R60e WiFi/LCD Issues

[ZaZ]

I bought a R60e on eBay to use as a Linux box. The good news is it seems in very good condition overall. It's been much tougher to get apart than my R60. The seller stated the R60e was WiFi ready. I usually thought that WiFi ready meant it had the antennas, but lacked the card. I took it apart only to find it has no antennas. The antennas I don't think are too expensive, but I'd still prefer not to have to pay for them if I'm supposed to have them. The bigger issue is I bought a IPS screen to stick in it and I don't want to have to rip it apart twice, increasing the chances something may go awry. I guess my question would be does anyone thing WiFi Ready should mean it has the antennas?

Second question if I may, the LCD latch on the right side hangs a bit lower than the left, making it hard to get the LCD under it without breaking it, which I'd prefer not to do. I didn't have this problem with my R60, but I took the whole LCD off that time, so maybe I didn't have this issue. I can't remember. Thanks for any help.

[spuddog]

I agree that "wifi-ready" would seem to indicate that the antennae are present.

Scott

[ZaZ]

That's what I thought too. I don't think they were trying to rip me off, but I perhaps didn't understand what wifi ready means. On the plus side the notebook seems in excellent shape and it's got a brand new battery with o cycles. How often do you get a new battery on eBay for a three year old notebook? I sent them an email. I'll see what they have to say. I was going to rip apart the LCD anyway to install the IPS screen, but they don't need to know it.

[spuddog]

Well, it's about how they represent the computer for sale not what the buyer is going to do.

Scott

[underclocker]

I would be a little more concerned than that. A few R60e models didn't even have the mini-PCI express slot on the motherboard, which meant that they truly were not wireless upgradeable! From the TABOOK, some R60e models --> "no Mini PCI Express slot / no internal 802.11 wireless upg (use PC Card)".

I would guess that if you don't have antennas, then you do not have a mini-PCI express slot either. If you do, then the LCD was swapped on your machine at some point OR there was an assembly mistake. What is the exact model number for your machine. As I said, a few (I think only Celeron) models were not internally wireless upgradeable.

Regarding the seller, "wireless upgradeable" or "WiFi ready" is true for pretty much any computer ever made with a USB slot or a PC Card slot. Just add an aftermarket adapter! Unless the ad said "internally wireless upgradeable", it'd be hard to argue a claim.

Anyway, hopefully you have the mini-PCI express slot. If you want internal antennas, I have a spare set from a 15" R52 that I can send you, no charge. Just PM me.

P.S. If the latch is a little bent, just bend it back. Don't use too much force.

[ZaZ]

Well, don't I feel like a bit of a heel. I did not know they made some R60e without mini-PCI slots and it seems mine is one of them. It's too bad I already bought a card for it. I suppose there's no way to add one without some serious skills, which I probably don't have. I suppose I could swap the board, but that seems a rather expensive solution. I can get a usb card $10, but that's never as fun as having it on the inside and as a Linux machine may be more complicated. On the plus side it'll have a gorgeous screen and a new battery when it's done. Thanks for the offer on the antennas, but it looks like I won't need them.

[underclocker]

Well, don't I feel like a bit of a heel.

You should not feel badly at all. There are so many different permutations of each model that it's impossible to keep too much straight. Even the IBM and Lenovo websites and documentation are incorrect upon occasion.

Swapping the mobo is the only solution that I know. If you want internal wifi, sell that one with a PC Card or USB wifi adapter and buy another one. Good luck.

[ZaZ]

Maybe I'll put it together and buy a card, then see about trading it. It's in great shape otherwise. I was thinking before I found this out since I've already got one IPS R60 having another seems a bit redundant. Perhaps a smaller more portable machine is the way go for a second machine.

[ZaZ]

The seller said they'd send me a PC Card wifi card so it won't cost me anything, but it's still not as good.

[spuddog]

Wow, that's amazing. I had an R60e and didn't realize that some did not have internal wireless.

The things you on from the members here!

Scott

[ZaZ]

I got the IPS screen installed. It looks great. It's too bad about the wifi card. Now I just got to wait for my T5200 CPU, for speedstep, and hard drive caddy to show up and it'll be in business.

[underclocker]

I really hate to be the bearer of even more potentially bad news, but the T5200 is not listed as an OEM chip for the R60/R60e in the HMM. It may very well be supported, since it's a Merom Core 2 Duo, and several others are supported, but if the entry isn't in the BIOS/EC, there might be an issue. I was testing a Z61m motherboard with a newer Celeron cpu and it wouldn't boot.

The T5200 was a somewhat recent Core 2 Duo introduction. Good luck and let us know if it works - the BIOS screen, assuming you get there, should list the speed, type and model number.

[ZaZ]

Well, it seems you're just spreading the sunshine everywhere you go.

I could have swore I saw R60s in the Outlet with T2060, T2350, etc., CPUs back when they had them, which is why I thought I could use the T5200. I was hoping to get speedstep with the T5200 more so than a performance leap. I'll upgrade the BIOS and see what happens. If it doesn't work, no biggie. It was only $5.

[spuddog]

I had both a T2050 and a T2500 in my R60e. I know these are core duo not core2 duo. From everything I've read a T5200 should work.

Scott

[ZaZ]

Well, things just keep getting better and better. Underclocker, you were right about about the CPU. It won't boot with the T5200. I don't understand why Lenovo would do this, but for whatever reason it doesn't work. The T2500 should work with no problems, but given that the T5200 doesn't work, I would think the same of the T2050. Maybe I can sell it and get something that'll work.

I busted one of the clips on the left side of the keyboard bezel assembly. It doesn't quite sit perfectly. There's a small gap between it and the base, which isn't a huge deal, but still. Plus I got the WiFi card sticking out the side now.

Lastly and perhaps most concerning is I've seem some dark spots on my IPS screen. They're in the corners, upper left and lower right corners. I didn't really notice them at first. I had Mint on it at first, so maybe with the coloring, it wasn't as noticeable. With the blue of Windows seems to make it stand out the best. This is supposed to be a brand new screen, which I would assume is supposed to be spot free. I suppose I can contact the seller and get a new screen, but I'd really prefer to fix it if possible and not have to rip this apart again. Anyone know of a way to fix this?

I kind of bought the R60e on impulse and it seems it's turned out to be a mess. I think I'll have to control myself better next time and do my homework. Thanks for any help.

[ZaZ]

Just as an update thinkpadplus who sold the screen to me agreed to replace it. They even picked up the return shipping, which was a nice gesture on their part. It's a pain in the rear to replace it twice, but it don't cost me anything. I guess life ain't perfect.