Baffling problem with X220. Please Help!

I have used my X220 problem free for about 1 year. The day after the warranty ran out (I must be the unluckiest man on the planet right?) it developed an issue where it would randomly go into standby, and then possibly resume from standby on its own and then instantly go back to standby and repeat. Sometimes it goes to standby and just stays in standby until I press power. In any case, if it does this loop long enough, it eventually just ends up powering off all together or rebooting.
This all actually started in May and I found that pressing the power button would sometimes randomly cause the system to spontaneously generate ACPI power off signals (detectable using acpi_listen in Ubuntu) even without anyone actually hitting power. I found that this problem could be entirely avoided if I removed the keyboard and used an external keyboard. I also found that the frequency of the incidents was greatly reduced if I removed the screws that hold in the keyboard. I used my laptop like this (keyboard screws removed) for the past few months with no problems.

However it seems the random standby issues and weirdness have returned (even with the screws removed). I tried to use another x220 keyboard but that did absolutely nothing to solve the issue. I have found that the problem never occurs when the laptop is on a desk and not moving at all (like when I leave it on my mini dock). The probability of the random standby increases when the laptop is actually sitting in my lap. I am also quite sure this is not a software issue given that it happens when I am in windows, bios or Ubuntu.

At this point I have nothing else left to try and am completely baffled. I have no warranty and my x220 has turned from an ultra portable system to a desktop. I would really appreciate any suggestions on what to do about this. I absolutely have to have a laptop for my work and this is becoming a huge pain in the rear.

 

Try replacing the keyboard, they're inexpensive. Otherwise it's likely the motherboard.

 

Seeing as another X220 keyboard also gave you the same problems, perhaps some component is not seated correctly and is making contact with the keyboard ribbon when the laptop is moved around (and happens to be triggering the power button)? Sounds like a long shot even to me, but I suppose it's worth a shot to make sure everything in your laptop is fastened and seated properly. Also, as a temporary stop-gap, try setting power-button presses to do nothing in the power options (as opposed to triggering standby).

 

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Thanks for your response. I tried to set power button presses to do nothing. This did change the behavior of the problem in that it would instead of sleeping, would just power off all together. Even with everything set to do nothing, if you hold down the power button long enough, I find that it turns off anyway (in Windows).

I booted into ubuntu and ran acpi_listen and found that it was still doing that random thing of generating power off signals without me touching anything.

I am also certain now that the keyboard actually isn't the problem. Earlier I powered on the system and right away unplugged the keyboard. I booted into windows and proceeded to try to use the computer without a keyboard. When I moved it from its dock (where it leans forward) to my lap where it leans backwards, it shut off after 2 or 3 minutes and I didn't even have the keyboard plugged in. Looks like this is a more serious fault. Any other ideas?

 

did you try to blow some air inside the laptop (like with the keyboard out) ?

 

Yep. I actually tried this sometime ago already. It didn't seem to do much.

 

Mine does this and has been doing this since the few bios updates ago that I can remember. Its been doing it I think about 7 months but I'm running Win UL-64bit
I really haven't spent time with it to fig out whats up. I might call support and find out what they can do when I have some time. I will let you know if your interested
what they come up with.

ym

 

That would be very helpful. I have given up using my x220 for now and am using my old R61. If all else fails maybe I just need to pay up for a repair.