06 Sep, 2009
Thinkpad T43: Spring-Loaded Hard Drive Connector Error
Posted by: admin In: Lenovo Laptops
Lenovo Thinkpad T43 get a problem with spring-loaded hard drive connector on it motherboard. The laptop can not operator at all unless by press down on the palm rest above the spring-loaded definitely drive connector. You can see this connector appears to be designed to move up & down on two posts. The 44 hard drive pins appear to connect indirectly to the motherboard via 44 springs in this assembly. One who get this problem has opinion of doing assemble must be manually compressed for the system to communicate with the hard drive.
You know spring-loaded hard drive connector on T43 motherboard is a complicated mechanism. Before assembly or changes anything inside, better give bear attention in the options below:
Press right below the right ALT key and to the right of the trackpad. Does the system still unable to work? If you took the palm rest off, then press down on the battery socket, does it restore the system to operation?
If it so, means the T43 board itself may not be cracked. But it could be the connectors of the BIOS battery jack to the board and this about a $3 repair. What you need to do is cut off the connector and replace with a new one or cut off and resolder to ensure the circuit is solid.
If the T61 board is cracked, you can shim it with some quality neoprene since Neoprene wont’ shrink like Styrofoam when exposed to
heat and pressure. Shimmed boards will work but requiring the extra stress of tightening it back. And the worst it can create other breaks since you’re bowing the deck so much the stress has to go somewhere.
Also, the system will work better if it remains stationery since a shimmed laptop will shift when bring it under general conditions.