T22 - I got it for free! (Pictures inside)

[MintyMadness]

this may be a "blasphemous" (sp?) but as you guys said, I have nothing to lose! I picked up the ram today at lunch. going to test it all out today after I get home from work. The CPU I have already purchased will not even be recognized at all by this board? Is that correct? as if it *will* then I have been researching "pin-mods" which deal with essentially bridging pins on the socket to force the motherboard to run at 133.

If the new chip will be recognized but only run at 100, then it would only run 750mhz, right? (granted it would work at all)

With the pin-mod it can now run at 1.0ghz (stability is still a what if, I know, I'm speaking theoretically).

Would this also allow ram that is in there (PC-133) to run at 133 as well do you think?

Hmmmm........

-Jeremy

[jamiphar]

this may be a "blasphemous" (sp?) but as you guys said, I have nothing to lose! I picked up the ram today at lunch. going to test it all out today after I get home from work. The CPU I have already purchased will not even be recognized at all by this board? Is that correct? as if it *will* then I have been researching "pin-mods" which deal with essentially bridging pins on the socket to force the motherboard to run at 133.

If the new chip will be recognized but only run at 100, then it would only run 750mhz, right? (granted it would work at all)

With the pin-mod it can now run at 1.0ghz (stability is still a what if, I know, I'm speaking theoretically).

Would this also allow ram that is in there (PC-133) to run at 133 as well do you think?

Hmmmm........

-Jeremy

Actually, the processor you got won't fit physically. The Micro-FCPGA chips are perfectly square, while the BGA2 ones are more rectangular.

The RAM would still have to be low-density regardless of the bus speed, but I believe low-density 256MB PC133 sticks exist in the event that you wanted to do an overclock.

[MintyMadness]

Well if worst comes to worst, I can chuck the chip I bought on the marketplace. Have already given away a TP -600 (shell basically) and a 256MB of DDR sodimm, so I'm sure someone would be interested in this chip, should it not work out. I am at work, so I do not have everything in front of me at the moment.

Either way ,at this point I am eager to see it turn on and post. While some of you may think it is a "basket-case" I have only spent so far (if you include the price of the new processor) 30$ on the machine. Add in 12$ for a new palmrest, 30$ for a refurbb'd battery, this machine will be good to go. That's 72$ for a fully functional TP that I can still sell for 150$ easily I am sure.

Thanks for all the help thus far, everyone

-Jeremy

[jamiphar]

Well if worst comes to worst, I can chuck the chip I bought on the marketplace. Have already given away a TP -600 (shell basically) and a 256MB of DDR sodimm, so I'm sure someone would be interested in this chip, should it not work out. I am at work, so I do not have everything in front of me at the moment.

Either way ,at this point I am eager to see it turn on and post. While some of you may think it is a "basket-case" I have only spent so far (if you include the price of the new processor) 30$ on the machine. Add in 12$ for a new palmrest, 30$ for a refurbb'd battery, this machine will be good to go. That's 72$ for a fully functional TP that I can still sell for 150$ easily I am sure.

Thanks for all the help thus far, everyone

-Jeremy

If you can't find a suitable processor, I may have a spare 750mhz one that I could sell.

[MintyMadness]

it still has it's 700Mhz proc installed as it stands right now. I bought the 1ghz chip for the 512K L2 cache. Seeing as how this machine is.... crippled... by supporting only 512mb of RAM.

Thanks for the offer though!

-Jeremy

edited proc speed

[MintyMadness]

Updates!!

I installed the 128MB of RAM and.... PERFECT! The machine posts, no beep codes, no errors, and the LCD comes on with no cracks and no dead pixels (that I can see yet..)

the ONLY problem is it apparently set-up with a password at boot.

Other than that, it boots perfectly. I was given a 4200RPM (toshiba i think? i don't have it in front of me, watching family guy with the wife atm..) 20gb hard drive from IT at work. All the machine needs as far as components is an optical drive (20$ on ebay) and a battery (40$ on ebay) 128mb of ram is slow, but I am sure I can obtain another 128-256mb off of craigslist for 10-20$. That will at least make XP semi-bareable...

While I was under the hood, I took note of the weird style of the proc. Mr. Arandt (sorry if I misspelled that) is correct. The proc I purchased is not a compatible socket. Oh well, live and learn. I put it up in the market place. I still need a palmrest for this thing anyway, maybe someone will want to trade! I also saw on the proc that it was written "700/256" telling me it's a 700mhz chip, not a 900mhz..

either way it's pretty exciting to bring a thinkpad like this back to life! I took the liberty of cleaning the proc of it's orginal grease and applying Arctic Silver 5 (all I have, sorry..) I also blew out the fan with very very short directed bursts of compressed air (while holding the fan still).

I will post pictures later, after I get them off of the camera.

Suhweeeeeet!! :D:D

-Jeremy

[jamiphar]

......Mr. Arandt (sorry if I misspelled that).....

Pretty close. It's Arndt, pronounced like "aren't". You know it's German when there are four consonants in a row.

[MintyMadness]

Update with pictures. (I used the clickable thumbnail option through imageshak in hopes of keeping with picture requirements of the board)

This is the new keyboard


The Ram


The hard drive


Everything set out for reassembly


The whole unit getting reassembled


With the screen re-installed


hard drive, and guts after some dusting


fingers crossed; first attempt at bootup with all new pieces

SUCCESS!

Annnnnnd, the boot-up password..


More to come later

-Jeremy

[kensplace]

?? I don't get what you mean by "basket case" ?

Never heard the expression? He means you have a parts computer - and I tend to agree.

Weird now language is different in different areas, in the UK, a basket case refers to a insane/mad/etc person

[RealBlackStuff]

That TP seems to have a Supervisor password.
Ask the previous owner if s/he still has it. Without it you have a new door stopper!

[MintyMadness]

This unit was a throw-away from someone who got it from their dad's sister's brother's uncle's former room-mate's son... so to speak

But I don't think it will be a new doorstop...

(My solution) <-- Moderator edit: Removed reference to thread per forum rules

[Robbyrobot]

in the UK, a basket case refers to a insane/mad/etc person

In the States, it refers to someone with arms and legs cut off, i.e. a "hopeless case".

That TP seems to have a Supervisor password.

If you look at the large image and compare it to the ones at Lenovo, you'll see it's just the POP. Anyway, everyone here knows there are ways and means around even a supervisor password, even if we can't discuss them publicly.

[RealBlackStuff]

You know that and I know that, but the rulez...

[MintyMadness]

Found this on my local craigslist,

From what I've been able to find via google this is the low-density version:

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/sys/538300852.html

256MB PC-133

Sent and email saying that if I could confirm it's low density, I would come pick it up for 20$, and he agreed

Will it work?

Here's a spec sheet on the ram that I found as well:
http://www.valueram.com/datasheets/KVR133X64SC3_256.pdf

Thanks!

Oh, to update on the machine, I bought the resistors and diodes I need to do a.... modification... of sorts. Once the bootup/bios/supervisor password is taken care of, I will only need a battery to make a complete machine! (Hard drive caddy and cover are going to be here within a week or so, and palm-rest is on hold until next month's paycheck rolls in)

-Jeremy

[Robbyrobot]

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/sys/538300852.html

256MB PC-133

Sent and email saying that if I could confirm it's low density, I would come pick it up for 20$, and he agreed

Will it work?

I think no. There are only four chips on the side facing the camera, and that means - to my knowledge - high density PC133. Why are you trying to find PC133 RAM anyway? You need PC100 RAM for a T22, and the only advantage to the PC133 modules would be if you plan to move on to a T23 in the future.

I bought the resistors and diodes I need to do a.... modification... of sorts. Once the bootup/bios/supervisor password is taken care of...

Give me a PM if you run into any trouble.

Otherwise, good luck and keep up the good work.

[MintyMadness]

ahh shucks.. I'm not looking for it in particular, but I know PC133 will run at PC100 as long as it's low density.. if it *was* low density, it would be a decent deal at 20$ for the sodimm..

I will let you know for sure!

Thanks!

-Jeremy

[MintyMadness]

It's Alive!!!!

I do not know (in whole) the policy the admins may have about my process, but suffice to say that I recovered the startup password manually and the computer is now in the process of installing XP.

I
am
SO
STOKED.

I have never done anything like this before, and where I started out with a thinkpad that could have easily been viewed as scrap, and a "basket case" is now running good and strong with minimal upgrades needed to be a quick workhorse!

AHH!! This is so exciting!!!

Parts I still need:

-palmrest
-wifi PCMCIA card
-RAM upgrade from 128mb (currently) to 512mb
-Processor upgrade from 700mhz (currently) to 1ghz


-Jeremy

[RealBlackStuff]

Congratulations on your persistence!
That T22 should last you for a few years to come!
Probably been sitting in a corner, gathering dust, for quite some time!
So it's age may be high, but it's 'mileage' is low.

[Wingnut]

If you're looking for 256MB RAM, use "33L3070" as your search term on E-bay. That is the FRU for 256MB low density RAM. I have seen them sell for as little as $20 and as much as $50/stick, so shop around and wait for a good deal. You don't have to buy the first one you see.

[MintyMadness]

If you're looking for 256MB RAM, use "33L3070" as your search term on E-bay. That is the FRU for 256MB low density RAM. I have seen them sell for as little as $20 and as much as $50/stick, so shop around and wait for a good deal. You don't have to buy the first one you see.

I just had a guy from Craigslist email me that he has 2x256MB PC133 (8 chips per side), from a Dell laptop that borked on him... I think I may be getting it for $20..

Sometimes I can SWEAR by that website. If you can sift through all of the:

"Great PC!! $200 OBO!

Pentium Celeron - 333Mhz for your demanding apps.
128MB of memory for all of your operating needs
massive 20GB hard drive for all of your programs, games, music, etc
Network Card for High Speed internet!!
CDRW for making music CD's!
Comes with Windows 98 FRESHLY INSTALLED!!!!"

Then you can really find some good deals. If this goes through, and he takes $20 for the pair, then that dropped my total on restoring a (rather awesome) machine for next to nothing.

Also he has agreed to let me bring the unit, and test the ram to be sure. I gather he is not to savvy, as I asked for part numbers, and he didn't really know what to give me (said there were no stickers on the memory)

-Jeremy

[MintyMadness]

w0000t!!!!!!!

So I am emailing back and forth with this guy... Get to talking... Turns out he could use an external 2.5" hard drive enclosure for the hard drive of this dead laptop... I have one! unfortunately it's not operational, and is actually the company that I work for's property.

So I call up our IT department (1 guy lol..) and explain what's going on.. He says he is more than happy to let me have it if I want it, although it really *isn't* functional.. (no matter the hard drive you use windows will "not regonize the device." I know it all too well it was bought for me, for my backup drive, and ended up killing it.. that's a whooooole other long story..)
He then proceeds to say that we are past getting a refund for it, and would have essentially "had to pay to ship it back to newegg, for a replacement that we don't need.."

I ask my boss; she says "go for it! "

w000t.

Now the only problem is it's broken.
I explain this to the guy and he sends me this back:

hmm... the broken enclosure might be enough for me. I wasn't going to use the ram anyway so it's a no lose situation for me if I can't fix it. If that's amenable to you let me know. I have to run to a meeting, but I'm free this afternoon as well as tomorrow morning and afternoon if you would like to make the trade,
Let me know and we'll set up a meet. I should be back home by 3pm

How lucky can I get?!?!?! These freakin' sticks of ram are going for BUKU money on ebay! Now I just got the max amount of ram I could get for this machine for the price of a broken usb 2.0 enclosure.

Man. It's been a great day, and it isn't even payday yet.

Thanks guys(&gals) for all your help and inspiration with this. It's been a long time since I got this fired up over a machine.

-Jeremy

[MintyMadness]

What is that cover that goes over the power/hdd activity lights and volume/power buttons?

I can't seem to find one

I see the hinge covers, but they don't have this piece on them..

Anyone want to donate/sell one (+ a hinge cover..) ?

-Jeremy

[goofyGAguy]

What is that cover that goes over the power/hdd activity lights and volume/power buttons?

Clear plate?

[Harryc]

It's called an 'easy button cover'. The part number for a T22 is 26P9183. You're probably better off buying a cheap T22 keyboard with one on it vs. trying to locate just the cover. If you don't care about the 'T22' on it, a T20 or T21 will do as well. You could always ask in Marketplace if anyone with a dead T2X keyboard can pop it off and mail it to you.

[rkawakami]

xreplay or getgoingstores on eBay usually has some of these button covers. There's currently several listings for T20 and T21 (none for T22). Enter:

(ibm,thinkpad) button cover (t20,t21,t22,t23)

in the eBay search field.

[MintyMadness]

thanks so much guys!!

I wouldn't care so much, but I think I am going to try and trade this machine when I finish it along with my wife's T30, to get her something a little thinner/lighter/more powerful.. So I would like to have it "as original" as possible. If I can't trade it, I will end up selling both of them and applying that money towards a new system I guess.

Her T30 is great, but she want's something with a higher resolution and thinner profile.

-Jeremy

Update: I received the palmrest, and am awaiting (next month for another paycheck lol) the battery, optical, and power adapter, and the machine will be "complete."

I will post pictures later when I get home of my progress so far. Wow. This has really been a fun experience to say the least!

[MintyMadness]

Sorry for the longer wait.. Had to take care of some personal things the last couple days.. (got my fiance' an engagement ring! :D)

Here are som pics of the (almost) completed restoration:


^^That's the palmrest I got..


^^together with the keyboard


^^Got the lid closed.. to make sure everything is flush, and that it closes properly/lid latches work properly, etc.


^^That's the "damage" to the casing around the hinge covers. So even if I get replacement hinge covers, I don't think it woul go together properly.. I found a very nice base (no guts, just the plastic/foil heatshielding) for ~$10.


^^Here she is put together! It all fit together "like a glove!!"


^^In a different light...




So there it is.. A couple more nit picky pieces and it will be good to go! I have a 128mb stick on the way for it. I traded an external hard drive enclosure to a guy for 2 x 256PC133 but they aren't low density and wouldn't work in the machine. I still have the memory if anyone is interested in them. I would trade them for something that I could use on this machine. (ultrabay battery, standard battery, etc..) I also still have the 1GHz CPU if anyone can use it.

Thanks for looking

-Jeremy

[pianowizard]

How much money have you spent on this thing so far?

[Robbyrobot]

got my fiance' an engagement ring!

In the form of a new Thinkpad?

[MintyMadness]

How much money have you spent on this thing so far?

$23 for the RAM
$16 for the keyboard
$12 for the palmrest
Hard drive - free
PC Card - Wireless G adapter - free
2 x 256MB PC133 - free (well traded for a broken external enclosure..)
Actual thinkpad - free

I actually listed that P3 processor I had bought for ~$17 on craigslist for $15, and some guy snatched it up for his Dell notebook. Said he'll give me $20 if I drive it out to him..

So far, $51?.. I must be missing something here..
Get a battery for $10 from EPC (local shop) (gaurenteed 30-45 minutes life)
Ultrabay battery off of ebay for $12-15 (we'll say 15)
A new base for about $15 -
Oh yeah! the guy I bought the palmrest from is going to send me the button cover and hing cover for free..

So total of about $76 when all is said and done.

I think I am going to end up selling it as well as my wife's T30 together as a working "lot" on ebay when I am done.. What do you all think? All I really want to do is get her a nice working T41 or 42.. something thinner and lighter. She will have a desktop for anything more demanding she needs to do... I figure a T22 and a T30 are worth a T4x, right?

-Jeremy