Re: Re[2]: [Thinkpad] Thinkpad A31p Screen Corruption - an update

If you look at the archives, you'll find my story of the toxic
thinkpad, poor thing wrongly accused...

In my case, I got a new ThinkPad, but not because they couldn't
fix it. In the other case I dealt with the system board which had
the video memory on it was changed out.

I noticed that I could do everything I needed if I stayed in text
mode, ie 80x25 text mode which uses the least memory. I
don't run Windows so I have that option.

I did a little playing with poking my screen and found that in
ugxa mode (1600x1200) I could play with the first 16k of
memory fine, but 16k + 1 didn't display properly, and after a
while what I wrote in the first 16K started appearing elsewhere
on the screen. At that point I stopped, because that clearly
pointed to the video system and I didn't want to waste more
time on it.

On the Windows machine I ran the pc doctor or whatever its
called, and after about 30 minutes of testing the video memory
it said that there was a problem.

I am pretty sure, after hearing these comments that there is
a generic problem in the video system in the A3xp line. Maybe
not many go, but enough do that they need to fix it. I think
I'd call the 800 number again and mention that this is being
talked about on mailing lists with others commenting on
similar problems. If you are persistent, you'll get help. Let
us know the next chapter in this saga.

--STeve Andre'

On Friday 06 February 2004 07:30 pm, Felix Barbalet wrote:
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> Steve -
>
> What did they replace/do to the thinkpads to fix them at the service
> center? How did they replicate the problem? What do you mean toxic
> thinkpad?
>
> Any ideas how i can reliably replicate the problem?
>
> Peter -
>
> I dont think my machine has ever got static shocks - i have looked
> after it pretty well this past year...
>
>
>
> I have heard from a couple of other people whos thinkpads have a similar
> problem to mine.. Do any IBM representatives read this list?
>
> Also - i have uploaded some more high quality images,
> http://nthbit.net/felix/thinkpad/
>
> The fact that i can take screenshots of the problem, i think,
> indicates its not a problem with the LCD screen, or the connections,
> but actually a problem with the video card... right?
>
>
>
> Another thing, on the service activity report I received back with my
> Thinkpad, They have ticked the box which says Yes for "Fault
> Replicated", however when i spoke to the technician they said they
> could not replicate it. Under System parts replaced, they have ticked
> the box "Other :" but not filled in what the other part replaced was.
>
> Im not sure why the activity report says they could replicate the
> fault when they tell me they could not. Perhaps they ticked Yes
> because they cant send it back without ticking yes, or for some other
> administration reason? Im sure they would have told me if they could
> replicate it. When i speak to IBM next (probably on monday) i will ask
> them.
>
>
> Thanks
> Felix
>
>
> - --
> Felix Barbalet <felix[at]nthbit.net>
> [PGP KEY] [ http://nthbit.net/felix.pub.txt ]
> [BACF 4553 0E55 F62D AE64 BB7F 988C AB11 E603 E06D]
>
>
> ---- [Original Message] ----
> From: "STeve Andre'" <andres@msu.edu>
> Sent: Saturday, February 7, 2004, 11:27:48 AM
> To: thinkpad@stderr.org
> Subject: [Thinkpad] Thinkpad A31p Screen Corruption - an update
>
> > But the problem sounds nearly exactly the same, which was in
> > the video memory. I run OpenBSD and it popped up nicely
> > there, and the other person ran Windows.
> >
> > You might want to tell them this. Sigh -- makes me wonder
>
> when
>
> > this A31p I have is going to do that. Ah well...
> >
> > --STeve Andre'
> >
> > On Friday 06 February 2004 06:30 pm, Peter Seebach wrote:
> >>
> >> In message <629166468.20040207093232@nthbit.net>, Felix Barbalet writes:
> >> >Screenshot of the problem:
> >> >http://nthbit.net/felix/thinkpad/screen.gif
> >>
> >> Woah!
> >>
> >> I have EXACTLY the same problem, only it's not normally quite as bad.
> >>
> >> It only started happening recently - last few days. I can reliably fix
> >> it, however. The solution? Nudge the case, jostle it. Reseating the
> >> left UltraBay device seems to fix it almost every time - or cause it
> >> sometimes.
> >>
> >> While I was at dinner, it started happening (while running X windows,
> >> under NetBSD - definitely not drivers!), and I was able to make it go
> >> away by lifting the front corners of the case a bit and setting the
> >> machine down.
> >>
> >> It feels very much like a loose cable or failing connection of some
> >> sort.
> >>
> >> I got this machine in October 2002, and it's been fine until about 5
> >> days ago. Now it comes and goes very much depending on usage.
> >> Curiously, I also now have a lot of trouble with Partition Commander's
> >> VGA-mode screen getting corrupted...
> >>
> >> Anyway, I'd suggest experimenting with wiggling the case. Mine started
> >> when I carried the machine holding it mostly by the front corners with
> >> the lid open, so it could be a very subtle stress problem. This would
> >> explain difficulty reproducing it, as well.
> >>
> >> However, I can promise you that the patterns you're seeing are EXACTLY
> >> what I have been seeing, only maybe a little worse. The horizontal
> >> rectangles of static are VERY familiar.
> >>
> >> -s
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Thinkpad mailing list
> >> Thinkpad@stderr.org
> >> http://stderr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/thinkpad
> >>
> > _______________________________________________
> > Thinkpad mailing list
> > Thinkpad@stderr.org
> > http://stderr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/thinkpad
>
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Received on Sat Feb 7 15:57:02 2004