The trials of buying a used X60/61t.

[JakeR]

I bought a Thinkpad x60t (6363-AB7 1024-768, no touch) on ebay for about $80. On close inspection I found this: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1547250/thinkpadx60hinge.jpg
I wondered why the screen felt funny when I moved it. That was why.

Anyway, I noticed thinkpad X61t tablets with smashed screens are selling for about the same price as a new hinge, so I was thinking of grabbing one and replacing its screen with the x60 screen.

So I have two questions: can I get a hinge for dirt cheap? If not, is there anything that would stop me from putting an x60 LCd in an x61?

I was also wondering if it's possible to remove the touch screen element from a broken LCD and put it on a working one.

[RealBlackStuff]

The basic LCD screens are the same for X60/X60t and X61/X61t.
In addition to the basic screen, there's a digitizer panel and matching hardware extra in the tablet versions.
There's also a digitizer/touch panel and hardware for certain models.
And in certain X61 models there is even an SXGA+ LCD available.
Both XGA and SXGA+ LCDs can be combined with the above digitizer/touch stuff, although I do not know where the "glue-tape" comes from that is used.
Combining a used normal LCD (with all its chances for scratches and/or dust) afterwards with a digitizer panel may be difficult to get it dust-free. It's your call.

X60t/X61t Hinges on eBay for about $55.-

If you are buying another unit with e.g. broken LCD, whether X60t or X61t, the hinges are interchangeable.

[JakeR]

Thanks for your info. That's what I thought the case was, but I wanted to make sure.

I ended up contacting the seller of the machine, hoping he'd give me partial refund to buy a hinge with (the listing claimed the hinge was good), but he offered a return for refund instead. I took it. I've got $80 and a pile thinkpad x60/61 tablet parts(RAM, stylus, HDD caddie, battery, AC adapter), but no tablet.

So, I'm hunting for a similar used or broken x60 or x61 to fix up. Looking at eBay, it looks like I should be able to get a decent one for pretty cheap. Unfortunately, most sellers don't take good enough pictures to read the type number, and don't say whether a model is touch or SXGA+. Also, I'm beginning to suspect that x60s come from the factory covered in grease -- seems like every single one on eBay has been dropped, including the one I had. The stylus must have the same curse TV remotes do, because they're all missing. I figure they must all be dropped near couches or refrigerators, with the stylus sliding out of sight. Kinda like what happens whenever you drop a capacitor you were about to solder -- they always go to the most unreachable place in the room. Down a floor drain, in one case. SMD parts are worse.

Lots of them are selling with broken screens, but it doesn't look like there are many cheap screens for sale, so I don't think I'm going to risk that. I've also noticed that a lot of them have those small battery tabs broken off, is that a big problem, or will the battery stay secure without them?

I wish ebay would give me deals like this more: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1547250/Thinkpads.jpg I got all those for $10. R40, T30, a30p, a22. All boot. SXGA+ on the R40, UXGA on the a30p and a22. Those screens were so pretty. I lost the A30's screen in an unfortunate accident involving an overhead projector and a poorly conceived plan to make a high definition LCD projector. I plan to post the other half of the a30p in the marketplace section.

Oh dear, I've started rambling derailed my own thread again. This always happens when I talk about shiny things. I really should find an IRC channel for this. Crap, there I go again. You know, I wonder if they have pills for this...

[loyukfai]

The hinge on mine just made two loud cracking sound yesterday when I was closing it. Now it can still hold its position beyond 45-degree. But I'm not sure how long it will last.

Did you find a replacement hinge at last?

Cheers.

[JakeR]

I sent the machine back for refund and found a different one, I should get in the mail tomorrow. Got an x61 this time, and in much better shape. (although all the battery tabs on the back are missing...)

Edit:...and the x61 is locked with a supervisor password. *insert profanity here*

[TuuS]

Why they don't make a backdoor password for thinkpads is beyond me. Anyone who can prove they own it should be able to have the password reset.

Anyway, make the guy take it back. Although it is possible to read the password from the chip, it requires removing the system board, some impressive soldering skills, and a chip reader. Definitely more work then the thing is worth in my opinion.

[loyukfai]

If the seller cannot provide you the password to unlock the machine, I think it's definitely wise to send it back and ask for a refund, because it could be of dubious origin.

Was it from the original seller? Make sure you're still operating under the terms of Buyer Protection.

Cheers.

[JakeR]

[Mod edit: Changed inline images to links, removed description of how to remove password]

I am trying to get a partial refund out of the seller though. He was selling several tens of x61s, of all the same configuration. I'm pretty sure they were previously used in a corporate setting.

A backdoor password would completely undermine the security the password brings, would it not? If I were in charge of a company and I needed secure computers, the presence of a backdoor would make me look elsewhere. I don't understand the reasoning for using the BIOS password over the hard drive password, though. Is making the computer useless to thieves really such a large advantage? I would think data security would be the priority, and a password which prevents you from booting or editing the BIOS doesn't help with that.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1547250/x61t_SVP.jpg here's an amazingly poor quality image of the machine. It looked much better after I cleaned it. And yes, the latch is broken -- just like pretty much every other x60/61 on ebay.

For your curiosity, here is the seller I bought it from: http://stores.ebay.com/BUYBEST14-PC-STORE It doesn't look like he has anymore thinkpads for sale right now though. The main reason I don't want to send it back is that I don't see very many SXGA+ x61s on ebay, and I don't think I'll be able to get another easily.

edit: adding images
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1547250/thinkpad/x61%20open.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1547250/thinkpa ... bottom.jpg

Does anyone have any idea what might've made this almost perfect hole in the top?
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1547250/thinkpad/x61%20hole.jpg

[loyukfai]

Oh yes... It could be corporate-issued machines which were sold in bunches without really taken care of... I forgot... : )

Cheers.

[JakeR]

I'd say more, but this board apparently has rules about that.
[Mod edit: Removed references and pics to password removal tools. These board rules cover discussions and pics of password removal as well. Warning sent.]

I can't seem to get the Wacom Penabled driver to work properly. Does it have issues with windows 7 64bit? I can't seem to get pressure sensitivity to work right. I haven't done much reading about it just yet though.

[X32]

Wacom is supported by W7 64 but you need to download updates for it to work properly. On mine it wasn't recognised until I got all the updates. Congratulations on SXGA screen.