W520 - Speakers failing (for a second time) plus SSD failing

Hi all,

This is really frustrating and I'm not sure what is going on. Here's what happened:

Machine type: ThinkPad W520 4270-CTO with i7-2720QM, 8GB RAM and NVIDIA 2000M and INTEL SSD X25-M 160GB
Bios: 1.32, all latest driver updates.

The laptop started to run into some issues about 5 weeks ago. My speakers only produced a 'click' when they should play sounds (the headphone jack continued to work just fine). So I thought this was a simple issue of broken speakers. An on-site technician replaced the speakers. First, no luck. He suggested it was a faulty system board. After two weeks waiting for the new motherboard to be delivered it was replaced by the technician. Still nothing from the speakers. So he had the idea that it might be the keyboard (with the integrated controllers) and replaced that also. This appeared to have done the trick and everything was working fine again. [Only problem being that the friendly technician damaged a speaker cable while reassembling the laptop... However, after ordering another set of new speakers and replacing them yet again, everything was good].

All seemed fine again until a few days ago: the speakers stopped working again (same issue, only producing a single 'clicking' sound then nothing). And a new problem appeared: I get a wonderful Windows message: 'Windows detected a hard disk problem' which seems quite serious and suggests that my SSD might be failing very soon. I checked the S.M.A.R.T. values using Intel's SSD toolbox. I get an extremely high 'End-to-End Error detection count (1300, threshold at 90).

I'm about to call Lenovo support again but I wonder what else they can do? The system board, speakers and keyword are basically new. The SSD probably needs to be replaced which will cause me a headache moving my files. Did anybody else run into any of the issues or has any suggestions how I should proceed?





Any help is welcome and thanks for reading!

 

First, I would make a copy of all of your personal data while you still can.

Second, if the SSD came with the machine, it is covered with the warranty of the W520. I would have it replaced.

 

Well, it sounds like the SSD is failing. A quick google search for "end-to-end error count" only brought up some cryptic results, but you might want to dig a little deeper to figure out what this error means.

Did your laptop come with the SSD, or did you buy it separately? If you bought it separately you might have to look around intel's website (or call Intel support) to figure out what to do with the drive.

Also, the fact that your sound is failing again, after such a short time, suggests something other than the speakers may be the cause of the sound problem. If so, it could really be lots of things.

For starters, I'd focus on backing up the SSD and getting things going on a hard drive temporarily, so you don't lose your data, just until you get the SSD fixed or replaced. If you're lucky that'll fix the sound issue too (e.g, if corrupted files/software were the culprit). If it doesn't, at least you'll be able to scratch one thing off the list of potential causes for your sound problems.

Hope this helps


EDIT: Now that I think about it, both the SSD and the sound could be the result of an electrical problem. If there's a short somewhere in your laptop, or if something is under-volting (like in a brown out), that could easily wreak havoc on your pc's components. I only mention this because both problems are pretty unusual, especially the recurring sound problem.

 

Thanks for your replies!

Yes, the SSD came with the machine so it is covered with the warranty.
I also thought of an electrical problem somewhere and I will suggest that to Lenovo support.
I backed up all my data already.

How would you go about re-installing the system? I guess the best way would be to use recovery disks? Or does the Lenovo replacement come with the system pre-installed?

Thanks!

 

I'm guessing here but I'd be surprised if they shipped you a replacement drive already loaded up with the W520 image.

I would plan on using your rescue and recovery disk set.

 

My guess also. Discs are ready. I just hoped I would never have to use them...

 

I have a W520 in which the speakers also stopped working. I took the original 320GB hard drive out and put aside the day I bought it and replaced with a SSD, so I swapped the original drive back in and still no sound from the speakers (headphone output works fine). My warranty ran out back in July, so I'm SOL on this one.

 

Maybe there are other threads addressing this "speakers dead issue" but how was this resolved in the OPs case?

 

I remember running across this before, check the speaker wires to see if any were pinched together that caused a short.