ThinkPad T60

I'd like to thank everyone on this forum who has assisted me in making a decision and answering my various questions.

My first impressions:

Keyboard seems solid as expected, but a few keys around the pointing stick seem slightly less firm/in place.

Screen is as expected, brightness should do just fine.

Still in the process of getting the machine to my liking software wise.

Gripes/Questions:

When shut, to the left portion of the lid, it does not seem as secure/shut. It will slighly depress when pushed down as if the latch is not shut tight there. Perhaps they should have had 2 individual latches instead of just one on the right.

When shut (and off - or hibernate) and in my hands, if I move it slightly left to right, it seems like a component is moving inside. As if the disk drive part is shifting left to right within the machine. Is this normal? Can this be the hard drive? (And it isn't the hard drive active protection system - that is a different noise).

The hard drive spinning noise and fan noise are a bit louder than expected. Is this normal? Anyway to get the hard drive to be a bit more silent without impeding performance? Maybe I should leave the fan setting as is for heat purposes.

One other thing: When shut, it seems as if the lid is not centered, a bit more 'lip' is to the right whereas the left side is more alligned. And on the bottom of the machine - on the product identification label, it is a bit ripped almost - something I have heard of before on this forum where the two magnetic like strips are visible. Normal?

With everything mensioned here, do you think I got what I payed for quality wise? I guess I was expecting a bit more quality care for the premium I payed. The screen not shutting entirely dissapoints me indeed.

 

what model did you get?

 

If you are willing to play with unsupported software, check out TPFanControl https://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=153962

It works fine with T60. I was not satisfied with the noise level from the fan. Without TPFC, the fan spins at 2900rpm while the CPU+GPU are idle. More specifically, the fan is off until a threshold is hit, then it spins at 2900rpm. The problem is that the threshold for increasing and decreasing fan level are not optimal with respect to noise.

Play around with the threshold levels in TPFC. I was able to get my fan to be off most of the time (now, the fan comes on for about 3 minutes every 25 minutes).

 

I am only qualified to address one part of your post, but as to the XP license sticker, do not be concerned that it appears to be worn away in two places. All of the current XP stickers are like this - I actually just bought an OEM copy of XP Pro to install on my mom's iMac and the stickers were like this. I take it it is meant to give a clearer view of the mylar hologram strip to make counterfeiting more difficult.

 

It is the 200762U.

I will check out that software.

I'm not sure if you are talking about the same sticker, not the one on the palm rest itself but on the underside of the machine. I guess it is the Microsoft sticker.

 

I am indeed talking about the same sticker. It is the Windows XP Certificate of Authenticity, and contains your activation code. Don't worry about the holes in it - as I said, they are all like that nowadays.

 

If I read post correctly, some of the problem you're having is an design feature. Hope that would explain it.
Check it out here
Also, how long was the shipping? srry for asking so many questions rather than helping you

 

About a week or so to deliver. Okay, so features, understandable, would that account for the lid not being fully shut though? As well as being slightly to the right (or it would seem)?

And about the moving part within the machine, that concerns me.

 

the microsoft sticker should look like this
http://pc.toshiba-asia.com/images/services_support/1.jpg

 

Yup exactly, okay so that is the norm now.

So on with the other things...

 

Yeah, they could add an additional latch by replacing the wireless attenae there. Then they can receive news complaints about poor wireless connection and the inconvenience there is when customers cannot easily open their laptop to show something to their boss in the hallway because they cannot have both hands opening the two latches without holding the bottom of the laptop.

Sure, buy PerfectDisk (which is a defragmentation program) to optimize the location of your files so your hard drive has to spin less.

Good question, let's see if we can find out what component is moving. Shut off your computer (Standby, shut down, hibernate, your choice), now close the lid, put your ear close to the middle of the top part of the lid (above the screen where the wireless attenae is), and move the laptop slightly left to right. If you can hear something moving inside a lot more clearly there, then that is likely where the loose component is. Is the length of the sound consistent when you move the laptop left to right? If so, then what component could possible be loose, yet trapped, between the latches?

 

Okay, did as you said. Nothing seems to be moving in the center of the notebook. It is definately to the right side and I can literally feel it on my hand when gripping that portion. It seems as if it is definately comming from the diskdrive. (Hard drive I think is more towards the bottom right, correct?)

 

The hard drive is directly below the right side of the palmrest. Is that where the sound is occuring? It isn't from inside the lid near where the thinklight is?

 

It isn't from inside the lid, no.

 

Interesting...my best guess is that it is probably a loose screw or something. Only way to find out is to open up the laptop by taking out the keyboard. Not sure if you want to go that route or just bear with whatever is inside.

 

It sounds like something bigger than a loose screw, well depening on the size of the screw. If I had to guess, it almost sounds like the contents or pully mechanism of the disk drive, moving back and forth. Not sure if I want to open it.

 

The hard drive is really easy to remove on ThinkPads, I'd go ahead and take it out to peer inside or shake the hard drive to see if anything is loose, make sure the shock mounts are in place, here's a movie demonstrating how to do that:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-63909.html

 

I'll take a look, thank you. But this is more towards the middle right, appose to where I think the hard drive is.

Edit: What size screw driver is needed to remove the hard disk drive cover screw? When I put the hard drive back, will the hard drive removal dab go back into the same place, folded as it was before I removed the hard drive for the first time?

 

The mini screw driver I have doesn't work, not large enough I guess. I don't want to risk damaging the screw and warping the shape of it by trying to further turn the screw driver in it, I may have already done that. I called Lenovo, and he said to take it to the 'Business Partner' and gave me a phone number. He said they will check it out for themselves, so I don't know.

 

If you have fear about messing something up and are not really comfortable doing it, I would suggest following Lenovo's advise and take it to the center and have a pro look at it. You paid a premium for it, make sure its to your liking. Its the little things that count.

 

Has anyone noticed that the left click button under touchpad is very sensitive?

Sometimes when I am surfing the web, I haven't even touched it and I am suddenly on a linked page.

Is it just me?

 

I have never experienced accidental clicking, but to some extent I guess that's a side effect of the soft (i.e., not "clicky") nature of the button travel on the TP's mouse buttons. Honestly I don't care for that, since it's so contrary to every other mouse or pointer button I've ever used.

 

johnny0001, it could be that you are navigating above a link that you are going to click, and unknowingly you apply pressure to the actual touchpad, thus being used as a 'click' and being the cause of your mysterious ventures onto a new website/webpage link.

 

On a side note, is it okay to insert a USB device (and remove) while the machine is on? I know i've heard other devices (external monitor, mic, headphones) should not be inserted while the machine is running, but USB is safe correct? (The convenience factor)

 

Microphones, headphones, and even monitors can be plugged and unplugged while the machine is on.

USB can always be plugged in while the machine is on. Before unplugging some USB devices (storage devices), you need to click on the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon in the system tray.

 

I have probably the same moving part inside. I removed the ultrabay drive but something is still moving inside. Doesn't seem like hdd to me.

I also have a slight flex on the left side of the keyboard. Especially when a tab key is pressed hard, it makes an ugly sound. My first tip was a loose screw, but after I tightened all the screws on the bottom as hard as i could, nothing has changed. I wonder if I might have done any damage to the laptop by overtightening the screws.

 

I've heard that avoiding over tightening screws is good, but interesting that you have the same/similar moving part inside. I also checked the modular, than putting it back in was a bit of an adventure, I might have been a little rough with the pull out tab, but it should be alright.

Can you take it to a certified Lenovo business partner in your area? I will have to put it in the box I suppose if I want to take now because I don't have a sleeve and/or padded backpack to transport as safely as I would like to.

 

I'm not thinking of taking it anywhere right now. I have bought it only a month ago and I can't be without it a single second If it goes worse after few months of carrying around, I'll take it to the service center.

 

Is the noise of the moving part equally noticable when the machine is tilted left to right and right to left? Almost as if the moving part has a limited space to move in and it stops a certain distance to each side?

 

The moving part is more noticeable when moving right to left and it has a limited space to move

 

If you want to venture into taking a look at your hard drive, Andrew 'Abaxter' posted a link in which a video demo shows one how to remove the hard drive themself. Did you try this yet?

 

I don't feel like removing the hard drive right now

 

Well you won't be able to diagnose your notebook problem them.

 

I got the same model as you. And guess what, I have the same problem. When shut the lid is not flushed with the body, it sticks out a bit on right hand side(near the DVD drive) while the left side seems to be flushed.
Did you fix the problem?