Lenovo Issues Firmware Update for ThinkPad Laptops Made Between 2017 and 2019 To Fix Various USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 Connection Issues (cnet.com) 29
couchslug writes: Potential hardware damage alert. As reported by Notebookcheck and later posted to a Lenovo support page, the USB-C firmware issue affects more than a dozen ThinkPad models including the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (5th Gen to 7th Gen), X1 Yoga (2nd Gen to 4th Gen), and P-series ThinkPads. It turns out that a firmware update issued in August 2019 corrupted the software controlling the port. " couchslug adds: Anyone with more information on this expensive problem please post. It's already taken out many system boards. The problem affects enough models that class action suit may be appropriate because failures due to the defect have occurred outside the warranty window. Users on Reddit suggest the situation is even worse. The "critical firmware update" is only a mitigation for the hardware failure -- keeping the machine going until the warranty expires." CNET adds: If your laptop is one of the models affected, Lenovo recommends to immediately update your system with new driver and firmware packages that are designed to resolve any USB-C problem. If the updates don't work out, Lenovo urges ThinkPad owners to reach out to Technical Support.
Where's the additional claims from? (Score:2)
Anyone with more information on this expensive problem please post. It's already taken out many system boards. The problem affects enough models that class action suit may be appropriate because failures due to the defect have occurred outside the warranty window. Users on Reddit suggest the situation is even worse. The "critical firmware update" is only a mitigation for the hardware failure -- keeping the machine going until the warranty expires."
If you are actually referring to a reddit discussion, and not an article about a discussion on reddit, you should post that reddit link.
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I was gonna post just this. That claim seems coming from someone who is knowledgeable of this kind of shenanigans, but does need relevant source and clarification on the claim.
Wouldn't be the least surprised. Everyone knows this type of behavior is commonplace. One just needs to think of the Apple batterygate for a relatively recent example.
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It's just the usual Reddit drama. Lenovo already said if this doesn't fix it contact them and I'm sure they will sort it out, warranty or no.
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That was my comment. Apologies for the layout.
There's more to recent Pad problems than that (like firmware bricking P52s which took more than one firmware iteration to fix). Lenovo aren't much for sharing information with the public but the Thinkpad community are a creative bunch and often know more than makes the news.
The Nvidia graphics flaw killed many an older system board after lasting past warranty, and it may be the Thunderbolt controller has similar issues
What if I run Linux? (Score:2)
I haven't noticed any problems with my T25 (bought nearly two years ago). These driver updates are for Windows only. I've updated my BIOS using the bootable CD images but it doesn't seem to be possible to update USB controller FW with such a method.
I guess I can always take images of my SSD, recover Win10 just for a while to run this update, and then put Linux back, but sounds rather tedious if there is no benefit.
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You might need to use efibootmgr to get the update image first in the efilist, for me it fails if it is only in the bootnext slot.
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Ah. If I use fwupdmgr get-devices it actually doesn't list a thunderbolt controller at all (just NVMe SSD and BIOS)
Maybe it's been broken for a while and I just haven't noticed...
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I was going to point out the exact opposite, following some of the posts both here and on Reddit, it seems that this issue mostly (only?) seems to be affecting the Users of the Linux. That's based on the two facts that Lenovo has shipped tens if not hundreds of millions of these things without it becoming a huge problem so far, and that most of the discussions are around fwupdmgr and efibootmgr and how to get specific versions and firmware images.
If this is the case and if you're set up for dual-boot, perh
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Direct link (Score:5, Informative)
Direct link without annoying ads or broken web sites: https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/c... [lenovo.com]
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I've commented asking for clarification on how to proceed with a Linux system.
Updater's Windows-only for now, here's a solution: (Score:1)
What? only current generations? (Score:2)
This has been an issue with all of their USB C charger designs. Charging stops and various schemes are needed like removing/reinstalling drivers. The USB C charger becomes unresponsive to the driver and stops charging without repowering. The motherboard eventually fries itself. Replacing the actual USB C connector board is also usually necessary as there is a physical component to the issue. This is reported on almost all early Yoga laptops. They obviously have yet to figure out how to design it corre
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This has been an issue with all of their USB C charger designs. Charging stops and various schemes are needed like removing/reinstalling drivers.
Does this affect charging using a Lenovo standard power port?
As I recall most or all Lenovo models that can charge by USB-C can also charge with the Lenovo standard power port. This power port is rectangular, about the size of a USB-A port, with a single pin in the center, with yellow plastic for the insulators, and provides 19 volts. I like that Lenovo uses this same power connector on a number of their devices, on laptops, mini-desktop computers, LCD displays, and likely much more. Anyway...
If a laptop
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I have a new P15 that I firmware updated in December and it charges fine with the Lenovo power adapter. Dunno how indicative that is. I have not tried USB-C charging, and since I'd have to sub in the stock SSD with its Windows install to do another firmware update I'm unlikely to try now.
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That's good to know, thanks.
I have a question I forgot to include in my previous post, what kind of charger comes with these Lenovo laptops with the dedicated power port and a capability to charge from USB-C? Do they come with the Lenvo power port charger, USB-C charger, or can people choose which is included? Another related question, if there is power provided to both the power port and USB-C then from which will the laptop draw power? USB-C, power port, the one capable of providing more power?
Given th
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Another problem with generic chargers and docks is the cables. There's USB-C that's USB 2.0 (the most common), USB-C that's USB 3.1 Gen1, USB-C that's USB 3.1 Gen2, USB-C that's TB3 passive, and USB-C that's TB3 active. And, guess what, all of them are fucking incompatible (thankyou, computer vendors), and they're rarely marked as to what they actually are.
Oh, and then there's also USB-C Chinese, which may be something like USB 2.0 but may not be able to pass much power, but for an added bonus will lie ab
Sounds like Apple (Score:2)
Apple has similarly bad HW design problems, are they trying to top Apple ?
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USB C: seems an odd format for laptops (Score:2)
So I just in the past couple days got a new Thinkpad, and was somewhat surprised to see that the power jack was USB C. Those are annoying, fiddly, and prone to breakage even in phones, where the tiny-ness is more useful.
Yes, I realize that the old cylindrical plug from my last thinkpad is too large for modern, thin laptops: but the USB A shaped power plug that was in intervening models is thin enough (even modern laptops have old-style USB jacks), and way more robust.
Anyone know why things have evolved
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Anyone know why things have evolved into laptops being powered by power plugs that mechanically suck even on phones?
Perhaps to avoid having the EU force them to use a power connector that's even worse.
It wasn't that long ago on Slashdot where we read about how the EU wanted to pass a law requiring a standard charging port on all cell phones. The people making other devices for this market have to know that by using something other than USB-C for power will get their attention. If they use something better then they get accused of vendor lock-in, trying to nickle-n-dime people out of their money, producing excess e-wast
Re:USB C: seems an odd format for laptops (Score:4, Informative)
USB-C is quite robust. It's just a complex standard because now everything needs a bit of intelligence to operate.
But the primary thing is that USB sucks at 2.5W. Sure you can get USB chargers that provide 12W, but the USB spec is completely hazy on how to determine how much power you can draw (the spec has changed many times - at first, you were only allowed 100mA without enumerating, this was loosened to 500mA, then USB chargers were i dentifiable so you can do 800mA. THe whole 1A/2A chargers came about during the tablet era, and it's not entirely safe since you cannot tell the current rating of the power supply. You could try by drawing more and more current until the voltage collapses which isn't ideal since cheap chargers are likely to respond poorly, with some overheating and catching fire).
Apple had a good idea which I don't know why it wasn't adopted, by using resistors to tell the device the charging current. It does lead to fraudulent chargers that claim 2A charging, but are wired up internally for only 1A. But in general, at least those generally do provide the 1A current.
USB-C officially is the only spec that allows USB-PD which allows devices to do up to 100W. Yes, you could do it on USB-A using a fallback mode signalling on Vbus, but it's deprecated since the charge control signalling is now on the CC line in the USB-C connector.
On laptops, it's desirable as it's now a universal laptop charger - no longer do you need tips for every laptop. You could charge a Dell, Apple, or Lenovo laptop using a Dell, Apple, or Lenovo USB-C laptop charger (there are very few 100W chargers out there - most I've seen are only 80W). And because of shenanigans with the USB-C standard itself, you can have Thunderbolt over it, so you can have both USB-PD, USB and Thunderbolt in one cable, allowing for single port connectivity giving you graphics, USB, charging, and every other thing you'd want in a docking station using one cable. As a bonus, it'll work for every suitably equipped laptop.
And then you could do what Apple does and have USB-C ports on both sides of the laptop, allowing you to plug in the charger on whichever side is most convenient.
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On laptops, it's desirable as it's now a universal laptop charger - no longer do you need tips for every laptop. You could charge a Dell, Apple, or Lenovo laptop using a Dell, Apple, or Lenovo USB-C laptop charger (there are very few 100W chargers out there - most I've seen are only 80W).
Thanks for the info - that is a plus factor!
No P1/X1E? (Score:1)
The Thunderbolt update utilities are a bit spotty (Score:3)
On the plus side, it never seems to fail in a particularly awful way (doesn't brick the controller or anything), it just refuses to install the firmware update. I've got an incident pending with Lenovo support, we'll see if that actually produces anything.
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Worse, some of the updates bricked notebooks. The fence method might have been an improvement. Search "p52 firmware brick notebooks" and similar. I really like Thinkpads and my P52 is a joy to use so far, but Lenovo aren't doing due diligence.