Servicing your thinkpads, what does everyone do.

[paul*robertson]

Now i have a couple of thinkpads my thoughts have turned to looking after them, to make them last. Is there anything we can do, is there such a thing as servicing, the same we do with cars. I know i'm always on the lookout for cheap replacement parts on ebay. What about giving the fans a clean. I cant really think of anything else.

[RealBlackStuff]

Making regular backups (or taking images) is the best you can do.
Clean the fan 1x or 2x per year, depending on your environment. Just pop up the keyboard, hold the fan with your finger to prevent it from spinning, and use some compressed air to clean out the dust bunnies.
If you are really adventurous, replace the Thermal Paste also once a year.
Don't eat or drink near any laptop.
Always lift it using two hands.
Don't poke with anything at the LCD, not even your (smudgy) fingers.
That's about it.

[paul*robertson]

I also give them a wipe down with baby wipes every so often. (not the screen though)

[Colonel O'Neill]

Don't eat or drink near any laptop.
Always lift it using two hands.
Don't poke with anything at the LCD, not even your (smudgy) fingers.

Uh-oh on all three counts...

I notice on mine that the lid's paint has come off from the places where I hold it with one hand while the lid is closed...

[RealBlackStuff]

You can carry it with one hand without problems, if you hold the back of the laptop (where the hinges are), with the lid closed.

[Harryc]

If you are really adventurous, replace the Thermal Paste also once a year.

Good quality Thermal paste like Arctic SIlver 5 should never dry out or need replacement.

[paul*robertson]

You can carry it with one hand without problems, if you hold the back of the laptop (where the hinges are), with the lid closed.

I often pick my 600x up with ne hand, lid closed at the front.

Regarding the lcd screen, any tips on cleaning them. Glossy and matt.

[Harryc]

You can practically run over a 600X with a truck and not damage it, but the one hand carry from the front or side is not a good idea, particularly with a T40 through T43 machine. For the LCD I use a 50/50 solution of distilled water and isopropyl alcohol. Soft cloth, not a lot of liquid...just damp. Dry with a soft cloth. Same solution works good on keytops and palm rests. Don't use enough water to drip into the machine.

[neenee]

and use some compressed air to clean out the dust bunnies.

I advise caution when doing this - compressed air may well push dust bunnies and other foreign organisms, further into the laptop than it's possible to remove them from. Consider using a vacuum cleaner instead, use/make a thin nozzle to increase sucking power, if necessary.