T40 Keyboard Removal

[MWE]

I am upgrading my wife's T40 (built in 2003) with additional memory. I have been unsuccessful in my attempts to remove the keyboard. I followed the instruction on the Lenovo site for memory replacement for the memory element under the keyboard. The instructions for removing the keyboard are clear but I can not get the keyboard to move when I apply a force to the area adjacent to the power button (page 80 of the HW Maint Manual) Yes, I removed the relevant screws first . It says "push hard", so I pushed hard, but nothing happened. I even used a mallet and flat piece of wood but nothing moves. I downloaded the hardware maintenance manual but its instructions for keyboard removal are essentially the same. I searched this forum and found several references to potentially useful information but either I already have the information or the link is no longer useful.

Is there some trick to this?

Thanks

[sjthinkpader]

The 4 screws (14 inch) or 3 screws (15 inch) from the case bottom were removed already?

[mpcook]

Try (very carefully) to lift the front edge of the keyboard with a tiny slim screw driver or other very think implement. If you can get it to come up slightly over the edge of the casing on each side, around where the CTRL ALT keys come together, then you can grab, lift a bit, and pull to you. Be careful and YMMV.

Mike

[poshgeordie]

Have a look at this diagram and refer to Page 1 Section 1.
This does refer to the 14" version but give the idea for the 15".

Once the screws are removed, place the palm of your hand on the keyboard keys and gently push the keyboard back towards the screen. I find this frees it and makes lifting it out by the front metal lip a bit easier.

[MWE]

The 4 screws (14 inch) or 3 screws (15 inch) from the case bottom were removed already?

Thanks for the prompt reply. As I stated in my original post, "Yes, I removed the relevant screws first "

[MWE]

Try (very carefully) to lift the front edge of the keyboard with a tiny slim screw driver or other very think implement. If you can get it to come up slightly over the edge of the casing on each side, around where the CTRL ALT keys come together, then you can grab, lift a bit, and pull to you. Be careful and YMMV.

Mike

thanks for the prompt reply. I tried something similar to what you suggested. I was able to get the keyboard a little "loose" on the left side, but not around the nav pad and not on the right side

[MWE]

Have a look at this diagram and refer to Page 1 Section 1.
This does refer to the 14" version but give the idea for the 15".

Once the screws are removed, place the palm of your hand on the keyboard keys and gently push the keyboard back towards the screen. I find this frees it and makes lifting it out by the front metal lip a bit easier.

Thanks for the prompt reply. I tried several methods to "move the keyboard toward the screen" including what you have suggested. Using the wooden strip (to distribute the load) and mallet, I hit the keyboard pretty hard several times and it did not budge. As mentioned in a previous reply, I have been able to wiggle the left side of the KB a bit, but only because I deflected the bezel. If I had not checked that I removed the correct screws (checked twice!), I would assume that the KB is still securely attached to the chassis. The KB does not budge.

[sjthinkpader]

Normally after removing the KB screws, I would just insert a small flat blade screw drive just below the mouse click keys, above the touch pad, and push the KB upward.

[sktn77a]

There are small tabs at the back of the keyboard which, if they aren't aligned properly, prevent you pushing the keyboard back fully when you are installing it. If someone did this and just pried the front down to get the keyboard in, then you will have this problem getting it out. But first, you have a 14" T40 (yes?) which has 4 screws for the keyboard. When you say you "removed the relevant screws" you do mean all 4? If so, then just push the keyboard back towards the screen as much as you can and pry it up and out at the front, to the left or right of the mouse keys, with a small screwdriver.

[poshgeordie]

If you'ver removed the four screws and it won't move then something's jammed somewhere.

Possibly remove the front palmrest (refer to my diagram link for the screws), and remove the CD and hard drives too.
Not sure if the palmrest will come out but it may help with removing the kbrd. It certainly not necessary to 'hit' it!