PC Pals Forum
Technical Help & Discussion => Self Building, Upgrading & General Hardware Help => Topic started by: Michelle on June 24, 2008, 17:06
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Okay so I got this 6 months ago as a first laptop for my son.
Think(pad)ing now I should have just paid the extra and got a decent one but still.
Its coming up with an error message 08611 - which seems to be a trackpoint or a keyboard error.
I phoned the company I got it from and they will replace the complete keyboard for £29.00 - with no labour seeing as its only 6 months old (only 30 days guarantee on refubs) And I have to get it there and pick it up, but its not that far only Redhill.
But......... I have read that this doesn't solve the problem, there are alot of pages on this message, and I'm having trouble finding anything that makes sense lol i had also read that it might just need reseating..... I wonder if I can do this.
Does anyone have any ideas what I should do or experience with this problem?
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I'd have a word with your local Trading Standards dept, Michelle. I think the firm may be in breach of their statutory duties.
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yes, I agree with Rik before you do anything try this... I'll have a look at the error message - when does it come up?
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hmm I'm not sure, the paper work all says 30days, but that could be why they are wavering the labour charge, although the keyboard is for sale on ebay for £13.
The error message comes on start up. first the Ibm screen then just a black screen with 8611 then the error page.
(I saw somewhere to press control esc which took me somewhere but I didn't know what to do next ahahha!)
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hmm I'm not sure, the paper work all says 30days, but that could be why they are wavering the labour charge, although the keyboard is for sale on ebay for £13.
They can't abrogate their responsibilities under the Sale of Goods Act, but I'm not sure where things stand with refurbished goods, which is why I suggest you take advice before doing anything. Under the SoGA, the retailer has a liability for up to 6 years.
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Isn't that just with new goods though, Rik? Otherwise, someone could buy something in a jumble sale, and take it back for a refund 6 years later.
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It covers the original purchaser, not the state of the goods afaik.
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But if goods are refurbs, then the buyer isn't the original purchaser, are they? I have no authoritative knowledge, but I wouldn't think the 6 year rule would stand up in cases of second hand or refurbished goods.
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I didn't know that about the 6 years thing... thats interesting......
They do mention that you can purchase a longer guarantee.
Their website says......
All laptops advertised on this website carry a 30-day RTB hardware warranty as standard. The warranty begins on the day of despatch, where the buyer will receive an email confirming the despatch of goods from our base. If a fault develops during the warranty period we will discuss via email/phone conversations to determine the fault and try to guide the user to a solution - we do not cover software faults by our warranty though we are happy to assist with technical enquiries as part of our customer service.
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All laptops advertised on this website carry a 30-day RTB hardware warranty as standard. The warranty begins on the day of despatch
That doesn't sound legal to me either, Michelle.
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That sounds more like business customers conditions rather than retail customers.
No point in pushing them too far as they are only trying to make a living, if they will sort it if you pay the bits considering you knew the stated warranty then fair doos i say.
Just watch they aren't overcharging for the required bits :o:
That's if reseating doesn't work :leer:
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the question is how do we do this... Ok I've done some reading... can you actually use the keyboard at all? i.e. on the bios screen can you get into it?
I found this, which might be worth a try.. taken from: http://www.repairspot.com/thinkpad_8611_error__disabling.htm
Thinkpad 8611 error / disabling trackpoint on 600e via cmos
The 8611 error is telling you that the trackpoint or keyboard for the Thinkpad has stopped working.
This information has been collected from various sources on the internet, IBM website,
The following tip will help you in determining if it is a permanent keyboard error 8611 on all models of the Thinkpad 600 or a software glitch.
You can sometimes get the 8611 error:
* If an emergency power down is made by switching the system off during or while an application is open, then immediately switching the system on creates a 8611 error.
* Repeatedly turning power off and back on without properly shutting down or allowing the system to shut itself down.
The Solution:
* Wait at least 6 seconds or longer after shutting down the system or before restarting to correct the 8611 error.
If the above doesn't work you will have to disable the Track Point:
I did the following procedure from information I found on the Internet, and it worked, only you will need to use a mouse with the laptop from that point on, you are basically turning off the trackpoint which is causing the error.
There is no guarantee this will work because it may also be the keyboard itself, so do at your own risk.
First go into the system config utility which you get forced into after the 8611 error is reported
Then go back to the main menu and enter the config.
When there press the control key and the d key at the same time..
Find and ensure you are on the -base 128 cmos- page.
Look for ofset 20h, (maybe a different number ##h) and in the1st column and 3rd row and change the number to 01. On my Thinkpad the ofset was not 20h but 12h., so my ofset number wasn't the same but it is still 1st column, 3rd row.
When finished changing the number to 01 press the F2 key and then the F3 key.
Then exit out and restart the computer.
The computer should reboot with the trackpoint disabled. And you will need to use a mouse with the Thinkpad.
The following info was also sent to me from Dan.
I had the same problem as others, and found info on the site useful but I have found another way to get around this.
When the error loads up, let it get as far as possible, then there will be a restart button to click, hit this then it will give the error number, a red symbol then the IBM book symbol. Then hit F5 or F8 and it will lead you to the config. When here, just select to load the computer normally and then you are ready to go!
n
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also try this: http://www.lemoncube.com/347.html
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Thanks for looking Sam - I did see that first one, but i don't know how to get into the config, and it looked a bit confusing........... it seems the keyboard might work as I did get into something but not sure what it was. :dunno:
Will have a look at the lemoncube one now.
Thanks again.
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oh lol that looks clearer and it tells you how to get into config, thanks I'll try that later :thumbs:
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ok, let me know.. I think I might be able to clarify if you need help.
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ok...... right ........... erm.
hehe thanks for the info Sam, this is what happened. (i do love a saga!)
On the lemon one, it said to press exit - so pressed esc ? and it went to a page that appeared not to do anything, with a book on it. so I tried pressing F1 to see if that would take us to config, but guess what it did........
It restarted the computer and it started up - the keyboard works fine but the mouse (pad) doesn't work but he pluged in an external mouse and that now works, it didn't before? So great news I think... ;D
So ....... I said don't turn it off ever and we are laughing!
Now what should I do?
I typed in config in run but it just opened a folder? so I still don't know how to get to it.
Its windows 2000 by the way.
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Just to let u know........ turned it off and on again, to check it and it came up with the same message.
Did the same thing esc then f1 and starts up fine and can use an external mouse, so thats fine, I just wonder if we can get rid of the message or disable the trackpad mouse thing? I have looked in the mouse folder but you can't change it. Any ideas thanks :)
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You could try removing the mouse pad thingy from Device Manager, Michelle, then when you reboot, it should find it as new hardware and reinstall the drivers again. I've had to do that once or twice on my laptop, usually following Windows Updates.
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or you could try and disabled the mouse in the bios screen.. I think that's what these guys were trying to suggest doing - if you do this then the error should not appear.
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Thanks Simon, I just tried that and it didn't work, thanks tho.
I just need to find out how to get into the bios then. :dunno:
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its normally esc or one of the F-keys on boot up...
essentially you need to do this (I think), which is sort of what you did by pressing esc and the F1.. so try this:
First go into the system config utility which you get forced into after the 8611 error is reported
you did this I think by hitting escape... or it might go into that anyway... does it? If so then when you pressed esc it went into:
Then go back to the main menu and enter the config.
but if you hit esc to get to the above screen then you need to press F1.
See what you get there... if we follow the rest of the instructions then you should do: (I'm a bit confused about this...)
When there press the control key and the d key at the same time..
Find and ensure you are on the -base 128 cmos- page.
Look for ofset 20h, (maybe a different number ##h) and in the1st column and 3rd row and change the number to 01. On my Thinkpad the ofset was not 20h but 12h., so my ofset number wasn't the same but it is still 1st column, 3rd row.
When finished changing the number to 01 press the F2 key and then the F3 key.
Then exit out and restart the computer.
but saying all this, think the lemoncube one is easier to follow, so do what you did but once you are in the menu... hit CTRL D and follow on from where the lemoncube guide takes you...
- Turn the 600 on. It gets the error 8611 and you get a popup to TEST or RESTART.
- Choose TEST.
- I just tested the Systemboard for something to do.
- Now I think I chose EXIT. It actually exits back to the main F1 config
screen (I could never get into the config screen by pressing F1).
- Choose 'Config'
- press CTRL D
- At offset 20h, change the value to 01 (it was 00 prior to this for me)
- Press F2 to save and then F3 to exit and restart.
- And now it should boot.
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Thanks Sam, I will have a go at that, once I can get it off him again, now it actually works! :laugh:
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did it work?