Screen compatability help needed

[jasvid]

Hi,

I have used the T400 for last 4 years and still like it as my laptop.  I like it so much in fact that I have just about worn mine out (usb's don't work, keys are wearing out, etc).  I recently purchased a very lightly used one on ebay and would like to migrate all my stuff over there and have the joy of a fully functioning computer.  

One problem - the newer T400's LED screen just is not very bright - not nearly as bright as my older T400.  So I would like to switch screens.  I have watched a video on youtube and it seems manageable to do myself, but it is slightly risky that I can end up really breaking something.  So before I do it, I want to try to verify that the screens are compatable.  I have noticed that the upper bezel (I think that is what it is called - it is the part of the screen frame that hold the thinklight and camera) is slightly wider than mine.  Strange.

I have measured the screens and they appear identical.  My current computer is a type 7417 and the new one is a 2768.  Can anyone tell me if my screens can be switched without issues?

Thanks for any help!

Jason

[richk]

My guess is that the brighter one has an LED backlight and the less-bright one has a CCFL. LED backlight was an option on every T400 model, so I cannot tell from that. If you want to confirm, you could send me both model-serial combinations and I could look them up. You cannot simply replace the panel. You would need to replace the assembly. All T410 and newer ones have LED backlights.

[jasvid]

Hi RichK,

Well, I bought the new one (dimmer screen) and it was advertised as LED.  Here are the specs - if you could tell me if they are compatable, that would be great!

Old T400 (the one with brighter screen) - TYPE 7417-CTO S/N xxxxxxx 08/10

Newer T400 (the one with dimmer screen that I want to get rid of) - TYPE 2768-KB9  S/N xxxxxxx 09/11

Any help would be highly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jason

Moderator Note; s/n edited for member's own protection

[sarbin]

@jasvid...

you should edit your serial numbers out of your last post.

[richk]

you should remove the serial, but it looks like the new one has a ccfl backlight.  The old one doesn't show the part number  in the parts list for some reason, but if the bezels are a little different, you should assume the old one is LED.  LED screens have slightly wider bottom borders on the LCD bezel

[jasvid]

Richk,

You are correct that my older computer does have a slightly larger bottom bezel now that I look closely...

How did you find out it was ccfl?  When I got this computer from seller on ebay and saw the screen wasn't as light as I hoped, I immediately called Lenovo and asked them to tell me what kind of backlight this computer had - I was told it was an LED backlight...

Is there any hope of switching screens between these two computers and what would it involve? 

Thanks for the help!

[richk]

Parts list:   http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product-and-parts/partsLookup.page

I have a hard time saying how hard things are for people.  I have done  lots of screens and I can change a screen assembly in about 15 minutes.  If you have never done it can be difficult to get the antenna wires back in place and keep track of which screw goes where.  I have received many machines for "repair" where all the pieces were loose in a plastic bag after a failed attempt.   You need to remove both complete assemblies and swap the whole assemblies as complete units.  (lcd, lid, .cable, antenna wires, etc.) 

Here is the service manual:  http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles_pdf/43y6629_05.pdf

[jasvid]

Richk,

Thanks for the info - I understand that it is hard to know how hard things will be for different people...

After looking over the service manual, I think I can do it.  One more question:

So if I can get both assemblies off like on page 118 of the service manual, it is basically plug and play with each other at that point?  There isn't anything else that I need to switch out to go from CCFL to LED?

Thanks for the help,

Jason

[richk]

you are correct

[nibs Guru]

Be careful with the routing of the antenna wires. During recent repairs to my T400 the tech noticed that one of the wires had been severed by the screen hinge due to improper placement at the factory.