Reinstalling the Thinkpad 600 keyboard

[SnakeEyes]

Is there some sorta trick or am I just cluessless here in how to get the keyboard back on, specifically with the larger connecter. I can't seem to see the connection well and risk breaking pins trying to get in properly. Any suggestions.

[tfflivemb2]

I assume that this is the 600 series laptop that you had previously mentioned.

Get the large connector back in requires sliding your hand in flat between the keyboard and the system board, to connect it before getting the hinge covers in place. Then place the hinge covers in place and carefully seat the rest of the keyboard.

I agree, it is a very tight space between the keyboard and the system board. A longer cable might have been nice.

[SnakeEyes]

Thanks for the tip, though it looks like I am gonna be running out to get a usb keyboard today. bah, can't believe that cable is that short.

[SnakeEyes]

heh umm maybe I won't be. rebooting gives me a error 00301 and 08611.

[tfflivemb2]

Another thing that will help is, I use two fingers to guide the connector on from the front side and then use my fingers to sort of "roll over" it, so that slips into place.

If I lived close enough, I would be willing to swing by and help you get it on, but there are a few miles between Ohio and Wisconsin.

[SnakeEyes]

any way around those errors.

[tfflivemb2]

You could try the bypass used in this thread, although, I haven't tried bypassing it:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... highlight=

[SnakeEyes]

Well I went ahead and got a replacement keyboard. This replacement keyboard has a plastic housing around with the pins which the other keyboard did not. Plus there. Still can't seem to get my fingers and the angle right. Should I have the LCD assembly off when putting this on?

[SnakeEyes]

Heh well disregard this. Just realized that plastic around the pins is part of the keyboard's portion of the connector. Either this used laptop's now broken keyboard had that part pulled off and the former user managed to put it back up and connect it or I did it when I first removed the keyboard. Hah. Discovered that as I was comparing the replacement keyboard connector to what was inside the computer.



Though I think the LCD assembly will have to come off. Yes?

[SnakeEyes]

k, scrub that. Be kind of hard to get the LCD ribbon back in place with the keyboard and its short cable in there

I'm gonna figure this out!

[rkawakami]

I'm gonna figure this out!

The technique that works for me is:

Place both "U-shaped" covers that go over the hinges to the LCD panel over their respective hinges but don't set them all the way down yet.

With the keyboard angled about 30 degress off the top of the base of the laptop, reach in between the keyboard and motherboard with a (thin) hand and pull the larger ribbon connector toward the front edge of the laptop. This will bring the bend in the ribbon cable forward so you can then push it beneath the thin bezel which runs the length of the back edge of the laptop, under the LCD panel.

Once you get the bend in the ribbon cable underneath that bezel it should allow you to push back on the ribbon cable and then you can push down on the connector with your (thin) fingers. You may have to adjust the front edge of the keyboard up/down while you are pushing the connector on to allow for enough slack in the ribbon cable.

With those same (thin) fingers, reach over to the smaller connector and push it down onto the motherboard.

Withdraw your (thin) hand and bring the keyboard down. Make sure that those hinge covers are aligned properly on the back edge of the laptop

Good luck!