T30 Keyboard!

[alex.wave]

Hey!

I have a problem...

my second hand T30 thinkpad's 't' key has well...fallen off. It appears that the previous owner has broken the metal parts underneath, and the plastic leg parts are quite broken too.

Is there any chance I can replace the metal part that the plastic key locks into?

Or do I need to replace the whole keyboard? if so...does anyone have a UK keyboard I can purchase off of them? (fully working)

Cheers everyone!

Alex

[Harryc]

Check out EBay. Plenty of vendors there selling replacement keys with the 'parts underneath'. There are a couple of different types of mechanisms underneath. Make sure you get one that matches what you already have. If the keyboard was worn already, then it might be worth replacing the entire thing.

Type A

Type B

[alex.wave]

hey,

ok i've decided that i need to get another whole keyboard.

what kinds will fit my system?

i have one without an ultranav..

thought i'd ask simply - will an X31 keyboard work? - Keyboard found on EBay

or a t2x series keyboard?

Another Keyboard found on EBay

the only other one i can find at a semi-reasonable price is this:

and yet another

which lists as working with 14.1" thinkpads...but only lists T40, T41, R50, R51 - although to me it looks identical to my T30 one?

I think that that one is my best bet - but would be really good to know whether it'll definitely fit (and work!) before i purchase it!

Thanks,
Alex

[Harryc]

You linked to (2) US versions and (1) UK version keyboards. Which do you want?

Here are the part numbers

This is the right keyboard for a UK version

[alex.wave]

Hey, thanks.

I saw that one as well but felt that it may be a bit expensive and may not even be in brilliant condition - I want this laptop to last me for travelling and school/college work until about a year from now.

I'm not too fussed whether it's a UK or US keyboard - just that it's a keyboard that has all the caps on it, working!

So, if I bought the keyboard that was being sold as a T40/41/R50/51 would that work in my T30?

It just seems that that is a more reasonable price than the one that is being sold explicitly for the T30...

Otherwise I'm going to have to hope that the one that's marketed as being for a T30 is going to work well enough!

Do you know whether it would be a better idea to try and source a whole bottom part of the thinkpad (the top plastic part, including keyboard?) as that is basically the only place with small hairline cracks..they don't bother me too much though

Thanks again,
Alex

[tfflivemb2]

No, the T4x/R5x keyboard won't work with your T30. You need to stick with the T30 keyboard. The placement of the screw holes are different...