Thinkpads Forum

So as I have repaired my T60p (2007-84U) back to 100% operational condition with even a nice NMB keyboard, and windows 7 with an SSD-- the occasional freezing is back. And this is with a completely different systemboard.

It does not freeze if I use an external mouse and will keep running indefinitely-- and only ever freezes when I'm in the middle of using the keyboard/trackpoint. After doing some research it looks like this was an issue with some people and their T60s as well.

I've got it running from 44C to 47C (on both chips) so it's not a thermal problem; kind of wish it was because that would be easy. The interesting thing is that when I first got my T60p, it was working fine, then after a year it developed the weird freeze problem and ultimately died of a thermal death. Now after replacing it with a newer V5200-equipped system board, it still does the occasional freeze thing. I haven't yet updated to the latest BIOS as I don't have a battery installed.

Any thoughts in regards to my theory of the keyboard/trackpoint agitating the system in a weird way causing it to freeze? I do know the T60s have a very small keyboard cache. I'll be getting another 14.1" T60p w/ V5200 very shortly, so I can do some further testing on that one too, to see if it does the occasional freeze thing.

I am using the system right now to write this, and it's fine. It went for over 3 hours before it froze, and now it's been going for another hour after a quick reboot (never gave it a rest or anything).

It's not *too* grievous, just sometimes annoying as I like this computer a lot. Especially with this awesome new keyboard (it did the same thing with the ALPS keyboard and I have the touchpad/fingerprint reader ribbons cut off so they're not hooked up).

UPDATE**

I ended up pushing down hard on the touchpad, and while listening to audio it started to glitch it out until the whole system was frozen.

So while in the BIOS I did the same thing, froze the system. So... it looks like whenever some force is applied to the touchpad, the system freezes. This also explains why sometimes using the trackpoint it freezes as the trackpoint buttons are very close to the touchpad.

I'll have to analyze what force on the touchpad agitates on the systemboard later. Very interesting though, at least I found the problem and can reproduce it each time.

Instead of ruining the palmrest by cutting wires, how about just removing the FPR and touchpad cables?
All you need to do is lift their cable slot levers and pull out the cables!
By cutting them (and probably not covering up the cut ends) you probably create false contact.

I just hate touchpads so much haha. I've already ordered a new palmwrest (and one without the fingerprint reader too, as I don't like it when typing and my palm touches it).

I'll report back to see if that actually was the cause or if it was something else whenever my other parts I ordered arrive for the next disassembly.

Okay I finally got around to reassembling this machine with the new parts. It looks like I had peeled off the clear plastic film behind the touchpad awhile back-- which shorts out the memory. Interesting design 'flaw'. I didn't think the plastic film was placed on for conductive reasons...

--> no cables were shorting, I actually had removed all cables from the retention clips

I should just epoxy behind the touchpad, the plastic film tends to pick up debris and 'thinkpad chow' as years pass...

EDIT:
I should make mention that I also cut the 3G wire going to the little antenna on the side of the monitor. I wasn't aware that this was an option, I thought all T60s had it; but it doesn't seem to be (as) common. Sort of feel bad for doing that now.