Thinkpads Forum

While installing my new Atheros card I managed to tear off the 7 key and the hinged bracket underneath.

I don't know the techincal term for this "x" shaped bracket that is made out of plastic and white and gray.

The plastic hinge broke and my keyboard has an open sore now with a missing 7 key.

I tried to find the part number and FRU from the X60 Hardware Maintenance Manual but was not successful. I would like to order a new hinge for the 7 key so my keyboard doesn't have a gaping wound.

Can anyone help with the technical name and part number?

Is your system still under warranty? If so, I would just call IBM and state that you have a broken key on your keyboard. They should just send you a new keyboard in the mail, which you should be able to replace easily.

Yeah, it's still under warranty. I just thought it was overkill to replace an entire keyboard when all I need is a plastic hinge that costs mere cents.

Also, I was just curious what it was called.

I have though put in a service request and am looking "forward" to seeing how response IBM is with warranty requests. Have heard mostly positive experiences.

Fantastic. Let us know how your request goes.

You have heard of the Hardware Maintenance Manuals that are on the lenovo.com/support website for the x60 right? These manuals are fantastic reference materials available for download. You can see exactly how to disassemble the computer and replace the keyboard.

About 2300 PST I submitted a request via the Electronic Service Call tool (ESC+) on www.lenovo.com/think/support about my keyboard problem.

This morning at 0930 PST I got a call from Georgia that they had seen my request and that unfortunately they do not get involved with individual keys, so the entire keyboard needs to be replaced. Fine with me, just seemed a little excessive for a small part. I was given the option of sending my laptop in for repair or receiving a keyboard in the mail. I chose to install the keyboard myself and should get a box tomorrow.

This is my first experience with Lenovo support and it has been outstanding, so two-thumbs up and A+. I was able to submit a request online which took about 10 minutes of my time, and got a call 10 hours later. The conversation lasted 2 minutes and they solved my problem right away. Now, let's see how long it takes to get the keyboard.

By the way, the Atheros wireless LAN boosted my signal strength from 40% to 90% and before there was only one network visible now there is 8. So, I am glad I switched the card. I haven't used it long enough to note any increase in palm rest heat or decreased battery life.

I just wanted to add that I submitted another request for another problem this morning and IBM called within 2 hours, even though I categorized it as a low priority. Very impressive.

I've been wanting to pick up one of the Atheros cards for my laptop, and I haven't been able to find it on their website. Any chance you recall the keywords you used to find it?

Check out this thread http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=33391. I contacted the company and it was shipped the next day.

I had the same problem as you and even called Atheros, but they don't sell retail. You can also find the card on the Lenovo website for about the same price.

Installation was simple and took about 60 minutes with the removal of the keyboard (and breaking it) and installing the drivers. I followed the instructions listed in the thread above. For some reason I could not find the driver for the wireless card on the CD, it just gave a link to the Lenovo website. The problem was that my X60 would not recognize the card immediately and I couldn't get on the Internet, so I had to log on via another computer and download the driver from there. You might want to download the driver to your desktop just to be sure. After that there were no problems at all.

theetruscan wrote:I've been wanting to pick up one of the Atheros cards for my laptop, and I haven't been able to find it on their website. Any chance you recall the keywords you used to find it?

For Atheros try: 40Y7026

For Intel try: 41N3008

The company's name is Teckwave and the person I dealt with was Adam at alibby@teckwave.com.

This is the ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Express Adapter, however I do think that there is a 11a/b/g/n available now.

I don't know the price for that one though.l

smvp6459 wrote:

theetruscan wrote:I've been wanting to pick up one of the Atheros cards for my laptop, and I haven't been able to find it on their website. Any chance you recall the keywords you used to find it?

For Atheros try: 40Y7026

For Intel try: 41N3008

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I had thought he got one of the "n" cards, and was looking for one of those. I am eager to throw OS X on my machine. But, this is a threadjack, so I apologize.

New keyboard arrived in the mail as promised. 0945 PST the Airborne Express guy delivered the keyboard. 36 hours roughly after posting the request online, and 24 hours after talking to a service rep on the phone.

Great service.

Just curious, did they send you the same keyboard FRU? Far as I know, there are three different keyboard manufacturers: ALPS, CHICONY, and NMB. Just wondering if they sent you the same one, or something different.

I honestly don't know. I assume if I had bothered to look on the sticker attached to the bottom of the keyboard I could tell you, but I didn't even to think to look.

It did take me nearly an hour to properly seat the keyboard though. I realized I had to push down on the space key and all the keys left and right of it to get the tabs to seat properly. Feels like the keyboard did when I first bought the machine.