Thinkpads Forum

Hi all,

I just got a wonderful T601F frankenpad from a fellow member that has lots of character. By character, I mean there a lots of cosmetic flaws all around. This doesn't bother me, because the computer itself is top notch. However, there are a few things I wanted to see how to fix/if to replace.

-First, the lid. There was a Thinkpad sticker on the top right (the corner sticker) which has probably been on the thinkpad since its birth. I removed it and underneath I found a patch of beautiful thinkpad lid real estate. In fact, the 'feel' of this part of the lid where the sticker was is identical to the feel on a brand new/barely used T420 which I have right next to me. The rest of the lid is sticky/grimy in comparison, even after passing the sponge with detergent and water. Can I restore the rest of the lid to be like this virgin land I just uncovered?

-Next, the keyboard. There are hair follicles beneath the keys. Lots of them. Should I meticulously clean the keyboard or just get a new one on ebay?

-The palmrest feels a little sticky as well, any solutions? Should I replace it?

-Finally, and most importantly, the T601F I have heats up considerably in the upper left hand corner area of the laptop. This is a little frightening, but I would like to see if it is fixable. Should I see if it is dirty and try to clean it, or is this normal? How best to clean it?

Thanks, all! I hope to post pictures of my new (ancient) laptop!

There are hair follicles beneath the keys. Lots of them. Should I meticulously clean the keyboard or just get a new one on ebay?

You can remove the keyboard, clean it with a small brush (I use an old toothbrush) and some compressed air or a squeeze-bulb blower.


Turn it upside down and at different angles and lightly tap it a few times, taking care not to end up like this:

Using a Magic Eraser works wonders on removing dirt and light scratches. Just don't rub too much on the lid since it is slightly abrasive.

As for the heat problem, the heatsink will probably need a good cleaning and thermal paste replacement with AS5 or Tuniq TX-4.

Get a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Extra Durable, add a few drops of Isopropyl Alcohol on it, then gently rub all over the lid.
Start a "strip" at the top, make sure to brush all the way from left to right before you do the next "strip" under it, etc..
As soon as the alcohol evaporates, a better looking lid is facing you.

Will have to get that Magic Eraser I was reading about. I assume, however, that it won't leave the material mint - just slightly cleaner - but we will see.

The keyboard, I am realizing now as I type, is also very sticky on the keys themselves. The action isn't bad at all, it's just the surface, but I think this is from ridiculous wear. All the keys are very shiny, with the white almost coming off some of the letters. And then the palmrest is sticky all over as well.

brchan wrote:Using a Magic Eraser works wonders on removing dirt and light scratches. Just don't rub too much on the lid since it is slightly abrasive.

As for the heat problem, the heatsink will probably need a good cleaning and thermal paste replacement with AS5 or Tuniq TX-4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPDB5h-sR_w

Is this video a good way of doing this? I have applied thermal paste before on an XBOX gpu but it never fixed it.

Let me guess, our very own RBS is the fellow forum member in question, right?

For the palmrest I'd recommend Goo Gone if you can find it. It works well to remove sticky grime. It might work on the lid too. I'd had some success with making lids look good again by really scrubbing at them with Goo Gone on a rag. Of course the reason that it works is because Goo Gone is slightly abrasive, and removes some of the material exposing fresh underneath, like "mopping" the paint on a car.

Keyboards are more tricky to clean. Something that works is putting them in the dishwasher. But be aware that if you try that, the keyboard will have to be put on a lower temperature wash. The plastic probably won't survive the higher temps. Also it goes without saying that the keyboard will have to be absolutely dry before reinstalling it.

Actually it was twistero.

I completely renovated the laptop since my last post. First, I bought the magic eraser, two pack. This actually worked on the laptop lid. I can't even describe how well it worked. Obviously it doesn't look new since it corroded some of the rubber and left it more slippery than rubbery. I used the magic eraser also to clean the palm rest and it is perfect now. I removed the blasted intel, ati, and windows sticker and the magic eraser removed the residue perfectly as well. Once all of that was done, I add my brandspanking new GNU/Linux Inside! sticker where the other stickers were.

The way I cleaned the keyboard is similar to how I cleaned my model m keyboard. I removed all the caps and put them in a dish washing detergent solution for a little bit. Meanwhile, I cleaned the key'board' itself with a moist q-tip to remove the dust from the cracks. I put the caps to dry with my window fan and made sure they were perfectly dry to put them back on. This was pretty time consuming and I don't notice that much of a difference. The good news is the keyboard is an NMB style keyboard which I hear is the best.

Good to hear!

Magic Eraser is also abrasive, so that's probably why it worked so well. I haven't used one of those in years. Maybe I should get one.

The Magic Eraser takes a little of the rubber off the surface of the machine, making the surface more even. Pink erasers also do this nicely.

MrMaguire wrote:Let me guess, our very own RBS is the fellow forum member in question, right?

I believe that it was actually Harryc - one of this forum's top posters and a retired Mod - who had introduced most of us to the wonders of Magic Eraser quite a few years ago. While I've never quite gotten the results I wanted out of ME, it has done wonders for many other forum members so I guess I must be doing something wrong.

For the palmrest I'd recommend Goo Gone if you can find it. It works well to remove sticky grime. It might work on the lid too. I'd had some success with making lids look good again by really scrubbing at them with Goo Gone on a rag. Of course the reason that it works is because Goo Gone is slightly abrasive, and removes some of the material exposing fresh underneath, like "mopping" the paint on a car.

Goo Gone is a funny substance and I've noticed differences between various batches. I mostly use it on the lids, but these have be to re-cleaned - preferably with isopropyl alcohol - because GG does leave a sticky feeling more often than not. I try not to use it on the palmrests, though. If a palmrest needs GG then it's likely worth scrapping, unless we're discussing a very rare system.

Something that works is putting them in the dishwasher. But be aware that if you try that, the keyboard will have to be put on a lower temperature wash. The plastic probably won't survive the higher temps. Also it goes without saying that the keyboard will have to be absolutely dry before reinstalling it.

A pretty radical approach which I must admit I haven't tried myself. My main concern would be that the scissors under the keys could start moving and "walking" away...

ajkula66 wrote:Goo Gone is a funny substance and I've noticed differences between various batches. I mostly use it on the lids, but these have be to re-cleaned - preferably with isopropyl alcohol - because GG does leave a sticky feeling more often than not. I try not to use it on the palmrests, though. If a palmrest needs GG then it's likely worth scrapping, unless we're discussing a very rare system.

Oh yeah, I definitely wash it off afterwards, usually with a damp clothe. The nice thing about Goo Gone is that it leaves that sweet orange smell behind. I usually try everything I can to clean something before giving up on it. A T42 I bought had some kind of white stuff on its palmrest. It was stuck in between the texture, if you know what I mean. To remove it I dipped a toothbrush in isopropyl alcohol and scrubbed at it. You wouldn't even know it was there.

I have actually taken a laptop completely to pieces and washed each plastic part in a sink full of hot soapy water. It was as clean as a whistle after that. I even washed that laptop's motherboard the same way, since it was acting strangely and a friend of mine said he managed to fix a desktop 'board by washing it. He figured the problem was some kind of conductive dirt.

The problem in my case was both the ATi GPU and southbridge. The washing made no difference at all, but baking it in the oven for 8 minutes at 200c fixed it completely.

ajkula66 wrote:A pretty radical approach which I must admit I haven't tried myself. My main concern would be that the scissors under the keys could start moving and "walking" away...

It is a crazy idea, but people have had success doing it. That same friend put the keyboard from his Dell Latitude D800 in the dishwasher, and even uploaded a video to YouTube about it. People put all sorts of electronics in the dishwasher. I know a guy in Pennsylvania who puts old TV parts in his dishwasher. It does wonders removing 40 years worth of caked on dust.

I suppose I would only try the dishwasher method if a keyboard was really bad. Hair is really difficult to remove from a traditional style laptop keyboard. I've had success loosening the hairs with a toothbrush while holding the nozzle to a vacumn cleaner directly above. It usually requires multiple passes, since it doesn't work that well.

Whatever you try requires being ginger though.