Lenovo ThinkPad L420

General Specs

 * Model Number: 7856-3WS
 * Processor:Intel Core i5-2410M
 * Memory:4GB RAM
 * HDD:
 * Graphics:Intel HD Graphics 3000
 * Chipset: Intel HM65 (Cougar Point) [B3]

Installation Procedure
Install eComStation 2.1 or ArcaOS 5.0.3 on this machine requires using an USB external mouse.


 * eComStation 2.1: Boot with custom setting from the CD-ROM and enable the AHCI driver. From that you can follow the installation procedure normally.


 * ArcaOS 5.0.3: The Boot default settings from the USB Flash drive will work to install the OS.

Trackpoint/Trackpad do not work on the Installation Procedure
No matter if you use AMouse of Single Mouse driver you will have this issue on eComStation 2.1 or ArcaOS 5.0.3.

Workaround: Use external USB mouse. Issue:

Keyboard stops working
Sometimes the keyboard of the thinkpad stops working. This seems to be because of the other ACPI driver (version 3.22.03).

Workaround: Have an external USB keyboard just in case.

ACPI
The latest ACPI drivers (version 3.22.03 and 3.22.08) seems to work fine with this. It recognizes four cores on boot.

PSD=ACPI.PSD /NOACPI
 * Config.sys:

The "/NOACPI" parameter was used on ACPI.PSD for the power button to work and shut down and for the brightness buttons to work. 

Video
If you are using Panorama driver, it is a good idea to update to version 1.11 (from Arca Noae). It will allow you to select the 1366x768 video resolution.

Wired Network
The RealTek Semiconductor RTL8168D/8111D PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Adapter for recognized with the R8110.OS2 network driver when it installed. But it did not work, it loads but it not works to connect to the network. So I used Multimac R8169.OS2 and it started to work.

DEVICE=X:\IBMCOM\MACS\R8169.OS2
 * Config.sys

Trackpoint/Trackpad
The trackpoint and trackpad of this device is producing an strange behaviour. At first it did not work at all during the installation procedure, so an external USB mouse was required.

After updating ACPI to version to version 3.22.03, it starts working but sometimes it gives an strange behaviour and ever movement of the mouse or mouse click (both trackpoint and trackpad) opens the "Windows List". The final word is that sometimes it works and sometimes not.

AMOUSE.SYS Version
I used AMOUSE.SYS from the installation.

DEVICE=X:\ECS\SYSTEM\AMouse\AMOUSE.SYS SMP

The version I currently have installed is:

Signature:      @#NB:2.75.00#@ Driver for Scroll Mouse (c) 2006 Vendor:         NB Revision:        2.75.00 File Version:   2.75 Description:    Driver for Scroll Mouse (c) 2006

I also get this message from time to time which is very odd because the trackpoint do not have battery:



MOUSE.SYS Version
I changed from AMOUSE.SYS to MOUSE.SYS to see if I got a different result.

Signature:      @#IBM:10.163#@  OS/2 Mouse Device Driver Vendor:         IBM Revision:       10.163 File Version:   10.163 Description:    OS/2 Mouse Device Driver

MOUSE.SYS was worst. The trackpoing/Trackpad did not show any activity at all, and the USB Mouse worked to move the pointer, but clicking of the buttons stopped working.

Keyboard
The Thinkpad keyboard also shows some strange behaviour. Sometimes it works, sometimes it loose connection. The only workaround is to have an USB keyboard around just in case.

When the Thinkpad Keyboard stops working, you connect an USB keyboard and both starts working, after that you can disconnect the USB keyboard. But this happens a very few times, it is not very common.

Config.sys: BASEDEV=IBMKBD.SYS

Version:

Signature:      @#D Azarewicz:10.165#@##1## 19 Jun 2013 11:35:54     DAZAR1 ::::::@@IBM Keyboard Device Driver Vendor:         D Azarewicz Revision:       10.165 Date/Time:      19 Jun 2013 11:35:54 Build Machine:  DAZAR1 File Version:   10.165 Description:    IBM Keyboard Device Driver

This driver is the patched one from David Azarewicz with the ACPI driver.

USB
The USB drivers that came with eComStation 2.1 works fine. Also the latest USB drivers. USBCALLS.DLL and USBRES.SYS was updated and it remains stable.

The config.sys looks like this: BASEDEV=USBEHCD.SYS BASEDEV=USBEHCD.SYS BASEDEV=USBD.SYS BASEDEV=USBHID.SYS ... BASEDEV=USBMSD.ADD /REMOVABLES:8 /FLOPPIES:1 BASEDEV=USBCDROM.ADD

usbehcd.sys
Signature:      @#Lars Erdmann:10.197#@OS/2 USB EHCI compliant Device Driver Vendor:         Lars Erdmann Revision:       10.197 File Version:   10.197 Description:    OS/2 USB EHCI compliant Device Driver

usbd.sys
Signature:      @#Lars Erdmann:10.197#@OS/2 USB Device Driver Vendor:         Lars Erdmann Revision:       10.197 File Version:   10.197 Description:    OS/2 USB Device Driver

usbhid.sys
Signature:      @#IBM:10.162#@  OS/2 USB HID Class Driver Vendor:         IBM Revision:       10.162 File Version:   10.162 Description:    OS/2 USB HID Class Driver

WebCam
The Webcam is working with USBECD drivers from Wim Brul.

By putting in the config.sys: DEVICE=X:\OS2\BOOT\USBECD.SYS /D:05C8:0317:#### /N:$CHICON$ The device got recognized and named as "CHICON". After that you can use the W520TC exe files to take some snapshots.

Hardware Reports

 * Lenovo ThinkPad L420 Hardware Report

Hardware Manager Screenshots