ThinkWiki - User contributions [en]

Battery

2005-05-03T08:51:46Z

Samiam: Added 600X category

Infos on how to treat your battery properly and on what you can do to extend its lifetime.

Find more information about batteries at http://batteryuniversity.com

==Lithium-based batteries==

*store them at about 40% charged state
*never store them fully depleted/charged
*keep them cool and dry; never freeze a battery
*the battery lasts longer with partial rather than full discharges
*avoid charging if the battery is nearly full
*never expose your laptop and/or battery to excessive heat (car parked in sun)
*take the battery/s out when running on AC

More specific links about these hints:
* http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm
* http://www.buchmann.ca/Chap10-page6.asp

==The 600X problem==

There is a problem with the 600X and dying batteries. The problem is tha the 600X's has problems with its power management which causes batteries to die before they should. This, in fact, resulted in a [http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/01/30/1744214 front page Slashdot.org article]. According to the article, if one discharges their 600X battery nearly fully at least once a week, the batteries will be fine. I did not have problems with the battery until it was plugged in all of the time; both of my batteries went from being able to hold a charge from one hour to being able to only hold a charge for about five minutes.

[[de:Akku]]
[[Category:600X]]

Battery

2005-05-03T08:50:02Z

Samiam: Added note on 600X battery problem

Problem with high pitch noises

2005-05-03T08:45:00Z

Samiam: /* Status */ I get it with a 600X at times

Information on strange high pitch, low volume noises emitted by ThinkPads.

==Problem description==
Even though ThinkPads are known as very silent notebooks, they tend to emit different, mostly high pitch noises in certain circumstances. The noises are of low volume and hence not realized by everyone or at least tolerated by most people. However, there are those with "bat like ears" that hear them and might be annoyed by that.

==Affected Models==
Noises have been experienced in the following situations:
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"
|-
! style="vertical-align:top;background-color:#DDDDDD;" | situation
! style="vertical-align:top;background-color:#DDDDDD;" | noise description
! style="vertical-align:top;background-color:#DDDDDD;" | affected models
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
ThinkPad suspended to RAM
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
constant high pitch noise
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
*[[:Category:T42p | T42p]]
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
ThinkPad connected to power and switched off, with battery fully charged
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
constant high pitch noise
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
*[[:Category:T41p | T41p]]
**2373-GHG
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
moving windows or just the mouse in xorg
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
strange noise like a rapid series of very short high pitch noises adding to a constant kind of whistling (only as long as the movement goes)
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
*[[:Category:T41p | T41p]]
**2373-GHG
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
Thinkpad connected to power or working on battery, also when suspended to RAM
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
High pitch noise also when HD is powered down.
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
*[[:Category:T23 | T23]]
**2647-DG4
*[[:Category:X24 | X24]]
**2662-MWG
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
Thinkpad connected to power battery charged less than 60%
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
High pitch noise till battery is charged more than 60%.
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
*[[:Category:T41p | T41p]]
**2373-GEG
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
Constantly, if AC connected
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
High pitched, low volume constant noise.
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
*[[:Category:T40 | T40]]
**2373-88U
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
When the CPU freq jumps up to 1Ghz or above, or when the laptop is in suspend mode
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
Constant high pitched
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
*[[:Category:R50 | R50]]
**1829-6DM
|}

==Affected Operating Systems==
*Linux, all flavours

==Status==
Similar phenomena was experienced with models from the T2x aera, like i.e. on the [[:Category:T23 | T23]]. On these models the problem was related to the graphics circuitry and occured especially or only while making use of DirectDraw funktions. IBM was able to fix it through a BIOS upgrade.

It is likely that the noises discovered on recent models are related to the graphics chip as well.

I have an older [[:Category:600X | 600X]] laptop with a similiar problem. The high-pitch whine is quiet (at least with my less-than-batlike ears), continuous, and intermittent. I can only hear it in a quiet room (no fans running, etc.) It may come from my hard disk, which is a 40Gb hard disk which I bought at Fry's. Has anyone else seen anything like this with an older 600 series laptop? [[User:Samiam|Samiam]] 10:45, 3 May 2005 (CEST)

==Solutions==
*From Martin Steigerwald: I made the observation that I get at least less high pitch noises on my [[:Category:T23|ThinkPad T23]] when I do not use the two ACPI modules "processor" and "thermal" (depends on the first one). I have no clue, why. Anyone with similar experiences?

*Niko Ehrenfeuchter: I'm experiencing the same here on my [[:Category:X24|X24]]. Removing the "processor" module also stops the pitch noise, which does ONLY occur when setting the CPU to maximum speed (using cpufreq). On low speed it's completely silent, even having loaded the processor module.

*Rolf Adelsberger: I can confirm this: the high pitch noise is only remarkable (at least with my ears ;-) ) if the processor speed is set to maximum frequency.

*Andreas Karnahl: i've read in several forums it has something to do with the "idle"-state (or "C3") of the processor. there is a frequency called "timer interrupt" (or something like that). since kernel 2.6x it is set to 1000 Hz by default (compared to 100 Hz in Kernel 2.4x). the exact reason i don't no. but it is save to change this frequency to 100 Hz in kernel 2.6x (by the way, windows up to XP uses 100 Hz by default).<br />just do the following:<br />
: In <tt>[path to kernel-sources]/include/asm-i386/param.h</tt> find the line
:: <code>#define HZ 1000</code>
: and change the value of HZ to 100:
:: <code>#define HZ 100</code>
:Then recompile the kernel.<br />After i changed it on my ThinkPad A30 (under SuSE 9.2 and 9.3) and recompiling the kernel the high pitch noise is gone away.

*Joern Heissler: I made another experience. I played around with linuxant conexant [[Modem Devices|modem]] drivers. After loading them I got some noise on my [[:Category:T42p|T42p]].

*Naheed Vora: My [[:Category:T41|T41]] (2373-268) started to give high pitch noise ocassionally, when I upgraded to 2.6.11 kernel. I tried to unload lot of modules but finally figured out that disabling bay stops the noise.

*If you have ibm_acpi module, do (need a cleaner solution): {{cmd|echo eject >/proc/acpi/ibm/bay}}

[[Category:T23]] [[Category:A30]] [[Category:X24]] [[Category:T41p]] [[Category:T42p]]

User:Samiam

2005-05-03T08:31:58Z

Samiam: ThinkPad keyboard

OK, I am a long time user of Thinkpads running Linux, starting with the 365XD, and upgrading to a 600X which I have been using since 2001.

Let me start off with a rant about the Thinkpad 600X's BIOS. If the Trankpoint is enabled but broken, the BIOS refuses to boot with an error 8611. This error was such that it was ''impossible'' to enter the bios screen to set up the BIOS to disable the trackpoint. The system refused to boot at all; I finally got it to boot after pushing on the trackpoint during the boot process so that the BIOS would see the trackpoint; I then disabled the trackpoint, allowing subsequent normal booting.

I don't think a broken trackpoint is something that should stop the booting of a computer. I think it's poor bios design to have this be a fatal "I refuse to boot" condition.

And, yes, I have already bought a replacment keyboard on EBAY (with a good trackpoint) for about $20.

Update: I got a replacement on Ebay for only $20 including shipping. The keyboard was from a 600, but fit fine on my 600X. Being a used keyboard, it was a little grubby; I got from sanitizer from a tanning salon to clean off the keyboard before installing it. I now have a working trackpoint again. My cimputer now looks like a Pentium II but is really a Pentium III 450. :)

Update: The keyboard was a little rattley when I type on it, especially the space bar. After replacing the space bar from my old keyboard, and still getting the !@#$ rattle, I relized that I didn't screw in every single last screw that holds the keyboard down. In order to make sure that my Thinkpad keyboard has the characteristic solid ThinkPad feel to it (which, IMHO, no other laptop kayboard compares to), I need to make sure it is well-connected to the rest of my ThinkPad.

- Sam

Some links: [http://www.samiam.org/linux/365xd.html] [http://www.samiam.org/linux/600x.html]

Installing Fedora Core 3 on a ThinkPad 600X

2005-05-02T05:50:18Z

Samiam: Made style for formal for a wiki

Install process: Burn Fedora Core CDs, boot from first CD. Install is completely smooth; this system has Fedora Core 3 on it in a matter of 30 minutes.

Linux functionality by part:

<table><tr>
<td>PCMCIA</td> <td>Works perfectly in Fedora Core 3</td></tr><tr>
<td>USB port</td><td>Works perfectly in Fedora Core 3</td></tr><tr>
<td>Serial port</td><td>Works in RedHat 6.x; not tested in Fedora Core 3</td></tr><tr>
<td>Parallel port</td><td> Works in RedHat 9; not tested in Fedora core 3
</td></tr><tr><td>Video port</td><td> Works perfectly in Fedora Core 3
</td></tr><tr><td>Modem</td><td> Needs binary-only driver, which, as of 2005, has not been ported to the 2.6 kernel. Search for ltmodem
</td></tr><tr><td>Sound</td><td>
Works flawlessly until the first suspend/resume. Once the system is suspended
and resumed, sound can be made to work again by removing then reinserting the
cs46xx/snd_cs46xx kernel module:
<pre>
rmmod snd_cs46xx
modprobe snd_cs46xx
</pre>

</td></tr><tr><td>Floppy Drive</td><td> Works perfectly
</td></tr><tr><td>Trackpoint</td><td> Works perfectly (emulates a ps/2 mouse)

</td></tr><tr><td>Internal CD-ROM</td><td> Works perfectly
</td></tr><tr><td>Suspend, resume</td><td> Suspend and resume are as functional on this computer as they are in Windows 98. (It crashes once in a while)
</td></tr><tr><td>Hibernation</td><td> I never got this to work, but never tried either.
</td></tr><tr><td>Video</td><td> While there used to be serious crashing problems in XFree 3.x (old Linux distros), video is flawless in X.Org 6.8. Chipset auto-detected during Fedora Core three install.</td></tr></table>

Other words of wisdom:

* The keyboard is excellent. Springy, clicky, easy to type on without being mushy.
* The screen is good but not as snappy as modern TFT standalone displays.
* There is a problem with power management that will trash batteries unless the battery is discharged once a week. Basically, with this system, the batteries go if the computer is plugged in all the time; once a week, keep the system unplugged and let the battery discharge.

As an aside, if for people with one of those multicard readers, they don't work out of the box in Fedora Core 3. In order to get them to work, type in the following command as root:

echo options scsi_mod max_luns=8 >> /etc/modprobe.conf

Reboot, and, voila, the multcard reader will work. (The reason for the necessity for this incantation is because this will cause the kernel to lock with certain devices)

[[Category:600X]]

User:Samiam

2005-05-02T05:46:16Z

Samiam: OK, resolved, I now have a replacment keyboard

OK, I am a long time user of Thinkpads running Linux, starting with the 365XD, and upgrading to a 600X which I have been using since 2001.

Let me start off with a rant about the Thinkpad 600X's BIOS. If the Trankpoint is enabled but broken, the BIOS refuses to boot with an error 8611. This error was such that it was ''impossible'' to enter the bios screen to set up the BIOS to disable the trackpoint. The system refused to boot at all; I finally got it to boot after pushing on the trackpoint during the boot process so that the BIOS would see the trackpoint; I then disabled the trackpoint, allowing subsequent normal booting.

I don't think a broken trackpoint is something that should stop the booting of a computer. I think it's poor bios design to have this be a fatal "I refuse to boot" condition.

And, yes, I have already bought a replacment keyboard on EBAY (with a good trackpoint) for about $20.

Update: I got a replacement on Ebay for only $20 including shipping. The keyboard was from a 600, but fit fine on my 600X. Being a used keyboard, it was a little grubby; I got from sanitizer from a tanning salon to clean off the keyboard before installing it. I now have a working trackpoint again. My cimputer now looks like a Pentium II but is really a Pentium III 450. :)

- Sam

Some links: [http://www.samiam.org/linux/365xd.html] [http://www.samiam.org/linux/600x.html]

Installation instructions for the ThinkPad 365

2005-04-24T22:48:23Z

Samiam: I haven't had this laptop for four years, but here is some information about this beastie

The ThinkPad 365XD is known to be compatible with RedHat 6.2, as long as the system has more than 8 megabytes of memory. There is a problem with starting up X; while models of the 365XD with TFT displays were compatible with a number of releases of X, the DTSN models of the 365XD had compatibility problems with certain releases of X, and required complicated startup to make X visible:

* Type in startx to start the X server
* Hit Fn + F7 on the keyboard. This may make X visible. If not:
* Exit out of X with CNTL + ALT + F1
* Hit CNTL + C to stop the X server
* Restart X with startx

Releases 3.2 and 3.3.6 of XFree86 are known to be compatible with the 365XD; other releases may not be.

[[Category:365XD]]

Installing Fedora Core 3 on a ThinkPad 600X

2005-04-24T22:38:06Z

Samiam: Category:600X

Install process: Burn Fedora Core CDs, boot from first CD. Install is completely smooth; this system has Fedora Core 3 on it in a matter of 30 minutes.

Linux functionality by part:

<table><tr>
<td>PCMCIA</td> <td>Works perfectly in Fedora Core 3</td></tr><tr>
<td>USB port</td><td>Works perfectly in Fedora Core 3</td></tr><tr>
<td>Serial port</td><td>Worked last time I tried it (RedHat 6.x)</td></tr><tr>
<td>Parallel port</td><td> Worked last time I tried it (RedHat 9)
</td></tr><tr><td>Video port</td><td> Works perfectly in Fedora Core 3
</td></tr><tr><td>Modem</td><td> Needs binary-only driver, then will work last time I used this (RedHat 7.x w/ 2.4.x kernel) search for ltmodem
</td></tr><tr><td>Sound</td><td>
Works flawlessly until the first suspend/resume. Once the system is suspended
and resumed, sound can be made to work again by removing then reinserting the
cs46xx/snd_cs46xx kernel module:
<pre>
rmmod snd_cs46xx
modprobe snd_cs46xx
</pre>

</td></tr><tr><td>Floppy Drive</td><td> Works perfectly
</td></tr><tr><td>Trackpoint</td><td> Works perfectly (emulates a ps/2 mouse)

</td></tr><tr><td>Internal CD-ROM</td><td> Works perfectly
</td></tr><tr><td>Suspend, resume</td><td> Suspend and resume are as functional on this computer as they are in Windows 98. (It crashes once in a while)
</td></tr><tr><td>Hibernation</td><td> I never got this to work, but never tried either.
</td></tr><tr><td>Video</td><td> Serious crashing problems in XFree 3.x (old Linux distros) flawless in X.Org 6.8. Chipset auto-detected during Fedora Core three install.</td></tr></table>

Other words of wisdom:

* The keyboard is excellent. Springy, clicky, easy to type on without being mushy.
* The screen is good but not as snappy as modern TFT standalone displays.
* There is a problem with power management that will trash batteries unless the battery is discharged once a week. Basically, with this system, the batteries go if the computer is plugged in all the time; once a week, keep the system unplugged and let the battery discharge.

As an aside, if you have one of those multicard readers, they don't work out of the box in Fedora Core 3. In order to get them to work, type in the following command as root:

echo options scsi_mod max_luns=8 >> /etc/modprobe.conf

Reboot, and, voila, your multcard reader will work. (The reason for the necessity for this incantation is because this will cause the kernel to lock with certain devices)

[[Category:600X]]

Installing Fedora Core 3 on a ThinkPad 600X

2005-04-24T22:36:20Z

Samiam: Installing FC3 on this beastie: I just copied from my web page

Install process: Burn Fedora Core CDs, boot from first CD. Install is completely smooth; this system has Fedora Core 3 on it in a matter of 30 minutes.

Linux functionality by part:

<table><tr>
<td>PCMCIA</td> <td>Works perfectly in Fedora Core 3</td></tr><tr>
<td>USB port</td><td>Works perfectly in Fedora Core 3</td></tr><tr>
<td>Serial port</td><td>Worked last time I tried it (RedHat 6.x)</td></tr><tr>
<td>Parallel port</td><td> Worked last time I tried it (RedHat 9)
</td></tr><tr><td>Video port</td><td> Works perfectly in Fedora Core 3
</td></tr><tr><td>Modem</td><td> Needs binary-only driver, then will work last time I used this (RedHat 7.x w/ 2.4.x kernel) search for ltmodem
</td></tr><tr><td>Sound</td><td>
Works flawlessly until the first suspend/resume. Once the system is suspended
and resumed, sound can be made to work again by removing then reinserting the
cs46xx/snd_cs46xx kernel module:
<pre>
rmmod snd_cs46xx
modprobe snd_cs46xx
</pre>

</td></tr><tr><td>Floppy Drive</td><td> Works perfectly
</td></tr><tr><td>Trackpoint</td><td> Works perfectly (emulates a ps/2 mouse)

</td></tr><tr><td>Internal CD-ROM</td><td> Works perfectly
</td></tr><tr><td>Suspend, resume</td><td> Suspend and resume are as functional on this computer as they are in Windows 98. (It crashes once in a while)
</td></tr><tr><td>Hibernation</td><td> I never got this to work, but never tried either.
</td></tr><tr><td>Video</td><td> Serious crashing problems in XFree 3.x (old Linux distros) flawless in X.Org 6.8. Chipset auto-detected during Fedora Core three install.</td></tr></table>

Other words of wisdom:

* The keyboard is excellent. Springy, clicky, easy to type on without being mushy.
* The screen is good but not as snappy as modern TFT standalone displays.
* There is a problem with power management that will trash batteries unless the battery is discharged once a week. Basically, with this system, the batteries go if the computer is plugged in all the time; once a week, keep the system unplugged and let the battery discharge.

As an aside, if you have one of those multicard readers, they don't work out of the box in Fedora Core 3. In order to get them to work, type in the following command as root:

echo options scsi_mod max_luns=8 >> /etc/modprobe.conf

Reboot, and, voila, your multcard reader will work. (The reason for the necessity for this incantation is because this will cause the kernel to lock with certain devices)

User:Samiam

2005-04-19T09:34:09Z

Samiam: Added links

User:Samiam

2005-04-19T09:31:50Z

Samiam: Initial user page; still frustrated that vela wouldn't boot yesterday