Couple A31 Questions..

[Ryan_C]

Hi, just signed up here, and I have a few questions about the A31 2652:

1. How do I 'bind' the 7 buttons on the left side of the keyboard to do other tasks?
2. What does the thinkpad button left of the volume control buttons do?
3. Is there a form of fn-lock?
4. What type of battery life should I be expecting?
5. How might I get built in wireless on this? I know there's a panel on the back which hides a mini-pci slot, but will any mini-pci wireless-G card fit in?
6. Is it particularly hard to swap in the 1400x1050 screen of the A31p, and what parts do I need for that?
7. Is the max amount of ram 1gb, in the form of 2 512mb sticks, and what type of ram is it (DDR, SD, EDO, etc)
8. How much should I expect to pay? P4-M 1.6, 512mb ram, 30gb hard drive, dvd-rom, Li-Ion battery.

Thanks.

[proaudioguy]

Hi, just signed up here, and I have a few questions about the A31 2652:

1. How do I 'bind' the 7 buttons on the left side of the keyboard to do other tasks?

Keyboard Customizer

2. What does the thinkpad button left of the volume control buttons do?

It used to open Thinkpad Configuration, which was a shortcut to get to several devices you can get to in the control panel. You don't need it.

3. Is there a form of fn-lock?

Yes, it's part of the Accessibility options. You can get to it with Thinkpad Configuration.

4. What type of battery life should I be expecting?

For a new battery, maybe an hour, hour and a half, real world. Battery life sucks. If you shut everything off and lower the LCD brightness you can get more.

5. How might I get built in wireless on this? I know there's a panel on the back which hides a mini-pci slot, but will any mini-pci wireless-G card fit in?

You have to replace the screen plastics with one that has WIFI antennas, then buy a card that is compatible. Otherwise you have to mod/ hack the thinkpad. I got the plastics with the antennas from EBAY, and a broadcom card from Underclocker.

6. Is it particularly hard to swap in the 1400x1050 screen of the A31p, and what parts do I need for that?

A31p didn't have an SXGA+. It had the UXGA. I do not know for sure, but it has been said here that the UXGA is not compatible with NON- UXGA A31s. The SXGA+ and XGA are interchangeable. The XGA machines have 16Megs VRAM/ Radeon 7500, SXGA+ have 32 Megs VRAM/ Radeon 7500, and UXGA "p" models have 64 Megs VRAM/ Fire GL.

7. Is the max amount of ram 1gb, in the form of 2 512mb sticks, and what type of ram is it (DDR, SD, EDO, etc)

Max Ram is 2GB, 2 sticks of 1GB, with the later BIOS. You must have a fully charged working battery to update the BIOS. The full charge could be 5 minutes running time, but it has to be working and full. DDR SD, I believe. PC2100 whatever that is.

8. How much should I expect to pay? P4-M 1.6, 512mb ram, 30gb hard drive, dvd-rom, Li-Ion battery.

I wouldn't pay more than $200-$250 if it's clean. It's an upgradeable machine but it's really not nearly as fast as the new stuff out there with XP.

Thanks.

If you can get one for under $200. you might consider upgrading the fan, and putting a 2.4-2.6GHz CPU, and 2 GB of ram. The limiting factor of the A31 is the VRAM. If you can get an A31P, you will pay a bit more but you will get the UXGA Flexview screen, and 64 Megs of VRAM. The other surefire boost is a 7200RPM hard drive. I like the Seagate drive, because it's dead quiet, and has a 5 year warrantee.

[Ryan_C]

First of all, I would like to thank you for taking the time to respond.

-The A31p had a SXGA+ (1400x1050) display, and I do believe some higher end A31's had the same SXGA+. The questions this brings up is if the built in Radeon 7500 is enough, as opposed to the FireGL in the A31p.
-Will any type of PC2100 SODimm fit in the laptop, and work with the later bios? What bios is the first one that will support 2gb?
-Ok, I was just wondering if I over-paid. I paid $200 for it, and it has XP already.

It also seems like wireless is needlessly complicated. It would probably be easier to just use a PCMCIA wireless-G card, right?

Thanks once again.

[ajkula66]

The A31p has never had anything but UXGA....and if you won't believe someone who has had more A31p machines than most people get to see in a couple of lifetimes, check here:

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:A31p

Hi-end A31 machines have come with SXGA+ screens, both in FlexView and non-FlexView guise, along with 32Mb video.

Any PC2100 or 2700 memory will work. I've been using both for years.

A good wireless "g" card will be an easy and comfortable solution, unless you're planning on using your PCMCIA slots for something else, like an USB 2.0 card.

You've done OK with $200 if the laptop is in good shape with no issues.

As for BIOS, go to Lenovo's website, choose "supports and downloads", type in your machine number, and update it to the latest BIOS-it won't hurt and will take you less than 10 minutes altogether.

Hope this helps.

[Ryan_C]

Sorry, I meant the higher-end A31's. Not the A31p. But I do believe the original question still applies: Is it possible to put that SXGA+ screen into any a31 (even one with the Radeon 7500)?

Thanks for the advice.

[ajkula66]

Yes. It is possible.

[proaudioguy]

Sorry, I meant the higher-end A31's. Not the A31p. But I do believe the original question still applies: Is it possible to put that SXGA+ screen into any a31 (even one with the Radeon 7500)?

Thanks for the advice.

Deja Vu.

All A31 had Radeon 7500. XGA had 16 MB, while SXGA+ had 32 MB.

All A31p had the Fire GL with 64 MB

The SXGA+ will work with 16 MB system board. I have one here.