ThinkPad T420 Keyboard Removal/DIMM Question

Hello, the ThinkPad community seems really strong here so I thought I'd ask for some help.

To begin with I would like to say that I have already seen the service videos as well as the hardware manuals. I also know there is another DIMM slot that is more easily accessible.

Now the questions:

1. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being most difficult) how difficult is it to remove keyboard and change the DIMM and then put the keyboard back on.

2. As a rookie I really do not want to spoil my new and shiny ThinkPad by trying to change the DIMM. I've tried finding some videos on YouTube and elsewhere but other than one, I've come out dry. This question is more of a request. Would it be too much to ask for someone who is saavy with the Keyboard removal on the T420 (or T410, I think it is the same) mind making a video outlining how to do so for humans? In my experience service videos and manuals simplify steps to the point where they leave out a lot of crucial information leaving the reader/viewer blank when it comes time for the real deal. If someone who has an extra 10 minutes in their life could make a video with warnings and caveats associated with removing and re-attatching the keyboard as well as going through the process in a clean way it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Faustus.

 

It isn't really that difficult once you get the grasp of it, only aligning the keyboard back on the system is the trickiest part in my opinion (I rate it a 4). I haven't got a camera with me but I this is what I did with mine:

- Once you removed the keyboard screws underneath (including one under the DIMM compartment), flip it over and place your thumbs just on the edge of the raised bevel where the volume keys are on the keyboard.

- Apply a bit of force by pushing it towards the screen. The keyboard end where the trackpoint mouse buttons are will pop up. If it does get caught I used a flathead screwdriver and gently coax it up.

- Carefully remove the keyboard from the surround, don't pry it away fully yet as there's a cable underneath. Guide your hand to where the cable latch is and disconnect it from the motherboard.

- Now there's a black squarish looking thing on the board, underneath is the second DIMM slot. Carefully slot the additional RAM in (put it at an 45 degree angle towards the slot) then push it down and it should click securely.

- Now connect the keyboard cable again to the board (it's a bit fiddly) and carefully place the keyboard back in (tilt down where the volume and Thinkvantage buttons are towards the screen).

- At this point the keyboard is not fully secure, place both of your hands over the keyboard near the bottom. Your left palm should cover the ASDZXC buttons (on a QWERTY keyboard) and the right palm around the Right Shift, Arrows and punctuation keys. Apply slight pressure as if you're pressing all those keys and guide it down. It does feel odd but this will guide the keyboard to level with the lower surrounds and should secure in, this may take a couple of tries.

- Flip the ThinkPad round, apply the missing screws again and secure the compartments. Boot up and press F1 during the ThinkPad logo on startup and make sure it successfully registers the new RAM amount.

 

Thank you very much for the reply. I think I'll give it a shot. My main concern was the keyboard being delicate and messing up an individual key; however, after watching another video I noticed that all the keys were mounted to a metal plate (thin, albeit) so that relieved me of that fear.

Thanks again!

 

If opening a compartment is a 1, then putting in a module would be a 1.5 on a desktop, and 2 on a laptop at most. Removing a keyboard pumps it up to maybe a 3 (more like a 2.5 or even lower). Just as a reference, assembling an entire desktop from parts would be about a 4 on my scale because installing a HSF with just the right amount of TIM is annoying. I'm not sure about the T420, but on my W520, the keyboard was extremely easy to remove.

Like Hearst said, you just flip the laptop over, remove the screws holding down the keyboard, flip it back, open the lid, push down on the keyboard and towards the screen at the same time, and it'll come right out. Be careful about the ribbon cable and lift it slowly. I'm not sure if you actually HAVE to disconnect the keyboard, I think just tilting the lid back, putting a cloth over the screen, and leaning the keyboard against it gives you enough room to work with. Reattaching the keyboard connector takes a bit of time as you need to line it up just right. I find that the HMM was as simple/complicated as it needed to be, it was concise and to the point. Maybe this will help.

And by the way, if your ThinkPad is shiny, something is wrong.