T61 and the Advanced Dock

[Fixed_Rider]

Nice, I'll look for in a bit. I appreciate the tip.

[DaKKS]

Right, it didn't fit. The metal thingy is in the way and i cant disassemble the dock to remove it. It seems Lenovo, in their great wisdom, decided to use a tad different TORX screws with pins in the middle.

Other than that the card should fit fine. Only the metal bar has to go.

[TuuS]

It seems Lenovo, in their great wisdom, decided to use a tad different TORX screws with pins in the middle.

This is call a Security torx

The tool needed isn't restricted by any laws that I'm aware of so there really isn't anything about it that makes it more secure, in fact if I'm not mistaken, all T61 thinkpads came with a security torx screw and wrench to lock your ultrabay drive in place to keep it from being stolen, but the logic behind the security torx fasteners alludes me.

[Fixed_Rider]

DaKKS,

I ran into the same issue with the Gigabyte Radeon card I posted a few posts ago. Fortunately I was able to unscrew the metal bracket that the card gets screwed to by the outputs and I removed the plastic bit opposite of that metal bracket and the card slid right in. Works great! Also, it came with some OC software should we chose to dabble.
Either way it was a much better solution than dealing with the large heat sink from the Sapphire card.
Keep us posted on how you are coming along.

[DaKKS]

I give up. I found a set of security torx bits and I spent the last two hours trying to pull the [censored] thing apart. Nope, like it was glued together. I'd have bigger luck breaking into fort knox...

[RealBlackStuff]

You could try to spray some WD-40 onto the screw(s) and let it 'soak' for a while.
Failing that, good old Coca Cola will also do the (sticky) trick.

[DaKKS]

You could try to spray some WD-40 onto the screw(s) and let it 'soak' for a while.
Failing that, good old Coca Cola will also do the (sticky) trick.

No, I mean the internal frame refuses to release the plastic. I've got have an inch of gap between the two parts, but aside from using far more violence than I'm comfortable with, I cant see how i can open it up.

EDIT: Now I cant put the f**king thing back together either! Who the f**k built this thing? The Chubb brothers?

[DaKKS]

Thats it. Anyone want a partially disassembled Advanced dock? Cause I cant pull it apart, and now i cant put it together again either.

[TuuS]

Thats it. Anyone want a partially disassembled Advanced dock? Cause I cant pull it apart, and now i cant put it together again either.

Usually if it won't come apart that means there are some hidden screws, they are often covered with black stickers, some can be hard to tell from the black plastic.

Some patience will probably get the job done as I ran into a similar issue trying to replace the DC jack on x61 tablet ultrabase dock, but after I found all the screws and got it apart, I found the jack was soldered to the board so I abandoned the project since it was cheaper to replace the whole dock.

[DaKKS]

Usually if it won't come apart that means there are some hidden screws, they are often covered with black stickers, some can be hard to tell from the black plastic.

Some patience will probably get the job done as I ran into a similar issue trying to replace the DC jack on x61 tablet ultrabase dock, but after I found all the screws and got it apart, I found the jack was soldered to the board so I abandoned the project since it was cheaper to replace the whole dock.

There is no screw that I have not loosened. Not a single one. Its just stuck. The only explanation would be that there is a screw under the eject button, but its impossible to get it off. Its completely stuck near the key lock. That corner just wont budge. I've been building computers for ten years so I consider myself fairly competent. But this is just beyond me.

EDIT: It came apart using excessive violence. There were no screws...

[TuuS]

It came apart using excessive violence.

Sometimes a better screwdriver is what's needed, other times just a larger hammer


ps. we look forward to a good report

[DaKKS]

Good news and bad news.

Good news, the dock works fine with the new gfx card.

Bad news, I had to do major modifications for the gfx card to fit. Internally, it doesnt look all that good. But nothing can be seen from the outside.

Also, I didn't have any screws left over when i was done! Yay!