T400 Fan Error

[mh9162013]

I have two T400 laptops and one of them has a fan error on bootup. I'm not surprised as it's been making loud fan noises the past few months. My question is: a) is it easy to replace the fan and b) what happens if I swap out HDD from this T400 with my other T400? The one with a broken fan is running Windows 7 64 bit Professional and the T400 that works just fine is running Windows Vista 32 bit (I think it's the professional version). Both laptops have 4GB of RAM and different CPUs (one is Core Duo or w/e it's called and the other is a Centrino 2).

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[dr_st]

1. Not too difficult to replace a fan; according to the HMM it requires the removal of palm rest, keyboard, keyboard bezel and speaker assembly. Each of these is just a couple of screws, but make sure to keep an eye on the screws so as not to lose them / get them mixed up, as they are not all identical.
2. It will most likely run without a hitch, since the core hardware (chipset, drive controller) is identical; if the GPU is different (e.g., one Intel, one ATI), you will need to install the correct driver before you gain full functionality.

[mh9162013]

1. Not too difficult to replace a fan; according to the HMM it requires the removal of palm rest, keyboard, keyboard bezel and speaker assembly. Each of these is just a couple of screws, but make sure to keep an eye on the screws so as not to lose them / get them mixed up, as they are not all identical.
2. It will most likely run without a hitch, since the core hardware (chipset, drive controller) is identical; if the GPU is different (e.g., one Intel, one ATI), you will need to install the correct driver before you gain full functionality.

Thanks dr_st. I do have a follow up question: will I need to worry about the serial number or installation code not "matching" the motherboard? If so, would I be able to reinstall Windows 7 so the OS "matches" the new computer hardware? I assumed I wouldn't be able to (not factoring in SLICE or w/e that procedure is called) because both my OS's (Vista and Win 7) are OEM copies and not retail.

[dr_st]

It's the same machine type, so BIOS codes should match. I don't think the laptop OEM installs attach themselves to motherboard serial numbers.

[mh9162013]

Thanks again for your help. I swapped the HDDs and the T400 with the good fan seems to be accepting the HDD with Win 7 on it. I think it also automatically updated many of the drivers, except for the Wi-Fi card, I think. So far so good, but I'll keep you and anyone else updated for future reference.

[mh9162013]

Update: Everything is working fine, even the driver for the Wi-Fi card automatically installed after the restart. However, when I checked my Win 7 activation status, it said I had 3 days until it auto-activated. I tried activating it now, but it says "The Windows 7 Professional product key you typed is invalid for activation." As way of background, the broken T400 with Win 7 on it was purchased from eBay with Win 7 already installed. It didn't come with any key or anything like that and the bottom of the laptop is so worn, I can't read any of the stickers.

Any ideas on what I need to do next? Would purchasing a key off eBay for $10 or so work? If so, why do some eBay sellers say their key will only work on a "fresh install" and not on an "old installation?" I guess mine would be an old installation?

[RealBlackStuff]

If you installed W7 from a Lenovo recovery set, then that laptop should auto-activate through the Slic in the BIOS.

[mh9162013]

If you installed W7 from a Lenovo recovery set, then that laptop should auto-activate through the Slic in the BIOS.

Unfortunately, I don't have a Lenovo recovery set. The version of Win 7 that I'm using is probably a "reburbisher copy" purchased for resale of laptops.

[TPFanatic]

T400 does not come with SLIC 2.1 in its BIOS.

I've searched extensively and there is no available modded BIOS with a SLIC 2.1 included. You need the SLIC marker tool for T400, which is available with this download: http://rgho.st/38017698

[T-Man]

My T-400 has bios version 3.24 (7UET94WW) and it has SLIC 2.1
I bought it from an authorised lenovo reseller without SLIC 2.1 and after updating the bios it installed SLIC 2,1
One of my colleagues bought also one and had the same experience.
There was once an update from vista to 7 possible for some machines and maybe it has something to do with that.

This one came with vista but I could easily install the OEM windows 7 that came with the T410i, had to install the drivers manuallly but apart from that it still runs perfect.
Its my only windows pc for the few windows programs l have left, the rest runs linux
Also had to replace the fan, used a $1,50 Chinese one, had to bend the aluminium a bit to make it fit.