T400 without Optical Drive?

[davepol]

I was looking at T400 from Lenovo Outlet. There is few laptops without optical drive. My question is are they upgradable, or they don't even have connector on the motherboard?

Also there no wireless, can still I add it later? Some time ago I bought Compaq without wireless hoping that I will upgrade it later, but there was no antenna inside the notebook so I had to return it, I hope that all thinkpads are fully upgradable.

Thanks,
davepol

[basketb]

It's highly unlikely that the Lenovo outlet will sell a T400 without an optical drive even if they don't mention any (it's possible, but highly unlikely). Give them a call and ask about the machine you are interested in. They can tell you what parts are included (you may find that their parts list doesn't match much what is on their website, e.g., processor, ram, wireless, optical drive, etc.
Depending on the part number they provide on the outlet website, you can look up the parts yourself. Usually they give three digits of the part number and the full serial number (sometimes they give a different number, then there is no way to tell unless you call them). Guess the fourth digit of the part number and look up the machine's warranty here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... -WARNTY#sw (hint you need to find a machine that's out of warranty but located in the US). After you have found the machine that's out of warranty, there will be link to all the parts the machine shipped with originally. From there you can determine the optical drive (or if there is no optical drive listed, then it indeed does not come with one).

Finally, to answer your question(s): you can easily exchange the optical drive of a T400 with a different one designed for the T400/T500/W500 models. Wireless may not be that easy. If it comes with a g card, it may not have the additional antenna necessary for draft-n.

[davepol]

Thank You very much! I found that my model will be 2766. I just can't find appropriate code which comes after it (3 numbers/letters), but that's good enough the most important thing for me is that it's coming with wuxga+ screen. Thanks again,

davepol

[davepol]

Part number on outlet website was: 276L3A0016
I found out that first four numbers are probably 2766, but I can't figure out the rest of it?
Is possible to know exact part number from this?

Thank you,
davepol

[basketb]

How did you find out that the part number is 2766? The only machine with the serial number you provided that's currently out of warranty has part number 2769.
Parts lookup shows that this one indeed comes without an optical drive and has no OS other than a DOS license.

[davepol]

I went to this website:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... yle=lenovo

I chose T400 and there was a list of several models: 2764 - 2769. So in the website that
you sent me I tried each of this model numbers (5 of them in all) with my serial number and only one in US was 2766-V1U.

Thanks,
davepol

[basketb]

The one I linked to in my previous post is located in the US and out of warranty -> strong indications that this is the machine from the outlet.

[davepol]

Thanks so much, I really appreciate it

davepol

[davepol]

I don't understand. Everything is just like the outlet website had it, but the screen is
1280x800. The website said that it will be wxga+, should I cancel the order?

thanks,
davepol

[ajkula66]

Outlet is infamous for wrong descriptions...ordered a WSXGA+ T61 (15.4" WS) and got WXGA...

If you have the serial handy, pull the FRU for the LCD from "the parts originally shipped with this unit" link on the warranty page...

Good luck.

[basketb]

I don't understand. Everything is just like the outlet website had it, but the screen is
1280x800. The website said that it will be wxga+, should I cancel the order?

thanks,
davepol

Did you make a printout (paper or pdf) of the outlet website. If so, you are on the save side and should be able to return it without problems if it indeed comes with only a WXGA screen. If not, I'd cancel it if you can't live with that resolution.

BTW: how much was this bare bones machine in the outlet, if you don't mind my asking?

[davepol]

I already canceled it. It was an even 600$ + tax.
It was 2769-CTO. I ordered another T400, this time not from the
outlet. It should come with led display, hope it's a good choice.

Thanks very much for all info.
davepol

[Cunha]

Outlet had a bunch of cheap LED T400's with no optical drive. Really odd. Best to call them and ask for specifics.

[ajkula66]

Cunha wrote:

Outlet had a bunch of cheap LED T400's with no optical drive.

At a first glance, yes. However, parts lookup that I've performed had proven most of these to have standard LCDs...