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I searched, but couldn't determine if anyone has successfully installed the PC Card/4-in-1 media reader slot assembly in a 4:3 LCD T61. In particular, I'd like to swap out the PC Card/Smart Card slot assembly in a 14" 4:3 LCD T61 and install the PC Card/4-in-1 media reader slot assembly.

This was an option for only the 14" T61 widescreen models. It does not appear to have been offered for the 14" 4:3 models. (All 15.4" T61 models have internal 4-in1 readers.)

I know there is a bezel part that goes along with the PC Card/4-in-1 media reader assembly. I'm just not sure if it will fit in the chassis without modification. Has anyone done this swap or explored it?

Both 14.1" wide and 14.1" standard have the same part numbers listed for
PC Card/ExpressCard slot -- 42X3827

PC Card/Smart Card slot -- 42X3829

For the standard one the following is never mentioned.
PC Card/4-in-1 media reader slot -- 42X3831

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So if 42X3827 & 42X3829 work in both, and all 3 share the same form factor. Question would be if 42X3827, 42X3829 can be interchanged with 42X3831 without any bezel modification in a 14.1" wide ??.

If yes then one would guess that 42X3831 should also work.PC Card/4-in-1 media reader slot
42X3831

I had the spare parts from a 14" WS T61, so I opened up my 4:3 T61. While the multi-reader assembly certainly will fit and probably will work, considering even the BIOS is the same, I didn't try it. There was too much modification required to get the multi-reader bezel to fit properly in the base. I had a spare base available so I tried some mods on that one. Three sections of plastic on the base needed modification, which was the easy part. The bezel, which seems to be magnesium, needed much more. I stopped when I realized that the bottom of the bezel would need to be shaved/sanded to seat properly in the 4:3 base. The WS base slopes more from front to back than the 4:3 base, which is why.

Securing the bezel to the base would be the last piece to the puzzle. The multi-reader bezel is secured with two screws to the WS base. The two bezel options for the 4:3 base just clip in to plastic forms. So after all the modifications, I'm thinking that double-sided tape would do the trick, once everything is assembled, nothing would really move anyway.

So, bottom line, I believe it will work with modification to both the base and multi-reader bezel.

Now, if anyone can figure out how to retrofit an internal webcam, that would make this model perfect.

underclocker wrote:... swap out the PC Card/Smart Card slot assembly in a 14" 4:3 LCD T61 and install the PC Card/4-in-1 media reader slot assembly.

Won't one of these media readers that fits (fully) in the PC Card slot do the job?
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=%28 ... m270.l1313

EOMtp wrote:Won't one of these media readers that fits (fully) in the PC Card slot do the job?
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=%28 ... m270.l1313

Sure, but where's the sport in that?

< Moderator Note: Related thread on PC Card adapters and performance has been split from this thread to this location --> http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=100502 >