Intermittent hardware: how do I get warranty info?

Message

John H · #1 Post by **John H** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:14 pm

I've got an intermittent problem on my T60: sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

It seems to me there used to be a way to input your serial number to IBM/Lenova and find out what your warranty status is. Does anyone know anything about that?

I bought this unit used a few months ago without clear warranty data.

What's a good way to get this T60 fixed? I replaced the Intel 3945 miniPCI and a whole bunch of software for the 3945, Access Connections, ACPI and Hotkeys, but the problem remains.

#2 Post by **gator** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:20 pm

You can find it here:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... -WARNTY#sw

John H · #3 Post by **John H** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:34 pm

Thanks, gator. As I suspected, the warranty expired a couple months ago.

I wonder how I should go about getting this T60 repaired? I'm sure it's a hardware problem because I have wireless problems on both XP and Ubuntu. Also, I upgraded the Access Connections, Hotkey, Power Management and 3945 drivers, per instructions from this forum. I also replacedd the 3945 mini PCI card.

Still, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

#4 Post by **gator** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:55 pm

Not a problem.

Is there a chance that your OS installation has gone bad? I'd first suggest backing up all informatuion and doing a factory restore (if you still have the restore partion) and see if the isse still persists om windows XP. If you think that will be too time consuming, get a linux live CD and boot from it. See if you are able to conenct to wireless using them ...

It might even be your router too, are you having this issue with multiple routers?

John H · #5 Post by **John H** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:00 am

I think it's hardware (or maybe some firmware) because both OSes fail. I also tried the liveCD for Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy) that works on my T40 and the T60 doesn't even boot it. The T60 looks like it's going to boot, since CD drive lights flash a lot at the start, but then, after a long time, it just offers the old boot menu for what's on the HDD.

I'll try an older liveCD of Ubuntu 7.10 that I've run successfully on a half dozen machines (including the T60), but I suspect I'll get the same results.

I ran PC-Doctor 5 (fresh download from Lenovo) and it failed. For one thing it couldn't read a CD, or at least any of the CDs I tried in the tray. I'm re-running PC-Doc again right now with a bunch of pre-recorded data CDs and they all fail. I think there's a printable report, so I'll capture that when it's done.

Seems to be a widespread problem on this T60 affecting the wireless, cursor, CPU and CD, and perhaps other things. Does it need a new system board? New CPU? PC-DOC doesn't really pinpoint the problem.

Is this the end of the line for Thinkpad? I always liked TPs for their reliability and toughness. The old 560 I bought in 1997 is still working, altho the screen has a hideous yellow cast which I can repair with a $20 eBay LCD, the 600 from 1999 is taking it's place, both 570s are in daily use, and the T40 is a truck. But this T60 is .... disappointing. I'm considering replacing it with a good used T43.

I figured that when IBM sold Thinkpad to the Chinese that The End Is Near, but I hoped enough of the Old Tech Guys from TP would continue to be involved to keep it good. But, ultimately, the Old Tech Guys don't make the management decisions. The smartasses at Lenovo will just liquidate the Thinkpad Blue Sky and goodwill to fatten their shortterm bonus programs. Just another asset to liquidate.

When Thinkpad turns into a pumpkin, where do we go for good laptops?

Intermittent hardware: how do I get warranty info?

Intermittent hardware: how do I get warranty info?

Who is online