Page 1 of 1

Rebuild my dead T60 ...

Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 12:02 pm
by prggmr
Hello!

I recently purchased a 14' T60 (2007-66U) it worked for about a month and the motherboard died, at least from what I gather as it is not indicating that there is any power going to the machine since the indicator lights are not activating when I plug in the AC adapter. I was planning on converting this to a 14' UXGA since I'm not satisfied with the SXGA+ and now that the motherboard has died I might as well save some money and build a modded T60.

I've been doing my research and I want to confirm that the T42p UXGA LCD's will fit into the T60's and the SXGA+ inverter I currently have can be used for this transition unless I find a 15' T60 with a S/UXGA, I'm going to try and go with the T42p as I can pickup a T42p for less than the UXGA panel, and I can do it all for less than the cost of a 14' UXGA panel...

All other parts I'm going to just transition over depending on the needs of the system I find, and if anyone has a 15' T60 laying around they want to get rid of let me know!

Re: Rebuild my dead T60 ...

Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 1:48 pm
by Johan
Just to be clear here, the T60 model/type you are talking about (2007-66U) has the following stock specifications:
T2500 (2 GHz), 1 GB RAM, 100 GB 5400 rpm HD, 14.1" 1400x1050 LCD, 128 MB ATI Radeon X1400, CDRW/DVD, Intel 802.11 abg wireless, Bluetooth/Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, 6c Li-Ion batt, WinXP Pro
If I understand correctly what you are saying (as you don't express yourself very clear), you want to mount a 14.1" UXGA LCD from a T42p in this T60 but, pardon me, eeeh... did you know that IBM never manufactured any 14.1" UXGA T42/p, or did your research not reveal that? The only 14.1" UXGA T42/p's I recall is the one modified by thinkpad.forum.com user Pianowizard (search for this, and you'll find plenty of information). Moreover, member xyz described the modification of a 14.1" T60 into having an UXGA panel; see the thread Trying 14" UXGA mod... Successs !!!!.

If you consider using a pre-T60 era ThinkPad LCD (such as a panel from an e.g. T4x/p or a R5x/p ThinkPad) in a T60, you need to be aware of the EDID-issue (search this forum for "EDID"). If you review the sticky at the top of this T6x sub-forum --> LCDs on T60/T60p - types, availability and other discussions in particular this post and the subsequent post later the same day by expert-forum.thinkpads.com member AlexeyTolstyh, this will explain how you can modify a R5x/p or a T4x/p panel for use in a T60.

More relevant information in relation to your proposed project can be found in the threads Possible to swap R51 FlexView into a T60? and especially this post while you will also benefit from reading the thread R50p and T60/T60p LCD for T41p motherboard and Using T4x SXGA+ LCDs in T6x.

I believe you may have to do your research a bit more thorough... :?

PS: The title you have selected for this thread is not very precisely descriptive, comparing to what you ask about...

Johan

Re: Rebuild my dead T60 ...

Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 2:45 pm
by underclocker
Clear, the original post, is not.

However, if you're trying to wind up with a 15" UXGA machine, and all you have now is a dead 14" SXGA+ T60, your best bet is to 1) sell the T60 as a parts machine, and 2) buy either a complete T42p, T43p, or T60/p. The prices of all these machines is so low at this point, that fooling around with partial machine will likely cost more than a good used one. I speak from experience.

Re: Rebuild my dead T60 ...

Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 4:42 pm
by Harryc
Have you tried the reset trick on your T60? Remove the battery (and AC adapter) and press the power button 10 times at 1 second intervals, then press and hold the power button for 30 seconds and then release it. Reinstall the battery then try to power up.

Re: Rebuild my dead T60 ...

Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 4:57 pm
by prggmr
@Harryc Yes I have and it didn't resolve the problem ... it's quite strange in how the mobo went out in the first place. I set it down for the night went to use it the next day and nothing ...

In regards to the johan and underclock, mmm... I thought it was a clear post lol, guess thats just me.

To clear it up a bit I'm going to take my now dead 14" T60, find a salvageable T60 15" combine the two to have a working T60 and then stick in a UXGA panel.

@underclocker - I had thought of this but would I recover the original $200 i shelled out for it?

Re: Rebuild my dead T60 ...

Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 5:18 pm
by underclocker
prggmr wrote:@underclocker - I had thought of this but would I recover the original $200 i shelled out for it?
Well, you started with a good T60 and now have a dead one, I'd say you might have to take a little loss! Good luck with the project.

Re: Rebuild my dead T60 ...

Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 12:05 pm
by BootSectorVirus
Harryc wrote:Have you tried the reset trick on your T60? Remove the battery (and AC adapter) and press the power button 10 times at 1 second intervals, then press and hold the power button for 30 seconds and then release it. Reinstall the battery then try to power up.
Any documentation on the 10 times method?

What is this supposed to do?

Thanks.

Re: Rebuild my dead T60 ...

Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 12:22 pm
by rkawakami
My understanding of the source of this technique is that it came from an IBM service tech many years ago. The theory is that it's supposed to reset / clear the power circuits by draining "overcharged" capacitor(s). Personally, I don't subscribe to this repair as it's never worked for me, however, there's been multiple instances reported by users that this indeed seems to reset the system so that it powers on again.

From a circuit design standpoint, it's possible that a defective capacitor is causing the system to think it's providing too much voltage at power on. A recent fix that was documented here on an X31 system was attributed to replacing a capacitor that was connected to the MAX1631 power controller.

ref: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=94160

Re: Rebuild my dead T60 ...

Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 12:32 pm
by BootSectorVirus
Thanks, I just hold it down for 30 seconds, achieves the same thing I suppose.