Thinkpads Forum

Im replacing a missing (was broken, but i dont have the old one) panel on a X60s 1704. I ordered the replacement panel and it arrived, but it does not match....

The original panel used to have the controller on the bottom, while the new on is on the top (like most panels). The flat cable connector is located according to the bottom controller panel though

I see on Ebay cables for this model of 2 types - bottom and top connector location. Is it ok to get a replacement flat cable with the connector on the top and fit it with the new panel (will it work with the existing mainboard), or i shall send back the panel and only use a bottom connection panel with bottom connection cable in this laptop ?

The existing cable is damaged anyway and i must replace it, so to me its easier/cheaper to just order the other cable and not ship back the panel etc. The 2 cables appear to be identical in the other connections location/shape

A "top" cable will indeed work: the pinout is the same, only the position is different. Unfortunately, the "bottom" connectors are for ultralight panels, which are not only lighter but also slightly smaller than normal ones. Judging from the connector position your panel isn't an ultralight one and will be too big for the lid.

Thanks

I didnt realize that its a different size. tried to fit the panel to the enclosure and you are absolutely right

However, it looks like the places where the tabs of the plastic cover go are empty inside the panel (just plastic frame and metal, the actual LCD does not reach there), so looks like i can hack it to fit

The cable looks like it'd match the panel's connector placement, but do you think it will reach exactly to the correct spot to connect to the panel in this enclosure ? (as i understand this panel is supposed to fit another version of the x60s with a bit larger enclosure, right ?)



My final wish is to upgrade it with a touchscreen kit like this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-1-4-3-USB-To ... 1021383995

(i want to try to hack an internal usb instead of the fingerprint reader, as i guess from the descriptions of the reader i found, looks like the connector that the reader plugs into is plain USB ?). Will one of those fit in the enclosure i have along with the panel (either top or bottom connector panel) ?

if you remove the FPR, you should be able to fit a USB socket in its place, coming out to the right side, after you cut out the opening, half in lid, half in LCD bezel.
Remove some of the studs guiding the wifi cable there (tape it instead, if needed).
Whether the FPR connection is USB capable, is another question...

I dont think ill have to cut any of the enclosure parts (i definitely would not want to, and i'd rather get off this than destroy the computer). I think of soldering the USB cable with the original FPR's flat cable and shrink wrapping it, and plugging into the board with the FPR's original connector without a bulky USB A plug/socket. the controller i'll find a way to fit in there somehow without cutting/destroying anything

Only issue is, will it fit in the enclosure by thickness and whether its going to "conflict" with the tabs that hold the nuts for the screws

I've tried putting a normal panel into an ultralight lid it doesn't work very well. It's not just the size of the panel, the image is in a different position relative to the frame and it will be partly obscured. Cutting the frame to fit will just weaken it and open a big hole for dust etc. to attack the panel... Etc. Much easier just to get a secondhand non-ultralight lid off eBay. Note that the X60 and X61 lids are slightly different, as are the cables (the X61 has a smaller thinklight)
Good luck!

With the hack to the panel looks like i won't have to modify any of the parts of the laptop itself at all. Only question i see remaining is, will the cable end up in the right spot to connect to this panel ?



But....

Looks like i found a complete panel in enclosure assembly for not much more $ than a replacement cable alone. We'll see how much shipping is though - i emailed the seller, also sked for diensions and positions of screws hidden in the sides of the assembly if this helps to identify it better

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lenovo-X60s-Lap ... 0899416793

Will this match the laptop ?

Can you tell from the picture whether the panel inside this is top or bottom connector ?

If i buy this i won't need the panel i allready have. Does it by any chance match any other thinkpads or laptops in general, especially x3x and x4x ? (i have those with intact panels, but good to know in case its a matching spare)

From the photo I can't tell if it's an ultralight panel or not, but they are interchangeable for all X60 / X60s'.

The places of the screws on the ends of the enclosure i have did match the ultralight panel, but dont match the new one i have. So if i ask the seler for the positions of screw covers along the edges of the enclosure it will be possible to tell which onbe it is ?

Trmsw, do you mean that the panel inside is interchangeable, or that the entire assembly (laptop lid and all) is interchangeable between X60/X60s ?

There are two types of LCD assemblies for the X60s/61s:

1. [SWPG] or Normal --> this is used on the normal X60/61 as well
2. [TMD] or Ultralight --> slightly smaller and thinner; uses a different LCD

This means that the X60/61 LCD assembly is fully compatible with the X60s/61s. You can swap lids with no issues.

This also means that the Ultralight LCD assembly can be installed on the normal X60/61.

~~
I'm not 100% sure, but I think the X3x and X4x LCDs use a different connector pinout. This means you have to modify the LCD cable, which might be difficult depending on your skill level.

Does smaller mean that it won't exactly overlap with the bottom enclosure (smaller width and height) or its same WxH and only differ in thickness ?

The lid assemblies are interchangeable, the only difference being thickness (and strength, IMO).
On the other hand, everything *inside* the assemblies is different except the inverter; even the wireless aerials are slightly different. If you are lucky you can find the parts cheap on eBay (lid, hinges, cable), but it may be cheaper to but the entire assembly.
Good luck!
Tom

Thanks! I'll get the X60 screen assembly then

I am out searching again as there is a problem with the shipping of the panel i wanted....

Anyway,
The computer is X60s and it used to have ultra slim panel with bottom connector

One thing i'd want to do next (after the laptop is working) is add touch screen. And for that i need enough place inside the screen assembly to locate a flat IDE-like 4 wire cable and connector, i'll probably pass it through the hinge along with the WiFi antennas. Im concerned if the X60s screen is thinner, whether it will be a problem for placing the connector inside it

Is thias a concern or there is enough internal space in both X60 and X60s ?

Update - The X60 complete screen arrived, it works well in the X60s and fits well in the bottom chassis (i did not try to assemble the keyboard and upper plastic yet, but looks like there is no issue)