Hey guys, im thinking about doing the classic keyboard on this laptop, but after reading some guides theres some things I havent understood yet.
- Does replacing the T430s for a T420s palmrest make it a more seemless installation of the keyboard (no need of removing brackets), does it just fit perfectly? Does T410s or other thinkpad palmrest work too? My T430s palmrest has some broken pieces so I wouldnt mind the replacement
- Besides the T420s, which other keyboards do work in this laptop?
- Ive read about the different quality keyboards and seen NMB regarded as the best, should I, if I could, look specifically for this or they are harder to find/rarer...? I will probably be looking broken T420s for a while so I could possibly get one somewhat cheap.
- Ive seen you have to install a controller for the function keys to work properly, but how does this controller exactly work? Does it flash into the bios or you have to install it each time you change OS? Is the installation safe?
Sorry if theyre somewhat dumb questions
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Classic Keyboard T430s
Re: Classic Keyboard T430s
Hi, please have a look at http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Install_C ... _ThinkPads first
There is a reference there which points to a list of FRU-s by maker/layout
I believe the keyboards are all the same between X220, X220t, T420, T520, W520; I've certainly seen it on X220/X220t/T520 first-hand - indeed the same
I heard the same keyboard is used on.. T410?.. I'm not sure.. But if the layout of the keys is the same it's probably the same one
I've purchased one used NMB with UK layout on UK ebay recently used. Chicony are a lot more common. I haven't been using this NMB yet and I don't know what keyboards I have that came with my X220 and T520 machines, was lazy to take them out and check.. So can't give you any comparison data. I believe Chicony are just fine.
Be cautious of new keyboards on ebay and AliExpress. There are fakes around I purchased one such fake - after paying an extortionate amount of AliExpress. On ebay if it's a private seller based in UK and if he provides real photos that's okay. Look at the photos of the back side if available. Back side is very distinct between real ones and fakes - the shape of the holes, the number of screws on the protruding "brick", presence of Lenovo stickers with the FRU. These days a used keyboard may be a safer buy than a new one.
The link I posted at the top of this post claims that it is with X230/X230t that the palmrest trick works. E.g. it is on X230 that you can use an X220 palmrest and make fitting the keyboard easier. I don't know for a fact but it might be this won't work on T430s. Well I don't know..
I haven't (yet!!) done this mod on any of my machines but when I do I will probably be referencing this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYSUUpuOk9c I think it does a good job of showing what needs to be modified on the keyboard and partially how to do it. I've purchased of these files to deal with those 4 tabs that need to become thinner. I could use my dremel but then I just don't see how I can avoid the dust getting under the keys. So files these will be. I also have some Kapton tape in stock to isolate those pins. Looking at the video the job doesn't look difficult. So why not save money by not buying a new palmrest? Well you will spend the money on the files of course if you haven't got them yet
Re controller.. The way Thinkpad is built is there is main CPU and there is an extra very low power low memory CPU, a "microcontroller", known as EC - "Embedded Controller". They keyboard is a matrix of horizontal and vertical contract traces which keys connect. The traces are connected to "legs" of EC. BTW it seems EC never sleeps even when thinkpad is off. Or maybe it sleeps but is woken up when you press the power button. It is the EC that senses that power button has been pressed and which commands the power circuitry to switch on and supply power to the Thinkpad. Likewise it is the EC that reacts to a long press on power button.
EC has got its own firmware. It is (sometimes?) updated when you install BIOS. BIOS installation updates BIOS and can also update EC firmware. I think you can check the version of EC firmware from the BIOS screen. It's separate from BIOS version itself. For this mod to work you need to mess with EC firmware. As a side benefit this will allow you to use batteries from *20 generation. Now even if they physically fit T430s will refuse to charge them. After the mod it will stop caring and will charge them just fine. Messing with EC will not help with WiFi whitelisting though. WiFi whitelist is in BIOS proper.
To update EC firmware you will need to use materials from this project: https://github.com/hamishcoleman/thinkpad-ec To use this project you will first need to make sure you're on the "right" version of EC firmware and probably on the "right" version of BIOS. "Right" does not mean "the latest". Read https://github.com/hamishcoleman/thinkpad-ec watch the video. Pay close attention here. What is "right" for X230 is not right for T430s. Version numbering is not consistent between machines. Maybe you can use https://github.com/n4ru/IVprep/ to make sure you're on the "right" version. Alternatively you can make sure you're on the "right" version via different means.
https://github.com/n4ru/1vyrain in contrast to thinkpad-ec modifies BIOS proper. It removes WiFi card whitelist and allows you to set "High Assurance" bit which in theory should make Intel Management Engine less dangerous. If you want to install 1vyrain or not is your choice. If you want to install 1vyrain do it after thinkpad-ec. My understanding is that if you do everything carefully you will keep your EC mods, you will not overwrite them.
Also there may be a Windows 8 license key in your BIOS. I'm not sure but it might still allow Windows 10 activate if you're doing a fresh install of the right version. I don't know if installing 1vyrain will remove that key. I'm not sure but there might even be a way to extract that key and use it to run Windows in a virtual machine on Linux. I'm not sure.
I think there are strong reasons to believe thinkpad-ec will not remove this key.
There are no changes necessary at OS level.
One thing that will not work is the LED on the CapsLock. There were mods to make it work but it requires that you install another tiny microcontroller inside your Thinkpad. You'd connect them to some internal USB connector. That microcontroller - provided you have installed the correct firmware on it - will look like an extra keyboard to the computer. You know when you press CapsLock on one keyboard attached all other keyboards also get the message. So the only purpose of that extra microcontroller would be to drive that LED on the CapsLock. If that is worth the trouble or not is up to you. That mod can be done later if so desired.
There is a reference there which points to a list of FRU-s by maker/layout
I believe the keyboards are all the same between X220, X220t, T420, T520, W520; I've certainly seen it on X220/X220t/T520 first-hand - indeed the same
I heard the same keyboard is used on.. T410?.. I'm not sure.. But if the layout of the keys is the same it's probably the same one
I've purchased one used NMB with UK layout on UK ebay recently used. Chicony are a lot more common. I haven't been using this NMB yet and I don't know what keyboards I have that came with my X220 and T520 machines, was lazy to take them out and check.. So can't give you any comparison data. I believe Chicony are just fine.
Be cautious of new keyboards on ebay and AliExpress. There are fakes around I purchased one such fake - after paying an extortionate amount of AliExpress. On ebay if it's a private seller based in UK and if he provides real photos that's okay. Look at the photos of the back side if available. Back side is very distinct between real ones and fakes - the shape of the holes, the number of screws on the protruding "brick", presence of Lenovo stickers with the FRU. These days a used keyboard may be a safer buy than a new one.
The link I posted at the top of this post claims that it is with X230/X230t that the palmrest trick works. E.g. it is on X230 that you can use an X220 palmrest and make fitting the keyboard easier. I don't know for a fact but it might be this won't work on T430s. Well I don't know..
I haven't (yet!!) done this mod on any of my machines but when I do I will probably be referencing this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYSUUpuOk9c I think it does a good job of showing what needs to be modified on the keyboard and partially how to do it. I've purchased of these files to deal with those 4 tabs that need to become thinner. I could use my dremel but then I just don't see how I can avoid the dust getting under the keys. So files these will be. I also have some Kapton tape in stock to isolate those pins. Looking at the video the job doesn't look difficult. So why not save money by not buying a new palmrest? Well you will spend the money on the files of course if you haven't got them yet
Re controller.. The way Thinkpad is built is there is main CPU and there is an extra very low power low memory CPU, a "microcontroller", known as EC - "Embedded Controller". They keyboard is a matrix of horizontal and vertical contract traces which keys connect. The traces are connected to "legs" of EC. BTW it seems EC never sleeps even when thinkpad is off. Or maybe it sleeps but is woken up when you press the power button. It is the EC that senses that power button has been pressed and which commands the power circuitry to switch on and supply power to the Thinkpad. Likewise it is the EC that reacts to a long press on power button.
EC has got its own firmware. It is (sometimes?) updated when you install BIOS. BIOS installation updates BIOS and can also update EC firmware. I think you can check the version of EC firmware from the BIOS screen. It's separate from BIOS version itself. For this mod to work you need to mess with EC firmware. As a side benefit this will allow you to use batteries from *20 generation. Now even if they physically fit T430s will refuse to charge them. After the mod it will stop caring and will charge them just fine. Messing with EC will not help with WiFi whitelisting though. WiFi whitelist is in BIOS proper.
To update EC firmware you will need to use materials from this project: https://github.com/hamishcoleman/thinkpad-ec To use this project you will first need to make sure you're on the "right" version of EC firmware and probably on the "right" version of BIOS. "Right" does not mean "the latest". Read https://github.com/hamishcoleman/thinkpad-ec watch the video. Pay close attention here. What is "right" for X230 is not right for T430s. Version numbering is not consistent between machines. Maybe you can use https://github.com/n4ru/IVprep/ to make sure you're on the "right" version. Alternatively you can make sure you're on the "right" version via different means.
https://github.com/n4ru/1vyrain in contrast to thinkpad-ec modifies BIOS proper. It removes WiFi card whitelist and allows you to set "High Assurance" bit which in theory should make Intel Management Engine less dangerous. If you want to install 1vyrain or not is your choice. If you want to install 1vyrain do it after thinkpad-ec. My understanding is that if you do everything carefully you will keep your EC mods, you will not overwrite them.
Also there may be a Windows 8 license key in your BIOS. I'm not sure but it might still allow Windows 10 activate if you're doing a fresh install of the right version. I don't know if installing 1vyrain will remove that key. I'm not sure but there might even be a way to extract that key and use it to run Windows in a virtual machine on Linux. I'm not sure.
I think there are strong reasons to believe thinkpad-ec will not remove this key.
There are no changes necessary at OS level.
One thing that will not work is the LED on the CapsLock. There were mods to make it work but it requires that you install another tiny microcontroller inside your Thinkpad. You'd connect them to some internal USB connector. That microcontroller - provided you have installed the correct firmware on it - will look like an extra keyboard to the computer. You know when you press CapsLock on one keyboard attached all other keyboards also get the message. So the only purpose of that extra microcontroller would be to drive that LED on the CapsLock. If that is worth the trouble or not is up to you. That mod can be done later if so desired.
X220, 2 *T520
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