How to even get repair in London, 2019, for IBM R31 and T41?

[X-Panda]

This is probably a foolish question because of unknown unknowns, apologies in advance.

My situation is that I have an IBM R31 with failed backlight (works with external monitor, no pink tint but intermittant fault on startup evaded by leaving open and switched on, then just went out and stayed out) and an IBM T41 with fan failure (type of problem unknown).

I would like to have at least one working IBM Thinkpad that can run XP, so I am hoping for advice please on getting a Thinkpad-friendly repair within the M25, London.

When I took these into a local repair store they told me no point due to the age of the machines, and another repair centre I called suggested buying another refurb for the same reasons. I have already tried this, got a Lenovo T61, dislike it and it can't easily run XP. Also, bought an R51, worked great for a few days, died, seller refunded me because it was BER.

So, I am seeking advice on how to find a laptop repairer willing to mend one of the IBM Thinkpads I have, where they may have to source parts, making cost more than buying another refurb for under £100, but not to the extent they'll try to exploit this. The people I spoke to seemed like their heart wasn't in it and they looked down their noses at the ancient machines, so I decided not to push the issue because starting out not wanting to do a thing seldom gives very good results. Speed of repair is less important, they've been dead for a couple of months.

However I have specific reasons for wanting an XP Thinkpad, not something "better," for example I have some old hardware that only works on XP.

Can anyone please give me any helpful advice?

I can keep watching ebay for an IBM refurb (and then another when that dies, and another...) but don't want to eventually wall myself in with stacks of dead Thinkpads. I used to be reasonably competent at simple hardware repairs, but only on PCs and that was a long time ago.

[Screamer]

I would like to have at least one working IBM Thinkpad that can run XP

Is that all you need, just Windows XP?

I generally get answers that pair Windows XP with some legacy device that can't function in any other operating system that is newer than Windows XP, which I do understand.

got a Lenovo T61, dislike it and it can't easily run XP.

Could you explain in detail on how it is not able to 'easily run' Windows XP? I feel that more clarification is needed here.

[RealBlackStuff]

Go to the small Search box at top-right and fill in London.
That might give you some idea of possible London-based forum members, that you could contact.

[kfzhu1229]

and an IBM T41 with fan failure (type of problem unknown).

Since your T41 fan is a lost cause, if you have time, I suggest you follow the manual from the HMM link above and take off the keyboard. Then observe whether the fan spins at all and whether if it is jammed. If it spins and then shuts off, or is jammed, then carefully take out that fan assembly, see how it behaves (whether it is jammed or something like that). And then you can disassemble the fan by prying on the welded parts between the copper and alumium casing of the fan, separate the alumium caisng from the copper, and then pull off the fan fin.

[X-Panda]

I generally get answers that pair Windows XP with some legacy device that can't function in any other operating system that is newer than Windows XP, which I do understand.

Yes, this is one of the main reasons, running XP will save me replacing several different things which otherwise work perfectly well. I miss the file search function in XP as well.

I've looked into running a virtual machine off a USB drive, and somewhere I have an old desktop computer that has XP on. But having a Thinkpad with XP would tick the most boxes for me.

Could you explain in detail on how it is not able to 'easily run' Windows XP? I feel that more clarification is needed here.

I had problems with drivers, and spent several hours trying to work around this, however I deleted the folder where I kept notes on that. If I attempt it again I'll keep better notes.

There are other reasons I am less happy with this machine that are not on-topic to trying to get a repair on the IBMs.

Go to the small Search box at top-right and fill in London.
That might give you some idea of possible London-based forum members, that you could contact.

Thanks! I thought I should post first before hitting the PMs.

And then you can disassemble the fan by prying on the welded parts between the copper and alumium casing of the fan, separate the alumium caisng from the copper, and then pull off the fan fin.

Thank you, I wasn't able to get one of the screws undone that held the metal casing to the base, but I'll take it out and retry at some point.

[kfzhu1229]

Thank you, I wasn't able to get one of the screws undone that held the metal casing to the base, but I'll take it out and retry at some point.

If you are talking about the side metal frames under the plastic bezel, you do not need to take them out. Just take the keyboard and the touchpad palmrest assembly out is enough. Then the fan is held by 3 screws around the CPU socket, undo those and the fan connector, and the fan is free.

[beko1987]

I'm in Thame, Oxfordshire so fairly close (work in Marlow which is even closer) and would happily do a T41 fan swap for a pack of beer if your still struggling? Can re-paste your CPU and have a clean up internally too whilst I'm there.

R31 sounds simple as well, but simple as in 'if it's not this then its that' in terms of inverster vs panel vs lcd cable vs mainboard fault"

[madicetea]

I'd take him on his offer -- he sounds like a good dude.

[beko1987]

I'm in Thame, Oxfordshire so fairly close (work in Marlow which is even closer) and would happily do a T41 fan swap for a pack of beer if your still struggling? Can re-paste your CPU and have a clean up internally too whilst I'm there.

R31 sounds simple as well, but simple as in 'if it's not this then its that' in terms of inverster vs panel vs lcd cable vs mainboard fault"

Don't just leave us hanging! Please tell us you PM'd him and that you'll have an updated story for us soon!

I was waiting ofr a reply to the thread but your right, I should PM him really!