latest t42 bios from ibm makes cooling fan run constantly!

[steelie69]

ARGH!!!!

why did they do this? the great part about the t42 was that it ran nearly dead silent all the time- the fan didn't even come on.

now the fan pretty much runs on low 100% of the time.

nothing at all changed on my machine except the bios update. i am not running any new programs or anything. it's the bios.

[Leon]

which version from==>to?

[sugo]

Is it on AC or battery? Which power scheme do you use? T42 model number?

I am still using the original T42 BIOS 3.06F. On AC, the fan runs all the time at low speed. CPU is 1.7GHz dothan and MR9600 here.

[kev009]

Make sure you update the embedded controller too! What level is the EC at, as well as the BIOS?

[ranjit]

Hi All,

I am having the same exact problem too after updating the BIOS. The noise is not too great at this time, but as the fan is running all the time I am wondering if the noise would get louder in time.

Is there a way of going back to a previous version of the BIOS and clearing this problem?

Cheers and best regards,
Ranjit

[jdhurst]

I think the fan on my T41 is always running. Most of the time at a low speed and it is not much noticeable. It kicks in on high when the processor usage increases. The new BIOS doesn't seem to have changed this behaviour too much. ... JD Hurst

[steelie69]

I upgraded to 3.14 system bios

and i am using 3.04 embedded controller bios, just as always

i use the "adaptive" power scheme.

before i upgraded the bios, the fan basically NEVER ran

now, immediately after updating the bios, the fan runs ALL THE TIME.

i have not added any software, nor do i have spyware running to use up all my cycles, or anything. NOTHING CHANGED except i upgraded the bios.

they have clearly made modifications to the fan behavior.

[syhead]

Do you need any "fix" or new feature of the new version? If not, why don't you try installing back the original version you had originaly.

I'm tempted, I want to do the same. I have 3.06f and my fan runs all the time. It's sitent, but does not stop running.

[Kenn]

Do you need any "fix" or new feature of the new version? If not, why don't you try installing back the original version you had originaly.

I'm tempted, I want to do the same. I have 3.06f and my fan runs all the time. It's sitent, but does not stop running.

I agree. IBM makes all their old BIOS updates available on the same page as the current release, and you should be able to reflash back to original.

I was running 3.06f as well, and my fan is pretty much on 100% of the time, though often very low. On upgrading, I'm not sure anything's changed for me...

[warreng24]

Define, "fan always running"

I have the 3.13 BIOS and my fan runs constantly also, but in a very very low speed mode which is pretty much silent. Basically the only noise I can hear is the HDD spinning.

If I "push" the processor with a MatLab or Arena Simulation, then the fan will kick into high gear, but even then it's not noticably loud.

-Warren

PS, I've been using the IBM Update Connector to check for updates, but it never seems to list any updates for my T42.

[syhead]

Do you need any "fix" or new feature of the new version? If not, why don't you try installing back the original version you had originaly.

I'm tempted, I want to do the same. I have 3.06f and my fan runs all the time. It's sitent, but does not stop running.

I agree. IBM makes all their old BIOS updates available on the same page as the current release, and you should be able to reflash back to original.

I was running 3.06f as well, and my fan is pretty much on 100% of the time, though often very low. On upgrading, I'm not sure anything's changed for me...

Just one small note: check if the Bios version supports your machine before installing. Some old bersions do not support T42's, just T41's, and so on... Version 3.04 should be fine for any T42, I guess.

Are you sure your fan did not spin most of the time with vs. 3.04? I'm seriously considering flashing it in. My fan is silent 95% of the time, but it bothers me that other centrinos behave differently (i.e., not spinning most of the time).

[aamsel]

This is all that was "fixed" by the 3.14 BIOS:
---------------------------------------------------

Symptom corrected by versoin 3.14 (1RETDIWW)
Note: This BIOS version will only work with Embedded Controller Program Version 3.04 (or higher).

* (Fix) Improvement of Integrated Fingerprint Reader.
Note: Because of this fix, you need to re-install the finger print password after BIOS update. The previous password can be installed. This is only once required for Fingerprint system after BIOS update.
* (Fix) The system hangs while OS/2 is booted up if video expansion mode is enabled.
* (Fix) Once Access IBM starts with using Access IBM button and then is closed, it is freely launched after resuming from hibernation mode.


Andrew
Austin, TX

I upgraded to 3.14 system bios

and i am using 3.04 embedded controller bios, just as always

i use the "adaptive" power scheme.

before i upgraded the bios, the fan basically NEVER ran

now, immediately after updating the bios, the fan runs ALL THE TIME.

i have not added any software, nor do i have spyware running to use up all my cycles, or anything. NOTHING CHANGED except i upgraded the bios.

they have clearly made modifications to the fan behavior.