Phantom touches on W510

[bogue12]

I just bought a new ThinkPad W510 with multi-touch screen.  The screen acts like it is being touched almost constantly.  The only way to make it usable is to disable the touch screen (which was tricky given that the cursor was bopping around).  Does anyone have any ideas?  Sounds like a warranty issue, eh?  Anyone know how to file a warranty claim?

Thanks!

   - Bogue

[drozek]

bogue12 I had the same problem, I reformatted my laptop 3-4 and the problem went away. I know this doesn't sound like a solution but it worked for me. 

[mohantaneja]

Same issue. Any other solution other than formatting multiple times?

[Rover]

I have the same problem. My new W510 had phantom touches that constantly hopped the cursor around, sent out the ripples from the new location, and sometimes clicked on something active, going to new sites on the browser, moving the task bar from bottom to top, and much more. It makes the laptop unusable. I talked with technical support, adjusted every parameter the techs or I could think of--no relief. I reinstalled the OS--no improvement. Onsite repair replaced the screen-no change in the problem.

The phantom touches seem randomly timed, sometimes slow, sometimes rapid fire. I have found one thing that is repeatable. I cannot  get to "system Information". That is, I cannot click on "start", "accessories", scroll to "system tools", then click on "system information". The menu always disappears before I make it to the "system information" item. The repair tech could not get to "system information" either.

This is so, even if I close the lid and use a USB mouse and external monitor.

Finally, Lenovo offered to replace the laptop. The replacement came today. It has exactly the same problem. It started before I even got through the "first use" setup of Windows 7.

I've looked around the forum and the web and don't find a blizzard of related complaints.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

[Contrarian]

Rover,

I received my W510 on 9/26.  I had the identical cursor/ multi-touch screen problems you describe.  Additionally I installed all the Windows updates and Lenovo drivers in the last three months not shown as current.  This included the BIOS.  While trying a backup to an external HDD, I had a freeze up of the system.  Afterward the fingerprint reader failed to work and the WWAN feature would not Activate.  These symptoms repeated when I inserted the W510 into my new Mini Dock Plus Series 3 with attached 24" ThinkVision L2461X monitor attached. 

Lenovo technical support listened to my list of symptoms and ordered the machine back for repairs.  Given the turn around time estimate, I should have my W510 back late next week or early the following week.  I'll do a followup to this message at that time.

Prior to shipping I did an eSATA image and file backup to the same external HDD that froze previously.  I did some DVD recordings of key files, too.  The external HDD transfer seemed very slow.  The area of the laptop in the upper left corner where the internal HDD lives got very hot to the touch during the four hour+ backup.

I am using my older T500 with the new 24" monitor and MultiTouch features successfully and stability.  The base station is gathering dust.

Update 13 Oct 2010

The W510 came back amazingly quick from repairs.  And,

They replaced the fingerprint sensor.  It works.

They replaced the motherboard.

The reimaged my HDD.  Yes, I expected that.

And I found that during setup, the first thing you do after powering up I could not connect with the Internet by Ethernet.  A problem with the WiFi slider on the case and the Ethernet driver.  Which resulted in a BSOD reboot loop at start up.

Ethernet driver would not delete and rebuild.

Reimageing would not work (F11 and the ThinkVantage blue rectangle would not invoke RnR)

I didn't find out if the cursor / multitouch problem was fixed.

So,  second level is sending a box tomorrow. 

Back to the Lenovo shop.

Yes, I'm disappointed.

.

[bogue12]

My update is this...

I had some lengthy support discussions over the phone with Lenovo, and they concluded that the computer needs to be returned to a service center for further diagnosis / repair.  I have not returned it yet, because I need my computer (I would have to be with out it for a few weeks).  So when I have a break in my workload (!?!), I guess I'll do that.  In the mean time, I have the touchscreen disabled.

I seems odd that there are several of us with the same problem, and no satisfactory solution from Lenovo, eh?

   - Bogue

[don820]

This sounds like the fiasco people have had with the built-in 3G cards, all over again.....

[Contrarian]

Update 13 Oct 2010 to my posting of 9 Oct 2010

The W510 came back amazingly quick from repairs.  And,

They replaced the fingerprint sensor.  It works.

They replaced the motherboard.

They reimaged my HDD.  Yes, I expected that.

And I found that during setup, the first thing you do after powering up I could not connect with the Internet by Ethernet.  A problem with the WiFi slider on the case and the Ethernet driver.  Which resulted in a BSOD reboot loop at start up.

Ethernet driver would not delete and rebuild.

Reimageing would not work (F11 and the ThinkVantage blue rectangle would not invoke RnR)

I didn't find out if the presenting problem cursor / multitouch problem was fixed.

So,  second level is sending a box tomorrow. 

Back to the Lenovo shop.

Yes, I'm disappointed.

[don820]

Deja vu.  My network/usb1.0 ports were borked after my first system board replacement.

No offence, but it's nice to see I'm not the only dud in the box

[PeterTWJ]

I have the same problem for my W510. It was solved after the 1st service, but after the 5th service, the problem came back.
Replaced parts: CPU, Motherboard, Keyboard, Speaker, 2 Heatsink.

Now, I am waiting for a machine replacement to the similar or another model of W series mobile workstation.

My W510 is really a failure, never been so disappointed before as for getting a computer. The 1st ever IBM/Lenovo PC and Mobile Workstation in my house. I was a satisfied customer of HP, Dell, ASUS and Gigabyte products. Paid a lot for a high-end workstation and ThinkPlus 24x7 4 hour response onsite and getting an customer-unorientated services and was being provoked twice by a Lenovo Care staff on the phone.

For the keyboard replacement, the engineer told me that it is not a problem and they change the keyboard out of goodwill, to satisfy me. Personally, I think the W510 had design flaws and this problem could never be solved. This is when a refreshg model like W520 released.