x240 - trackpoint/trackpad problems and backlight keyboard support

[joksim]

Hello all,

I have a thinkpad x240 with an x250 trackpad, that I changed a year ago.

I spilled a lot of coffee on the keyboard, I left it to dry out during the night. After the next boot, the trackpad/trackpoint was behaving erratically so investigated further. The trackpoint buttons were not working so I thought I could switch the bad trackpad with the old x240 trackpad that I have laying around.

I guess I must have done something wrong, and now along with my trackpoint buttons, the pointing stick (nipple) and the trackpad are not working at all. thankfully, my keyboard is working, but I have to carry a mouse.

Since both the old (x240) and the new trackpad (x250) are not working (I checked), I presume that the flat cable that connects the trackpad is damaged. Is there a way to better diagnose the problem?

Also, as I understand, the cable to the trackpad comes from the keyboard. Now I have a non-backlight QWERTZ keyboard that I would ideally replace (if needed) with an backlit US QWERTY layout along with the trackpad. I called the lenovo service parthers in my country and they told me that my laptop DOES NOT support backlight keyboard. Can this be checked?

Sorry about the long expose and problem description,

Cheers

[axur-delmeria]

The touchpad and Trackpoint share the same PS/2 port, so if one malfunctions, the other is also affected.

Most likely it's the Trackpoint that's malfunctioning after you spilled coffee on the keyboard. So disconnect its cable and check if the touchpad acts normally again.

[joksim]

The touchpad and Trackpoint share the same PS/2 port, so if one malfunctions, the other is also affected.

Most likely it's the Trackpoint that's malfunctioning after you spilled coffee on the keyboard. So disconnect its cable and check if the touchpad acts normally again.

Hi, thank you for the input.

Do you think a new keyboard with backlight can be installed?

Cheers

[RealBlackStuff]

The clunkpad/touchpad+buttons has its own cable, not connected to the trackpoint.
It goes directly from -pad to motherboard.
And yes, X240 can take keyboards with backlight.
Go for a LiteOn one, they are the best.
But to do so, you'll have to almost take the whole laptop apart!
You can find a parts-list here: https://download.lenovo.com/parts/Think ... 150530.pdf

[whqdz]

Go for a LiteOn one, they are the best.

What is the difference between a LiteOn and no LiteOn ?

[RealBlackStuff]

LiteOn vs Chicony vs SRX.
Plenty info on the web.

[joksim]

Hello again,

I thank you for your advices. It looks like the flat cable that connects the trackpad is damaged. Do you have any experience with replacing it?
Maybe a place where it can be bought. I found couple of AliExpress sites (no amazon in my country unfortunately).

with regards

[RealBlackStuff]

There are 2 versions:
- a short cable for only pad-to-motherboard, 04Y1661 or 00HT397, seen here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/254172560664
--- easy job, but hard to find and usually expensive
- a long cable which also includes the fingerprint, 04Y1660 or 00HT396, seen here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/253805125955
--- difficult job, but easy to find and usually cheap(er)
If you don't want/need the FPR (or want to save money for a short cable), you can cut off both long cables, but handle it carefully, those cables tear easily!

Also, some sellers got it all wrong, so look at the pictures/cable size of what they sell.

[joksim]

Hi again,

I successfully ordered new trackpad and trackpad cable from this page: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/328467 ... 4c4dDGNe8C

Did the swap yesterday and now everything is working . Used this guide ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTN-CO_flVs) for disassembly of the computer and swapped the cable and did a little bit of cleaning.

Thank you all for the help and cheers

J