Thinkpads Forum

:UPDATE [1/24/08]:

First of all, our website is now up and running. It has all the details of the different services and prices:

This is the official launch of our new joint business: Arndt Computer Services

The prices and shipping have been revamped. We'll send you a padded laptop box with a prepaid UPS label inside. You pack up the laptop, attach the label, and drop it off at your nearest UPS location.

Virtually any laptop is eligible for the repair. Contact me at james@arndtcomputer.com with your address, phone number, model number, serial number, and a description of the problem you're having.

All backlight repairs come with a one-year warranty from the date of service. So if the backlight fails within that period, I'll repair it at no cost to you.

For other hardware or software problems, there is a $50 base fee. Like with the backlight service, we'll send you a pre-paid box, and give you the options and an estimate of the cost once we receive the laptop.

:EDITED: [11/6/08]

I'm pleased to announce that we now offer BGA and GPU reballing. This means that those loose graphics chips in the T4x/R5x ThinkPads can be permanently fixed. This is done using a professional rework station. Long story short, the chip is taken off the motherboard, cleaned, and reattached with new solder.

This comes with a one-year warranty, so if the chips fails within that period, I'll take care of it again for free.

Like with the backlight repairs, I'll provide a shipping box and prepaid return label at no extra cost.

The warranty is on the laptop itself, meaning that it will still be valid even if the laptop is sold/given to somebody else.

For questions about this or any other repair, please contact me at james@arndtcomputer.com.

To send your laptop in for repair, please fill out and submit the form found here: http://arndtcomputer.com/form.php

:UPDATE [01/18/11]:

After a long break from being a presence on the forums, I'm very glad to say that we're once again able to offer these unique services to the thinkpads.com community. I have a couple of updates to announce about our services:

First of all, we now have our own in-house rework station and reballing equipment. This means a big improvement in repair turnaround times over our old procedure of outsourcing such work. By cutting out the middleman, you get quicker service and a more consistent result. This also means that we can offer custom chip-swapping services like GPU and CPU upgrades. The 1GHz 600X in my signature is a good example of this kind of modification.

While ThinkPads are our specialty, we can work on any brand of computer and we also offer a full range of other laptop and desktop repairs, along with software and remote-support services. More details, pricing, and contact info can be found on our website at www.arndtcomputer.com.

Just send me a message if you have any questions!

you should specify which thinkpad models you can do this for..

BillMorrow wrote:you should specify which thinkpad models you can do this for..

Oh yeah, thanks. I've added the different sizes of screens I can work on.

I'd guess that shipping just the LCD panel by itself (or maybe the whole lid assembly) would not work for you since there would be no way you could verify the operation of the panel once it's been put back together, right? The reason I ask is that it would save on shipping charges (both ways). With that in mind, would you recommend removing the hard drive, battery and optical drive prior to shipping the system? I'm assuming that all you need to do to verify the panel's operation is to boot into the BIOS (make sure that the owner removes any POP or BIOS password!).

rkawakami wrote:I'd guess that shipping just the LCD panel by itself (or maybe the whole lid assembly) would not work for you since there would be no way you could verify the operation of the panel once it's been put back together, right? The reason I ask is that it would save on shipping charges (both ways). With that in mind, would you recommend removing the hard drive, battery and optical drive prior to shipping the system? I'm assuming that all you need to do to verify the panel's operation is to boot into the BIOS (make sure that the owner removes any POP or BIOS password!).

I would be all right with just a panel or lid assembly. But, like you said, I wouldn't have a laptop to test it with. If someone wanted to send one laptop with multiple (compatible) screens, that'd be fine with me.

I'd say send it without HDD, battery, and optical drive. And even without the AC adapter, as long as the laptop is "old" enough to work with my 16V adapters.

You're right, all I need is to make sure the screen works. So as long as the laptop works fine otherwise and there's no password on it, it should be fine.

I have attempted changing these once...that was enough for me....I guess I just dont have the needed patience and touch....all I can say is more power to ya!!

Bump for one hell of a crazy person. I just replaced the backlight on my T23 and man was that fun. Definitely one of the most nerve wracking computer repairs I've ever done. Jamiphar more power to you for being nuts enough to offer this as a service. Guys, for $75 installed given what it takes to change a backlight, it's well worth it.

Kaervak wrote:Bump for one hell of a crazy person. I just replaced the backlight on my T23 and man was that fun. Definitely one of the most nerve wracking computer repairs I've ever done. Jamiphar more power to you for being nuts enough to offer this as a service. Guys, for $75 installed given what it takes to change a backlight, it's well worth it.

Hehe. Thanks for the bump! It can be pretty stressful if you haven't done it before, just trying not to make it worse by hurting the LCD.

I've done it once years ago and I'd rather not try it again...the attempt was successful, but the amount of stress involved was way too much for my liking...

That being said, the next A31P that comes half-blind will get a ticket to James' hometown...

One small suggestion to our Mods and Admins: given that this is a very needed service performed by a trusted forum member, how about making it into a sticky...I'm sure James won't mind donating 99.97% of his profit to this forum...

The first part of suggestion is written with serious intent...the second one...well, Smiley says it all!

More power to you!
I've done it 6 times and I will probably never do it again. I started by doing a 570 which was easy. Then a 600 which wasn't too bad. Then a T23 14.1 which was not as easy as the earlier models. Then a T42 which sucked and a pair if R51's which were just as bad as the T42. Never again for a customer, maybe for myself.

Yeah it definitely is stressful. I was terrified I was going to break the panel completely. And getting a few specs of dust between the layers was annoying as hell. Unfortunately as I was putting the panel back together the second time (after doing dust removal) I smacked the display with the edge of the metal frame and put a big inch plus scratch in it. Now I have to hunt down some wrights silver polish or a jewelers' rogue and try to buff the scratch out. Always something going wrong. Well, at least I no longer have a pink T23 LCD so that's a plus. Besides I might use this as a "justified" excuse to get an SXGA panel.

To anyone thinking of doing this on their own, it's not as hard as it sounds but it definitely isn't a cake walk either. It takes patience, skill & a little insanity. The trickiest part isn't even replacing the bulb it's taking apart and then reassembling the panel. If you're a klutz like me, not scratching the panel is another hazard.

I agree...I tried it one time and broke two ccfl tubes before I got it right...they are just soooo fragile...and VERY nerve wracking..I would rather hang by my thumbs for a day than do that again.

I doubt that silver polish or any jewelry related stuff would work for buffing the LCD...I tried underclocker's way with cold wax and it worked fine...don't expect a miracle, but definitely looks much better...

Yeah I ordered two bulbs just incase I screwed one up and my mom has a T23 so whenever her backlight goes out I have the bulb ready to go. It's quite impressive the difference between the old and new bulb when they're unconnected. The old one looks yellow and the new one is crisp white. I was quite surprised when I compared the two.

About removing the scratches, I did some searching online and a couple people swear by the wrights polish. If that doesn't work I'm going to try the jewelers' rogue and see what happens.

Mods, sorry for bumping the thread with a bunch of off topic posts.

Well, I'm headed back home once again. I've been out of town most of September and October, but I'll be home to stay now.

Just let me know if you have a laptop you want to send my way. You can PM me or e-mail me at jamesatfamteamdotcom.

I'm wondering 2 things:
1) Can you/one replace the backlight with one that gives me more brightness?
2) Can there be used some other backlight? Leds for example.

You can't use a different type of backlight. These screens were designed the way they are, and that's what you're stuck with.

As for brightness, a freshly replaced backlight should be as bright as a brand new screen.

Yeah, what George said.

The backlights I have are the brightest I've seen so far. They make the screen shine like new. These screens and inverters are built for fluorescent lamps, I've never tried using LEDs in one.

jamiphar wrote:Yeah, what George said.

The backlights I have are the brightest I've seen so far. They make the screen shine like new. These screens and inverters are built for fluorescent lamps, I've never tried using LEDs in one.

James replaced a backlight for me on a T23. IT is literally like new. I have compared it to a couple of other T23's which overlapped in ownership with original backlights and working fine, and the one he worked on was much brighter than the other two. My son is using this T23 now, and has NO complaints!

Highly recommended - I would not attempt this repair myself.

Mike

You're a brave, brave man. I've done two now, one failure and one success, and it was the most aggrevating, PITA computer repair I've ever done. I can't imagine the stress of doing it for another person.

mpcook wrote:James replaced a backlight for me on a T23. IT is literally like new. I have compared it to a couple of other T23's which overlapped in ownership with original backlights and working fine, and the one he worked on was much brighter than the other two. My son is using this T23 now, and has NO complaints!

Highly recommended - I would not attempt this repair myself.

Mike

Thanks for the kind words, Mike! I'm glad to hear that the T23 is still going strong.

RWDPLZ wrote:You're a brave, brave man. I've done two now, one failure and one success, and it was the most aggrevating, PITA computer repair I've ever done. I can't imagine the stress of doing it for another person.

Yeah...brave. Or maybe I'm just a little bit crazy like Kaervak said.

Is it possible to buy the bulbs from you? I have been working with electronics for 26 years. I'm not too scared to try it. I already reworked the BGA. The dust is my only worry.

proaudioguy wrote:Is it possible to buy the bulbs from you? I have been working with electronics for 26 years. I'm not too scared to try it. I already reworked the BGA. The dust is my only worry.

You could buy it from me. But you might want to just get it from lcdpart.com, which is where I get mine.

Good luck with it! Let me know if you have any questions.

jamiphar wrote:

proaudioguy wrote:Is it possible to buy the bulbs from you? I have been working with electronics for 26 years. I'm not too scared to try it. I already reworked the BGA. The dust is my only worry.

You could buy it from me. But you might want to just get it from lcdpart.com, which is where I get mine.

Good luck with it! Let me know if you have any questions.

Is this the right one?

http://www.lcdparts.net/ccflDetail.aspx ... NOVOIBM15R

A31 SXGA+ TFT

proaudioguy wrote:Is this the right one?

http://www.lcdparts.net/ccflDetail.aspx ... NOVOIBM15R

A31 SXGA+ TFT

Yeah, that looks like it will work.

OK I ordered one for each screen.
I also ordered the Aluminum tape just in case.

PM sent!

jamiphar wrote::BUMP:

you can bump this thread all you want..
but please kill the previous bump so that all there is is the last bump..

uhmm, this brings a PM i just got to the front of my mind..

another member has asked for a commercial sellers "sub" forum..
not sure i can DO sub forums with phpBB..
but aside from the request i have been thinking of updating the phpBB to something a little more fancy..
i have been on a forum recently using lithium that looks to be an OK forum application..
but i need to learn more on that..
but also, i am thinking of linking to thinkpads.com and offering space there for the commercial guys..
(a small fee would be in order, i think)

i will take a poll in a new thread in the marketplace..

BillMorrow wrote:you can bump this thread all you want..
but please kill the previous bump so that all there is is the last bump.. ....

Oh right, thanks.

I'll go take a look at the poll, too.

:EDIT:

Added a BUMP...

jamiphar,
thank you for replacing the backlight on my T23.
Great service, highly recommended.