Thinkpads Forum

Edit: See updated post.

So, I've taken apart my keyboard (almost completely), with all the keys and scissors. What I am regretting (since it was working at the time) is soaking some parts in isopropyl alcohol, particularly the trackpoint. The keyboard didn't work (got some 0210 errors), but once I pulled the little separator where the mouse buttons attach, I pulled the plastic sheet off and it started working (which is odd, because that's supposed to be sealed), and now I'm typing this on the (X200) keyboard and it's all working but the trackpoint and mouse buttons.

I'm giving the trackpoint a chance to dry out, but the odd part is were the mouse buttons aren't working, but since the buttons are on the same film as the rest of the keys it makes me wonder if it's a none related issue? I also swapped in a T61 keyboard and it worked all but the trackpoint/buttons as well... so I'm a bit curious. Is this complete irony or is the T61 keyboard not completely interchangeable?

I tried it on both my ubuntu install and windows 7. I checked the bios and the trackpoint is enabled.

I took it apart to put some new thermal paste on the CPU (was climbing steadily over 70c, getting much better temps now) anyways, I'm kinda grouchy about the fact that I had so much apart and it was the darned keyboard that I messed up... Which seemed like the routine part since I've done it so much.

I'm probably missing some details that I should bring up, but I'm really tired so if there is anything else I'll just fill in the blanks in the morning...

Any thoughts?

Just put a new keyboard in, the keys are working just fine but the not trackpoint nor the buttons work...

Again, check the bios and it was enabled, tried it on both ubuntu and win 7 with no luck... I've also tried turning it on/off with Fn+F8.

Any ideas?

Edit: At this point I'm beggining to suspect the motherboard... Any ideas where a fuse or something might be?

The thing that confuses me and screams software issue, is that it's the trackpoint AND buttons. But if you've seen the board you know the buttons aren't directly connected to the trackpoint, they are basically just more keys as far as the keyboard goes yet it singles them out too... Maybe some chip on the motherboard that deals with both? Or an all out software conspiracy, where Windows and Linux team up to drive me insane...

Messing with it a bit more...

In device manager it was hidden, then it said the drivers weren't installed propery or it's not plugged in or it's not correct... Yeah, real specific. Anyways, so I uninstalled the driver (it was from lenovo) like a good little tech boy and redownloaded them from Lenovo and now I got "This device driver cannot be installed on non-Trackpoint systems."

So, at this point I'm almost certain it's a hardware issue... It's not the keyboard so it's most likely the motherboard, I'm just putting off ripping this poor thing apart again to find a fuse (almost certainly a fuse because, the computer is still working.).

So, I'm gonna mess around with the software side some more and if I can't get it to work I'll look over the motherboard again... Anyone have any hi-res pics of the X200 motherboard? I've tried to find them online so I can inspect it without taking mine apart and at least have an idea where to look with no luck...

Trey.

Edit: Add flashing the bios to the list of failed attempts at fixing it.

Sorry but I don't have an X200 (yet) but maybe this will help...

You could try downloading a PC Doctor for DOS boot disk and see if that diagnostic program has a test that verifies the trackpoint and buttons. For all of the older versions of this program, there's an interactive menu selection that contains a test for the mouse. I'm assuming that the one designed for the X200 has it as well. When the mouse test is invoked, the X/Y coordinates of the mouse pointer is displayed as you move it around the screen and there's indicators when the mouse buttons are pressed. If, as you suspect, you're looking at a hardware issue, then most likely this test will not see them either. It would be another data point which says it's not a software problem.

http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc ... t123ww.exe (PC Doctor for DOS disk image - file needs to be executed to extract .ISO)
http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc ... t123ww.txt (README file)

Thanks, I tried it but it said pretty much the same thing. Mouse isn't there or driver not installed... I'm paraphrasing of course but you get the gist.

So, I pulled 'er apart today and found that a fuse close -with traces leading to- the keyboard header, I traced the part of the ribbon that comes off of the trackpoint and it led to that fuse.

The fuse was blown!

It had "H" on it, so I know it's 1Amp, at 32V.

Here is the fuse I found to replace it:

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Lit ... iu5G5lfI5b

The only concern I have with that fuse, is I held the fuse tape that my other (N) fuses where on, and they where a tad wider... The fuse in the link has identical dimensions to the N fuse I used to replace my F4.

I'll be ordering this shortly and I'll update you when I get the guts to rip it back apart and solder it again... Which may be before the end of the year because (1) I can't STAND using a mouse and (2) I've had this thing apart a million times and soldered on it dozens... So I don't see what I'm worried about, it's not like I haven't done this before or it will be the end of the world.

Alrighty! I got the little box with the little fuses by littlefuse in the mail. And just got done soldering the little puppy in.

The trackpoint is working again!!

One thing to note is, the fuse had slightly different dimensions than the ones I ordered prior, even though on the site they said they where the same, they where more the size of what was in there prior. So it didn't really matter, and I'm glad they are smaller but it's something to keep in mind.

I did the piggyback (that needs to be a dance)

Alright, gonna use my loverly trackpoint now! (hurdles mouse into the river in a concrete bucket)

~Trey.

Hi Trey,
that's amazing that you got it fixed. I'm having the same problem on my X200 and spent the better half of this morning to find hardware fault. Unfortunately I'm a complete newbie.. Could you share you thoughts where the fuse may be, if it's on the cpu socket side or bottom side of the mainboard and how big it is? I was looking for a small white fuse labeled H as in the photo but found none. Could it be that I need to remove the CPU thermal assembly? Thanks in advance.
Andrew

If anyone still checks this, please let us know where this fuse is, I have a L430 with same problem.