New T21 owner.

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meh · #1 Post by **meh** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:23 pm

Actually, I've had it for a bit over a month, and it's been a wonderful little machine (aside from the fact that it doesn't have built-in wifi... oh well.)

I paid $200something + shipping for it. It's in really good condition, only normal scuffing on the outside.

Mine is model 2647-9AU.
PIII-850
256MB RAM
32GB HDD
1400x1050 SXGA+ LCD (love it)

#2 Post by **rkawakami** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:36 pm

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

Aaahhh... a 9AU... I like those! (Although mine has the "blink of death" syndrome and the LCD was transferred into a T23). Also have a 9BU and a 5BU. Great systems. If you don't already have a copy of the Hardware Maintenance Manual, you can download it from here:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4UYM3F

There's lots of good information in there.

meh · #3 Post by **meh** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:52 pm

Yeah, I was using the HMM just yesterday to take it apart to get the keyboard out - there's an annoying metallic clicking noise when I use the left mouse button, and the keyboard was for some reason not seated properly (one corner was slightly higher.) I fixed the keyboard tilt issue, but the clicking is still driving me slightly nuts. Otherwise, it's in pretty much perfect condition (the keyboard/wrist rest aren't even shiny!)

pianowizard · #4 Post by **pianowizard** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 7:14 am

Welcome aboard! $200+ for a near-mint SXGA+ T21 isn't bad at all. I'm sure it already performs pretty well, but if you increase the RAM to 512MB and get a 7200rpm hard drive, it will feel even snappier.

meh · #5 Post by **meh** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:28 am

Well, three things I forgot to mention: there's a bit of shinyness where the part where the wrist rest meets the beveled sloping part, there's some residue I couldn't take off with rubbing alcohol from the Win2K sticker (my fault for ripping it off) and latch crack from me dropping it. whoops. Yeah, I'm clumsy.

Looking back, I paid $230 + $30 for express 2nd day shipping.

I also accidentally pwned the power adapter in a door. Oh well, those aren't nearly as hard to find as ThinkPads (and I repaired it by stripping the insulation off, soldering, and wrapping in much electrical tape.)

(Pics in the pictures forum as soon as I can be bothered to clean up my desk... which is probably sometime later today (early monday morning now) as school's starting on Tuesday.)

mattbiernat · #6 Post by **mattbiernat** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:39 am

meh wrote:there's some residue I couldn't take off with rubbing alcohol from the Win2K sticker (my fault for ripping it off)

i know that nail polish remover works well on those

meh · #7 Post by **meh** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 11:56 am

I need a new battery too... or at least recalibrate/recondition this one.

This battery's battery meter is totally screwed up - it says "critical battery" after half an hour and I can usually use it well over an hour afterwards. Because of that, if I shut it down after half an hour and turn it back on, the BIOS says "Critical low-battery error" and refuses to start up.

Anyone got any tips/tricks?

#8 Post by **gator** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 12:16 pm

Congrats on your purchase, an SXGA+ T21 is awesome!

Do not use nail polish removers that contain acetone. Buy some isopropyl alcohol, dilute it with water (50%) and use a soft paper towel to wipe the residue off. This is the bst method to clean your thinkpad top to bottom (LCD included). It evaporates quickly without leaving marks and is odourless.

pianowizard · #9 Post by **pianowizard** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 12:40 pm

meh wrote:This battery's battery meter is totally screwed up - it says "critical battery" after half an hour and I can usually use it well over an hour afterwards.

Yes, I think reconditioning will solve this problem. Go to Battery MaxiMiser and choose "Disable Shut-off Timers", unplug the AC adapter, and use the laptop until the battery is used up, which will cause the machine to shut down automatically. Close the display lid, plug in the AC adapter, and charge the battery for at least 10 hours during which you must not power up the machine. After 10 hours of charging, the batter LED should be solid green, and you can start using the machine.

meh · #10 Post by **meh** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:23 pm

pianowizard wrote:
meh wrote:This battery's battery meter is totally screwed up - it says "critical battery" after half an hour and I can usually use it well over an hour afterwards.
Yes, I think reconditioning will solve this problem. Go to Battery MaxiMiser and choose "Disable Shut-off Timers", unplug the AC adapter, and use the laptop until the battery is used up, which will cause the machine to shut down automatically. Close the display lid, plug in the AC adapter, and charge the battery for at least 10 hours during which you must not power up the machine. After 10 hours of charging, the batter LED should be solid green, and you can start using the machine.

Alright, thanks! I'll do that tonight before I go to sleep.

Robbyrobot · #11 Post by **Robbyrobot** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 1:34 am

Do not use nail polish removers that contain acetone. Buy some isopropyl alcohol, dilute it with water (50%) and use a soft paper towel to wipe the residue off. This is the bst method to clean your thinkpad top to bottom (LCD included). It evaporates quickly without leaving marks and is odourless.

I'd agree except when you suggest diluting with water. The isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol) will indeed evaporate quickly and doesn't leave marks, but is far from odorless (except naturally after it has evaporated). However, if you dilute it with water, it will leave a residue of minerals (if you don't use distilled - not merely deionized - water) and the mixture is a poor solvent for any organic matter such as label adhesive. I use 100% isopropanol for most cleaning work of this type, since it won't damage most plastics and is a good solvent for many organic residues (fingerprints, label adhesive).

mattbiernat · #12 Post by **mattbiernat** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 1:58 am

lol i clean mine with non-amonia based windex like cheap glass cleaner and there doesn't seem to by any problem whatsoever. besides its just plastic, it is meant to protect the guts and doesn't have to be that pretty. but that's just how i view things.

Robbyrobot · #13 Post by **Robbyrobot** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 2:48 am

lol i clean mine with non-amonia based windex like cheap glass cleaner and there doesn't seem to by any problem whatsoever.

Windex is nothing but ispropanol with water, a bit of tenside and some blue dye. It's fine for just cleaning - as long as you don't try to clean the LCD screen, since it can be damaged by such a mixture - but not much good for removing local accumulations of things like label adhesive.

meh · #14 Post by **meh** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:14 am

The adhesive's been removed - thanks - with 50% alcohol and water (that's the only thing I have in the closet, it's the only thing the local dollar store sells... in big 16 oz bottles.)

The problem is the finish is still slightly dulled where the label used to be (or faded? don't really know how to describe it.) Oh well, not too big an issue.

pianowizard · #15 Post by **pianowizard** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:17 am

meh wrote:The problem is the finish is still slightly dulled where the label used to be (or faded? don't really know how to describe it.)

I know what you mean. That's actually because that patch of the palmrest has been protected from erosion by that sticker for 6 years. It shows what the rest of the palmrest would look like if it were still new.

oldbob · #16 Post by **oldbob** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 8:36 am

meh,

There are many wireless cards available.

A really long URL for geeks.com

I use a Realtek 8180 NIC on my T-21.

Moderator edit: Shortened URL to prevent horizontal scrolling

meh · #17 Post by **meh** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 1:23 am

oldbob wrote:meh,

There are many wireless cards available.

A really long URL for geeks.com

I use a Realtek 8180 NIC on my T-21.

Moderator edit: Shortened URL to prevent horizontal scrolling

Don't need one, I'm using a Belkin F5D7010 already. Thanks though.

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