T30 worth to upgrade?

[jamnkats]

I have a T30 with a dead MB and dead KB. I use it for parts. I have another T30 that is my workhorse machine. It has the 2nd memory slot problem and a piece of paper won't fix it. I have 2x256mb dimms in it but only get 256. It is slow. I have had a year without any problems but in the last month have blue screened about 3 or 4 times. I have no idea why. MS says the BIOS is wrong but I when I run system update (IBM update utility) it shows no BIOS update available or needed. ** edit ** Ok, I found out how to upgrade the BIOS and it is now 2.10 (was 1.0)

I want it to run faster and really like it as a machine. Took me a year to find the little light on the LCD that allows me to work in bed until my youngest awakes without turning on a light. What a sweet little machine. I use it mainly for internet access, email, photo storage and orgnaization and light manipulation (Picasa, not Photoshop) and work (data entry).

So, I'm thinking to add more RAM and possibly upgrade the HD but wonder if the MB is on it's way out and don't want to spend money on the upgrades if it will die soon.

Assuming I should upgrade, since only one memory slot works, can I put 512 or 1GB in only one slot? How about hardrive?

There are some T30's on Ebay right now going for around $500 with CDRW (mine is read only) and about 60GB HD, 512 ram and 1.8 to 2.2 CPU with about a year's warranty left. So I'm weighing another T30 (then I'll have 2 machines for parts) or upgrading this one.

[goofyGAguy]

I've seen a number of T40's on eBay lately in the $425- $450 range.
The T40 gets you USB 2.0 and a faster,cooler running CPU,among other things. Plus no more memory slot issues. If it was me, I would go that route and ditch the T30. They seem to be the [censored] red-headed stepchildren of the ThinkPad line. Just MHO.

[RealBlackStuff]

The maximum RAM chip that will fit in a T30 slot is 1GB. So even with only 1 slot working that's not bad.
If you have a 4200rpm hard disk now, you would see a nice jump in performance, by switching to a 5400rpm or rather a 7200rpm model.
To save battery power, I would advise not to go any larger than a 80GB hard disk.
CPU upgrades are hardly worth it.

Seeing you have a spare-parts T30, you are just the person I've been looking for!
My T30 is missing the hinged lid + spring that covers the PCMCIA slot on the left. I'd be very interested in those parts if available.
I offer US$10.- incl. postage to Ireland. Payment via PayPal.

[jamnkats]

but I'm in Mexico and would have to ship DHL or FedEx or you'd have to wait until April when my folks can bring it to the US and ship it to you. Lmk either way. Also, I need to know how to get the part you want off my T30.

The 1GB RAM is running around $119 (PC2100) unless I go generic; is there a huge difference in brands of RAM (I've just started researching this)? I'd rather outlay less than more. The drive I have now is a 40MB Fujitsu MHT2040AT. I have HDDLIfe running and it says it is in great shape; health status and performance are 100%, and I am reluctant to change it also due to the hassle of reinstalling everything. I googled my HD and it is 4200rpm.

Does anyone think there would be a huge difference between 1gb ram and 512mb? I'd rather spend less than more but want to get the most bang for my buck. I'm off to google prices for HD's...

Thanks so far and email me at jamnkats at gmail dot com with instructions about the parts T30. We're moving today (200km or so) so I might not get back to you until tomorrow.

[pianowizard]

The 1GB RAM is running around $119 (PC2100) unless I go generic; is there a huge difference in brands of RAM (I've just started researching this)?

PC2700 is backward compatible and may be slightly cheaper. It's safer to stick to the better-known brands.

Does anyone think there would be a huge difference between 1gb ram and 512mb?

For simple applications in XP, not much, but for more taxing programs or opening huge documents, you would notice a difference. For Vista, the difference between 512MB and 1GB is huge.

[RealBlackStuff]

Instructions to remove the small plastic PCMCIA hinge-lid.
First get the Hardware Maintenance Manual for the T30, if you haven't got it already.
Download it from here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 42308.html
On page 77, you can see how to take the keyboard off (only 2 screws).
Now get a very fine (watch maker's) screwdriver. When you look from the outside
onto that lid, you see a small indentation on the righthand side of the lid.
The lid is made of plastic and can relatively easily be bent.
ATTENTION: it has very small pointed bits on either end of that lid where it hinges, don't
force anything, so that they don't break off!
See the 3 pictures that I made: left-1) http://tinyurl.com/yqhfyc and right-2) http://tinyurl.com/yp6mnr
and spring-3) http://tinyurl.com/yoleue
Put that small screwdriver between indentation -see pic 2)- and rightside slot opening and VERY gently
bend the screwdriver to the right. The lid will first bend up a little, then pop out of its hole
on the righthand side. Very gently get hold of the lid (from above where you removed the keyboard)
and take it from its hole on the left by moving/pulling it to the right, inwards into the PCMCIA-slot.
Don't bend it too much, careful not to break anything!
There is a tiny spring on the left of that lid, make sure that comes out as well.
Now carefully remove both from the PCMCIA slot.
Put the keyboard back on, as instructed on page 79 of the manual.
Put both lid and spring in a small plastic bag or in a folded piece of paper.
Stick that in a padded envelope (or in a regular envelope between 2 pieces of thin carton/cardboard)
and airmail it to Ireland. No need for the expensive Fedex or DHL.
Let me know if you can do this. If successful and nothing broke, PM me with your PayPal details
and I'll send you the money and my address, if you agree with my price.

Just in case, I really appreciate your efforts!

PS: in case anyone is interested, the hinge lid from a T23 fits perfectly in a T30.
To insert it in a T30, you need to take the keyboard and the palmrest bezel off.

[agarza]

Hi again jamnkats.
I have a T30 up for sale (P4M 1.6GHz, 30GB HDD, XP Pro, 512MB + 256MB stick which do not work because of slot failure in MB)
You were also searching for a T40 keyboard. We could arrange something here if you'd like. I'm unsure the price to offer the T30 as the battery is pretty worn out (Holds charge for about 1 hr), but the HDD is running fine, no scratches or dents on the chassis. I include a CD-RW burner (8x speed) with DVD combo.

For a reasonable amount of money you could get the T30 + 256MB stick + Ultrabay Floppy + Ultrabay 2nd HDD Adapter + T40 Thai keyboard, and since I live in Mexico we could arrange something.
Plz let me know, as I need the money and the T30 is not used anymore.

My T30 type is 2366-ES1