cardbus slot problem?!?

[thinkpad1]

I borrowed a cardbus card (the kind that goes in and is flash against the laptop)... but it got really stiff but it was too late because it was already over 3/4s of the way in. Now what do I do?!? Is the only way to get it out to take the laptop apart?!?!?!?

I REALLY Hope the card isn't scratched! It's not mine!

One of the blue buttons is sticking out and won't go back in. It's the lower button and the card was put in the bottom slot.

Man, I hate this laptop!!!!!!!!!

The slot works for reading the hardware as, the hard drive (usb cable) I plugged into it was recognized (in Linux) but something must be wrong with the slot. When the card went in 3/4 of the way, the blue button stuck out but won't go back in. I believe it is the 'lever' or mechanism to push the card out when you push it but obviously that's not going to work!

Did I mention, I really hate this laptop?!?

I suspect I'll have to take this in to a shop. I guess I shouldn't have tested a card that wasn't mine. This laptop has been nothing but trouble and things are getting worse with it. The T40 series must be the biggest piece of crap IBM ever put out.

I hope someone who doesn't mind my frustration can comment. I don't know what to do. Now, I have to find a screw driver? I'm not sure what I take apart but is that going to be the only way to get the card out? That's what a tech will do?

I believe I put the card in right. But, I read on some links that these cards do get stuck and some people have posted in other forums of having trouble. Gee, I wish I knew beforehand!!!!!!!!

[poshgeordie]

PM sent!

I'd suggest removing the card slot (remove palmrest) and use a small screwdriver from underneath to try and gently lever the card out.

I can understand your total frustration when this sort of thing happens...

[thinkpad1]

PM sent!

I'd suggest removing the card slot (remove palmrest) and use a small screwdriver from underneath to try and gently lever the card out.

I can understand your total frustration when this sort of thing happens...

Thanks for the PM.

'Managed to get the card out but proceeded all the while to take the laptop apart. I might be okay at doing that but putting all the pieces back together as they were is another story!

[thinkpad1]

What should I do now????!?

I took the laptop in but the shop guy thought my assembly job was good enough so he didn't even examine my 'assembly' of the cardbus enclosure.

I put it on plus the palm rest. I left the keyboard off thinking he was going to take it apart to inspect.

I couldn't get in a few screws and thought I did something wrong.

Anyway, my laptop feels different now and I don't know if that's good or bad.

I suppose I shouldn't fret about an old machine but various screws are missing so there's only 5 (out of 9) holding it together.

I don't like the look of the cardbus opening... doesn't look even and I'm not going to try a card there yet.

[poshgeordie]

Download the How To's Document in my sig, and then the T4x Screws on listed on it.

Should help with the screws situation!

[thinkpad1]

#3. Keyboard bezel (p. 112, 113)

Can someone look at Nick's page (above) and the Thinkpad hardware maintenance manual, pg. 119?

I decided to take my Thinkpad apart to get at my cardbus slot since a card was stuck. I didn't know what else to do. I posted on this.

Anyway, when I put it together, I followed the manual and pictures, placing the M2 x 4mm screw in the diagram at the spot on the (b) harness.

But, the harness seems to stick up a bit. It might be fine but the disassembling the parts didn't seem to solve the problem. I even blew out all the dust. Yet, the card still gets stuck 3/4 of the way in. Does anyone have any experience with replacing these parts or having to put them back?

The entire reason I took apart the laptop was thinking if I cleaned the cardbus/PCMCIA slot out, I'd make so it would be a smooth fit in and out. It was easy to jiggle the card out once I took the PC Card slot assembly out but putting it all together seems to have no improvement and even might have made things worse. The only good thing is that when the card gets stuck, I can manage to get it loose. It still gets stuck 3/4 of the way in no matter which (of the two) slots I try. Also, which ever slot I place the card in, the blue button sticks out and trying to push it to eject the card usually doesn't work (first try). I suspect the mechanism isn't working properly and maybe the harness is not smooth with the rest of the assembly? I don't know; I am unable to tell with my own visual inspection. I didn't note beforehand how it's supposed to fit/align, unfortunately.

I need the PC Card because it's the only way I get USB 2.0 speeds (the Southbridge problem!).

Any ideas or thoughts?

I should just give up and probably will. I thought I'd sell the laptop as it's so much trouble. But, any fix might mean having some usb functionality and improving the value of it even if just to say you can get USB 2.0.

EDIT: I can delete the identical post in the other thread?

Admin note: Deleted duplicate post in the other thread (you can't delete your own post if somebody has already replied to it) and Posh's follow up.

[poshgeordie]

Anyway, when I put it together, I followed the manual and pictures, placing the M2 x 4mm screw in the diagram at the spot on the (b) harness.

But, the harness seems to stick up a bit. It might be fine but the disassembling the parts didn't seem to solve the problem. I even blew out all the dust. Yet, the card still gets stuck 3/4 of the way in. Does anyone have any experience with replacing these parts or having to put them back?

Referring to my diagram and the one on page 113 of the HMM, the harness (that triangular metal bit) is placed across the front of the card slot housing and the plastic keyboard bezel placed over it. The small screw then goes into the plastic bezel, then the harness, then into the metal strip thing which runs up the LH side of the Thinkpad.
I'm wondering if you're putting the harness on top of the bezel?

What happens if you take the card slot out (and leave the harness off as well) - does the card go in and out smoothly? If yes then you need to fit the card slot without any screws in the bottom and no harness. Does the card fit OK again? And so on to try and find at what point in the assembly the card sticks.

I'll take a card into work on Monday and see what the fit's like.