Thinkpad T43/42, parts and general advices

[Norway Pad]

Hello all.

I may ask questions that have been covered before, but I use the opportunity to present my self at the same time, as I am new here.

My laptop story goes back to a Thinkpad 360Cs, provided by work, but later given to me. (It's still workin') Through a work owned and now returned T30, to a T43p as my current laptop. These have all been excellent laptops, and I simply love the design, and the build quality of these machines. Later this year I am moving to my wife in Idaho, US, so these days I am looking into buying a used T42. It will be configured with Skype, MSN and LogMeIn and will be left behind in Norway for my mom.

So I really like the T43, (And hopefully also the T42) and my first question is if there are any special precautions that can be taken, within reasonable limits, that can make these laptops last as long as possible. What should be done, and what should be avoided. I have seen mentioned the GPU issue, and it was said that the laptop is best left on 24/7/365, but that’s not something I want to or can do. But if the GPU fails: Can parts (Motherboards) for these laptops still be bought new? And what is the cost? My fear is that it will exceed the cost for another used similar laptop, but on the other hand; a new motherboard might give me a laptop that will last a long time. Broken harddrives can be an issue too, I guess?

Thank you for any answer!

[Harryc]

Get an Intel Chipset based R52 or T43. No GPU problems. Shop by machine type/model using the ltwbook.

http://www.lenovo.com/psref/pdf/ltwbook.pdf

[sjthinkpader]

If you cannot leave it on, then use "Adaptive" power settings, never "Performance". Smaller temperature delta is better than big temperature deltas.

Set LCD off timer to as short as practical. CCF backlight have definitive life time.

HDD timer should be set per your use pattern. If you use it intermittently through out the day, it is best to leave it on. If you use it 2-3 hours straight each day, set a HDD off timer. The idea is to keep it off when not used but not load and unload the heads all the time.

[Norway Pad]

Thanks for the advices so far. The settings have been modified a little bit, according to the siggestions given, to make my laptop's life as comfortable as possible.

But I get more confused the more I read about the T4x GPU issue. I have rarely heard any complaints over the Thinkpad T's from neither workmates nor friends, and the are generally considered to be very reliable. But I get the impression here that the GPU issue affects almost every T4x. (Except maybe T43) Like the question is WHEN it will happen, rather then IF. So I am starting to think that the purchase of the T42 for my mom maybe was a bad idea. If it was my own laptop, I could dismantle it myself and replace/have the motherboard reflowed. But she can't do that. Too bad, though. The laptop is already bought and is on it's way to me now. So we'll just have to stick with it and see how long it lasts.

Have an enjoying Thinkpad-time, guys!

[Harryc]

This is a technical advice/repair forum. Almost everyone who posts here has a problem with their Thinkpad. The members here represent the ownership of a tiny fraction of the total Thinkpad T4X's sold. Therefore it is possible that the GPU problem is over-exaggerated. I have never seen hard numbers to prove that it is a wide spread issue. So, while we see the issue discussed here every day, that does not mean it is a huge issue overall. By the way, A3X, T3X and R5X Thinkpads have been known to have this issue as well. I can tell you that I know of (2) repair businesses that have sprung up as a result of the GPU issue and they are both very busy ...

[ZaZ]

What's your budget? If you could spend a bit more perhaps you can slide into a T60 or R60, which are more durable, have dual core CPUs and get you access to bigger faster SATA drives.

[Norway Pad]

Harry: What you say here makes much sense, yes. Compared to the total number of Thinkpads sold, this is maybe not such a big issue after all. In 2001/2002, when I got my T30, I know several T30s were bought by my employer. But I didn't hear about a single one of them failing.

The good thing is that we have the solution ready if it really goes wrong. And I know where to find these. Good to know there is support around!

Fred: A good suggestion. Had I known more before I ordered the T42, I COULD have bought a T60 for my self and left the T43 with my mom. The T60 is anyway my first choice if I need to replace the T43 within the next years.

[RealBlackStuff]

I own about 20-odd Thinkpads at the moment.
My first love was a T23. It is still the machine I use most. Have about 12 of them. Very reliable and sturdy machines.
Had some T30s but they were basically a heavier version of a T23. Never got too friendly with them.
Got some T40 and T41 machines, great lookers, but too frail for my liking.
And several R51 and R52 models, a sturdier and heavier version of the T4x series. I really like those.
Finally I've got a T60 that's nearly 3 years old but has not been used for more than maybe 15 hours!
Got this last one cheap because it had a password on it, which the owner could not remove (but I could...).
For when I replace my desktop, one of these days...

With the exception of the T60, I bought all of the above as parts/repair machines.
I'm by no means an expert, but once you know what to look for, all are easily manageable and repairable.
If your new T42 develops the GPU problem, you can ship it to the UK for repair.
But I don't see your mother toting this thing around, so leaving it in one place should largely improve it's life.
Besides, if it DOES break down, you have a great excuse to fly home!

[madkat]

Maybe in this forum is a fraction of TP T4x owners...
but after becoming aware of the problem, and as a consequence built myself a frankenpad, an bought for my father a Intel R51, i started to pay attention to the Second Hand IBM market... and there are a hell of a lot T4x's with the GPU issues, hell of a lot WTB ad's for mobo's, and hell of a lot T4x's sold for almost nothing due to this issue...
Moreover - talked to IT guys working in companies with a lot of IBM's - and they were absolutely sick of T4x's WITH ati gpu - and their relief came with the introduction of T43 intel gpu models...

conclusion? ... i think it's obvious...

[Norway Pad]

I think I simply have to just use the laptops and see what happens. Worrying too much about this won't do either me or my laptops any good. But some precautions will of course be taken. I am also able to change a motherboard my self, so it won't be so big of a disaster for me as for Mr. Joe Average user if the GPU should fail.

The T42 arrived today, and it seems to be in a generally good shape. The seller did obviously not bother turning it off, so I got a box with a plastic wrapped laptop in sleeping mode, with a discharged battery. Yay, smart way of shipping a laptop! Apart from that I have an issue with XP-Activate not accepting the license key from the license tag and the IBM software is not there. Meaning no Fn-function from any of the associated keys. (Can software for this be installed now, without causing any issues with XP?)

And after I leave, the T42's estimated time of use will be 2-3 hours a week, and the laptop will probably never be moved at all. So let's hope it lasts for a while.


Thank you for all feedback!

[Harryc]

If you want the Rescue & Recovery partition on the hard drive, and it is not there now, it will erase what's currently on the drive during setup. You will need the recovery CD's to install it.

[Norway Pad]

Ok, I am sorry to add one more post to this thread. I tried to do a search here, but the first pages of search results didn't give any answers.

I have now activated XP and installed most of the lacking software on the T42, Hotkeys, Active Protection, Battery Management, Access Connections, and everything seems to work.. except.. the wireless card. From Lenovo's site I downloaded and installed the software/driver "Intel PRO/Wireless 2200bg, 2915abg, 3945bg, 3945abg, 4965ag, 4965agn Mini PCI adapter" as this is the one installed on my T43. (It might not be the correct one for the T42) And it didn't give any results, so Fn+F5 gives the error message that there is no Wireless card installed on this machine. At the same time, there appears to be an unknown hardware unit specified as "Network Controller", that I suspect is the wireless card. No driver can be found and installed for this.

The laptops number is T42 - 2373-6YG S/N99-AZNO7 Does anybody know if I need another driver? Or is it a special procedure for installing the driver for the wireless card?

Thank you!

[RealBlackStuff]

Your T42 was an early one that came with only 802.11b, which might still be in there.
Either a Cisco, or an Intel 2100 3b.
Check for an IBM P/N or FRU on that card.
Get T42 drivers here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 55386.html

[Norway Pad]

Thanks! Downloading "Intel PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mini PCI adapter software for Windows 2000/XP" solved the problem, and I am now on my wireless while writing this.

I should of course have tried another driver before asking here, but.. The T42 is up to date now.