Refurbishing a TP240.

[spasticteapot]

I've recently found someone selling a TP240 with a strange problem for only 55$. Apparently, there's some sort of short; whenever half of the keyboard has pressure on it (more than enough to just hit the keys), it shuts off.

Anyway, I'm looking to do a series of modifications and upgrades on this machine so that I can use it for school. This is a "project" laptop; I'll probbably just buy an X40 anyway.

The big problems (for me) with the 240 are the poor battery life, and lack of Wi-Fi. I hope to fix both of these, and gain a better understanding of Linux as well.

So, here's on the list:

1. New lithium-ion cells for the battery. I've got experience with LiIon cells, and should be able to avoid blowing myself up. And, if I can figure out how the controller works, I might be able to upgrade the cells to more recent higher-capacity models. I might also snag one of the high-capacity models; I've heard you can get 6+ hours of battery life if you can deal with the extra half-pound of battery.

2. Another 128mb of RAM, or 256 if I can de-solder the onboard RAM.

3. A 240x motherboard with a 500mhz PIII. It's not going to be easy to find, but a 500mhz PIII is just enough to run a copy of Mepis (the only Linux distro I've managed to figure out how to use). Sadly, the 240x is limited to 192mb of RAM instead of the 256mb+ maximum on the 240, but the better battery life is worth it.

3. A wireless Mini-PCI card. I just wish I could figure out which ones it supports.

4. A new wireless patch antenna. A big one. (Yay, Wifi!)

5. A custom paintjob. Duplicolor Mirage + some sort of durable gloss-coat.

Also, if I can get DSL to work in 128mb of RAM (it's been done!), I'll replace the hard drive with a CompactFlash card, and run everything from memory.

Thoughts?

[pianowizard]

Sadly, the 240x is limited to 192mb of RAM instead of the 256mb+ maximum on the 240, but the better battery life is worth it.

Are you sure the 240X gets better battery life? I have used three 240's (300, 366 and 400MHz Celeron) and one 240X (500MHz PIII) and didn't notice any difference.

[spasticteapot]

Sadly, the 240x is limited to 192mb of RAM instead of the 256mb+ maximum on the 240, but the better battery life is worth it.

Are you sure the 240X gets better battery life? I have used three 240's (300, 366 and 400MHz Celeron) and one 240X (500MHz PIII) and didn't notice any difference.

That's what I've heard. A 500mhz PIII would be nice to have, if nothing else.

[pianowizard]

Perhaps what you have heard is, the 500MHz PIII 240X units came with the 6-cell battery, whereas the 240 units were usually sold with the 3-cell battery. I actually prefer the 3-cell battery, which is about 0.2 lbs lighter. And I agree, the 500MHz PIII 240X is much faster than the Celeron models.

[tom lightbody]

you don't say which 240 you have: (300,366,400mHz), 64megs, 6.4GB--but you should have no problem w/ linux as is: this 600e has very similar specs: 366mHz, 163megs, 6GB: recent net install of debian works well. PCMCIA cards for wired/wireless networking.

please keep us informed: my 240 is in ICU at present, maybe I can learn from yr pioneering efforts.

tom

[spasticteapot]

you don't say which 240 you have: (300,366,400mHz), 64megs, 6.4GB--but you should have no problem w/ linux as is: this 600e has very similar specs: 366mHz, 163megs, 6GB: recent net install of debian works well. PCMCIA cards for wired/wireless networking.

please keep us informed: my 240 is in ICU at present, maybe I can learn from yr pioneering efforts.

tom

I think it's a 366.

I just scored an X40 (w/ a 1yr. warranty, no less!) for 650$, so now the project is'nt quite so urgent. On the other hand, it should help me keep my budget down-which was the point in the first place.

[DPHMIN]

[2. Another 128mb of RAM, or 256 if I can de-solder the onboard RAM.

3. A 240x motherboard with a 500mhz PIII. It's not going to be easy to find, but a 500mhz PIII is just enough to run a copy of Mepis (the only Linux distro I've managed to figure out how to use). Sadly, the 240x is limited to 192mb of RAM instead of the 256mb+ maximum on the 240, but the better battery life is worth it.

Thoughts?[/quote]

I recently tried a 512meg pc133 ram chip in a 240 (Celeron 300) and it recognised 256 meg of it, giving me 320 meg of Ram total.

I figure a 256meg will work with out de-soldering the onboard RAM.

[Davemci]

Strangely enough, I've had a similar problem as yours except on a 560z. Sometimes the 560 would turn on all by itself when I opened the lid. Sometimes I'd be typing and it would shut off. I spent a week working on it including numerous complete assembly disassemblies. I got out my magnifiying glasses and carefullly inspected every trace. I could find nothing wrong. I had the motherboard out and connected to an external monitor with the keyboard hanging from the ribbon cables. I noticed that whenever I touched the leftside of the motherboard the computer would shutoff. I eventually found the steel guard that covers the floppy drive connector had cut through the varnish and was touching the bare copper trace from the power switch. Since your thinkpad shuts off, I would look at the traces coming from the power switch. On mine the exposed copper was about the size of a pixel and I would never have seen it without magnification and with the guard on it was completely covered.

[spasticteapot]

Strangely enough, I've had a similar problem as yours except on a 560z. Sometimes the 560 would turn on all by itself when I opened the lid. Sometimes I'd be typing and it would shut off. I spent a week working on it including numerous complete assembly disassemblies. I got out my magnifiying glasses and carefullly inspected every trace. I could find nothing wrong. I had the motherboard out and connected to an external monitor with the keyboard hanging from the ribbon cables. I noticed that whenever I touched the leftside of the motherboard the computer would shutoff. I eventually found the steel guard that covers the floppy drive connector had cut through the varnish and was touching the bare copper trace from the power switch. Since your thinkpad shuts off, I would look at the traces coming from the power switch. On mine the exposed copper was about the size of a pixel and I would never have seen it without magnification and with the guard on it was completely covered.

Hmm...

I think I'll try some spray polyurethane on the bottom of the keyboard, and adding bits of epoxy over any possible "problem" spots. Not exactly neat, but effective nonetheless.

Anyone know a good place to get appropriate WiFi antennas for the TP240?