Tablet buttons/LEDs, digitizer, and fingerprint reader not functioning [ Edited ]

[jcy6h]

I broke my hinge a few weeks ago when I was packing up to leave class (which is indicative of the poor lenovo build/engineering quality that I've come to expect). The pen stopped working (even after I installed the wacom drivers I still get code 10 - the device cannot start). The buttons on the tablet don't work (orientation, esc, arrows, etc.). The fingerprint reader does not work. The laptop does not recognize the screen's orientation (open/closed/tablet). Most of the LED indicators do not function (System power and hard drive activity work, but NUM/CAPS lock, wifi, battery, plug, and sleep do not).

I opened the laptop and replaced the hinge. I also replaced all the wiring (as it seemed like it might be damaged by the broken hinge) to the lcd assembly and the inverter card (it came with the wiring assembly).

New hinge works great, but the features are all still gone. Is this a problem with my microprocessor board? (Item 14 - http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-67024)

I'm guessing that it is... Is there a high probability that I need a new lcd assembly?

I don't really understand the interplay between the inverter board, the fingerprint reader, the digitizer, and the microprocessor board. Does anyone here know?

EDIT: 7764CTO, Vista Business (fresh install)

Message Edited by jcy6h on 03-21-2009 10:16 AM

[Agotthelf]

Hello jcy6h, welcome to Lenovo forums.

Always post you model (not S/N) number and used OS, please.

So it´s easier for our members to help you.

[sipp11]

I would love to know what signals when turning into or back from Tablet mode as well. For mine, everything works just fine, but it won't rotate the screen automatically when I put into tablet mode. It's really odd and I couldn't what causes this too. What I can tell is it's not software problem.

However, for your case, it sounds like there is a driver issue involved as well. At least, all hotkeys (fn+fxxx) should function just fine because this is not related to the screen or micro processor board at all.

Did you install Hotkey driver or something?

Message Edited by sipp11 on 03-22-2009 03:41 AM

[jcy6h]

hotkeys work (FN + blue keys). just the tablet buttons are bad. 

everything stopped working at the same time as the hinge broke. (as an aside, i am 99% certain the hinge broke during normal open/close.)

i did reinstall the tablet button drivers as well as the wacom drivers.

[dnevis]

Hi jcy6h,

Sorry to here about your issues and can tell you from experience Lenovo ThinkPad tablets have been my best Tablet PC. I run the School of Pharmacy IT and have 215 X61T's I would like to know more about how you use it but first let's try to solve you issue. Were the LEDs, buttons, and digitizer working after the tech repaired your computer? What the likely cause is cabling damaged or not properly replaced. I would call it in and have them replace the inverter board, cables, and controller board then request front LCD Bezel because the glue is only good for one use. One thing I'm not impressed with is their onsite tech repair and had their contractors break more than fix.--Hope this helps

[jcy6h]

I didn't have a tech; I fixed it myself. Basically, i was leaving class and i folded up my screen. Something felt funny, but it didn't register until later that I had broken the swivel hinge. I opened up the computer and saw that the wiring was rubbed (possibly damaged), and one wire was actually cut (but it was the WAN cable which i have no intention of ever using). I replaced the hinge and the wiring at the same time. The wiring I bought included the inverter board (so eliminates that as a cause). Unfortunately, other than having a functional hinge, none of the problems went away. Before and after situations were identical.

The controller (microprocessor) board is on the way. When it arrives, we'll see if that was the problem. If not, I'm really not sure what route to go. I don't think it's the digitizer because of the LED issue. Fingers crossed... 

[dnevis]

Hi jacy6h,

Did you make sure that pin 1 on the microprocessor is matched up on the cable pin 1? It can connect in more than one direction and can be installed wrong. Have see one of their tech do it and ruin my system board. What is strange is both the digitizer and finger printer reader does not work either. Please check that daughter board that connects the system board and cabling looking for broken connectors.

Message Edited by dnevis on 03-23-2009 10:16 PM

[jcy6h]

Well... my system board isn't ruined and the before and after situations are identical, so I don't think the cable is installed incorrectly. I will check it when I install the new microprocessor board. Hopefully it arrives before the week is through...

[closersource]

There have already been several threads on this Code 10 issue, but absolutely no satisifactory response from Lenovo. After extensive Googling this does not seem to be an isolated issue - not even with Lenovo.

http://forum.lenovo.com/lnv/board/message?board.id=X_Series_Tablet_ThinkPads&message.id=910

http://forums.lenovo.com/lnv/board/message?board.id=X_Series_Tablet_ThinkPads&thread.id=746

I was working on a company machine with the same problem (Code 10). The tablet, 7764-CTO Multitouch, was fully functional and all of a sudden one day it stopped working. (According to the user, who I have to believe, there was for no reason no touch and no pen response.) When I inspected it there was absolutely no physical damage so I assumed it was software (Vista) related. I tried different drivers, disabled/enabled services, turned off DEP / antivirus / antimalware, and I even did a full restore to the factory state.

What finally fixed it was a swap of a working correctly configured driver from another machine. This proved that it was not a hardware issue. My only guess as to thr the fault is that it was related to the ACPI driver or ANY driver that interacts with ACPI. This situation is documented elsewhere in fixing X41 Tablets.

So unless you want your system sctrached by Lenovo taking many weeks to fix a non-existent hardware issue try powering-down completely and put in a working driver by itself. If it's not feasible to do a swap then try a hard power-down(remove CMOS battery) and try with another operating system.

Message Edited by closersource on 04-28-2009 07:50 PM

[jcy6h]

I should receive the microprocessor board this week... hopefully before I go out of town on thursday. If it comes, then I will install it right away (I need my tablet for note-taking--some professors don't allow laptops in class!) and let you know. I only pray this solves my problem, as I really don't know what to do next. Replace the LCD? Ugh. I'm quite disappointed with the build quality of my X61t.