Thinkpad T420 Owner's Thread

I want to start this post by apologizing in advance if this has already been covered. I tried searching the thread to see if anyone else is a crazy as me, but I got nothing.
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I want to swap out my current motherboard for one that has the NVS 4200m. I might be nuts, I'm trying to get all of my research straight here. Also, before suggesting I simply buy a new laptop, please remember I am doing this as a project/obsession.

My Current Computer:
Type: 4236MBU
S/N: PBBPH55

I do have the 1600x900 screen, the RAM in this machine has been replaced, and the contents of the expansion bay and main drive bay have been replaced. Other than that it's stock.

Obvious Problems:
- Might not be compatible with my other hardware.
X Will have to get a fan with the discrete graphics arm.
X Might be a slightly different shape.

Problems two and three aren't an issue, I've confirmed for sure. Standard shapes and fan styles all around. Just get one with the discrete gpu arm and we're all groovy.

Problem one might be a demon.

By opening up my laptop, I have confirmed that the FRU of my mobo is 63Y1989, which appears to be supremely common according to eBay. Heck, they're selling lots of it. The correctness of that assessment is corroborated by the parts lookup for my machine using the lookup link in the OP. It informs me that the 63Y1989 also has the description: FRU PLN - UMA AMT=Y TPM=Y.

God help me if I know what that means, but it led me to something else when I did the Part Directory search for other T420 parts. I noticed that 63Y1989 isn't on that list at all. I don't know why. In other news, AMT=Y and TPM=Y seem to correspond to yes for the of the presence of AMT and TPM features mentioned in the systemboard part of the directory. If we look at the entry for integrated graphics, TMP and AMT, we get a FRU of 04W1345.

Are 04W1345 and 63Y1989 the same part? Couldn't be, right?

Anyways, the part that has the AMT and TPM with the discrete graphics is 04W2049. That seems like the most similar part and according to my logic would have the highest chance of being compatible.

Any idea if this will work? Can someone smarter than me help me out?

 

According to IBM (which services Lenovo parts in my country) FRU 04W1345 and 63Y1989 boards are not the same, even in the archived part lists (from first edition HMM) I can’t locate the details of the 63Y1989 board.

But given you are planning to do a full motherboard swap anyway I wouldn’t get too wound up with the previous numbers, the parts listed are designed for the T420 chassis so it should be straight swap apart from the CPU and GPU heatsink which will need upgrading from the Intel GPU model.

AMT and TPM modules are integrated onto the board and unless you specifically need them (like in corporate security) then for a typical end user you can just go for boards unequipped with such feature as most likely you will never come across it. I think NVS systems comes with 90w power bricks as standard so if you have the 65w brick from before then you may want to consider bumping that up for the system to work optimally which thankfully are not too difficult or expensive to obtain.

 

Code:

WELL! I did it. And it works. Everything works... except... I can't charge a battery. I detect the battery. I can draw power from it. I smell it. But, I cannot charge it.

Weirdly, Windows believes that I am charging it, and I get the laptop lights as though I am charging it. Any ideas?

Already tried other batteries and I updated the BIOS.

 

are you using the 65w or 90w?

 

I took Patchy's advice and I upgrated to a 90w US version.

I also used a Multimeter and confirmed that the output of the charger is good from a power standpoint.

And in further complictions, I was able to trick the laptop into using the battery by pulling out the power while the laptop was resuming from sleep mode.

I got a good 40 minutes off of the "%1" battery before the laptop died cold. The plot thickens.

Now it doesn't display a battery % and it says plugged in, not charging.

Also the battery display light on the lid shows flashing orange.

I will try leaving on the charger overnight to see if the battery is secretly charging.

 

The battery did NOT secretly charge throughout the night. I can no longer trick it into running off battery power that isn't there. Maybe trying my old charger?

Anyways, there is clearly something wrong with this Mobo. I'll have to send it back to the ebay seller.

 

I have a rather unusual question. Will 55Watt TDP processor harm my t420? Buzzing noise from "power coils?" is really stressing me out.

I have bought i7 2670qm for my t420 but recieved i7 2960xm and didnt notice until i have looked to hwmonitor and saw "extreme" in a title

So, i don't know if I'm first who put this tdp processor in this enclosure but it manages temperatures really well!
41on idle
games(grid 2 tested) 75degrees

I can't really test the max because of 65w ac adapter (i wont even charge now ;/)

My final question is: Would this configuraton damage motherboard or some other components?

 

I just bought a T420 off ebay (Type:41802-BU5) and it looks to be very lightly used. It is complete except for the OS, as the 320GB disk was wiped.

Type: 4180-BU5

i5-2520M(2.5GHz)
8GB RAM
320GB 7200rpm HD
14in 1600x900 LCD
Intel HD Graphics
CDRW/DVDRW
Intel 802.11agn wireless
WWAN option
Bluetooth
modem
1Gb Ethernet
UltraNav
Secure Chip
Camera
6c Li-Ion
Win7 Pro 64

I know I can get the Win 7 Pro 64 iso, but is there a better way? Has anyone ever ordered the recovery media from Lenovo?

Thanks!

 

I don't see any reason to use the recovery media - if you do a clean install with a Windows ISO and the COA, you don't have to deal with preinstalled bloatware. Besides, getting the recovery media from lenovo probably isn't free.

 

Yeah, I figured as much. I will get the ISO and do a USB install. Will probably have to call MS to activate, which is no big deal since it's all legit (which is how I like it).

Thanks for the response. :thumbsup:

 

I don't think I've had to call Microsoft to activate when doing this before, although I've occasionally had to type in the (same) key again when activation failed the first time. Though if you do, no big deal.

 

I ended up calling MS. It's automated and only took a few minutes. Pretty painless. I like that the Lenovo has the COA under the battery where it doesn't get obliterated over time.

The 18 year old is pretty happy with the idea of getting a laptop. I sprung it on him this morning before he went to work. He didn't know I bought one. :thumbsup:

 

Hi!

I've bought used T420 (4236W6X) with Intel HD 3000 (no dedicated GPU) with screen running at 1366x768 resolution. I'd like to replace the screen with the 1600x900 HD+, however I am not sure whether the HD 3000 will support this resolution. Could somebody clear this?

Thanks!

 

The Intel HD 3000 GPU will support that resolution no problem, it can even exceed HD+ resolutions if you have the external monitors available. However you probably need the HD+ LVDS cable for it to work if you're upgrading the screen, the part number for that is 04W1618.

 

yeah I'd follow that advice, you will definitely need to replace the lcd cable to run 1600x900

 

Thanks guys. That sounds good. Do you have any tips where to order such screen (shipment to Europe) in case I want only LG or SAMSUNG brands, and for reasonable price? It is unsure what brand I can get from ebay sellers...

 

...nevermind..

 

Hey guys, working on a family member's t420 with nvidia graphics and it has some serious sound issues. I just cloned the hard drive because the old one was failing and I'm noticing sound only works 1 out of 5 boots. I talked with the owner and apparently this has been an issue for over a year. When the sound isn't working, you can't even re-install the driver because it doesn't detect a sound card whatsoever. I can't even find any audio settings in the BIOS to disable/re-enable.

Some quick google searching reveals this particular model has a variety of audio issues. Even booting to a live Linux CD like ubuntu yields the same problem so it MUST be hardware.

Should I contact Lenovo support to see if this is a known issue?

 

Hey guys, I got a T420 yesterday and I really like it so far. The weight/size to screen ratio is great and the keyboard is very nice to use. I do have some questions though:

1. When I got it, there was a fresh install of Windows 7 on it. I downloaded Lenovo's Update Utility along with the Power Manager. Is there any other Lenovo software I need to install on this laptop to make it better?

When I installed some of the Lenovo software, it did not appear on the start menu list of programs. I am fairly sure these programs were installed but they are not visible there.

2. How will the restore process work on this laptop if I want to start all over again? I do not have the Windows 7 copy. I am going to make an assumption that I need to get a physical Windows 7 copy and then use the key located on the laptop.

Thank you for any response.

 

A matter of personal preference, really. If it has a conventional hard drive and not SSD, Active Protection System should be downloaded. If you use more than one networking profile on a regular basis, Access Connections could be useful. Hotkeys are another very useful thing in my opinion.

Yep, that sounds about right.

 

What are you all getting for your discrete GPU temps?

I bought a used T420 - removed the fan assembly and re applied arctic silver 5 to the CPU and GPU. CPU temps dropped 20C under full load but using something like Unigine Valley or Furmark (with fan set to full in TPfancontrol) Im seeing GPU temps hit 100C!

The heatpipes look good, any chance I have a messed up cooler? I use a light sanding of 000 steel wool on the CPU and GPU plate (followed by rubbing alcohol on the surface and the chip itself), could this have messed anything up?

 

Hi, I have a T420s, with internal 128 SSD and extended Crucial M4 256 SSD and 8GB RAM. T

The 4GB RAM I originally added was Kingston, and recently I tried to upgrade to 16GB (2 x 8GB DIMMS) however when post install the pc didn't even boot up. Noticed that the memory (from ebuyer) is Corsair. Any one know what make they used when upgrading the RAM?

Also has anyone upgraded the CPU? I have an i5 (at work so can't remember the number) but does the T420s upgrade CPU okay?

Thanks

qh

 

On "s" models the CPU is soldered to the motherboard and can't be upgraded. You'd have to swap the entire planar.

 

Thank you ajkula66. Guess I'll leave it as is then.

qh

 

Just upgraded i5-2520M → i7-2720QM ($105 (buy i7) - $26 (sell i5) = $79), everything works well and stably,
the only thing noticeably after changing the processor is that the cpu fan runs on 15%-20% longer (before turning on lowest (minimal) rpm). Feels like external (bottom, top, keyboard, etc) temperature has not changed.

Spoiler: Geekbench score comparsion

so, jump in speed ~2x Running OS X 10.11.1 El Capitan

Next step: FullHD display.

 

Something is wrong with the RAM the t420 has taken any ram I've put in it from 8500, 10600, 12800, 1.5v 1.35 v 4gb 8gb modules etc. Also as mentioned the S series cpu is in the motherboard so no upgrade option. Also the i7 dual core is pretty gimicky and is barely faster than the i5 dual core. Now the quad core i7 is a different story.

 

Hi,

I just bought an old T420S.
Can I put a SATA3 (6GB/s) SSD in the main slot? Will it use the full speed?
Which SSD would you recommend? Will the Evo 850 // Evo 840 work?

Cheers,
André

 

Welcome to the forum!

Yes and yes.

I'd recommend SanDisk Extreme Pro. If you *must* buy an EVO, go with 850 and stay away - very far away - from 840 EVO.

Happy ThinkPadding.

 

Yes it will run at sata3. 850/840 will work

 

Hey guys, I purchased two T420 laptops last week and I've just come to learn that they are having random freezes.

Diagnosis is in progress along with more information to be relayed to me, but do these have a reputation for freezing?

First suggested fixes were to re-seat RAM, check installation of correct drivers and verify clean fan.

 

No the ThinkPad T420 is usually rock solid so the symptoms you've mentioned is not normal. As with above you may want to check the integrity of the RAMs by running MemTest86+ to ensure it's not the modules that are playing up.

If you're running high speed RAM's (such as PC3-12800 and above) I have noticed that the T420 tend to be quite fickle depending on what BIOS version you have. Version 1.37 is a safe BIOS for high speed RAM's so if you are exhibiting some strange behaviour like it refuses to boot and beeps randomly you may want to use the 1.37 BIOS instead if you are on the later versions.

If the RAMs are fine then check the condition of the hard drive. Tools such as CrystalDiskInfo can analyse the health and mileage of your hard drive, if its flags up in Yellow (Caution) and has "Reallocated Sectors" then seriously consider getting a replacement drive asap and backup your data before it deteriorates.

The only other thing I can think of after is then evaluate your Windows install. You can try running a live Linux distro (like Ubuntu or Mint) to see if it exhibits any odd behaviour, if the live distro performs normally then it could point to a Windows related problem such as poor drivers or software conflicts.

If the T420 came preinstalled with Windows from an unverified source then consider doing a clean installation manually and install the drivers yourself. A Windows 7 ISO can be found on the front page of this thread if you need it and can be activated by the product key on the COA sticker underneath the battery.

 

Thanks for the advice. I don't have physical access to the machines but I'll try to find out as much as I can.

I had clean installed windows on receiving it. It may be a driver issue. I don't know what version the BIOS is at.

 

Thanks for your reply guys. I hope you saw that I was asking for the T420-S.

• From what I read is that you change use the T420 Keyboard also in the T420-S, right?
• As RAM I can use any random and cheap 16 GB DDR3-1333 PC3-10600 CL9, right?
• Is there any site to buy cheap hardware stuff from? Or just Ebay, Amazon, Mindfactory, etc?
• I also read there is some guideline to save some battery. Is one able to imagine something?

Thank you so much for you answer. I love this Forum already.

 

Yes, both the T420 and T420s share the same keyboard.

As long it matches the minimum specifications then any brand would work. For peace of mind look for ones that offer Lifetime Warranty on their modules just in case you need to do a RMA.

If you're not fussed with second hand then eBay is usually cheaper. If you insist on brand new tech and not in a rush then I would probably wait until after Christmas where more than likely there would be sales on these sort of things. Amazon do have some decent deals when they're in the mood so you can keep an eye on that.

If you're using Windows 7 then you can tweak the Power Manager to maximise the battery life. You can also change the charging thresholds to reduce the cycle count and prolong the lifetime of your battery too.

 

I have just upgrade my Thinkpad T420 form Windows7 to Windows10, fresh all. But some combo Fn key's not working (Fn+F8,F6..) although i install hotkey driver new or old.Pls help me solve!thanks!

 

hi i recently purchased a used T420 model number 4236-PB0.
i thinking of installing a msata, which is this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148951
and for the ram, i dont know whether i should get http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231694
or this model http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231531

please correct me if i getting the wrong upgrades and also any more upgrades that i can get to maximize this machine.

 

The mSATA you selected should be fine. As for RAMs the latter kit (1.5v) should definitely work with the T420, some people have mentioned that 1.35v RAM modules also works with the T420 but I yet to verify this myself to give you a definitive answer.

To conclude the mSATA and the last option for the RAMs is a safe choice for the ThinkPad T420.

 

any programs out there that can test if there is a problem with the motherboard/ram/graphics/sound/screen/battery etc etc for this laptop?

 

T420 Refurb deal on eBay via Newegg right now for $199, this is a Grade A manufacturer refurbished system with Intel Core i5-2520M, 320GB HDD, 4GB RAM, 1366x768

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ThinkPad-T4...064981?hash=item58c8dd3f95:g:mqsAAOSwMmBVomyd

Not a bad deal, upgrade with an SSD and some extra memory and it'll really boost performance. Screen of 1366x768 is certainly disappointing.

 

I bought a t420 at one point during one of the refurb sales, really is a very solid machine. The one I have does have one minor issue though, the battery does not stay latched in place. The latch does work, I can slide the release over and the latches move but it's as if the battery isn't latching into the case of the machine. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

Any suggestions what to try to possibly remedy the issue?

Many thanks

 

I checked 3 of my ThinkPad T420's for similar symptoms (both 6 cell and 9 cell) and I don't have any issues with the battery so it does sound a bit odd. What's the condition of the battery hooks look like? Plus is there any debris in the mounting holes?

 

Well I did just take a peek at the mounting notches and it looks like perhaps some plastic is torn away in the holes. I've included a dropbox gallery link to three photos of each individual mounting hole. Please take a look and see what you think.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/h3vdofgd323dsbh/AAAecVx9BEAwov0rFniEnUkKa?dl=0

 

Unfortunately it seems someone had gone a bit aggressive and ripped off parts of the base plastics hence why you're experiencing unsual movements with the battery.

These are the mount holes from my T420 to give you an idea of what it should look like.





You could consider getting some plastic repair kits from some DIY stores to repair the damage or search for salvaged T420 units and replace the bottom base if it becomes a hindrance.

 

Guys, quick question here.
Is it possible to switch broken palmrest of T420 by T410's one? And what is interchangeable in these models? Thanks.

 

The T420 is slightly different to the T410 so the palmrests are not interchangeable i'm afraid. The things which are interchangeable between the two are the keyboards and 9.5mm hard drive caddy with rails.

You can get a brand new T420 palmrest from places like AliExpress for about 20 bucks, just swap over the touchpad and fingerprint sensor from the old one to the new and you should be good to go. Alternatively you can look out for parts and salvage T420 units and strip out what you need and resell the rest after as they are not expensive to acquire these days.

 

Ahh just found this thread.

Does anyone know if the T420 could bootup without its RAM cover? or does it have to have the ram cover to power on? Thanks,

Thanks,

 

You can run the T420 without the RAM cover underneath, I did it a few times when I wanted to do some quick testing after disassembly but it's not ideal in the long run as it will be prone to short circuiting or static if it touches anything while on.

 

Hi, anyone knows why repeating entries appears in the t420 boot menu? I've got a mSATA ssd and the stock HDD, and they appear repeated like three times in the boot menu

 

I'm looking for an ultra bay battery, but on ebay they seem to be only for the t420 s. Do these exist for the regular T420?

 

My recollection, which may be faulty(perhaps even likely), is they stopped making the optical bay batteries for the standard T series when the slimmer S series models came out and the optical bay batteries were then only available for the S series models. I don't really recall the reasoning. My own experience with them is they're terrible batteries. Since they always discharge first, they wear quickly, I think the one I had my for R60 was at less than 50% capacity after six months.