thats my third post about it yet and i guess no response once again i have t420 it powers off randomly and i want to locate the exact issue can anyone help?,

Hi!

I've noticed that the display brightness is the same between 0-12, next step is 13-17, next is 18-22 and so on, while the keyboard shortcut jumps in steps of 10. Unfortunately that means that for example the first two settings, 0 and 10, makes no difference on the display, while the next step up skips a brightness level (13-17).

Is there either a setting to change the meaning of the 0-100 levels, so that what currently is 13-17 ends up starting at 10, or is there a way to change the steps for the keyboard shortcuts?

This might be the tiniest silly first world problem, but given how slow Windows 10 is at fetching that UI from a mechanical disk, and given that the 13-17 display level sometimes is the right one in relatively low light conditions, it would be nice if there is some easy fix.

Side track: In case anyone wonders, the Windows 8 display drivers for the Intel HD 3000 graphics actually seems to work fine in Windows 10. I'm even able to play some games that officially requires a real graphics card, albeit at about 12 FPS or so at best. (terribly low but not that painful for a simulation / city builder style game) :)

Greetings,

I brought this secondhand T440p awhile ago, and decided to upgrade it's BIOS to the latest available version. However, for some reason the Thinkpad is unable to accept the BIOS upgrade (while the EC version can still be upgraded).

Here is a demo to show you how it failed:

Demo: attempted upgrade

Notice the UEFI BIOS Version remained the same after the upgrade, but the Embedded Controller Version has been updated.

(BTW: I also got this "FW Status Recovery Error" during boot, don't know what I did. But the system remain functional, as in it can boot and run Windows)

I've tried to perform the upgrade from Windows, same result (secure boot on/off, and legacy boot). On Linux the fwupd shows no upgrade available.

Here's how the BIOS upgrade ISO was prepared:

1. The original ISO was downloaded from Lenovo website, file name gluj22us.iso
2. $ ./geteltorito.pl -o bios.img gluj22us.iso
3. Plugin a USB stick, recognized by the system as /dev/sda
4. $ sudo dd if=bios.img of=/dev/sda and then $ sudo sync
5. Unplug the USB stick from the image making computer, and plug it in to the T440p, reboot T440p to use the BIOS upgrade program

I was also able to dump the BIOS out with flashrom, and UEFITool was able to parse the dumped content:

user@debian:~$ sudo flashrom -p internal -r bios.bin --ifd -i bios
flashrom unknown on Linux 6.1.0-25-amd64 (x86_64)
flashrom is free software, get the source code at 

Using clock_gettime for delay loops (clk_id: 1, resolution: 1ns).
Found chipset "Intel QM87".
This chipset is marked as untested. If you are using an up-to-date version
of flashrom *and* were (not) able to successfully update your firmware with it,
then please email a report to  including a verbose (-V) log.
Thank you!
Enabling flash write... Warning: BIOS region SMM protection is enabled!
Warning: Setting BIOS Control at 0xdc from 0x2a to 0x09 failed.
New value is 0x2b.
SPI Configuration is locked down.
FREG0: Flash Descriptor region (0x00000000-0x00000fff) is read-only.
FREG1: BIOS region (0x00500000-0x00bfffff) is read-write.
FREG2: Management Engine region (0x00003000-0x004fffff) is locked.
FREG3: Gigabit Ethernet region (0x00001000-0x00002fff) is read-write.
Not all flash regions are freely accessible by flashrom. This is most likely
due to an active ME. Please see  for details.
PR1: Warning: 0x00b40000-0x00bfffff is read-only.
PR2: Warning: 0x00ab1000-0x00adffff is read-only.
PR3: Warning: 0x00ab0000-0x00ab0fff is read-only.
PR4: Warning: 0x00800000-0x00aaffff is read-only.
At least some flash regions are read protected. You have to use a flash
layout and include only accessible regions. For write operations, you'll
additionally need the --noverify-all switch. See manpage for more details.
Enabling hardware sequencing due to multiple flash chips detected.
OK.
Found Programmer flash chip "Opaque flash chip" (12288 kB, Programmer-specific) on internal.
Reading ich descriptor... done.
Using region: "bios".
Reading flash... done.

user@debian:~$ ls -l bios.bin 
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 12582912 Nov  2 14:48 bios.bin

UEFITool loaded with extracted BIOS

I brought a CH431A programmer yesterday, but I'm not exactly sure what I can do with it.

Have you encountered similar situation? What should I do to get the BIOS upgraded?

Thanks in advance!

So I just got my first thinkpad and for some reason when it runs out of internal battery it just shuts off? Also it seems that the laptop uses only internal battery because external battery percentage is barely reduced. How do I fix this?

so my thinkpad(L13 gen 2 yoga). has been heating up, even tho i used it for light task only. i changed the thermal paste and clean up the fan, but the problem presist. is this how this model operate or am i missing something?

Kudos to u/sbundlab for identifying this workaround almost a year ago: https://www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comments/18fagpc/fix_thinkpad_p16s_gen_1_amdt16_amdp14s_gen_3/

It looks like AMD released a new chipset driver in Feb 2024 that prevents devices from getting stuck in s0i3 sleep:

https://www.xda-developers.com/amd-chipset-driver-pc-wake-up-from-sleep/

And Lenovo rolled that fix into the AMD Kit Driver 31.0.21024.11002 (released 7/24/2024) - at least this is the one for the T14s Gen 3 AMD. (Release notes include “- (Fix) Fixed an issue that system cannot wake up from s0i3.”) After applying this update through the Vantage app, and allowing the Qualcomm drivers to be updated to the latest versions as well, I have not gotten stuck in sleep since.

On Lenovo's website, it is labeled "AMD Video Driver" even though it bundles multiple chipset drivers:

https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-t-series-laptops/thinkpad-t14s-gen-3-type-21cq-21cr/21cq/21cqcto1ww/gm01s0rz/downloads/driver-list/component?name=Display%20and%20Video%20Graphics

Seems this mess was ultimately AMD's fault the whole time. I think the Qualcomm driver rollback workaround was maybe preventing the device from entering s0i3 at all which is certainly one way to prevent it from getting stuck there - when I talked to Lenovo support they said that technically the 1.x drivers were for Windows 10 and the 2.x were for Windows 11, for what that's worth.

Hi, I use system virtualization which demands a lot of RAM and I'm wondering if the T16 Gen 3 can handle 96GB . Can anyone help confirming whether this is possible or not?

There are mixed messages:

a) Lenovo states 64GB (2 X 32GB)

https://psref.lenovo.com/syspool/Sys/PDF/ThinkPad/ThinkPad_T16_Gen_3/ThinkPad_T16_Gen_3_Spec.pdf

b) But in Crucial's website (or other RAM vendors), it states makes available a 96GB (2 X 48GB) upgrade kit for T16 Gen 3:

Lenovo ThinkPad T16 Gen 3 | Memory RAM & SSD Upgrades | Crucial.com

https://preview.redd.it/j1g38qhwzlyd1.png?width=900&format=png&auto=webp&s=140e7f840acfc608e981912717a1a0a6b7c9421e

I'm choosing the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor and I'm aware that the processor itself handles 96GB of RAM, but wondering if there's any limitation in the BIOS or something that would not allow 96GB of RAM.

Cheers

how do I tell if I have the delta quiet fan on the thinpad t430?

I have my own main laptop. I currently studying computer science and I want to explore linux. what is a really cheap thinkpad that works fine. really don't care too much of performance. maybe a good battery would be good since I will be carrying it. But mainly just a cheap thinkpad, where I don't get too attached for its price.

Hi, folks. I'm currently looking for a new laptop. I came across the ThinkPad E14 Gen 6 with the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H chip. The reviews I read seem pretty good.

Has anybody here tried using it for data science work? If so, how's the experience so far? Thanks!

https://preview.redd.it/umj5t1hcglyd1.png?width=410&format=png&auto=webp&s=b67878e8d05def33c2274b1595d7e6c858d9aa61

So according to hardware info my current laptop memory is 2400mhz and its running a Cl17 im wondering can i run this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B486BCX4?psc=1&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_ct_4NR9DV8F1TV977G9FSQK_1

Its not a gaming laptop but i will be looking at using it for a bit of cad as well as hp tuners.

ThinkPad X1 Carbon i7 6th generation 8GB RAM 256GBSSD .physically looks neat. Thanks in advance folks!! Please advise known issues if any!

I have a line on a Yoga 12 (8GB) for $50 CAN.

Looks clean based on marketplace photos.

The catch— the seller says it doesn't power on BUT the power button indicator light flashes (3x?) when pressed.

I'm assuming it's a bad battery, or the battery or CMOS battery needs to be reset.

Thoughts?

Should I pass on this, or roll the dice?

Greetings r/thinkpad

I'm close to buying a used Thinkpad T14 Gen 1(or possibly an AMD Thinkpad T14s Gen 1). Are these Thinkpads compatible with Linux? I plan to install Fedora on it, but as I'm trying to answer this question by browsing this subreddit, I keep seeing answers suggesting Linux compatibility is not great. Maybe I'm searching wrong.

Also, I may buy the AMD version (probably the Ryzen 7 Pro 4750U), or there is an Intel version (specifically the i7 10610U, although it seems this CPU is way weaker compared to Ryzen 7 and I think Ryzen 5 as well). I don't know if this makes a difference with Linux compatibility.

I will appreciate any insight into this, thank you :D

My brand new ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 Intel (14ʺ) won't go into sleep mode using Fedora 41 KDE. It has the OLED display and when I close the lid the screen stays on which isn't good for the OLED display. I can't even manually push the sleep button as it does nothing.

Anyone know how to resolve this or why it is happening? I searched and found an old post about a bios setting for s3 sleep but my bios doesn't have that. Bios is version 1.36 (latest). Here are the components in case it matter...

Fedora 41 KDE (came with Fedora 40 Workstation)

Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 165U

64 GB LPDDR5X-6400MHz

2 TB SSD M.2 2280 

14" 2.8K (2880 x 1800), OLED

Intel® Wi-Fi 6E AX211

Fingerprint Reader

Haptic Touchpad

Backlit, Black with Fingerprint Reader

i just bought 2 t430's im looking to upgrade one completly but i feel ripped off because i fell like the t480 is better any suggestions or should i try to sell them and grab a t480? any interesting things i can do with the t430?

I'm considering getting my 2nd thinkpad a t400 (I was considering an older model though I didn't have enough information to choose so i had to buy one straight from Lenovo) though I want to upgrade it to a Franken pad what would be some good parts for a Franken pad setup

Hey, I think my battery is slowly going to die. We normal use (internet and working stuff like word) I can get almost 2h or 2h30 and after I don't have more battery (all settings are put on battery saves). If I get new battery did this will fix my problem? I have a t440 and any other ideas of updates I can get for it ? I feel that it starts to slow down a little. The SSD was new 4 years ago and I have 8 Giga ram

I'm planning on buying a ThinkPad for Christmas and I was thinking what model to buy? I have these two in mind ThinkPad P52 (intel i7 8th gen, 32GB RAM, 512GB SSD, NVIDIA P1000) or the ThinkPad P14 Gen2 (i7 11th gen, 32GB RAM, 512GB SSD, NVIDIA T5000. I'll mainly use this on my desk for work, programming and a bit of gaming but I will also bring this around with me, to the library etc.

I was at a friends house fixing his computer and he gave me this as payment. He said it just randomly stopped working one day but I can try to fix it if I want.

When plugged in, the charging light comes on as well as the power button, caps lock, esc, f1 and f4 lights

It's a L380 yoga btw

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I'm permitted to keep it if I can fix😅

I have a P16 Gen 2 that more or less serves as my desktop / high performance machine, but I needed something lighter for daily work. I picked up the P14s Gen 5 Intel, and I'm in love. Final configuration: Core Ultra 7 165H, 2 TB SSD, integrated graphics, 3K IPS panel, 96 GB DDR5 memory (upgraded with Crucial 2x48 GB modules)

I'm running Fedora Sway on a ThinkPad laptop and I'm trying to adjust the increment size for brightness and volume controls.

Current Behavior:

• When I press the function keys (Fn + F5/F6 for brightness, Fn + F2/F3 for volume), the levels change in 5% increments
• I can see the Sway feedback overlay when making these adjustments
• The changes are working, but the steps are too large for my needs

Desired Behavior:

• I want to change these increments from 5% to 1% for finer control
• This should apply to both brightness and volume adjustments

System Details:

• OS: Fedora Linux
• Window Manager: Sway
• Hardware: ThinkPad laptop (using built-in function keys)

Questions:

1. How can I modify these increment values?
2. Which configuration files should I be looking at?
3. Is this controlled by Sway itself or by another component?

I initially thought this would be in the Sway config since other input devices (keyboard, mouse) can be configured there, but I'm not sure if these function key behaviors are handled differently.

Any guidance on how to achieve finer control over these adjustments would be greatly appreciated.

Im looking into some ebay options an says ddr4 but I thought it only came in lpddr3 is it true? Can it be ddr4

It’s been awhile since I went shopping for a new SSD and I’m looking for some suggestions. Reliability is my number one priority. Looking at the Crucial T500 but want to know if there any other SSD’s I should consider.