T61p - IEEE 1394 (Firewire) port does not show up in dev mgr

[barchamb]

I have a T61p. On the front, in the left corner, right next to the wireless on/off switch, is a IEEE 1394 (Firewire) port. However, if I plug anything into it, it's not recognized by Windows, and if I go into the device manager in Windows, there is no IEEE 1394 host manager or ports or anything listed there.

I have rebooted and gone into the BIOS, and I don't see anything in there about 1394 either. Is the port there, but the hardware inside is missing? Do I need to enable it somehow?

It is my understanding the 1394 port needs a Ricoh driver, and I do see Ricoh drivers in my device manager - under "IDE ATA/ATAPI contollers", I do see "Ricoh Memory Stick Contoller", "Ricoh SD/MMC Host Contoller", and "Ricoh xD-Picture Card Contoller". And, I know the card reader works as I've used it to copy pictures from a camera. I also have "PCMCIA adapters" that has "Ricoh R/RL/5C476(II) or Compatible CardBus Contoller", though I've never tried that port.

My model is 6459-CTO...

[Harryc]

According to the ltwbook, all T61P's come with IEEE 1394 FireWire 400 (4-pin connector; 1394a-2000 standard). There should be a BIOS setting under 'security', 'I/O port access' second screen for IEEE firewire to enable it.
http://www.lenovo.com/psref/pdf/ltwbook.pdf

[barchamb]

I rebooted into the BIOS, and these are the options I have under Security / IO Port Access:

Enternet LAN, Wireless LAN, Wireless WAN, Bluetooth, Wireless USB, Modem, USB Port, Serial Port, Parallel Port, CardBus Slot, ExpressCard Slot, PCI Express Slot, Ultrabay, Memory Card, Microphone. They are all marked as Enabled. There is no option for IEEE 1394 or Firewire.

I also made sure that I have the most recent BIOS.

[Harryc]

My model is 6459-CTO...

Can you PM me the serial number of this T61P please? Don't post it on the open forum. It's interesting, in the maintenance manual it says - IEEE 1394 connector (some models)

[Harryc]

Well, here's my opinion. If the board had no active firewire port there would be a cover over it. Since you have a port I'd assume it should be active and therefore is defective. I did not see firewire listed in your shipped parts list, but I did see the systemboard FRU is 42W7877. I could not find any documentation that said it has firewire or doesn't have firewire. I see your machine is still under warranty until 2011-01-19 and has on-site repair. I'd call it out to Lenovo for service and let them take a look

[barchamb]

Called Lenovo support. He had me try a bunch of things, then told me to just buy a new device that used USB instead of Firewire. Nice. Are you gonna send me the money, buddy? No. Then fix my computer. I told him I had on-site, but he said that the techs don't diagnose, they just fix, and since he couldn't tell me what was wrong, he had no part to fix.

So, he gave me the name of a local place that does diagnose, so I took it there, and they couldn't figure it out. They didn't open it up and look, but they couldn't get it working, so they called Lenovo, and they said they would just swap the motherboard. The guy came today to do that. He opened it up, and found that the actual little firewire port was broken, not the motherboard. And, since he doesn't have that part, he couldn't fix it. He called in to Lenovo, and they said bummer, I'd have to send it in to get that fixed.

So, does anyone know where I can get that little part?

[richk]

If you have warranty service, you don't want to replace it yourself. It requires complete disassembly. The part is screwed onto the magnesium frame after removing the motherboard. (the MB has a connector that plugs into it.) I cannot tell what the part comes with. I am looking at one of the ports as I type this and don't see a part number. It probably comes with the misc. parts kit 42W3650. I just looked and there is someone selling one on eBay and I think it is the part next to the fan bracket in their picture. I would call Lenovo and tell them to send the tech back. You bought onsite service. If the guy can change the motherboard, he can change this part. It is only 2 more screws. Here is the eBay item with the picture.

http://cgi.ebay.com/42W3650-Lenovo-Thin ... 3c9db4cd37

[RealBlackStuff]

Don't know what your (broken) 1394 part looks like.
I have a spare 1394 port and cable from a 15" R51. the port sits to the left of the PCMCIA cage (seen from the side of the laptop).
See this: http://www.bonanza.com/booths/DMZLaptop ... LE_91P6819
The cable goes diagonally across the PCMCIA cage and connects just above the left speaker, at the right bottom of the PCMCIA cage.
If this looks like your setup, let me know, if Lenovo doesn't fix yours.
You can have it for shipping cost...

[richk]

It looks nothing like the port on the R51. This needs a very small 10-pin connector that plugs directly into the motherboard when the board is screwed into the frame.

[barchamb]

Here is the eBay item with the picture.
http://cgi.ebay.com/42W3650-Lenovo-Thin ... 3c9db4cd37

Yep - the part in the middle of the picture looks like exactly what I need.

The issue with the repair: The service guy opened up the laptop to replace the motherboard and saw that the 1394 port was broken. So, he called into Lenovo to ask them to send him that part so that he could come back out and replace it. They said no. They said it could only be replaced if I sent the laptop into Lenovo and was without it for 7 - 10 days. This is my work laptop. I cannot just take an unplanned 7 - 10 day vacation from work, so this really isn't an option for me.

I'll see about buying that eBay item, though I wish I could just find the port itself, and it would be much cheaper. I don't need all that other stuff...

[Davinder]

I had a similar problem with a T61 (6457 4UU) machine. It is still under next-day on site warranty; first the firewire device wasn't showing up at all in device manager. A call to IBM sent a tech the next day with a brand new system board which he installed. The chassis mounted firewire piece itself that snaps into the main board appeared to be fine at the time...

It's now showing an 'IEEE 1394 Bus host controller--> OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller' in Device manager but doesn't recognize anything plugged into it.

Called IBM again and they’re going to send a tech to replace part # 42W3650, which includes the firewire housing.

Any luck with your situation Barchamb?