ThinkPad T60p manuals incorrect screw placement

[dhinged]

I've gone through the four different versions of Lenovo's manual for this computer (http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail. ... migr-62733), and none of them have the same screw placement as mine so I'm left with a bunch of misplaced screws. I've watched YouTube videos too and they're not the same. My computer is the 2007 DQ8 version but Lenovo only has the DQ6 and DQ9 versions listed, but they're so close. Apparently there's a zillion versions of the T60p.

Does someone have a video or pictures or a PDF or link that can show me the correct screw placement for this computer? I'm stuck on the motherboard and innards. Thanks.

[dr_st]

I haven't heard any reports of incorrect screw placements in the T60 manual. As far as I know they are correct.

I've used it a number of times and all has been correct. However I have never disassembled it fully, only partially.

Whatever zillion models may exist, they all have the same screw placements (as long as they are the same form factor - 14.1" standard, 15" standard and 15.4" wide will of course differ in at least some of the screws).

Are you stuck disassembling, reassembling, or what?

[FryPpy]

2007-DQ8:
Based 2007-6PU: T7200(2GHz), 2GB RAM, 100GB 7200rpm HD, 14.1in 1400x1050 LCD, 256MB ATI FireGL V5250, CDRW/DVDRW, Intel 802.11abg wireless, Bluetooth/Modem, 1Gb Ether, UltraNav, Sec Chip, FPR, 9c Li-Ion batt, WinXP Pro.

There is nothing special in this thinkpad.
I have no chance to reassemble 14" T60. But for 15" T60 manual is correct. I have many times reassemble them include frankenpadding and all screws fitted inplace and looks good.

[dhinged]

I haven't heard any reports of incorrect screw placements in the T60 manual. As far as I know they are correct.

I've used it a number of times and all has been correct. However I have never disassembled it fully, only partially.

Whatever zillion models may exist, they all have the same screw placements (as long as they are the same form factor - 14.1" standard, 15" standard and 15.4" wide will of course differ in at least some of the screws).

Are you stuck disassembling, reassembling, or what?

I pulled it apart thinking the manual would show me how to put it back together, but all four versions I checked for it had different screw sizes, counts, and placements than what I remembered and what was on the board. I had to guess on a lot of them because either the screw it specified wasn't in the pile I put them in (I tried to keep them in the same relative placement but they inevitably got moved around). So I'm left with extra screws or bad-fitting screws and it's halfway reassembled because I don't want to keep taking it apart to adjust screws.

I had to go all the way down to the motherboard because I spilled coffee on it and things are just not adding up with the manual (believe me, I measured each screw).

[dhinged]

2007-DQ8:
Based 2007-6PU: T7200(2GHz), 2GB RAM, 100GB 7200rpm HD, 14.1in 1400x1050 LCD, 256MB ATI FireGL V5250, CDRW/DVDRW, Intel 802.11abg wireless, Bluetooth/Modem, 1Gb Ether, UltraNav, Sec Chip, FPR, 9c Li-Ion batt, WinXP Pro.

There is nothing special in this thinkpad.
I have no chance to reassemble 14" T60. But for 15" T60 manual is correct. I have many times reassemble them include frankenpadding and all screws fitted inplace and looks good.

There's many versions that the manual supports but DQ8 is just not on Lenovo's list of sub-sub-models in their drop-down list. I found the closest manuals (they only specify as far down as 2007 in this case, no DQ versions), but the screws I pulled out are just not matching up with the screws they tell you to put back in. I know this because for instance the motherboard specifies 7 3.5mm screws but there only 3 there; and now I'm running out of the specified screws elsewhere. It's just a big mess and I wish someone had pictures or a video with the exact board and screws because nothing I'm seeing yet matches it exactly.

Is there really much danger in misplaced screws? I'm at a loss now because even some screw holes are not in the manual!

[dr_st]

I dunno, it just sounds like you made a messy disassembly job, did not keep track of what goes where (as you say yourself -screws inevitably got moved around), and are trying to make statements about inaccuracies in the manual which are hard to verify, but are probably not true.

Like I said, the T60 HMM has been around for ~8 years (the most recent revision is 5.5 years old), and if there had been some glaring inaccuracies in it, I imagine they would at least have been noticed by someone on these forums, given how many disassembly/reassembly and modding jobs this forum has seen (especially on a T60 which is very popular for "Frankenpadding").

So, please don't take it personally, but given the data, I am more likely to believe that you did something wrong, or are not reading the manual correctly, or that perhaps your machine has been tampered with previously by someone who made a mess and did not use the correct screws.

For the future the tips I can give are:

1) If you intend to use the manual for reassembly, by all means use it for disassembly as well!. This way if there is any discrepancy you will spot it immediately, and not later.

2) There is often more than one path for disassembly, and the manual may not offer the most efficient one. So if you decide to do it your own way - make sure to be very accurate in noting your own order of steps (even as far as taking notes/photos of the process), and very careful in organizing the screws, so that you can retrace your steps exactly. Especially when you are going as far as the core components (structure frame/motherboard).

[rkawakami]

I have the first edition of the T60/T60p HMM (42T7844 dated October 2006) and when you get down to the system board (section 1210), there's only two M2 x 3mm screws, not 7 of them. Checking the second edition (January 2007) and fifth edition (September 2008) copies, they also have two screws listed. The place where I find 7 M2 x 3.5mm screws is the structure frame (section 1200), which is the support piece that's mounted above the actual motherboard.

I don't have a T60 system so I've never torn one apart, but all of the other HMMs I've used over the years have been very good about the placement and size of the screws. And yes, the length of some screws can be very important. In some cases installing a too-long screw can have a major negative impact on some hardware; read: permanent damage to the motherboard.

In checking out your 2007-DQ8 in the first edition HMM, I did find some errors. According to the Support page, 2007-DQ8 is based on 2007-6PU. Searching for 6Px in the parts list, there are two cases where parts of a 2007-6Px is listed under a 15" LCD model: wireless LAN antenna and keyboard bezel assembly. The second and fifth editions list a 2007-6Px everywhere as a 14.1" LCD model. That's not all... the three editions has a 2007-6Px having a system board with an ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 GPU, not the ATI FireGL V5200. So the HMM does not agree with the information being returned from the Quick Path search.

edit: Well, spoke too soon... looking up 2007-6PU using Quick Path returns the X1400. So what's incorrect (or maybe I'm assuming too much) is that a 2007-DQ8 is not really too close to a 2007-6PU as far as the GPU is concerned.

[Cigarguy]

I've completely taken apart and reassembly a few T60s both in the 14" and 15" sizes and have found the manual to be spot on with screw placement and sizes. I was careful and systematic about putting screws aside and sorted when taking everything apart.

I find it hard to believe that Lenovo/IBM would make a special super limited edition of T60s just to mess up one or a few users 8 years down the road.

[RealBlackStuff]

I must have taken apart probably over one hundred T60 and T61, about half of each in 14.1" or 15" size.
Never had any problems with the HMM.
What I did was make a diagram in MS Excel of the laptop bottom, with all the screw holes and other relevant markings.
They are different for 14.1" and 15" although not by much.
When I take a T60 apart, I print its 'layout' and then tape the removed screws on the layout's matching hole.
Simple.

[dhinged]

I am more likely to believe that you did something wrong, or are not reading the manual correctly

Let me reiterate: I took out the screws and put them in the same place on the table as they were positioned on the computer. More specifically I put the screws I got from the bottom side in one section, the screws from the inside top in another section, then the screws from the motherboard backside in another section. However, I didn't position the motherboard part properly, so I checked the manual but the screw specifications were different for all four versions. What came out of the motherboard did not match what was in the manual. When I took other screws that did match the manual, the other parts were wrong. So either the manual is wrong, or it was assembled wrong, or someone worked on it before me and did it wrong.

Believe what you want, but the manual did not match up with what was in my computer. Too bad I didn't photograph every single unscrew or make drawings, but silly me I expected the manual to actually match up with what was in my computer. I guess I'm the idiot for believing I should read the f'ing manual!

Again, all I'm looking for are pictures or video of the actual correct placement of the screws; if you or anybody else can't provide that, just say so or don't reply because your condescending dropping of insults is not helpful and only serves to stroke your own ego, congratulations.

[dhinged]

I have the first edition of the T60/T60p HMM (42T7844 dated October 2006) and when you get down to the system board (section 1210), there's only two M2 x 3mm screws, not 7 of them. Checking the second edition (January 2007) and fifth edition (September 2008) copies, they also have two screws listed. The place where I find 7 M2 x 3.5mm screws is the structure frame (section 1200), which is the support piece that's mounted above the actual motherboard.

I don't have a T60 system so I've never torn one apart, but all of the other HMMs I've used over the years have been very good about the placement and size of the screws. And yes, the length of some screws can be very important. In some cases installing a too-long screw can have a major negative impact on some hardware; read: permanent damage to the motherboard.

In checking out your 2007-DQ8 in the first edition HMM, I did find some errors. According to the Support page, 2007-DQ8 is based on 2007-6PU. Searching for 6Px in the parts list, there are two cases where parts of a 2007-6Px is listed under a 15" LCD model: wireless LAN antenna and keyboard bezel assembly. The second and fifth editions list a 2007-6Px everywhere as a 14.1" LCD model. That's not all... the three editions has a 2007-6Px having a system board with an ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 GPU, not the ATI FireGL V5200. So the HMM does not agree with the information being returned from the Quick Path search.

edit: Well, spoke too soon... looking up 2007-6PU using Quick Path returns the X1400. So what's incorrect (or maybe I'm assuming too much) is that a 2007-DQ8 is not really too close to a 2007-6PU as far as the GPU is concerned.

Thank you, this is actually helpful. I believe at this point that someone has taken apart the system previously and put in the screws wrong.

[dhinged]

I have the first edition of the T60/T60p HMM (42T7844 dated October 2006)

I'm not sure what version I have other than it's a T60p 2007-DQ8; there's nothing mentioning 42T7844 or anything like it on the computer.

and when you get down to the system board (section 1210), there's only two M2 x 3mm screws, not 7 of them.

Yes, and I placed two 3mm screws in there; that section is referenced more than once and it is clear what goes there, but that is not what I pulled out of the board.

Checking the second edition (January 2007) and fifth edition (September 2008) copies, they also have two screws listed.

I only see four versions of this manual, not five. The September 2008 copy calls itself the Fifth Edition but its file name is 42t7844_04.pdf. Lenovo only lists editions Second through Fifth, so maybe my computer matches the First edition.

The place where I find 7 M2 x 3.5mm screws is the structure frame (section 1200), which is the support piece that's mounted above the actual motherboard.

Yes, that was perfectly obvious to me when I saw it, however, that did not match the screws I pulled out. There was a much greater variance of sizes than the manual specifies for that section.

In checking out your 2007-DQ8 in the first edition HMM,

Where is the first edition?!

If anyone has a 2007-DQ8 and can provide me photographs or point to a video/picture set that shows the screw placements and sizes, that would be ideal. I'll even pay you to make a video to take the thing apart and show me, how's that?!

[FryPpy]

Quick trip - i have only opened bottom case. Keyboard bezel, screen, motherboard and even HSF not disassembled.
All screws are placed near their holes.
http://postimg.org/gallery/3aayz230/ WARNING - Gallery WITH BIG PICTURES!
Last picture - is what you want (i think).
On motherboard there is only 4 types of screws
3 (screws) - white small screws - 2 for PCMCIA cage (1 unscrewed) + 1 for power jack (the same as front screw of bottom case)
2 - "middle" with "сylindrical" head - 2x9.5 near ultrabay connector (1 unscrewed) (+ 2 in hinges - THEY MUST BE UNSCREWED IN PREV. STEP, BUT WHILE THE SCREEN IS CONNECTED - THEY SUPPORT IT).... They are the same as 2 locking WLAN card.
1 - 2 x 5 (unscrewed) - handling bottom CPU bracket, same as many on bottom casing.
MANY - big headed 2 x 3.5. One of them was unscrewed on 1st picture (it locking mainboard and bottom case as well).

PS
42T7844 - it is the number of HMM itself not thinkpad or it's part

PPS
Once upon a time.... i have disassembled my car... I want to place air conditioner in it and (as i thought) have a week of free time in a village. But 3 days after i was to returned to work and car was left with removed face and half of interior... And when i returns to village after 2 weeks - i was afraid... I couldn't remember any thing about how to assemble this back... BUT GOOD PICTURES AND SCHEMATICS IN BOOK AND AutoParts CATALOG and Many boxes with nuts, gaskets and screws with my marks on them (where these things was screwed to) HELPED. And this car pleases me till now days. It is like a thinkpad simple and easily serviced... but it is not black

[rkawakami]

42T7844 is the part number for the T60/T60p Hardware Maintenance Manual (HMM). It does not have anything to do with the laptop's model number. All of the T60/p HMMs should have that basic part number. As you have seen, the edition number does not match the _0x extension Lenovo has given to the filename. My first edition was downloaded from the IBM support site November 2006 and I've kept it for historical reasons. I'm in the process of emailing you a copy (I'm on a real slow 3G connection at the moment). From my cursory glance between the editions the other day, I didn't think there's much differences between them when it comes to the motherboard disassembly.

If somebody took the system apart before you, the size/length of the screws can certainly be different than what's listed in the HMM. However, the locations and number of screw points should match what's in the HMM. If they don't then I'll have to defer to the T60 experts here on the accuracy of the T60 HMM. I don't have such a system otherwise I could probably answer this question. Going with Occam's Razor principle, that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one, leads me to think that your system is not a true, factory-assembled T60. To answer/confirm that:

- What's the FRU number of the motherboard? You can usually find it on a label next to the memory slot(s).
- Post some pictures of your system / motherboard so that the T60 experts here can see what you're dealing with.
- Do all versions of the HMM agree with the physical location of the screw holes? I'm not talking about the size/length of screw that goes into the hole; merely that the drawings in the HMM accurately portray the location of each screw.

You asked for a video for disassembly of a T60 (as well as including a snippy remark about perceived insults that was not really called for). While it probably won't fully answer your questions for the time being, you can at least view the factory-supplied videos until somebody is able to direct you to a custom-made photo/video:

http://service.lenovo.partner-managemen ... m?eid=1369

Click on ThinkPad T Series Laptops link.
Scroll down and click on the ThinkPad T60/T60p (RTD44) link.
Click on the Take Course link.
This will open a popup window. On the left side, click on FRU Removals/Replacements.
A list of the laptop components will expand. Click on Systemboard (or whatever else you need).

I'm assuming that a generic T60 system was used to create these training videos. I can't say for sure that your exact model of motherboard is pictured. I'm fairly sure that these videos will NOT list the screw sizes at each step. For that, the experienced members here will always refer to the HMM.

edit: Tried to email the HMM twice but my connection or Yahoo! keeps timing out. I'll send the file tonight when I get home.

[dhinged]

Quick trip - i have only opened bottom case. Keyboard bezel, screen, motherboard and even HSF not disassembled.
All screws are placed near their holes.
http://postimg.org/gallery/3aayz230/

Thanks, that's very helpful! I got it assembled through trial and error (not much fortunately) and am missing a few screws, including the hard drive clip screw, so if you have an extra one of those, I would love to have it.

The fan has been getting noisy again (I put gun oil in it previously) so I will take the laptop apart again and take pictures. If you have any advice on fixing a noisy fan, let me know. I will get you the FRU number.

[dhinged]

you can at least view the factory-supplied videos until somebody is able to direct you to a custom-made photo/video:

http://service.lenovo.partner-managemen ... m?eid=1369

Thanks, I will check out the video. There were some inaccuracies in the manual and I will mark the page numbers when I disassemble the laptop again.

[FryPpy]

so if you have an extra one of those, I would love to have it.

Distance between us about 9000km And i afraid that postage price will be higher then if you buy some from chinese ebayers.
Other way try to find your local thinkpadders - may be you can met someone and drink some

[cadillacmike68]

Wow, next time do something similar to what RBS does, tape them screws to a layout or color code them with little stickie tapes right on the case, etc when you take the screws out.

I'm just as bad. I have a partially disassembled T30 with all the screws - somewhere. But I also have 7 other T30s to use as a reference if I ever get it put back together.