting on depot repair and finally being told I would get a replacement machine, I got a replacement machine. Lenovo upgraded me to a T61 6460EGU machine. I got it last Tuesday (5/27), 3 months after I ordered my original (2/29). I am still waiting on my 4GB of RAM. The machine I got was broken out of the box. It won't power on from battery, only AC , but it runs on battery once powered up. IBM has a new system board on the way and I will finally have a computer I can use for the consulting project I am 3 months behind on now.

[twr7cx]

the R61e's have a problem with 4GB of RAM unless it is the genuine Lenovo stuff or specified compatible stuff (http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=62379).

[mymonstor]

I know the R61's have problems. Mine started on March 7th when I got my R61e. I sent my R61 in to depot in March and IBM tried my Kingston RAM, their Hynix RAM, other RAM, several system boards, new CPUs. It sat in Engineering hold for several weeks. They gave up and sent me a T61 and 4GB of their RAM. I got the T61. I'm still waiting on the RAM. They kept mine.

It's been a mess.