Thinkpads Forum

Hi,

I am a long time thinkpad user, and I have always bought the X series as they run OpenBSD perfectly.

I have gotten through two x6* series in a year now due to the ethernet sockets busting. The first was expected, i dropped the laptop from a table with a cable attached. But the second laptop, I just noticed was busted one day. I don't know if the x6* sockets are cheap but, I break them (Did not have this problem on a x31).

The sockets still work, but the cable works itself free and you have to push it back in from time to time when the connection drops.

Has this happened to anyone else? Does anyone know a workaround? Has any brave soul attempted to replace the ethernet socket altogether?

Cheers

vext01 wrote:... The sockets still work, but the cable works itself free ... Has this happened to anyone else?

The problem is more common than it should be, and not just on X6* machines! Short of replacing the Ethernet socket -- which is unlikely to be a successful adventure for you unless you have the correct socket and the right skill set to replace it -- you may try fashioning two small "cubes" of plastic using an X-ACTO knife, and then "fusing" the broken retention holds back in place, either with a soldering gun (but if and only if you have done such things before on plastic) or using Crazy Glue.

You need to add just enough material for the modular clips to "grab" and stay in place. Keep in mind that how "pretty" it is from the front is immaterial, since the clip is latching from the back.

just had this on my T500. Really annoying.

Solution: Put a layer of sticky tape around the ethernet plug. Cut out around the area of the pins. This turns the plug/socket interface into a friction fit. Just one layer of sticky tape was enough.

Thought originally of sticking the ethernet cable into the socket using epoxy glue but this isn't necessary if the friction fit can be made good enough. This is actually better than the RJ45 clip fit as yanking the cable should mostly just result in its removal. The train of thought here was to have a short lead glued into the computer with a back to back RJ45 connector dangling from it. But even that seemed ugly.

Only just thought of this so not sure how well its going to work. But so far so good.

It means a dedicated ethernet cable (though its cheap to make others!). And its probably not a good idea to plug/unplug it too often.

Did actually take the machine apart to see if the socket was repairable but to me looks absolutely like a no go. Putting the clip retaining lugs back looks impossible. Can't even solder onto the RJ45 socket casing as it seems solder won't take to it. Thought of fashioning a lug somehow....but the thought of a solder ball dropping into the machine stopped me straight away.

No doubt the solution will degrade over time but I'm back up and running.

Much cheaper than USB-gig E dongle option.

So far, so good.

Hopefully this will suffice until I get 802.11N going.