ThinkWiki - User contributions [en]

Installing Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron) on a ThinkPad T61

2008-06-26T16:16:38Z

Fugulyt: /* tap-to-click feature */

== Items that work out of the box ==

'''Intel Video:''' 2D and 3D acceleration works

'''Nvidia Video:''' 2D and 3D acceleration works

'''Wireless:''' Intel cards tested. Atheros cards also works.

'''Wireless WAN:''' Cingular/AT&T card tested.

'''Network Card''' Intel 10/100/1000 tested

'''Wireless switch''' Tested

'''Webcam''' Tested with cheese and skype.

'''Headphones''' Works out of the box

'''Microphone''' Just needs to be activated, see section [[#Audio|below]]

'''Keyboard Shortcuts:''' Most of them work out of the box, some need to be activated, see section [[#Multimedia_Keys|below]]

== Items that need (some) tweaking to obtain full functionality ==

=== Open Source Intel Wifi Driver ===
The following information is important if you are upgrading from a previous version of Ubuntu to 8.04.

Intel has created a new Linux Wifi driver project for Intel Wireless cards, "[[Iwlwifi]]". This driver is Open Source and no longer requires the Intel daemon to run in addition. This project will support the [[:Category:T61 | T61]]'s Wifi [[Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Mini-PCI Express Adapter | Intel 3945ABG network adapter]] and [[Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Mini-PCI Express Adapter| Intel 4965AGN network adapter]].

An automatic migration will occur when upgrading from [[Installing Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) on a ThinkPad T61|Ubuntu 7.10]] to Ubuntu 8.04. However, there is a caveat to be aware of:
* The new driver wants to name the interface wlan0 (by default -- you can rename it to anything you want), and requires a different entry in {{path|/etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-net.rules}}, which handles the naming of interfaces. Simply edit this file and delete your old entry for the ipw3945 driver, then unload/reload the new driver, or simply reboot. A new entry will automatically be created that is appropriate for the new driver. Here's an example of the lines to delete:
<pre>
# PCI device 0x8086:0x4227 (ipw3945)
SUBSYSTEM=="net", DRIVERS=="?*", ATTRS{address}=="00:1b:77:a4:0e:2f", NAME="eth1"
</pre>

If you need to perform a manual migration, the Ubuntu Help Community has written some [https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/Driver/iwlwifi_Intel_3945_4965/gutsy documentation] that will make this very easy to do.

=== Compiz and XV Playback on Intel GM965/GL960 ===

With Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) you currently have to choose between using Compiz and working video playback using XV. On 8.04 (Hardy Heron) alpha 5 you can play videos using XV under compiz, it works right out of the box using the Live-CD.

=== Suspend with Nv140m ===
Suspend may not work even after editing acpi-support. Enable bluetooth (Fn+F5) may result in a successful suspend. NOTE: that although the wifi led does not change when Fn+F5 is used, the wifi is still toggled by this key.

'''Hal "S3 BIOS" parameter issue!'''

After doing the changes to the /etc/default/acpi-support file (described [http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Installing_Ubuntu_7.10_(Gutsy_Gibbon)_on_a_ThinkPad_T61#How_to_Suspend_with_nVidia_140m.2F570m here]), I for one, managed to have '''stable''' suspend support by creating a new file called: '''/etc/hal/fdi/information/lenovo.fdi''' with the following contents:
<pre>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> 
<deviceinfo version="0.2">
<device>
<match key="system.hardware.vendor" string="LENOVO">
<merge key="power_management.quirk.s3_bios" type="bool">false</merge>
</match>
</device>
</deviceinfo>
</pre>
{{NOTE|The problem (after reading the HAL and pm-utils documentations) is the fact that (as far as I can tell) the T61 Lenovo doesn't allow the S3 BIOS to be called *during* suspend/resume, which HAL seems to do by default (who knows, maybe there are T61s out there that do work with this default)!

This did not seem to be necessary for previous versions of Ubuntu. Also note that I have an NVIDIA card so I have no idea what to do for Intel versions.The change should also be resistant to HAL and pm-utils upgrades.}}

'''Still no suspend with nvs140m? Got Modell 6460?'''

Fix above didn't work for me on a 15.4 wide T61 Modell 6460 with nv140m. Bios is updated to 2.14 but didn't change anything, except the usb bug is fix. Suspend seems to work fine, but resume gives me a black screen (backlight off - no reaction to brightness up) and I can hear 2 beeps. Most of the time I can reboot with ctrl+alt+delete but the screen stays dark until bios.

follow the instructions above but create the new file called: '''/etc/hal/fdi/information/lenovo.fdi''' with the following contents instead:
<pre>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> 
<deviceinfo version="0.2">
<device>
<match key="system.hardware.vendor" string="LENOVO">
<merge key="power_management.quirk.s3_mode" type="bool">true</merge>
<merge key="power_management.quirk.s3_bios" type="bool">false</merge>
<merge key="power_management.quirk.save_pci" type="bool">true</merge>
</match>
</device>
</deviceinfo>
</pre>

Also you want to set the following parameter in

{{path|/etc/default/acpi-support}}
<pre>
SAVE_VIDEO_PCI_STATE=true
</pre>

{{NOTE|This works for me with mode 6460, except for one problem: You may get a white screen in xorg after resume when using compiz. If you don't have a 6460 with nvidia this file may break things for you because it doesn't care about the modell and sets the parameter for any lenovo product}}
{{HELP|Anyone with more knowledge of hal and acpi-support is welcome to clean this up. I also don't know why this setting can be done via hal and in acpi-support.
See below!}}

'''Working on hardy final'''

After trying out all these recipes on my 6457CTO waking up from suspend still did not work. Finally I came across a blog entry which pointed out the right way: [[http://david.goodlad.ca/2008/3/14/suspend-hibernate-on-lenovo-t61 David Goodlad's blog]]. I realized that all the fixes proposing editing the acpi-support file or adding a kernel parameter acpi_sleep=s3_mode must be wrong because since hardy gnome-power-manager gets its information solely from hal. So setting up correct hal information is the right way but the proposed solution (creating a /etc/hal/fdi/information/lenovo.fdi file) did not work for me. Ok, but now step by step:

# Revert ALL the proposed fixes from above. I found out that at least the lenovo.fdi solution is actually breaking the real fix. So for sure delete /etc/hal/fdi/information/lenovo.fdi
# Find out about the excact hal name of your machine: <pre>hal-device |grep 6457</pre> where 6457 is the model number of my t61, replace it with your own. In my case it spits out something like this: system.hardware.product = '6457CTO'. So now I know that hal identifies my machine as 6457CTO.
# <pre>sudo gedit /usr/share/hal/fdi/information/10freedesktop/20-video-quirk-pm-lenovo.fdi</pre> and add a section to the end of the file, just above the </device> tag and replace 6457CTO with your hal device name:
<pre>

<match key="system.hardware.product" string="6457CTO">

<merge key="power_management.quirk.s3_mode" type="bool">true</merge>
<merge key="power_management.quirk.s3_bios" type="bool">false</merge>
<merge key="power_management.quirk.save_pci" type="bool">true</merge>
</match>
</pre>

Now save and reboot. Now you might run into the problem of coming back from resume into a completely white screen where normally should be the password dialog. Entering your password blindly is not nice but at least you can resume.

{{NOTE|Somehow I couldn't make the wildcard matching work as they did in the lenovo.fdi solution, but that might be due to my shortcomings on that syntax. Anyway matching the device by its full name worked for me. Probably somebody who knows more about the matching could make that wildcard thing work to have a more general solution. Because hal also knows the xorg driver name (info.linux.driver) there should be a way to set up the quirks depending on the driver.}}

[[Category: T61]]

=== TrackPoint ===
The [[TrackPoint]] works out of the box, but does not scroll nor does the tap-clicking (press to select) feature work. Therefor see: [[#tap-to-click feature]] To enable using the middle mouse button to scroll, replace the "Configured Mouse" section in {{path|/etc/X11/xorg.conf}} with the following:
<pre>
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Trackpoint"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
Option "EmulateWheel" "true"
Option "EmulateWheelButton" "2"
EndSection
</pre>

=== Audio ===

Works great out of the box, just the microphone has to be activated, it is considered a generic capture source and is muted by default.

To unmute the microphone:

*Right Click on the volume icon next to the clock and click on "Open Volume Control"

*Click Edit -> Preferences. A list of devices will be displayed, you should check the following (Do not uncheck any existing items):

Input Source
Capture

*Click Close and there should be two additional tabs "Recording" and "Options". -

*Click Recording and click on the microphone under the Capture slider so that it no longer has a red line through it, and put the slider up as it may be deactivated.

*Click Options and under capture source select internal mic.

To test your mic using Sound Recorder select Capture as the sound source.

This solution has been tested with Sound Recorder and Skype.

To get the volume controls working:

*add the following line to /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base, then reboot

options snd-hda-intel index=0 model=thinkpad

{{NOTE|The volume controls worked fine for me out of the box on a 6460.}}

=== Multimedia Keys ===

Most Multimedia Keys work out of the box, just the play, forward and stop buttons need to be adjusted, therefore, press alt + F2 and type in gnome-keybinding-properties. Then everything works as followed:

* Fn-PgUp activates/deactivates the thinklight
* Fn-Up will trigger stop on a media player
* Fn-Down will toggle pause and play on a media player
* Fn-Left/Right go to prev/next tracks on a media player
* Fn-F2 properly locks the screen
* Fn-F3 shows remaining battery >>does not work on all machines<<
* Fn-F4 suspends (to ram)
* Fn-F9 ejects cds >>does not work on all machines, I think this is supposed to eject from a "dock"<<
* Fn-F12 hibernates (to disk)
* PrtSc opens the screenshot dialog

To enable the back, forward, and the menu keys you'll need to teach XKB what they are.

* Check the '''XkbLayout''' option (under '''InputDevice''') in your {{path|/etc/X11/xorg.conf}} file to determine which keyboard layout Ubuntu is using (I'll use 'us' for the example).
* Navigate to {{path|/etc/X11/xkb/symbols}} and, as root, open the appropriate layout file (as determined above) in your favorite editor.
{{cmduser|cd /etc/X11/xkb/symbols}}
{{cmduser|sudo gedit us}}
* In the '''xkb_symbols "basic"''' section after the '''name[Group1]= "x";''' (where x is a country name, or similar) line add the following:
key <I63> { [ Menu ] };
key <I69> { [ XF86Forward ] };
key <I6A> { [ XF86Back ] };
* Now log out and back in and all three of the buttons should function.

=== Thinkpad Button ===

Paste the following into /usr/share/hotkey-setup/ibm.hk
setkeycodes e017 148 # thinkpad button
You can also just type this into a terminal, to test it for the time of the current session.

Paste the following into the right file in /usr/share/xmodmap (check your country code)
keycode 159 = XF86Terminal
For immediate availability of the button, reload the file by executing
xmodmap <xmodmap.file>

Then use the "Keyboard Shortcuts" tool under "Preferences".

== Items that don't work (a.k.a.: items that need more intense tweaking to get fixed)==

=== tap-to-click feature ===

For the tap-to-click feature (taping the stick instead of using the left mouse button) i used a configure trackpoint utility: [http://tpctl.sourceforge.net/configure-trackpoint.html] there is a package for ubuntu 7.04 i386, but i compiled it by myself (using amd64):

1.) download the .tar.gz file

2.) unpack it

3.) install libgnomeui-dev

{{cmduser|sudo aptitude install libgnomeui-dev}}

4.) in the folder, do:

{{cmduser|./configure}}

if everything worked fine:

{{cmduser|make}}

then install it:

{{cmduser|sudo make install}}

5.a) Gnome : Open it: System > configure trackpoint, and configure on your needs

5.b) Kde : K-menu > Prefences > configure trackpoint > right-click > edit entry, edit "command" to "kdesu configure-trackpoint"

Save & exit

Open it : K-menu > Prefences > configure trackpoint and configure on your needs

=== Hotswapping ===

{{HELP|We need someone who is able to get hotswaping to work properly, this is not the right was to do this!}}
With the new kernel, bay-drivers changed, so if you remove the ultrabay it will freeze your system! You can hack it with a simple comand, first you have to look where the device is:

{{cmduser|less /sys/class/scsi_device/(x)\:0\:0\:0/device/model}}

for (x) first put in 0, if it tells you DVD or the name of the model you want to hotswap youre right. if not, go on with 1, 2 or 3...

then, once you are sure (I deactivated my harddisk like that) you put in:

{{cmduser|echo 1 {{!}} sudo tee /sys/class/scsi_device/(x)\:0\:0\:0/device/delete}}

Now you should be able to remove the device.

{{WARN|Do not use it for harddisks, be sure you unmounted it before! This is just a bad hack, if anyone knows how to get it right --> publish!}}

If Ubuntu does not reactivate the device after putting it in again, do:

{{cmduser|echo 0 0 0 {{!}} sudo tee /sys/class/scsi_host/host1/scan}}

=== Wireless activity LED ===

The LED is not implemented at least in the IWL4965 driver.

A patch posted in this [http://bughost.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=1209 thread] works for me on R61 with IWL4965 card.

{{HELP|A howto is needed showing the process of implementing the patch in Hardy Heron. If anyone knows how to do this, please create a quick howto and either put it here or link to it from this page. Please and thank you.}}

As an alternative, you can install a backported IWL4965 driver that ''may'' fix the LED problem on your system.

To active WiFi LED,

sudo apt-get install linux-backports-modules-hardy

{{NOTE|On some machines, (at least one running IWL3945 & IWL4965) applying the above turns on the LED permanently. It should flicker as data is being transmitted. Also, with the above modification, after turning off wireless and then turning it back on (via the switch on the front of the machine) wireless is not reactivated, so not very helpful}}

You can download a compatible [http://wireless.kernel.org/download/compat-wireless-2.6/compat-wireless-2.6.tar.bz2 driver] which supports WiFi led flicking and build it with modifying the {{path|config.mk}} by adding {{bootparm|CONFIG_IWL3945_LEDS|y}} and {{bootparm|CONFIG_IWLWIFI_LEDS|y}} these two options. For Ubuntu/Debian users, build-essential, linux-source-2.6.24 and linux-headers-generic packages are required.

=== Hidden SSID ===
It has been reported that users wanting to access Hidden SSIDs have to enter the SSID and password manually in Network Manager to connect. Even after the SSID is saved in Network Manager, it will not reconnect automatically. The user has to connect manually by entering the information as previously described. Please post any fixes here.

=== Hard Disk Parking ===
Getting hard disk parking to work:

tp_smapi patch is not needed in [http://packages.ubuntu.com/search?keywords=linux-image-2.6.24-18&searchon=names&suite=hardy&section=all linux-image-2.6.24-18]

1. Patch your kernel with the 'protect' [http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/HDAPS#Kernel_patch patch].

2. Installing the hdapsd daemon which does the actual parking.

{{cmduser|sudo apt-get install hdapsd hdaps-utils}}

== some other tweaks ==

=== screenblank with {{key|Fn}} + {{key|F3}} ===

Its ok, and might be usefull to get the estimated batterytime when pressing {{key|Fn}}+{{key|F3}}, as it should be. But i dont need that, i find the earlier command for {{key|F3}}, to blank the screen, more useful to save batterylife better.

For that, you must edit {{path|/etc/acpi/thinkpad-lockbattery.sh}} and replace LENOVO by IBM, and IBM by LENOVO :). Do not forget to copy the file before you change it!

=== Enable normal User to Limit CPU Speed ===
To let user set the CPU limit you need to open a Terminal an type there
sudo dpkg-reconfigure gnome-applets
anser the question with yes

=== Fix bluish WSXGA+ displays ===
Many T61 owners complain about a very bluish color temperature: My T61 WSXGA+ was also way too blue. I came across a thread at the notebook review forum http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=174408 which provided two useful ICC profiles which fixed the situation for me. Just install xcalib
sudo apt-get install xcalib
and load one of these profiles.

[[Category: Ubuntu 8.04]]

Buyers Guide

2007-11-10T01:40:10Z

Fugulyt: /* Special deals for certain customer groups */

{| width="100%"
|style="vertical-align:top;padding-right:20px;width:10px;white-space:nowrap;" | __TOC__
|style="vertical-align:top" |
This page is dedicated to hints about buying used or new ThinkPad models. You can find notes about typical weaknesses of used ThinkPads here and other things you should care about when choosing a ThinkPad and where to buy it.
|}
==Build it yourself and save money==
Lenovo offers more flexibility than any other major manufacturer of laptop computers, at least that I know of. Their "configure-to-order" (CTO) offerings let you build the computer you want, without paying for anything you don't want. The basic CTO includes the mainboard and CPU, but no RAM, disk, mini-PCI cards, software, or other add-ons. You can even get a laptop in a CTO configuration.

I built my {{X32}} notebook with 1GB RAM, 60GB 5400RPM hard drive, USB DVD-ROM CD-RW drive, and 802.11a/b/g mini-PCI for a grand total of US$1,206, including tax and shipping.

Start with the complete list of [https://www-03.ibm.com/lenovo/shop/personalpages/public/public/products/dsp_product_list.cfm products]. Look for items that end with "CTO" or "Custom." Choose the chassis you want. Then add whatever [http://www-132.ibm.com/content/home/store_IBMPublicUSA/en_US/Upgrades.html upgrades] you need that only Lenovo offers (such as WiFi). Fill in the rest of the components from other, less expensive vendors.

Update: you cant do this nowadays. They will not sell you a CTO barebone. At least you cant do it online. You might have to 'con' a sales agent.

Response to update: I did not need to con anyone. I just ordered the CTO chassis and the parts I needed from their website. I placed the order on August 18, 2005 and received all the shipments by August 26, 2005.

Comment from visitor: [https://www-03.ibm.com/lenovo/shop/personalpages/public/public/products/dsp_feature_product.cfm?display=main&cat_id=24 Try this page]. You can at least get a Z60 with the titanium cover in a more stripped down model than is otherwise available.

==Various deals==

Special prices: You can get a laptop from Lenovo for special price if you are a student, alumni, researcher
or something like that. You need to go to education -> computers for home -> students (or such), and
now click on "My Account" to create a new account. Perhaps there is another way, but you must end up with a student
account. Then you get around 5% off the web price.

You can also buy a Lenovo thinkpad pre-configured with Linux from [http://www.linuxcertified.com/linux-laptop-lctp60.html here]

The [https://www.directlenovo.com/public/ Lenovo USA sales web site] offers some attractive deals in its [http://www.directlenovo.com/public/public/search/dsp_product_features.cfm?category=9953&featured_display=Template surplus outlet].

IBM sells [http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?storeId=1&catalogId=-840&langId=-1&categoryId=2576396 refurbished ThinkPads].

== Special deals for certain customer groups ==
IBM makes huge discounts to students and teachers:
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" style="text-align:left;"
! country !! shops & target groups
|-
| Austria ||
* [http://www.studentline.at/ Studentline.at] (students, university staff, pupils and teachers)
* [http://www.notebook4u.at/ notebook4u.at] (students, university staff, pupils and teachers)
* [http://www.abax.at/academic/ ABAX] (students, university staff, pupils and teachers)
* [http://www.bostelmann.com/ Computer Bostelmann] (students, university staff, pupils and teachers)
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| France ||
*[http://www.ibm.com/easyaccess/education IBM education homepage]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Germany ||
*[http://www.notebooksbilliger.de notebooksbilliger.de] (pupils, students)
*[http://www.lapstars.de lapstars.de] (students, university staff, pupils and teachers)
*[http://www.ok1.de ok1] (students, university staff, pupils and teachers)
*[http://campuspoint.de campuspoint] (students, university staff, pupils and teachers)
*[http://www.campusrabatt.de/index.php ADD Datensysteme: CampusRabatt] (students, university staff, pupils and teachers)
*[http://www.pro-com.org pro-com Datensysteme]:
**[http://www.pro-com.org/b2b pro-com b2b] (businesses)
**[http://www.nofost.de/ NOFOST] (students & university staff)
**[http://www.no4ed.de/ NOFOED] (pupils & teachers)
**[http://www.nofoch.de/ NOFOCH] (clinics and medical institutions and their staff)
**[http://www.pro-com.org/lf pro-com luf] (universities, schools & other educational and research institutes)
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Switzerland ||
*[http://www.rabais-etudiant.ch/ Rabais-Etudiant] (students, teachers, schools)
*[http://www.studentenrabatt.ch/ Studentenrabatt] (students, teachers, schools)
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| United States ||
* [http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/education/ Education] (K-12 and Higher Education)
* [http://www.dealmine.com/search_by_product.php?s=thinkpad Comparison shop] at DealMine.com to find Thinkpad and membership discounts [http://www.dealmine.com/deals_from/Union_Plus/23 AFL-CIO/AFT] matched up at various stores
* IBM Employee Purchase Program (EPP) for IBM employees and their family and friends: [http://www.ibm.com/shop/us/epp/ IBM store] / [http://shoplenovo.i2.com/SEUILibrary/controller/Lenovo:EnterStdAffinity?affinity=eppibm Lenovo store]
* Corporate Perks program for corporate employees (e.g., accessible through the Microsoft Alumni Network)
|}

== Buying FRUs ==

You can buy single components, called, FRU (Field Replacement Unit), directly from Lenovo.

* US orders: https://www-132.ibm.com/content/home/store_IBMPublicUSA/en_US/parts/parts_r.html
* Other countries: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-50278&sitestyle=lenovo

To find the right FRU, you can look up your model's part lists here:
* [http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=TPAD-FRU Service parts list index - ThinkPad General]

== Official list of linux certified computers ==

* A [http://www.lenovo.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-48NT8D.html list] of completed Linux certifications on [http://www.lenovo.com lenovo web site]

==Where to by Linux preinstalled thinkpad==
* [http://laclinux.com/en/Laptop Los Alamos Computers] Custom Linux Thinkpads - T Series, Z Series, X Series 23 Apr 2007

== Buying on eBay ==
* Many sellers do not know exactly what they have. Get the full 7-digit machine type if at all possible. Compare it to the specifications in the *book.pdf series: twbook.pdf, tabook.pdf, tawbook.pdf, etc, to determine actual screen size, original CPU speed, original hard disk, etc.
* You can try getting the serial number as well to check the warranty status at IBMs support pages.
* Check completed auctions carefully to determine going prices for comparable machines.
* Be aware if any port covers are missing. If they are, see if any current auctions are running to check availability.
* If the unit doesn't come with a hard drive, know whether it has the caddy and cover. Make sure that the three passwords are NOT set or that you know the right passwords before you install your hard drive! If you don't: A password can be set into your hard disk automatically, making it a brick - useful for door stopping only!
* Anything with a PIII or later most likely came with a Windows Certificate of Authenticity. Find out whether the listed machine does. Even if you don't want it, it may help resale value when you '''sell''' the machine.
* Read the feedback of the seller on items he has sold, especially electronics, computers and laptops. If meangranny is suddenly selling T43's after three years of lace, stay away.
* If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. There's a reason no one else is bidding on it.

==Long-time Weaknesses of certain models==
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"
! Model !! Issues
|-
| {{390X}} || *models with 15" display are said to have weak display cables that tend to break.
|-
| {{600X}} || Battery problems.
|-
||{{A20p}}, {{390}}, {{390E}}, {{390X}} || *Base cover corners are prone to crack, root cause stiff display hinges
|-
||{{A31}} || Several reports of [[Problem with garbled screen]] independent on Operating System
|-
| {{A30}}, {{A30p}}, {{A31}}, {{A31p}} || *seem to have a mechanical design that can cause the motherboard to break. At least there are a significant number of reports of broken motherboards on these models.
|-
| {{T30}} || *had a problem with memory sockets detaching from the system board. IBM replaced these free of charge even after warranties expired.
|-
| {{T20}} || Many models have a problem of gradually dying. Attempting to turn on will only cause a blinking light, and many attempts must be made in order to start the machine. Eventually, the machine is no longer bootable.
|-
| {{X40}} || Your 1.8" hard drive will die after about a year. [[Talk:Harddisk_Drives]]
|-
| {{X61T}}|| The screen bezel unglues away the LCD screen, leaving an ugly gap. See the [http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=47509 forum discussion].
|-
| {{T43}} || A number of laptops from the T-line are very thin (everything since {{T40}}?), which was to some degree possible by using the newer [[UltraBay|UltraBay Slim]], which is used in almost all Thinkpads now, instead of the old [[UltraBay|UltraBay Plus]]. This limits the available alternatives for optical drives, as they are not compatible with the industrial standard slimline drives, which are to thick. Some {{T43}}s have Matshita UJ-822S drives, and Matshita is infamous for striving extra to enforce the DVD regional codes. Purchasing such a laptop would effectively mean being locked to one DVD region, unless you can buy a compatible replacement DVD drive. The {{T43}} family is also notorious for its [[problem with fan noise]] and has a [[problem with non-ThinkPad hard disks]]; its predecessor, the {{T42}} family, had none of these problems and offered better battery life.
|}