X230 Backlight/Thinklight?

X230/X240 series specific matters only
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outsidethebox
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Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 9:57 am
Location: Scranton, PA

X230 Backlight/Thinklight?

#1 Post by outsidethebox » Fri Nov 14, 2014 10:14 am

Hi Lenovites,

I am new to the Thinkpad (X230 3435-24U Tablet-PC), and it seems great so far. A few newbie questions if you would be so kind:

My space bar shows a grey "light" symbol. The online manual indicates that pressing this along with the "Fn" button should toggle a light on. It doesn't, but it does produce an on-screen graphic of a light with a "Ghostbusters" circle/slash through it.

1. Does this mean I do or don't have a backlight/thinklight on my Thinkpad X230?
2. The tech support line says this model should have a light of some kind, largely because the symbol appears on the spacebar, but they can't tell me whether it should be a keyboard light or an "overhead" LED, and I don't know what to look for on the hardware to make this determination.
3. Any idea what the symbol means or how to fix the issue?

Any ideas or experiences would be much appreciated.

Thank you,

OTB

brchan
ThinkPadder
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Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2014 11:43 am
Location: West Lafayette, Indiana

Re: X230 Backlight/Thinklight?

#2 Post by brchan » Fri Nov 14, 2014 11:13 am

All X230 models have a thinklight (led light is right above built in camera at top of LCD bezel). Depending on if you got a LED backlight keyboard as well, then pressing FN + Spacebar will toggle both on or off (but both cannot be on at the same time). It is possible that the lights got disabled in the BIOS. If they are still enabled there, then there is probably a problem with the light or the cable that connects to them.
Current Thinkpads: W530 (functional classic keyboard mod), X301, T61, T60, T43, T23, 600X, 770
Other: mk5 Toughbook cf-19, mk1 Toughbook cf-53

outsidethebox
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 9:57 am
Location: Scranton, PA

Re: X230 Backlight/Thinklight?

#3 Post by outsidethebox » Fri Nov 14, 2014 3:33 pm

brchan--

Thank you for the reply--that's a relief!

When you say "above the camera" what I see in laptop mode is a camera lense (quarter inch in diameter) with a tiny circle (less than eighth inch in diameter) to the RIGHT of the camera--is this it?

Lenovo tried to talk me through activating it using the space bar and FN key, and when that didn't work, they offered to send me "an envelope" to send it back to them for repair/return.

BTW--Do I pay shipping or do they?

Thanks again!

brchan
ThinkPadder
ThinkPadder
Posts: 1326
Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2014 11:43 am
Location: West Lafayette, Indiana

Re: X230 Backlight/Thinklight?

#4 Post by brchan » Fri Nov 14, 2014 7:30 pm

The thinklight is actually above the camera area to the right and is not positioned in the same plane (it is perpendicular). You should notice a little hole with an LED inside.

Here is an example: http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a69/ye ... Custom.jpg
Current Thinkpads: W530 (functional classic keyboard mod), X301, T61, T60, T43, T23, 600X, 770
Other: mk5 Toughbook cf-19, mk1 Toughbook cf-53

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