Palm Rest Creaking

[Snowman88]

Hi all. I noticed that on my new Thinkpad T60 WS, the right and left palm rests give a bit under pressure when I'm typing. It's not too significant, but they creak and flex a little bit. Is this normal? Also, how well protected is the stuff underneath? Could pressure on a flexing palm rest cause damage to the hard drive or internal parts of the computer?

Thanks everyone!

[CarrerCrytharis]

The T60 is designed with an internal magnesium roll cage that protects the components. So I don't think the flexing panels should cause any damage.

[SpaRood]

If your palmrest is creaking on both sides, I would ask IBM customer support for a new one. They can send it to you.

[Snowman88]

Thanks for the responses. My chief concern was whether the flexing/creaking could cause any damage, because I know the right palm rest sits above the HD. Basically it'll creak if I put pressure on it when typing; the right one doesn't flex so much as it creaks, whereas the left one flexes a little bit. If you guys think this is totally safe and not anything to worry about, I am inclined to leave it?

Thanks

[Snowman88]

To be more specific, there is some creaking/flexing on the left palm rest, right near the stickers & above the slot for a card. On the right, there is creaking towards the very front of the palm rest, on the thin plastic part that slopes down. I've read that some flexing is normal in the 15'' Thinkpad. Does anyone know if this is normal for the 15.4 inch wide screen as well? Thanks

[nxman]

All 15+15.4 inch Thinkpads have that problem except the 14 inch

[jeffm]

I fixed this by following the instructions in the hardware manual for removing and replacing the keyboard bezel. It took about 15 minutes. (I didn't actually replace the bezel - I just put it all back together).

[z_24]

All 15+15.4 inch Thinkpads have that problem except the 14 inch

I have these problems on my 14". I don't mind them though.

[Snowman88]

Hi again all, thanks for the responses. Jeffm, was it complicated to reset the keyboard bevel? Did it require removing and resetting your palm rest? I've heard that can be kind of tricky and don't want to end up in a situation where things are worse than they would be if I just left them alone.

Thanks

[at both ends]

I'll add on to this old thread instead of starting a new one. I recently purchased a 15" T60 (2007-73U) and am very pleased with it. Except ...

There's a creak in the bezel (and some flex, but not very bothersome) only at the lower right, i.e. at the Thinkpad logo. Keyboard screws are too far away to do much good at this corner; keyboard reseat had no effect. Some of the recommendations above (and elsewhere) are to insert something inside the case. I'm reluctant to insert shims randomly.

Any other recos from the local experts?

[hellosailor]

I shimmed mine with some thin foam material. Then had it replaced when the fingerprint reader failed, and the new one simply creaks a whole lot less.

Call 'em up, tell them it doesn't fit right, it moves under your hand, ask them to send out a new one. No big deal to replace it.

The design of the case on these machines is simply too flimsy.

[crashnburn]

Look at it as something with "give" for shock & joint pressure absorbing qualities

[hellosailor]

" Look at it as something with "

They used to do a regular skit on MadTV titled "Lowered Expectations". If you're gonna pay too much for a crappy computer, just buy a Dell.<VBG>