IBM T61 screen replacement can be pretty easy if your confident taking a laptop apart.
After getting a quote from IBM in regard to the cost of replacing the screen on my Lenovo T61 after it got smashed, and waking up after passing out of shock from the quoted cost, I thought there must be a cheaper way, so £50 later from eBay I had a brand new replacement LCD, now to fit it.
I firstly looked at IBM’s service manual to find out about replacing the screen on my Lenovo T61 after it got smashed, and to my horror they recommend removing most of the upper part of the laptop body to get to the screen.
But after speaking to someone who replaced the screen on their laptop, I was told it was possible to replace it by not having to remove so much.
IBM T61 screen replacement Removing the Screen
To begin with Remove the battery and make sure the laptop is disconnected from the mains power.
Earth yourself frequently
Open up the laptop screen as far as it will go.
IBM T61 Screen Bezel
On the top of the laptop screen there is two covered screws and three on the bottom, remove the covers with something with a thin point, this will enable you to get down at the edges and remove them without marking.
Now remove all 5 screws, make a note where they came from as screws from the top and bottom and different lengths.
Now gently begin to open up the screen from the bottom, I used a plastic needle to move along the inside of the edge, moving it out slightly, this opened up the catches to allow me to open all of the bottom of the screen. Once you have released all the catches the bezel may still feel as though it is attached, I found on mine that there was double sided sticky tape holding this. As the screen has never been removed it appears it arrived from the factory this way.
Next work on the left side of the screen (it should be wider than the right) and using the same principle as above release all the catches so they can easily be removed.
The top, this has catches holding the screen bezel in both directions so it means moving it up to get the top left catch to release and then down to get the next one to release and so on.
The final side the right hand (smaller side) the reason I left this until last was it is easy to remove once you have released all other sides, but it has catches that are easy to break off.
To remove this the whole bezel needs to move right towards to outside of the thin side, then the whole bezel can be lifted off.
Now remove the three screws holding the screen in place.
Remember to make a note of where all screws have come from.
If need be re-earth yourself too.
Partly lift out the screen with its cradle and remove the connector going to the green PCB (inverter).
Remove all the small screws from the cradle secured to the LCD itself.
You will find one side will not come out all of the way. but you should get enough clearance to remove the screw.
Now you can lift the LCD panel out.
Now remove the ribbon connection on the back of the screen, if you need a little more cable remove the little LCD light on the top, this will just pullout.
The ribbon cable removed from the rear of the LCD panel
That is it, the screen can now be completely removed and the other fitted in place by following the instructions in reverse if you need to.
IBM T61 Screen Replacement completed – just need to replace the front bezel
This is not a complicated procedure, you just need to be careful to make sure your earthed, take your time and make notes of where various screws go.
Please note we accept no responsibility for any damage caused what so ever and advise you only attempt this if you are very familiar with dismantling laptops.
If you have any reservations contact your local pc repair shop and ask if they can assist.
Notes
Even if your laptop is still under warranty if it suffers from dead pixels, like most laptop manufacturers they will not swap the screen until it has the following, and even 1 or 2 can spoil the look of the screen and is very noticeable on solid color backgrounds.
This can be another good reason for an IBM T61 screen replacement
LCD resolution Bright dots Dark dots Bright and dark dots
XGA, WXGA 5 6 6
WXGA+, SXGA+, WSXGA+ 5 8 10
UXGA, WUXGA, QXGA 5 13 13
computer adviser ibm t61 screen replacement article
There are 3 places where the ribbon cable connects – A. to the back edge of the keyboard area B. to the center of the back of the LCD, and C. at two locations at the very top of the screen in the vicinity of the webcam.
I find that connecting the ribbon cable to (B.) the new screen is difficult to do. The receiving slot seems to flop around and is only reached though a horizontal opening in a heavy plastic protective material. I am doing this with the ribbon cable still connected to (A).
When doing this alone I found the only way to manage keeping the screen upright and steady standing on the laptop top and holding the screen in place and holding both edges of the ribbon cable with both hands to guide it into the receiving slot is to hold the screen with my chin on the top edge while staring down at the receiving slot for the ribbon cable.
However once I manage to get the ribbon connected at (B) I find it comes out of the (B) slot when I attempt to place the screen flat against the backing to the laptop case and at the same time attempt to replug the end of the ribbon at the top of the case back (C).
There is very little slack in the ribbon cable which makes this very difficult to do – and I am still trying.
Any tips? Should I disconnect the ribbon cable at (A) to get this done?
I really need some guidance with this.
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