Thinkpads Forum

Following closely on the heels of the successful A31P project, we are starting a new forum build project for a T61. This machine was purchased from EBay, and this is what we know about it so far;

It's an IBM Thinkpad T61 model # 7659-1QU, Core Duo 1.8 gHz with 1gb of RAM, CDRW/DVD, 14" WXGA widescreen, and no battery or battery charger. The laptop has the Vista COA on the bottom plus all the other standard features associated with this model. It does not have a hard drive and the screen is cracked. The unit is under factory warranty until October of 2010.

The machine cost $263.78 including shipping. Our carry-over budget is $54.12, and I will post an exact amount after I close the books on the accounting for the previous project. There is a possibility that we will be able to sell another A31P from the previous project to add to the available funds here (see the link above for details). For now, we're looking for any parts identified as missing below. Free or very inexpensive parts source suggestions are encouraged and welcome. Donations are also welcome. I will update this thread once the machine is received. As with the previous project, once complete this one will feed the next project, and so on. Ultimately, all proceeds will be donated towards the direct costs of running Thinkpads.com.

Parts needed -

14.1" WXGA LCD Panel (one of the following)
200nit, AUO 42T0339
185nit, LG-Philips 42T0341
185nit, LG-Philips 42T0425
185nit, Samsung 13N7102
185nit, Samsung 42T0410

The lowest (current as of 11/09/2008) EBay auction for one of the above LCD's is $98 shipped.

AC Adapter -
65W or 90W 20V for Thinkpad T6X

T61 Vista Business Recovery CD's

9.5mm SATA Laptop Hard Drive

Battery - 4 cell, 6 cell, 7 cell, or 9 cell.

Why spend money on fixing it up?

Send it in for warranty repair if it's covered as you state. Then float the remaining funds into some choice upgrades or save them for the next project.

Warranty repair will not cover a cracked LCD. That's why the owner sold it.

Wow that initial purchase took a big bite out of the budget, lets hope the second machine sells!

A C2D processor would would make the machine a lot more attractive for sale if you could find one on the cheap.

I have a 4 cell battery I can sell for cheaaaaaap. I can grab usage stats as well. When I get home

tylerwylie, let us know what you find out. Thanks

Harryc wrote:tylerwylie, let us know what you find out. Thanks

I also have a 2nd 65W ac adapter as well I can throw in.

sparta.rising wrote:

A C2D processor would would make the machine a lot more attractive for sale if you could find one on the cheap.

It already has a C2D CPU. All T61/p machines do. Namely, this is T7100 at 1.8Ghz...


Product: ThinkPad T61 7659-1QU [change]
Operating system: All [change]

Original description: T7100(1.8GHz), 1GB RAM, 80GB 5400rpm HD, 14.1in 1280x800, Intel X3100, CDRW/DVD, Intel 802.11abg wireless, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, 4c Li-Ion, WinVista Business

Good catch George, I knew that all T61's were C2D, but I did a cut and paste from the EBay auction, so basically I made the same mistake the seller did. This is quite a nice little T61. Hopefully it is cosmetically sound. It's very hard to tell from the EBay picture, but at a glance it looks almost new.

The project just purchased a 4 cell battery and a 65W AC adapter for the T61 - $25 shipped. (Thanks tylerwylie)

Parts still needed;

LCD
Vista Business Recovery CD's
9.5mm SATA Laptop Hard Drive

Why not bag the Vista install cd, and use Ubuntu which is free?

Vista will sell better than Ubuntu, or any other Linux distro.

Whether we like it or not, most people still prefer MS products...

(full disclosure: typed on a T43 (2687-D4U) running Mint Elyssa 5.0.... )

Being a Linux fan (in a big way), I can relate to your advice and I respect it. However, the chances of selling the machine with Vista installed (vs. Ubuntu) is an astronomically high number. Most folks want a Microsoft OS installed on the machine, and they also want the OS that matches the COA on the bottom, and they also want the recovery partition to be intact with that OS on it. The Vista CD's should be available at no cost to the project if someone has a copy and can burn one (very likely).

Harryc wrote:The Vista CD's should be available at no cost to the project if someone has a copy and can burn one (very likely).

Yes, and yes. It may take a couple of days though.

syedj, it's the best when a senior member shows up in the nick of time to prove a point . Thanks for making the copies! PM on the way.

Thanks to a donation by a dedicated member/reseller here 'Brad', we now have a hard drive on the way. Thank-you for the outstanding support to this forum over the years Brad.

Parts still needed -

14.1" WXGA LCD Panel

The project T61 arrived today. It is about as was expected. The LCD is definitely cracked, and it does boot to BIOS. One surprise is a missing '3' key. It had some sticker residue on the lid, which I was able to remove most of it. It has a combo drive which appears to be in good shape. It also has RAM since it boots. Machine type/model is 7659-1LU. I checked the warranty and it has Easyserv until 6/8/2010.
That's about it for now. I'll take some pics later.

Product: ThinkPad T61 7659-1LU [change]

Original description: T7100(1.8GHz), 1GB RAM, 80GB 5400rpm HD, 14.1in 1280x800, Intel X3100, CDRW/DVD, Intel 802.11abg wireless, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, 4c Li-Ion, WinVista Business

PC-Doctor Tests all pass, except for memory, which dies like a dog from the start of the test. I think I know how the LCD got punched...err...cracked I mean, yeah that's it

Have you asked the eBay seller about the missing "3" key? Maybe stress the point that you now have to replace the entire keyboard ?

Not yet Ray, but I was just going to call it out to Lenovo for a popped key. Anyway, the PC-Doctor RAM test failure might be an anomaly because I just put my personal Vista HD from my T61 into this one (same chipsets) and it booted right up. Right now I am typing this from Vista over my wireless network.

You can replace the individual key, if you can find the right one, assuming the tabs under the mechanism are good. The key design depends on the country of manufacture. I don't have any busted T6x keyboards or I would offer you a key. If you want a whole keyboard, I have some and can give you a good price. Replacing the key is hard the first time, but it makes more sense after you have done several.

Thanks Rich, this is under warranty and the kbd should be covered.

Coretemp shows both cores idling nicely at 46*C. Device manager is fully populated and all devices are accounted for. This little T61 runs Vista like a dream on 1GB of RAM...it would be awesome with 3GB. We have a winner gentlemen. Just need an LCD

Edit: The RAM test failure was definitely an anomaly...maybe something what that Version of PC-Doctor. I just ran all the RAM tests from Vista using Lenovo System Toolbox and they all pass.

As far as replacing keys under warranty, sometimes they replace them and sometimes they don't. I've had guys call it "physical damage" like dropping. Be nice to the guy when you call.

Will do. Thanks

Harryc wrote:Edit: The RAM test failure was definitely an anomaly...maybe something what that Version of PC-Doctor. I just ran all the RAM tests from Vista using Lenovo System Toolbox and they all pass.

Exactly what version of PC Doctor were you using? Windows or DOS based? How about running the latest copy of memtest86+ (V.2.01)?

Ray, it was a bootable CD of PC-Doctor. I'll check out the version when I get a chance. Memtest86 is no problem, I will do that and post results.

Very nice! So the project T61 is about $290 in and still needs an LCD? That's it? The HDD caddy, rubber bumpers and cover were included?

I noticed that the T61 185nit, Samsung 13N7102 LCD is also listed in the Z61t HMM. If LCD's are interchangeable between the two models (as they are between the T61 and R61), then you can look for Z61t LCD's, too.

I found this one for a few dollars less than the T61 eBay item listed above --> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0271943487

It's only $93 delivered. I'm not sure it's worth the gamble for five dollars, but you could email the seller.

Underclocker, thanks for the heads up on the Z61T LCD. Yes the drive arrived today in fact. It has the bumpers, a hard drive cover, and screw. Brad was very thorough . About the $93, that is the dilema. We have about a quarter of that left in the budget. Supposedly we are due a $50 refund from Superior Reball (possibly minus shipping back to me), but that has not come through yet and I am having to chase them for it.

Our carry-over budget was $54.12
We spent $25 for an AC adapter and a battery

That leaves $29.12

Even if we get $50 from Superior, that is $79.12. Again I suspect the only way I am going to get any money out of them is to agree to pay return shipping. It seems fair to me by the way. So in that case we'd have $33 plus $29.12 = $62.12. We'd be short @ $40 for an LCD purchase.

Now, with that said, I do have a 40GB 5400rpm hard drive left over from the previous build, and also a 10GB hard drive, both donated. So, we may be able to pull this off with a sale of those, but we need this refund from superior reball.

Update -
I heard from Superior Reball, we agreed that they would refund $33 out of $50 to cover return shipping, which by the way I did receive the donor A31P today. Also, in addition to the hard drive for the T61 I did receive the Vista R&R CD's from Syed. The problem I am now seeing is that when disk #1 is booted up, the T61 spontaneously reboots before Thinkvantage comes up. I tried both a new DVDRW drive and new (100% fully tested) RAM, and that did not help. So, I broke out my XP Pro install CD and XP pro installed without a hitch. I am calling it bad or incompatible disc media for the Vista R&R. At any rate, we still do not have a way to put Vista business on this laptop.