Just bought thinkpad - Missing Serial... WTF what now?

[TarzanBoy]

I just bought a T60 thinkpad. Contacted the seller via craigslist and bought it from the pawnshop where he'd pawned it.

I checked to see it was working while there... but after brining the machine into the office to look it over, I have discovered that the what I think was the model/serial number sticker has been removed. (rectangular sticker, about half the size of a stick of wrigley's gum). I don't know whether the shop or the Craigslist seller did it.

Is there any other way to get serialized information off the machine so that I can:
- check the configuration
- make sure I don't have hot property (!)

Thanks in advance

[emeraldgirl08]

I think if you boot into BIOS the info should be there on the first screen that comes up.

[tockki]

You could do an warranty checkup using auto detect at:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... OOK-WARNTY

and the serial number along with warranty information should show.

[TarzanBoy]

I will have to try the auto-detect. This BIOS gave me a System Unit Serial # and a System Board Serial #

[smidgley]

The first seven digits of the System Unit Serial number are the type and model, the last seven are the ThinkPad's serial number.

[TarzanBoy]

Argh! It turns out that this Thinkpad is a type 2007 with a 14.1 inch screen.... NOT the 15-inch IPS the seller indicated it was.

I did get it at a low price, though... so I should be able to turn it around without a loss (as the unit is in otherwise very good condition).

Arg. Guess I'm still in the market for an SXGA/UXGA T60!

[SkiBunny]

If you couldn't tell it was 14" when you bought it (the 15" is noticeably bigger, 20-25% thicker & heavier), and you're happy with it & the price, maybe you should just keep it!
A 15" sxga+ or UXGA T60 will cost a lot more, if it's in good shape (most have a pressure mark or other screen defect).
Having been wearing both the seller and buyer's hat lately, I will tell you it's harder to be the seller these days, so don't assume you can easily recover what you paid.
Good luck with your quest(s)!

[TarzanBoy]

I would, but I really really want an IPS screen. At least I think I do. I haven't seen an IPS thinkpad screen in person, so I can't be sure.

[emeraldgirl08]

Sounds like we're in the same boat. I really want a nice rez screen and if an IPS is as bright as my cousins Toshiba- Cool.

I'm hoping to eventually work my way up to a nice bright widescreen that isn't too big or too small... and includes a great graphics card.

Hope Lenovo makes some nice one's these days!

[qviri]

.

[ajkula66]

qviri wrote:

And as you may know, we don't know of any widescreen notebook IPS panels ever being made.

With the notable exception of Hydis panels used on Fujitsu and X200 (CCFL version only) tablets...

To the OP: once you've figured the serial out, call Lenovo and make sure it would be serviced...in other words, that it's not hot...

[qviri]

.

[AvalonXIII]

I would, but I really really want an IPS screen. At least I think I do. I haven't seen an IPS thinkpad screen in person, so I can't be sure.

You can't be serious. You took for mistake a laptop without IPS screen and thought that it has IPS screen. That means that you can't even tell the difference between the screens. Why not just keep the current laptop? You most likely won't need an IPS screen anyway.

[AvalonXIII]

I didn't know any of the X200s had an IPS. I stand corrected and mildly surprised...

Only the X200 tablet CCFL version has IPS. None other Thinkpad laptop has IPS. FUjitsu is known to put IPS screen in ALL of their tablets.

[SkiBunny]

You can't be serious. You took for mistake a laptop without IPS screen and thought that it has IPS screen. That means that you can't even tell the difference between the screens. Why not just keep the current laptop?

Exactly what I thought but not put so bluntly, lol.

Also, being practical, because these screens are no longer in production, you're better not getting used to one

[AvalonXIII]

Exactly what I thought but not put so bluntly, lol.

Also, being practical, because these screens are no longer in production, you're better not getting used to one

After I reread it, I do agree that it's a little bit too blunt
Sorry if I offend you in any way.
Also, SkiBunny is right. These screens are going extinct. You don't want to get used to it, and then get frustrated later on when you're forced to upgrade to a more powerful laptop with a bad screen.