My $30 Thinkpad X31

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sbelew · #1 Post by **sbelew** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 4:55 pm

I was browsing around my local used computer, junk, wholesale, "we'll sell anything" store and came across an x31 in a box with a bunch of junk parts notebooks. I dug it out , turned it over, it was missing the battery and Dimm cover, but it has 2 256 meg dimms in it. I knew this thing would'nt work, but i thought i'd take the chance on the memory. Asked the owner how much he wanted for it. He said $30 so I bought it.
Got it home and was just going to pull the memory out of it and toss it in the scrap pile, but decided to plug it up to a power supply and see what happens. To my suprise, it booted up to a Windows XP login screen with no errors at all. I couldn't log in because all the accounts were passworded. So I decided to read up and see if I could make the thing boot from an external USB cd-rom.
I got it booted from a Kubuntu Linux cd, All hardware was recognized, sound, video, everything worked. So I hit the install button and installed Linux on it. I then dug out a spare atheros mPCI card i had, removed the keyboard, plugged in the card, (it already had antennas installed from factory) and of course got the 1802 error. A quick CD boot with the no-1802 disc, problem solved.
I bought a battery and the Dimm cover from ebay, got the battery today, it charges and runs fine, still waiting on the memory cover. I got the battery for $26 and the cover for $25 for a total of $81 . The LCD has a few imperfections in it but nothing to severe or distracting. Its a fun little machine to play with, runs very nice with Linux.
Just wanted to share my little treasure find with everyone. Thanks for reading!

Steve

cwf · #2 Post by **cwf** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:10 pm

A happy story for the holidays!

Thanks for sharing...happy holidays!

pianowizard · #3 Post by **pianowizard** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:11 pm

Congrats on getting an X31 for the price of an X20! I think the next thing to do should be selling it for $281 to make a $200 profit!

khtse · #4 Post by **khtse** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:14 pm

"Then I went to Lenovo website and check. OMG, this thing is still under warranty!"

I hope you are not going to add that, that would be too lucky for you!

awong · #5 Post by **awong** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:23 am

[censored] you are lucky and you are located in NPR florida, really close to where I am at, good deal. wish I can find an x series...

proaudioguy · #6 Post by **proaudioguy** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:25 am

Dang yer killin me. I lived in NPR for about 18 years (Seminole for 5, and Clearwater for 2). I never found any deals like that! Small world though.

Hey Fleeman, Anderson, and Bird is over there. When I go see friends or family I always make an excuse to stop over there and spend money.

sbelew · #7 Post by **sbelew** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:48 am

I've dropped a few dollars at Fab-Corp myself. Good guys to deal with.

OMG, i had no idea this thing is still under warranty. I went to the Lenovo site myself and looked up information about it, never even thought to check the warranty.

Its not perfect though, the screen has some blems that look like they are inside the LCD. They kinda look like raindrops inside. Not enough to affect using it, but in order for it to be perfect it would need to be changed. Is this something that could be repaired under warranty does anyone think? I can post a picture of it if anyone is interested.

sbelew · #8 Post by **sbelew** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:42 pm

Well, thanks to khtse for pointing out this machine is still under warranty. I just got off the phone with IBM. They are sending me a box to ship it back to have the LCD replaced. I really got lucky on this one. They told me to remove the hard drive before shipping it back, so I dont have to worry about loosing any information. They were very easy to deal with. I spent more time navigating their spiritual switchboard menu system than I did actually talking to the guy.
Anyway, Thanks again khtse for pointing that out to me. I will post back later when I get the laptop back and let everyone know how it went.

Thanks
Steve

Brad · #9 Post by **Brad** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:32 pm

Oprah is next....

Nicely done..

Brad

qviri · #10 Post by **qviri** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:51 pm

sbelew wrote:OMG, i had no idea this thing is still under warranty. I went to the Lenovo site myself and looked up information about it, never even thought to check the warranty.

Did you actually check if it's under warranty, or just assumed? At this point not all X31s will be covered and you will need to give IBM your serial number to see if yours is. (Though seeing how you've gotten through support I'm guessing you did?)

iamdmc · #11 Post by **iamdmc** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:17 pm

Merry Christmas!

This was surely the act of Santa haha. What other explanation is there for such fantastic luck? They might even replace the casing if it's damaged (and maybe even the dock).

Wouldn't it be funny if they just said "nope, too hard to fix, here's an X61s"

(Waits for it to happen)

sbelew · #12 Post by **sbelew** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:33 pm

Yes, I had them verify the warranty, and also verify that this would cost me nothing out of my pocket. So I'm good to go, although it does expire on the 22nd of this month, so the timing couldnt have worked out better. I also verified it myself on the website

Status: Expiration date: Location:
In warranty 2007-12-22 UNITED STATES

#13 Post by **Harryc** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:42 pm

It's a Christmas story if I ever heard one ... it's starting to snow now ....

. Good luck with the X31.

pianowizard · #14 Post by **pianowizard** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:42 pm

sbelew wrote:Status: Expiration date: Location:
In warranty 2007-12-22 UNITED STATES

You are so very lucky! After the repairs, it might be worth over $300. Will you sell it?

SaberX · #15 Post by **SaberX** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:03 pm

sbelew wrote:Yes, I had them verify the warranty, and also verify that this would cost me nothing out of my pocket. So I'm good to go, although it does expire on the 22nd of this month, so the timing couldnt have worked out better. I also verified it myself on the website

Status: Expiration date: Location:
In warranty 2007-12-22 UNITED STATES

Better be carefull.......You say you bought it in a used computer store came across an x31 in a box with a bunch of junk parts notebooks.What if it is stolen?You sent it in for the warrenty and you will never see it again.From what i understand IBM will not tell you if the system is on there black list for stolen systems.You send it in and never get it back.
I only say this because here in my city the used computer and 2nd hand stores have a BIG problem with people steeling stuff and selling it to thease stores for cheap.There was a case here in my city a while ago(few years now) where someone bought a used computer(desktop) from one of thease used sell everything stores and when they got it home they found all kinds of info from the real owner of the system there.E-mail address that wernt deleted.So the new owner who just bought the system sent an e-mail to the address they found and long story short,it was a stolen system.

Just something to keep in mind....

sbelew · #16 Post by **sbelew** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:30 pm

iamdmc wrote:Merry Christmas!

Wouldn't it be funny if they just said "nope, too hard to fix, here's an X61s"

(Waits for it to happen)

Just looked up the x61s, and yes that would be nice. Guess I shouldn't push my luck in hoping for that, but hey..... it would be nice. Come on IBM its Christmas time, hook me up!!!!

khtse · #17 Post by **khtse** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:05 pm

sbelew wrote:Well, thanks to khtse for pointing out this machine is still under warranty. I just got off the phone with IBM. They are sending me a box to ship it back to have the LCD replaced. I really got lucky on this one. They told me to remove the hard drive before shipping it back, so I dont have to worry about loosing any information. They were very easy to deal with. I spent more time navigating their spiritual switchboard menu system than I did actually talking to the guy.
Anyway, Thanks again khtse for pointing that out to me. I will post back later when I get the laptop back and let everyone know how it went.

Thanks
Steve

I can't believe it, this can't be happening!

How can one be so lucky? But why would someone dump a laptop that is still under warranty

If I were the original owner, I would have everything fixed and then sell it.

rek · #18 Post by **rek** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:28 am

It could also simply be an ex-company lease notebook, rather than stolen. It's not uncommon for such stock to be liquidated in bulk, sometimes at a fraction of its actual value, for tax reasons.

Local (Australia) eBay sellers that refurbish ex-lease stock have been flooding the listings with X31s in the last 6-8 months, all still with a small amount of IBM warranty remaining. Right now it looks like they've all run out of X31s, and starting with X40s now. Interesting how you can track corporate IT procurements by looking at the tail-end, eh

rek · #19 Post by **rek** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:33 am

oops, hit the quote button instead of edit

sbelew · #20 Post by **sbelew** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 6:19 pm

Just an update. IBM has received my laptop today and the current status is Machine Being Repaired. Getting it there is another story. DHL missed 2 scheduled pickups but managed to pick it up on the 3rd try, Saturday around 1:00pm eastern, and IBM received it at 9:08am eastern this morning. The rep I talked to on the phone said it would most likely take 2 days to repair it, I'm not sure if that is accurate or not but we will see. Will update again when it is shipped back.

sbelew · #21 Post by **sbelew** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:06 am

Another update. IBM has shipped my laptop back, but DHL website has had it "Out For Delivery" for 2 days now. These guys must have the leakiest ship in the shipping industry. Hopefully it will show up today.

#22 Post by **Harryc** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 11:16 am

DHL is a trip

. I am having a package shipped here at the moment by DHL. Look at the tracking history below and see if you can spot the problem ...LOL
Mind you, the scheduled delivery date was yesterday ...

Code: Select all

Tracking history...  	  Help 
Date and time 	Status 	DHL Facility Location
12/21/2007    7:20 am 	Arrived at DHL facility.   	Danbury, CT
12/20/2007    7:42 pm 	Transit through DHL facility   	Coventry Regional Hub, RI
               5:59 pm 	Depart Facility   	Wilmington - Clinton Field, OH
               1:50 pm 	Processed at DHL Location.   	Wilmington - Clinton Field, OH
               6:13 am 	Transit through DHL facility   	Aurora, CO
               5:17 am 	Depart Facility   	Aurora Regional Hub, CO
12/19/2007    9:34 pm 	Processed at DHL Location.   	Aurora Regional Hub, CO
12/18/2007  12:37 pm 	Processed at DHL Location.   	Wilmington - Clinton Field, OH
12/17/2007    9:30 pm 	Shipment picked up   	Wilmington, OH

losmeme · #23 Post by **losmeme** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 11:58 am

Ha Ha! Wrongway Feldman is in charge of this one, eh?

(Wrongway Feldman was a character on Gilligan's Island played by Hans Conried, for those of you too young to remember)

heasion · #24 Post by **heasion** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:41 pm

what a lucky day

don't forget to check the warranty.

l guess there will be another pleasant surprise

My $30 Thinkpad X31

My $30 Thinkpad X31

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