t30 keyboard some keys not working, not even in the bios

[fiat682]

hi i recently got a thinkpad t30 wich i posted recently in the photo thread wich has a keyboard with some keys not working, right now im writing from it using a desktop kb,
i have already tried even reseating the connector multiple times but no luck, i asked because i wanna be sure that its not a motherboard fault, so if i get a keyboard i dont waste money if its the mb
i have a t21 that is currently bod , with a working kb, can i use it just to try it out or i could damage something?

[ajkula66]

I'm pretty sure that T2x and T30 have different keyboard connectors.

Chances are that it's simply a bad keyboard, and buying a replacement one would be the path that I'd take, but it's your money.

Good luck.

[kfzhu1229]

I'm pretty sure that T2x and T30 have different keyboard connectors.

No they are exactly the same in connector AFAIK. But the keyboard does have a different shape that will not physically fit.
The T2x have the connector glued onto the keyboard's backplate while it's a ribbon for the T3x if A3x is anything to be compared to.
Also the T2x has black function keycaps and enter keycaps while the A3x and T3x have grey and blue.
I believe I have tried a T2x and a A3x keyboard both in a T4x bare motherboard and both of them worked.

[ajkula66]

I believe I have tried a T2x and a A3x keyboard both in a T4x bare motherboard and both of them worked.

But have you tried it in a T30 ?

Don't go by A3x. That's a different keyboard. T30 is a completely unique animal in many respects.

[fiat682]

I'm pretty sure that T2x and T30 have different keyboard connectors.

Chances are that it's simply a bad keyboard, and buying a replacement one would be the path that I'd take, but it's your money.

Good luck.

thanks for letting me know i guess i will go look for one on ebay then
btw i hoped to use the t21 kb to test if it actually is the kb not to use it of course.
so you sure its not a board problem?

[ajkula66]

btw i hoped to use the t21 kb to test if it actually is the kb not to use it of course.

I don't believe that you can even test for the reasons stated above.

so you sure its not a board problem?

I would be quite surprised if it turned out to be a board issue, and not the keyboard itself.

Good luck.

[kfzhu1229]

I would be quite surprised if it turned out to be a board issue, and not the keyboard itself.

Again I did have a dying A31p motherboard that also didn't register certain keys but that turned out to be the motherboard issue (Southbridge shorted and overheating). Tested the same keyboard in a A30p and worked perfectly. So I guess anything can happen.
Sure it may be a different animal from a T30 but that proves it is still possible.
Does the HMM have any pinouts for the keyboard connector? I know the newer ThinkPads did but not sure about these ones.

[RealBlackStuff]

On a T2x KB connector, pin 33 = MSDATA and pin 35 = MSCLK (probably PS/2 leftover?)
On a T30 KB connector, pins 33 and 35 are N/C (and MSDATA/MSCLK is fed somewhere else)
The rest of the 40 pins seems to be identical.
No idea how the KB-inside-wiring differs.