Lenovo: Difference between revisions
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Many thinkpads were shipped with a buggy trackpoint driver, where the trackpoint would stop working and the only fix was restarting the system. This bug affected a wide range of products, but Lenovo ignored the issue for years and refused to help customers. In 2021 a user created [https://web.archive.org/web/20250804180148/https://broken-trackpoint.com/ broken-trackpoint.com] which offered a windows tool that was able to effectively fix this problem. Lenovo sent their lawyers and forced it to be taken down.[https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkPad-T400-T500-and-newer-T-series-Laptops/Trackpoint-randomly-stops-working/m-p/5062438?page=52#6280307] | Many thinkpads were shipped with a buggy trackpoint driver, where the trackpoint would stop working and the only fix was restarting the system. This bug affected a wide range of products, but Lenovo ignored the issue for years and refused to help customers. In 2021 a user created [https://web.archive.org/web/20250804180148/https://broken-trackpoint.com/ broken-trackpoint.com] which offered a windows tool that was able to effectively fix this problem. Lenovo sent their lawyers and forced it to be taken down.[https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkPad-T400-T500-and-newer-T-series-Laptops/Trackpoint-randomly-stops-working/m-p/5062438?page=52#6280307] | ||
=== ThinkPad Thunderbolt firmware fiasco === | ===ThinkPad Thunderbolt firmware fiasco=== | ||
Certain Lenovo ThinkPad models released between 2017 and 2019 experienced a flaw in the Thunderbolt firmware<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-08 |title=Critical Intel Thunderbolt Software and Firmware Updates - ThinkPad |url=https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/ht508988-critical-intel-thunderbolt-software-and-firmware-updates-thinkpad |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Lenovo Support}}</ref>. Over time, this firmware version can cause irreversible damage to the SPI-ROM<ref>{{Cite web |last=Herzig |first=Benjamin |date=2020-01-25 |title=Lenovo statement: Thunderbolt firmware responsible for ThinkPad USB C failures |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-statement-Thunderbolt-firmware-responsible-for-ThinkPad-USB-C-failures.451307.0.html |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Notebookcheck}}</ref> of the Thunderbolt controller, leading to the failure of Thunderbolt functionality and, in some cases, USB-C features. | Certain Lenovo ThinkPad models released between 2017 and 2019 experienced a flaw in the Thunderbolt firmware<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-08 |title=Critical Intel Thunderbolt Software and Firmware Updates - ThinkPad |url=https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/ht508988-critical-intel-thunderbolt-software-and-firmware-updates-thinkpad |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Lenovo Support}}</ref>. Over time, this firmware version can cause irreversible damage to the SPI-ROM<ref>{{Cite web |last=Herzig |first=Benjamin |date=2020-01-25 |title=Lenovo statement: Thunderbolt firmware responsible for ThinkPad USB C failures |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-statement-Thunderbolt-firmware-responsible-for-ThinkPad-USB-C-failures.451307.0.html |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Notebookcheck}}</ref> of the Thunderbolt controller, leading to the failure of Thunderbolt functionality and, in some cases, USB-C features. | ||
List of the affected devices can be found [https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/ht508988-critical-intel-thunderbolt-software-and-firmware-updates-thinkpad here] | List of the affected devices can be found [https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/ht508988-critical-intel-thunderbolt-software-and-firmware-updates-thinkpad here] | ||
=== Black underfill around BGA components === | |||
Lenovo uses a strong black underfill material, often referred to as "glue"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-29 |title=Remove Lenovo black Glue under the chipset? |url=https://www.badcaps.net/forum/troubleshooting-hardware-devices-and-electronics-theory/troubleshooting-laptops-tablets-and-mobile-devices/68715-remove-lenovo-black-glue-under-the-chipset |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Badcaps}}</ref> around the corners of some BGA (ball grid array) components. The underfill adds strength and helps protect the chips from physical stress<ref>{{Cite web |title=Underfills |url=https://www.henkel-adhesives.com/ch/en/products/encapsulants/underfills.html |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Henkel}}</ref>. | |||
Users have noted, however, that the material is very difficult to remove. In some cases, attempts to take out these components can result in the pads being ripped from the board, making repairs more challenging.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-16 |title=how to remove black glue in edges of chips in Lenovo laptops? |url=https://www.badcaps.net/forum/troubleshooting-hardware-devices-and-electronics-theory/troubleshooting-laptops-tablets-and-mobile-devices/110425-how-to-remove-black-glue-in-edges-of-chips-in-lenovo-laptops |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Badcaps}}</ref> | |||
[[File:Lenovo underfill.jpg|none|thumb|354x354px|Example of the black underfill being used on a Lenovo ThinkPad laptop]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
[[Category:Lenovo]] | [[Category:Lenovo]] | ||