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Lenovo T420 Query/Question

Grifterguru
By Grifterguru
in Laptops and Pre-Built Systems
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Posted

Well, this one came about following the removal of the keybaord to "De-crumb" it (shake out, blow out, tap out any and all debris from under the keys) ready to install the memory and new keyboard ( old one is working just fine, but I hate shiny keyboard  keys!!)...

Underneath the keyboard, lurking out of sight is a connector that I had no idea existed vand now it is buging me as to the purpose of it. Obviously it is there for a reason, I would just like to know what that reason is.

Here it is as viewed after lfting the keyboard.. The Right hand side of the laptop is to the top right of the image (Spot the LCD hinge?)

43595036355_4d7500191d_c.jpg

Here it is a little closer... See the Grey block standing up above the board? that is the connector I am talking about.l It is obviously intended for something, but what I do not know and it will drive me to distraction until I do know

43595037845_a5856ab741_c.jpg

Instructions ? WHAT?!?!?! A man don't need instructions!       Oh............wait a minute...........................What's this bit for?  aaaaaagh!!
Vita imitatur artem, imitantur vitae
Lenovo M73 10AXS38G00 i7 4785T 2.20GHz, 16GB Ram, WD Black2 1.2TB Dual Drive, W7 64bit Ultimate, Lightscribe mulit-write Optical.
Lenovo M73 10AXS06G02 G3220T 2.6Ghz, 6GB RAM, 320GB HDD, W7U, Stock DVD Optical
Lenovo T420 42369N8, i5 2520M 2.5/3.2GHz, 16GB Ram, 256GB SSD (iOS 10.13.6 High Sierra), 750GB WD HDD (W7 Ultimate) Dual Boot, Lightscribe mulit-write Optical.
Lenovo L412 4403CT0, i5 520M, 2.4Ghz, 6GB RAM, 320GB HDD Win7 Ultimate Stock DVD Optical.
Custom (re)Build Tower (WIP). Asus Prime B350 Plus Mobo, GTX 960 GPU, Custom MOD Watercooling, Gamemax Falcon Case (two windowed side panels), RGB fans, dual rad CPU loop with 240 & 280 Rads, 120 GPU Rad. RGB Fittings, RGB & BL case lighting. Custom acrylic internal shields/shrouds. Remainder TBD.

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was there anything connected to it when you took it apart?  If no then its probably for diagnostic or an accessory that isn't on your laptop possibly.  I see lots of laptops with weird connectors that aren't populated, usually, they are for diagnostic stuff.  I don't do Lenovo stuff that often so I'm not entirely familiar with their style of design.

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Its a board that is used on at least two models to my knowledge, the T420s being at least one other unit it is used on/in/for.

It was not populated/in use when I lifted the keyboard, hence the question. I also asked my friend who is a tech and knows lenovo well. Even he is stumped as to the purpose of it. If it were a Diag. port it would be a strange place to put it given it means removing the keyboard to get at it, which also includes removal of a lower shell panel and a machine screw.

It most likely is for a componant not fitted on this model, but as to what that might be? who knows. Even the mighty (PITA) Google does not throw up any answers....

Instructions ? WHAT?!?!?! A man don't need instructions!       Oh............wait a minute...........................What's this bit for?  aaaaaagh!!
Vita imitatur artem, imitantur vitae
Lenovo M73 10AXS38G00 i7 4785T 2.20GHz, 16GB Ram, WD Black2 1.2TB Dual Drive, W7 64bit Ultimate, Lightscribe mulit-write Optical.
Lenovo M73 10AXS06G02 G3220T 2.6Ghz, 6GB RAM, 320GB HDD, W7U, Stock DVD Optical
Lenovo T420 42369N8, i5 2520M 2.5/3.2GHz, 16GB Ram, 256GB SSD (iOS 10.13.6 High Sierra), 750GB WD HDD (W7 Ultimate) Dual Boot, Lightscribe mulit-write Optical.
Lenovo L412 4403CT0, i5 520M, 2.4Ghz, 6GB RAM, 320GB HDD Win7 Ultimate Stock DVD Optical.
Custom (re)Build Tower (WIP). Asus Prime B350 Plus Mobo, GTX 960 GPU, Custom MOD Watercooling, Gamemax Falcon Case (two windowed side panels), RGB fans, dual rad CPU loop with 240 & 280 Rads, 120 GPU Rad. RGB Fittings, RGB & BL case lighting. Custom acrylic internal shields/shrouds. Remainder TBD.

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1 minute ago, Grifterguru said:

Its a board that is used on at least two models to my knowledge, the T420s being at least one other unit it is used on/in/for.

It was not populated/in use when I lifted the keyboard, hence the question. I also asked my friend who is a tech and knows lenovo well. Even he is stumped as to the purpose of it. If it were a Diag. port it would be a strange place to put it given it means removing the keyboard to get at it, which also includes removal of a lower shell panel and a machine screw.

It most likely is for a componant not fitted on this model, but as to what that might be? who knows. Even the mighty (PITA) Google does not throw up any answers....

it almost looks SATA to me but unless there is room for something or if it was used on a model that had a DVD drive probably not.  I have seen some weird stuff.  Alienware, for example, uses DP cables to carry USB and such to daughter boards.  Laptops are a different world with no rules.

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The T420 does have a DVD drive bay and, in fact, I upgraded the existing (garbage stock) drive to a DVD +/- DL Multi writer with Lightscribe.

Until a multi-BD writer with lightscribe (litescribe? sp?) comes along, that lightscribe drive is staying in place.

Instructions ? WHAT?!?!?! A man don't need instructions!       Oh............wait a minute...........................What's this bit for?  aaaaaagh!!
Vita imitatur artem, imitantur vitae
Lenovo M73 10AXS38G00 i7 4785T 2.20GHz, 16GB Ram, WD Black2 1.2TB Dual Drive, W7 64bit Ultimate, Lightscribe mulit-write Optical.
Lenovo M73 10AXS06G02 G3220T 2.6Ghz, 6GB RAM, 320GB HDD, W7U, Stock DVD Optical
Lenovo T420 42369N8, i5 2520M 2.5/3.2GHz, 16GB Ram, 256GB SSD (iOS 10.13.6 High Sierra), 750GB WD HDD (W7 Ultimate) Dual Boot, Lightscribe mulit-write Optical.
Lenovo L412 4403CT0, i5 520M, 2.4Ghz, 6GB RAM, 320GB HDD Win7 Ultimate Stock DVD Optical.
Custom (re)Build Tower (WIP). Asus Prime B350 Plus Mobo, GTX 960 GPU, Custom MOD Watercooling, Gamemax Falcon Case (two windowed side panels), RGB fans, dual rad CPU loop with 240 & 280 Rads, 120 GPU Rad. RGB Fittings, RGB & BL case lighting. Custom acrylic internal shields/shrouds. Remainder TBD.

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Just now, Grifterguru said:

The T420 does have a DVD drive bay and, in fact, I upgraded the existing (garbage stock) drive to a DVD +/- DL Multi writer with Lightscribe.

Until a multi-BD writer with lightscribe (litescribe? sp?) comes along, that lightscribe drive is staying in place.

If its not that then i dont really have any more ideas.  You said this board is used in another model yes?  It could have to do with that.

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It may do, it may not.  I have just been put across to the Lenovo boards by my friend who is the tech.

Had he bothered to tell me about the board before, I may not have posted the query here. However, as I have, I will update this threead with any /all relevant info I receive.

******

Wish I had not gone over there now, I am looking at fitting a FHD display and other "mods" to this T420 because of it....  Oh well, once an enthusiast, always an enthusiast!

Instructions ? WHAT?!?!?! A man don't need instructions!       Oh............wait a minute...........................What's this bit for?  aaaaaagh!!
Vita imitatur artem, imitantur vitae
Lenovo M73 10AXS38G00 i7 4785T 2.20GHz, 16GB Ram, WD Black2 1.2TB Dual Drive, W7 64bit Ultimate, Lightscribe mulit-write Optical.
Lenovo M73 10AXS06G02 G3220T 2.6Ghz, 6GB RAM, 320GB HDD, W7U, Stock DVD Optical
Lenovo T420 42369N8, i5 2520M 2.5/3.2GHz, 16GB Ram, 256GB SSD (iOS 10.13.6 High Sierra), 750GB WD HDD (W7 Ultimate) Dual Boot, Lightscribe mulit-write Optical.
Lenovo L412 4403CT0, i5 520M, 2.4Ghz, 6GB RAM, 320GB HDD Win7 Ultimate Stock DVD Optical.
Custom (re)Build Tower (WIP). Asus Prime B350 Plus Mobo, GTX 960 GPU, Custom MOD Watercooling, Gamemax Falcon Case (two windowed side panels), RGB fans, dual rad CPU loop with 240 & 280 Rads, 120 GPU Rad. RGB Fittings, RGB & BL case lighting. Custom acrylic internal shields/shrouds. Remainder TBD.

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