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x230 and x220 Keyboard not working on X230 ThinkPad

X230-X280, X390 Series
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kimsin
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Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2020 9:09 pm
Location: London, UK

x230 and x220 Keyboard not working on X230 ThinkPad

#1 Post by kimsin » Tue Jun 08, 2021 8:46 pm

I have Lenovo ThinkPad x230.

Recently I decided to do a keyboard mod. After the mod, I noticed that the right "mouse" button on the keyboard is not working. At that stage I had the 3 pins covered perfectly but wanted to just do things over and make sure all pins are in contact. Unfortunately, it didn't work. Not only that but this time all three buttons were not working.

So I removed the tape and let the three connections just burn. This did not change anything. I swited back to the original x230 keyboard but this time I noticed that the characters n,u,j,k,7, etc aren't working.

Now I am sitting here frustrated late at night and wondering what the issue is. Does the keyboard have some resistor or capacitor that I might have burned or maybe I damaged the connector on the motherboard so one pins are missaligned?

The x220 keyboard just works fine but the mouse buttons don't work (left, middle, right). As mentioned, the original x230 keyboard n,u,j,k,7, etc don't work.

I don't understand from scematics, but could it be possible that x220s pin for the three keyboard mouse button is at the same location for x230s "n" character and "7" character column?

axur-delmeria
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Re: x230 and x220 Keyboard not working on X230 ThinkPad

#2 Post by axur-delmeria » Tue Jun 08, 2021 10:31 pm

I think the problems are unrelated. The traces on the X220 keyboard's mouse buttons got cut, dunno whether due to an electrical short or wear and tear due to age. The X230 keyboard is is more due to age or unseen physical damage.
Planned Purchase: T480s i5-8350 FHD Touch
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RIP: X220 4291-C91 X61 7676-A24 760XD-U9E :cry:

kimsin
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Location: London, UK

Re: x230 and x220 Keyboard not working on X230 ThinkPad

#3 Post by kimsin » Tue Jun 08, 2021 10:58 pm

axur-delmeria wrote:
Tue Jun 08, 2021 10:31 pm
I think the problems are unrelated. The traces on the X220 keyboard's mouse buttons got cut, dunno whether due to an electrical short or wear and tear due to age. The X230 keyboard is is more due to age or unseen physical damage.
I will meet my friend later today and test his keyboard and he will test mine. It is strange that both keyboard traces could be damaged all at the same time. Well I hope that is the case, outherwise it could be from the MB or the connector on the MB. It is just very strange two keyboard to not work at the same time. I will keep updating the thread as I find and learn someting new.

All I hope is that the connector is not damaged on the MB. When it comes to why, how and when I could have damaged both keyboard traces... I have no idea but time will tell.

kimsin
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2020 9:09 pm
Location: London, UK

Re: x230 and x220 Keyboard not working on X230 ThinkPad

#4 Post by kimsin » Tue Jun 08, 2021 10:59 pm

axur-delmeria wrote:
Tue Jun 08, 2021 10:31 pm
I think the problems are unrelated. The traces on the X220 keyboard's mouse buttons got cut, dunno whether due to an electrical short or wear and tear due to age. The X230 keyboard is is more due to age or unseen physical damage.
Btw, do you happen to have map of the traces so I know which line is for which?

kimsin
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Location: London, UK

Re: x230 and x220 Keyboard not working on X230 ThinkPad

#5 Post by kimsin » Wed Jun 09, 2021 4:45 pm

Seems like I have damaged the connector on the MB. I tried my friends x230 keyboard and character "l" and keys in that column didn't work.

Any solution to this?

atagunov
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Re: x230 and x220 Keyboard not working on X230 ThinkPad

#6 Post by atagunov » Wed Jun 09, 2021 4:54 pm

kimsin wrote:
Wed Jun 09, 2021 4:45 pm
Seems like I have damaged the connector on the MB
That'd be pretty sad. Honestly? Replacing the mobo seems like the answer..

For the benefit of the community, what is it you think that could have gone wrong? How do you believe this could have happened? We disassmeble/assemble our Thinkpads quite a lot and usually that doesn't lead to damaged keyboard connectors..
X220, 2 *T520

kimsin
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Location: London, UK

Re: x230 and x220 Keyboard not working on X230 ThinkPad

#7 Post by kimsin » Wed Jun 09, 2021 6:00 pm

atagunov wrote:
Wed Jun 09, 2021 4:54 pm
kimsin wrote:
Wed Jun 09, 2021 4:45 pm
Seems like I have damaged the connector on the MB
That'd be pretty sad. Honestly? Replacing the mobo seems like the answer..

For the benefit of the community, what is it you think that could have gone wrong? How do you believe this could have happened? We disassmeble/assemble our Thinkpads quite a lot and usually that doesn't lead to damaged keyboard connectors..
This is my worst fear. This is my second motherboard. Previous one I burned the backlight fuse. This time I cannot believe that I damaged the keyboard connector and have no idea how. Maybe I forces to push the pins down hard idk. But, I need a schematic of that connector to see which pin exactly is damaged.

mechkbfan
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Location: Newcastle, Australia

Re: x230 and x220 Keyboard not working on X230 ThinkPad

#8 Post by mechkbfan » Fri Apr 14, 2023 8:07 am

Were you able to resolve this?

I've found 1/2 dozen similar people on reddit with same issue. X220 kb into X230 but the three mouse buttons don't work

Best I had seen was electrical tape is too thick and somehow prevents mouse buttons from working

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