Messed up while disassembly my X41, what does this black cylinder thingy do?

[Penguinboy829]

Hello everyone,

So a couple of weeks ago I decided to buy an IBM Thinkpad X41 in working condition, and a few weeks ago I decided to open it up so I check the thermal paste of the laptop to make sure the buyer was being honest about it being repasted already. I decided to follow this iFixit guide https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/IBM+ThinkP ... ment/71811 , which told me to remove this "black cylinder" that's positioned next to the CMOS battery. Sadly tragedy stuck and I guess I pried it open too hard and it came off its wiring.

I've looked all around the internet and I'm not really sure what it actually is and what it does. My thinkpad does boot sometimes with it taken out of the machine, but it does have some weird behavior that I can't really explain that really got out of hand once I broke this piece. Can anyone tell me if this piece is absolutely necessary for the laptop to function or should I pay no mind to it? Also, apologies if I came off as rude or anything, english isn't my first language.

pic (taken from ifixit guide)
https://prnt.sc/h1TPKgg0epPW

- Penguinboy829

[dr_st]

Isn't it #17 in the parts list, overall of the hardware maintenance manual?
https://thinkpads.com/support/hmm/hmm_pdf/39t5971.pdf

It's listed as "Cable assembly kit, Microphone".

[Penguinboy829]

Isn't it #17 in the parts list, overall of the hardware maintenance manual?
https://thinkpads.com/support/hmm/hmm_pdf/39t5971.pdf

It's listed as "Cable assembly kit, Microphone".

Ah! Thank you so much! You've saved me a from a huge headache! I assume it won't affect anything too important in the machine then...

- Penguinboy829