Right speaker not working on A21p

[Utwig]

I bought a used A21p couple of months ago from an IBM employee, it's my first laptop, does the job, I love it. Getting UXGA at that pricepoint is only possible when buying used and if you buy used it's better to get business class sturdy IBM over something consumer.

The only problem is that right speaker is not working, only left one is.

When I plug external speakers/headphones the stereo works, so it's either speaker or cable.

After downloading and reading service manual, it would not be that hard to open it up and check what's not working and replace speaker or cable. What I'm wondering is, if speaker is not working, how hard would be to get a replacement (I'm in EU) and how much would it cost.

Also appart from speaker everything else works very nicely (CPU/Mobo, HDD, screen, LAN, modem, IRDA, ports,....) and nonworking speaker is really not such a bad issue. So by opening it up I might break something else.

I generally build and fix my desktop computers but I have little experience with opening laptops. Also don't have soldering equipment.

So again, if speaker is toast, how much would replacement cost, how would I go about ordering replacement?

[Orevin]

You get access to the speakers very easily. Find the part# in the service manual and do a webseach to compare prices. Ebay is is always a good source for cheap used parts. And there is always the possibility to buy from IBM.

[Utwig]

I located parts, they cost about 18€ from IBM Germany, If I order new set of screws also I'm at about 35€. There's a local IBM number I can call from 7am tomorrow and I can order parts through them, so glad I got IBM - where would I get parts with some crappy no-name consumer laptop.

Another question, how hard is it to replace trackpoint cap, or do you just soak it in something to clean it up a bit. Soak it in what?

[christopher_wolf]

I located parts, they cost about 18€ from IBM Germany, If I order new set of screws also I'm at about 35€. There's a local IBM number I can call from 7am tomorrow and I can order parts through them, so glad I got IBM - where would I get parts with some crappy no-name consumer laptop.

Another question, how hard is it to replace trackpoint cap, or do you just soak it in something to clean it up a bit. Soak it in what?

It isn't hard to clean a trackpoint cap; you can take it off and use a toothbrush with either toothpaste, or a mixture of toothpaste and baking soda. Wash it off, dry it...Then put it back; you now have a cleaned trackpoint cap.

Although, after awhile, you may want to just order a new set from IBM or where you can find them as the little bumps/ridges/whatnot on them wear out after awhile.

[clanon2]

well ,i've using alcohol(etilic,any)and a toothbrush for years,without removing
bye