Replacing X60 display

[Super_King]

Hello all,

I have a trusty old X60 machine that unfortunately recently had the screen cracked, so I've looked into replacing it myself. I opened up the laptop with help from this site (http://www.insidemylaptop.com/replace-b ... 0s-laptop/ - not one hundred percent accurate with my model, but close enough), and found out I have the 13N7094 screen.

I've found this display goes for $300+ at retailers, and some how it can be found for just over $100 from some eBay sellers (http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid ... kw=13N7094).

From folks who have replaced the screen on their X60/X61 themselves:

- Would you suggest purchasing from eBay or a regular web vendor? The price difference is so stark - I'm basically just hoping that the part number matching means it will be compatible with my machine. I'm done some reading on this forum and others that seems to suggest maybe this is not always the case, although it seems like most people have X61(s), so maybe that's not an issue I need to worry about with my X60. Basically, I want to ensure I'm buying the correct screen.

- If you replaced the screen yourself - were there any surprises or things to watch out for in the exact installation? Disassembling the laptop down to the screen so far has been relatively simple, I'm hoping the actual display removal/replacement will be as well.


I appreciate any advice. Thanks.


Brandon

[rkawakami]

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

While I have a couple of X60 systems, I haven't yet had the need (or desire) to take them apart. However, if you need some assistance in figuring out how to proceed with the rest of the disassembly and subsequent re-assembly, then you may find this of some help:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-62866

It's the Hardware Maintenance Manual (HMM). Besides outlining the steps on how to remove and replace things in the system, it also contains a parts list so that you can see if other parts can be substituted.

As far as going with a retailer vs. an eBay seller, I'd opt to go with the eBay seller (I'm cheap) as long as they stand behind their product. It's difficult to know what to expect when you can't see the item or deal with the seller in person. You can only go by their eBay feedback rating. Be sure to look at the seller's responses to the buyer's negative or neutral comments; you can get a good idea of how your experience will go in case there's a problem. Seeing seller's comments calling their customers "jerk" or "idiot" should not give one a warm and fuzzy feeling. To easily scan a seller's feedback, you can use this tool:

http://toolhaus.org/

Plug in the eBay seller ID in the "Negative/Neutral Feedback" box and click the "Received by" button.

[tim S]

I've done a couple of x60S screens. Here's what I found.
First of all most eBay screens are used, certainly the cheaper ones usually are.
Pay attention to the description with regard to scratches and blotches. Best to
buy one that's at least been tested and can be returned if necessary.

The replacement is pretty easy but the LCD cable is really fragile even though
it seems tough. Be very careful with it, doubly so if you have bluetooth.
The external bezel is also quite thin and fragile so care is needed when prying
it up from around the screen so it doesn't crack.

Good luck

Tim S

[alangeemy]

I too am looking at replacing my LCD panel. but mine is a X61T SXGA. I took it apart and found it to be a Hyundai Hydis HV121P01-101.

Here's what I've found so far in my 3 weeks of searching for a replacement:

1) Most of the suppliers will supply 'compatible' screen, i.e manufactured by other makers, and without the digitizer panel. In many websites, the sellers would advertise, 'Hydis HV121P01-101 with caption heading but when scrolling down the page, the word 'compatible' appears. So be aware of this word 'compatible'. Unless you're not fussed with the brand, I suggest when contacting these sellers, specify your requirements. Though their replies can be vague.

2). If buying online, protect yourself by using Escrow or Paypal. A number of suppliers asked me to wire them payment outside of their website to an account that does not bear the company name. Get them to send you an e-invoice or use their 'check-out' on their website. Though this is still not 100% fool-proof.

3). Buying on Ebay still does not guarantee a smooth transaction. Feedbacks are an indication of sellers/buyers but there's still a chance of you being a sacrificial lamb in a dispute. So you be may out-of-pocket when an outcome of a dispute goes against you and be left with a product that's deemed useless. Or you may have to further invest your funds in sending the product back to the seller. Some sellers will claim they did not receive the item or received it back in a damaged condition or item sent back is not item originally sold. Who's to tell? At the end of a day, a business is a business. It's all about $ and cents.

4) Being in Malaysia, sellers from US are reluctant to ship which is understandable as item is fragile. The sellers that are willing, will charge extortionate shipping charges or set a minimum purchase quantity. Buying from Lenovo Malaysia is not an option. Far too expensive!

In short, I would prefer to buy from a retailer so I can see the product is the exact one I require. Online buying is great but too many unscrupulous sellers, even those with fancy, glitzy website are jumping on the band-wagon and shipping out 'compatible' products.

I hope I did not scare you and best of luck in your search.

P.S If anyone know where I can buy a Hyundai Hydis HV121P01-101 from a reputable seller and who is willing to ship to Malaysia at reasonable cost, please let me know. Thanks

[richk]

Regarding the post about tablet screens, I don't have answers, just more questions. There are 2 types of digitizers, G4 and G5. MOST x61t machines have G5 and MOST X60t machines have G4. They use different LCD cables. Also, the screens that come with the G5 digitizers tend to have the kind of protection plate that cannot easily removed from the front of the screen. Most of the tablet screens I have seen on eBay do not come with the protection plate, even if they are real IBM/Lenovo screens. When the screen is taken apart, you need to know what you are doing to get the bezel off without breaking the protection plate or having it stay with the bezel. There is adhesive that holds the protection plate tightly to the bezel. The protection plate cannot be purchased separately.

[force]

You might be able to find the protection plate (the plastic one from the G4) from people who bought the SXGA+ screen to shove into their X60s. You might also be able to find the digitizers, since neither of those will fit into a non-tablet.

G5 has a glass protection plate and is quite strongly bonded to the panel. It's pretty difficult to remove without damaging the LCD underneath.

[Super_King]

A little late on the response to my original post, but I ended up purchasing the display from acsparts.com (thinkpad-parts.com) for a little under $300. They had some decent reviews around the web and I think the peace of mind buying from there was much greater than I would have had buying from an eBay seller. They shipped it super fast and finally last weekend I got around to installing the new screen, which was not simple but was straightforward to accomplish. The only minor negative I would say is that there was not enough black electrical tape included at the bottom of the new screen (less tape than on my stock screen), so it would not wrap around from front to back like on the stock screen. I just bought some electrical tape and used that with no issues. So far so good on the screen after about a week of use.

Thank you to everyone for the advice!

[IvanAndreevich]

A little late on the response to my original post, but I ended up purchasing the display from acsparts.com (thinkpad-parts.com) for a little under $300. They had some decent reviews around the web and I think the peace of mind buying from there was much greater than I would have had buying from an eBay seller. They shipped it super fast and finally last weekend I got around to installing the new screen, which was not simple but was straightforward to accomplish. The only minor negative I would say is that there was not enough black electrical tape included at the bottom of the new screen (less tape than on my stock screen), so it would not wrap around from front to back like on the stock screen. I just bought some electrical tape and used that with no issues. So far so good on the screen after about a week of use.

Thank you to everyone for the advice!

No offense, but you paid more for your screen than your whole machine is worth right now. Could have just bought a new laptop with that money on eBay, and saved yourself some work.

[Super_King]

I find it difficult to believe that I could buy a brand new Thinkpad X60 (or a new Thinkpad with similar specs) for the price of my used X60 and the new display. There are also aspects of the newer Thinkpads I'm not as fond of.

[IvanAndreevich]

I find it difficult to believe that I could buy a brand new Thinkpad X60 (or a new Thinkpad with similar specs) for the price of my used X60 and the new display. There are also aspects of the newer Thinkpads I'm not as fond of.

Not a brand new one, but in good condition. I presume yours is not brand new, is it? I recently bought an X60s for my mom for about $200 shipped. It's about 8/10 (10 being brand new), 2GB RAM, 80GB HDD. Also, you could have probably sold your machine for about $100 easily enough. Considering that, I say you're out $200 plus the time you spent performing the repair over the optimal solution: selling a broken machine to someone who needs a working motherboard, and picking up a used and fully working one to replace it.

It's of no consequence to you, but to anyone who thinks of spending massive amounts of time and money fixing something like this - I would think twice, and not do it at all. If you got the screen for $50 shipped, it would be a whole different deal, of course.