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    t420 maintenance - advice?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by iphetamine, Aug 4, 2014.

  1. iphetamine

    iphetamine Notebook Evangelist

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    I've had the t420 for about 4 years now, is it time to open it up and clean it? It works ok, but sometimes I hear a dim roar and feel hot air coming out. Sometimes 2 or 3 keys get stuck I don't recieve a tactile feedback.

    Any suggestions or I go with "don't fix if ain't broke" route?
     
  2. ajkula66

    ajkula66 Courage and Consequence

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    Yes.

    You could try cleaning out the keyboard as well, and if you have to swap it they are both inexpensive and easy to replace.

     
  3. jedisurfer1

    jedisurfer1 Notebook Deity

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    agreed keyboards are very cheap, it's 2 screws and push up towards the screen then lift up (see youtube). Take the dust out, get a new keyboard and that machine will last a long time. Last of the true thinkpads.
     
  4. Babel-Babble

    Babel-Babble Notebook Geek

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    I recently replaced the keyboard and entire palm rest piece on my T420 due to extreme wear over the past 3 years. The last of the old school ThinkPad keyboard style, and I'm keeping mine around for a long time. I purchased an extra keyboard just to be safe.

    Opening it and giving it all a good blow out is rather easy; just download the hardware maintenance manual or check for videos on YouTube. The first time, you'll freak over the plastic cracking sounds, but those are normal.
     
  5. Oscar590

    Oscar590 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Where did you guys purchase replacement keyboards from?
     
  6. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

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    eBay or the marketplace forum on ThinkPads.com are good bets.
     
  7. Babel-Babble

    Babel-Babble Notebook Geek

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    I got mine off Amazon, but I've also used eBay in the past.

    The most important thing to do is to remove your current keyboard and check the FRU# on the back to make sure you order the same one. Some keyboard FRUs, even on the vaunted T-series, don't have as stiff a backplate as others.
     
  8. iphetamine

    iphetamine Notebook Evangelist

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    should I get 16gb of ram, would that increase performance? which speeds and voltage?

    I already have 8gb. What information do you need?

    Any specific software needed to properly detect if I need to open the laptop up and clean or change thermal paste?
     
  9. jedisurfer1

    jedisurfer1 Notebook Deity

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    hwinfo is great for getting all the sensors and telling the temps. I can't imagine you need more than 8gb unless you have some virtual machines, huge database, photoshop or CAD. Plus you'd have to buy all new 8gb dimms.
     
  10. iphetamine

    iphetamine Notebook Evangelist

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    What do you guys think?
    temps.PNG
     
  11. ajkula66

    ajkula66 Courage and Consequence

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    Temps seem fine to me.

    With that said, given the age of the machine, I'd still re-paste it.