Warranty repair not properly done

[kajencik]

Hello again after a while....

I've got a question, regarding a warranty repair of my T43p, which recently developed an anoying issue - almost every time I move it while powered off in my backpack (lenovo bussines backpack, supporting all thinkpads even the 15,4 wide ones) it refuses to boot, the hdd led won't even blink and there is this error 0200: Fixed disk 7, so I tried another hdd but the erorr remained, but after a while of cooling down (say about half an our or so) it usually boots without problem, I found out that flexing a bottom right corner helps it a bit too.... and once it boots - it wors fine - now it runs for more than two days nonstop, while being moved around the house and everything is fine....

So i gave it to service for mainboard change which is the only 100% cure IMHO.... And it has been there for 3 weeks (!) and they just changed the hdd and said it was thoroughly tested.... however, i took it to work in my backpack, and voila, the error is back.... So what do you suggest? I understand that this issue is hard to diagnose, but I still think there must be some morrons, I specifically told them that the error is only apearing when it is moved and turned off, but what they did was aparrently letting it sit on the desk, running some stress test under windows, which it could handle perfectly even before the repair...

Do you think there is a way to force them to just change the mainboard? Or should I contact lenovo about this, as I get contact to this repair company from them?

[sktn77a]

Well, the HDD change didn't solve the problem so send it back in again with a cover note explaining your experiences with the backpack (again) and let them sort it out. Unfortunately, they have diagnostic procedures they follow and they don't include walking around with the computer in a backpack!

[ajkula66]

That machine must be cursed to be sent in twice for every major repair...

While it was mine, I sent it in for LCD replacement due to loss of brightness and numerous dark areas/spots. They replaced the inverter.

I threw a polite fit.

LCD got replaced. Along with a couple of other things that I haven't asked for...

You may want to follow my example on this one...send it back and don't take "no" for an answer. I haven't dished out money for extended warranty so they could bust your chops 6,000 miles away...

[kajencik]

So the story continoues.... I sent the laptop for motherboard change and yesterday I got it back, on the first sight, everything seemed to work fine, as long as I didn't try the sound output The internal speakers does not work, altough I checked and reseated their connector to the mainboard, but thats not quite an issue for me, what it worse, when connecting headphones, there is this anoying noise, like the microphone is enabled, but it is disabled in the audio control panel, I can hear everyting which is going on in the laptop (windows minimize, hard drive work), like the soundcard would have some problems with shielding from the other parts of the laptop, also the hardware volume buttons doesn't work - it is showing on the screen like the volume is changing, but it is not. The audio output which is expected (some music) can be heard, but it is dissorted. This is not a window issue, as it worked prefectly before the mainboard swap (The hardrive stays the same), and I also tried to reinstall the driver under windows, update bios to latest version, and remove CMOS battery - even then the laptop doesn't beep while powering on or entering BIOS.... so I suspect this board to have some kind of sound card issue, maybe it was not new, but some refurbished one?

Anyway, now I'm really ****** ***, that this "repair company" can't do their job, I succesfully changed the motherboard in my R50p in one afternoon with sucessfull tests and everything, maybe I should try to order the board a do the swap myself? It would be definitely cheaper for lenovo, as the laptop will be going there for repair for third time, although it could be done in one shot, if they were listening what I was telling them.... Or maybe I should try to contact lenovo again and get a contact for other repair service?

Your suggestions are welcomed.

[sktn77a]

Well, you can either send it in again or buy a motherboard and replace it yourself. Unfortunately, I don't think Lenovo will provide the motherboard for you to replace it yourself under warranty as it is not a FRU.

Sorry you're having such bad luck with this. I guess we should stop complaining about the depot service here in the US!

[ajkula66]

Call whoever you need to call (Lenovo's Europe HQ is in Bratislava which is not that far away from you) and getting VERY loud...

Good luck and keep us posted.

[kajencik]

So I have the laptop finally back, and it seems OK for the third time... I'll put some heavy use on it in the following week, including "on the road" use, so we'll see, but generally I was really not happy with this repair company. (Their name is Cesky servis a.s. (www.ceskyservis.cz, it means "Czech Service") - I don't think this matters for anyone here, but I'm posting it just to give a complete information)