[ltp] Linux, Thinkpads and IBM warranties

[David A. Desrosiers]

> What issues and experiences have any of you had with Linux on your 
> Thinkpad and IBM's warranties?  Has anyone had a repair issue in 
> which Linux was install (dual boot or only Linux) and IBM give you a 
> problem?  Or do you have to resort to reinstalling windows only 
> before contacting IBM?

	My T23 has been back to IBM for hardware repair 7 times total 
in the first 18 months since I purchased it. They replaced the system 
board (4), mini-pci card (1), system board PSU (1), external PSU (1), 
LCD (1), keyboard (2), case (1) and various other innards. 

	In the time I had it, it would consistently "bake" IDE drives, 
no matter which ones I would put in it. After the first 3 were eaten 
(I bought replacements myself, thinking they were faulty drives), I 
realized it was the laptop itself doing it. It would run so hot that 
it would literally cook the black rubber from the bottom of the laptop 
(which is why they replaced that shell once).

	I've since realized that the drives were under warrantee, and 
RMA'd them about 2 months ago, and I've received a few replacements 
back which is nice (so I have spares). The batteries also only hold 
about 2.5 minutes of charge (they're about 20 months old). It only 
runs on AC now.
 
	It still runs exceedingly hot after IBM replaced the external 
power adapter and the case has some stress cracks in key places (near 
the top corner of the ultrabay and down on the left side where the 
pcmcia slots meet the keyboard). Picking up the laptop from underneath 
causes it to flex downward in a VERY exaggerated way. I keep it on a 
desk now and don't travel with it anymore because I don't want to 
short it out by flexing it too much like that.

	Overall, my history with IBM repair has been good, save for a 
few small issues where they updated the BIOS (when I specifically told 
them NOT to), breaking apm at one point for me, but overall my luck 
has been good.

	I keep a spare 2gb drive that I use to ship in with the laptop 
when it is getting repaired. It has the base OEM Windows install on 
it, and if they want to blow it away and reformat it, they can.

	Now that I have a T42p with the full 5-year TPP, I shouldn't 
have any of these issues. <fingers crossed> 

	Too bad there isn't a lemon law with IBM Thinkpads.


David A. Desrosiers
desrod@gnu-designs.com
http://gnu-designs.com