anyone else have this problem with their IBM T42's? *Info added for Thinkpad Owners*

[5489]

i recently got a T42, 2378FVU, but it's hard to find a good viewing angle for the screen. the upperhalf of the screen would be at a nice angle, but the lower half of the screen would be a little less viewable. still readable, but if i angle the screen to make the bottom half more viewable, the upper half would be too dark.

i dont know how to explain it very cleary, so i hope people understand what i mean. does anyone else have this problem?

EDIT:
I started browsing the thinkpad forums after i posted this thread, and it seems like this is a common complaint by thinkpad owners. I also read that you shouldnt get your hopes up for a replacement for a washed out LCD screen.

There are two different LCD displays that your T42 could come with. You would either get a Samsung or an IDTech screen. The samsung would be the better screen. I believe IBM stopped using IDTech for their 14" SXGA screens because of this common complaint by owners. So if you order one recently, chances are, you'd be getting a Samsung screen. Oddly, I received my T42 about 2 or 3 weeks ago, but got the IDTech display. Possibly because I ordered through a different company (my uncle's company, but i got a pretty big discount) and not directly from IBM. Maybe the company I ordered from recieved this model before IBM stopped using IDTech.

There is a way to find out what kind of monitor you have.

Go here and enter your Model Number and Serial Number. Mine was located on the bottom of the laptop. Check the FPU# of the display you have.

Here are the FPU Numbers of the two brands.

IDTECH
FPU # 11P8346

Samsung
FPU # 11P8348

I am going to be calling IBM tommorow and ask what I could do about my IDTech display, and I will update with whatever happens.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Nope

 

[5489]

bump

 

I had that problem as well.

You need to make sure that the bios is set to max LCD brightness on AC power, and then play around with power settings in windows.

When I first received my 2378FVU, I had the same problem, and I was considering a return. I held off, and actually installed a fresh copy of WinXP (not using recovery partition, so no IBM apps were installed) and the screen became noticeably brighter, and I no longer notice this.

Seriously, try playing around with every power setting you can find in WinXP.

 

[5489]

Originally posted by: toothykal
I had that problem as well.

You need to make sure that the bios is set to max LCD brightness on AC power, and then play around with power settings in windows.

When I first received my 2378FVU, I had the same problem, and I was considering a return. I held off, and actually installed a fresh copy of WinXP (not using recovery partition, so no IBM apps were installed) and the screen became noticeably brighter, and I no longer notice this.

Seriously, try playing around with every power setting you can find in WinXP.

did you format the hard drive? i know there is a hidden partition on the hard drive for the IBM recovery system. im not sure how i would do without that. anyone know what i would be missing if i formatted and installed a non IBM windows XP

edit: where would i get all the apps that come pre-loaded, like the battery meter, the program that stops the hard drive when it detects motion, etc.

 

I formatted the hard drive, but I actually still have the recovery partition, I just didn't use it.

If you really want the 4-5gb's back, you can delete it, and ask IBM to send you the Recovery CD's.

Link to IBM App / Driver Page

 

[slyedog]

win xp pro picks up all drivers on my t-30 after a clean format. you can also go to the ibm web site
and pick up some of the others drivers you might want

 

[MrCraphead]

I also purchased a 2378FVU, and what you need to do before reformatting is go and create the recovery discs yourself. There's a program under the "IBM Connection" Group that says, Create Recovery discs, which will then prompt you to insert a blank CDR into your writer. The whole process uses up 7 discs, 1 IBM Resuce and reovery w/ rapid restore disc, and 6 IBM product recoveryt discs. I don't think IBM uses a hidden partition anymore, but I'm too lazy to open up my laptop right now and check.

As for the problem with your screen, I didn't have that problem when I first got it, but I would suggest doing what toothykal said and mess around with every setting imaginable to see if it changes. I don't nkow how big of a fan you are to "burn in" periods, but that could also help by just using your laptop for an X amount of time before it gets situated.

As for reformatting to a clean copy of Win XP, I would highly discourage that on the grounds that IBM comes with great preinstalled software and programs to control your laptop's functionability, as I'm sure you've noticed. The Battery maximiser, IBM connections manager, the active protection utility, it's all excellent pre-installed software. I'm usually not a big fan of pre-installed software as a result of like, HP, Sony, Compaq, etc, but IBM installs only what you need and nothing more. IMHO.

But yeah, if all else fails perhaps try a call to IBM tech support and see what they say. best of luck.

 

[5489]

Originally posted by: MrCraphead
I also purchased a 2378FVU, and what you need to do before reformatting is go and create the recovery discs yourself. There's a program under the "IBM Connection" Group that says, Create Recovery discs, which will then prompt you to insert a blank CDR into your writer. The whole process uses up 7 discs, 1 IBM Resuce and reovery w/ rapid restore disc, and 6 IBM product recoveryt discs. I don't think IBM uses a hidden partition anymore, but I'm too lazy to open up my laptop right now and check.

As for the problem with your screen, I didn't have that problem when I first got it, but I would suggest doing what toothykal said and mess around with every setting imaginable to see if it changes. I don't nkow how big of a fan you are to "burn in" periods, but that could also help by just using your laptop for an X amount of time before it gets situated.

As for reformatting to a clean copy of Win XP, I would highly discourage that on the grounds that IBM comes with great preinstalled software and programs to control your laptop's functionability, as I'm sure you've noticed. The Battery maximiser, IBM connections manager, the active protection utility, it's all excellent pre-installed software. I'm usually not a big fan of pre-installed software as a result of like, HP, Sony, Compaq, etc, but IBM installs only what you need and nothing more. IMHO.

But yeah, if all else fails perhaps try a call to IBM tech support and see what they say. best of luck.

I agree completely, IBM does come pre-loaded with alot of great apps, and I would rather not format if it meant that I would lose all those programs. Wouldnt there be a way to download those applications from IBM's website?

 

[ActuaryTm]

Originally posted by: 5489
Wouldnt there be a way to download those applications from IBM's website?

Do not believe so. Typically notebook vendors only offer drivers and their own proprietary applications (specific to that machine, or the line of machines), lest other non-machine owners download applications from their site for free.

Would also consider returning your specific machine for a replacement or service for the screen issue mentioned. IBM is known for outstanding build quality on their mobile machines, and would say perhaps a lower quality LCD slipped through on your particular unit (the LCD itself is of course manufactured elsewhere). It happens unfortunately, regardless of quality control. Better to correct it now than wait.

Good luck.

 

[5489]

I started browsing the thinkpad forums after i posted this thread, and it seems like this is a common complaint by thinkpad owners. I also read that you shouldnt get your hopes up for a replacement for a washed out LCD screen.

There are two different LCD displays that your T42 could come with. You would either get a Samsung or an IDTech screen. The samsung would be the better screen. I believe IBM stopped using IDTech for their 14" SXGA screens because of this common complaint by owners. So if you order one recently, chances are, you'd be getting a Samsung screen. Oddly, I received my T42 about 2 or 3 weeks ago, but got the IDTech display. Possibly because I ordered through a different company (my uncle's company, but i got a pretty big discount) and not directly from IBM. Maybe the company I ordered from recieved this model before IBM stopped using IDTech.

There is a way to find out what kind of monitor you have.

Go here and enter your Model Number and Serial Number. Mine was located on the bottom of the laptop. Check the FPU# of the display you have.

Here are the FPU Numbers of the two brands.

IDTECH
FPU # 11P8346

Samsung
FPU # 11P8348

I am going to be calling IBM tommorow and ask what I could do about my IDTech display, and I will update with whatever happens.

 

[frodrick]

Originally posted by: MrCraphead
I also purchased a 2378FVU, and what you need to do before reformatting is go and create the recovery discs yourself. There's a program under the "IBM Connection" Group that says, Create Recovery discs, which will then prompt you to insert a blank CDR into your writer. The whole process uses up 7 discs, 1 IBM Resuce and reovery w/ rapid restore disc, and 6 IBM product recoveryt discs. I don't think IBM uses a hidden partition anymore, but I'm too lazy to open up my laptop right now and check.

As for the problem with your screen, I didn't have that problem when I first got it, but I would suggest doing what toothykal said and mess around with every setting imaginable to see if it changes. I don't nkow how big of a fan you are to "burn in" periods, but that could also help by just using your laptop for an X amount of time before it gets situated.

As for reformatting to a clean copy of Win XP, I would highly discourage that on the grounds that IBM comes with great preinstalled software and programs to control your laptop's functionability, as I'm sure you've noticed. The Battery maximiser, IBM connections manager, the active protection utility, it's all excellent pre-installed software. I'm usually not a big fan of pre-installed software as a result of like, HP, Sony, Compaq, etc, but IBM installs only what you need and nothing more. IMHO.

But yeah, if all else fails perhaps try a call to IBM tech support and see what they say. best of luck.

IBM has lets you download drivers and utilities from their website. Such as this page for your 2378FVU. Look on that page and see if it has links to all the applications and utilities that you enjoy, and if so, you can feel free to do a non-IBM reinstall.