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This guide explains how to remove a broken LCD screen from a Lenovo X60s laptop and replace it with a new LCD screen. The display disassembly procedure will work for some other IBM ThinkPad and Lenovo laptops. If this guide works for your laptop, please mention the model in the comments.
Before you start, please turn off the laptop, unplug the AC adapter and remove the battery.
STEP 1.
There are three screw seals on the bottom of the display bezel. These seals hide three screws securing the display bezel to the display cover.
You’ll have to remove all three screw seals with a sharp object and after that remove three screws.
STEP 2.
There are three screw seals on each side of the display assembly. Remove TWO seals I marked from each side of the display. Remove screws found under those seals.
STEP 3.
Start separating the display bezel from the cover as it shown on the picture below.
Continue separating the bezel.
The inverter board is located below the LCD screen. In order to access and remove the screen inverter it’s not necessary to remove the bezel completely.
Finally, the display bezel has been removed.
STEP 4.
Disconnect the screen backlight cable from the inverter board.
STEP 5.
Now you can separate the LCD screen from the display cover and access the video cable connector on the back of the screen.
STEP 6.
The video cable is plugged into the connector on the LCD controller board. There is clear tape securing the connection. Carefully remove clear tape.
STEP 7.
Unplug the video cable from the LCD screen.
STEP 8.
Now you can remove the broken LCD screen and replace it with a new one. Search for a replacement LCD screen using the FRU part number from the back of the original screen. You can find a cheap replacement screen here.
September 8th, 2009 at 5:28 am
Thanks alot, this guide worked a treat for my Thinkpad T40. Thanks very much.
September 8th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Cam McConnochie,
You are welcome. All ThinkPad laptops are kinda similar.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Hi I just installed a Display for a t60 and everything looked fine until I turned it on. the screen is dividen in two horizontally. did I miss something?
thanks for any help
November 12th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Angel,
What was wrong with the old screen?
Not sure what’s going on. Make sure the video cable is properly connected to the LCD screen.
I hope your new screen is compatible with the old one. Maybe it requires a different video cable.
December 17th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Hi, I’ve replaced my X60s lenovo LCD screen however, when I try to start up the laptop it begins by lighting up all the tabs on the keyboard (as though it was starting up) but then after a few seconds the laptop switches off and goes dead, seems as though the starting up mechanism dies? I’ve tried several times but the same pattern keeps repeating.
Before changing the screen the laptop would start up normally and function correctly with the old screen (IBM confirmed that the screen needed to be changed as it could only be seen very faintly).
Could you help please?
December 21st, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Oscar,
Check connections between the video cable and LCD screen. Maybe the video cable is not seated correctly.
Did you purchase the correct replacement screen? If you purchased a different screen, it may require a different video cable.
Here’s something you can try.
Disconnect the video cable from the motherboard and try starting the laptop with an external monitor connected to the VGA port. Will it start this way?
January 13th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Oscar,
I’ve replaced my X60s lenovo LCD screen however, when I try to start up the laptop it begins by lighting up all the tabs on the keyboard (as though it was starting up) but then after a few seconds the laptop switches off and goes dead, seems as though the starting up mechanism dies? I’ve tried several times but the same pattern keeps repeating.
Before changing the screen the laptop would start up normally and function correctly with the old screen (IBM confirmed that the screen needed to be changed as it could only be seen very faintly).
Check connections between the video cable and LCD screen. Maybe the video cable is not seated correctly.
Did you purchase the correct replacement screen? If you purchased a different screen, it may require a different video cable.
Here’s something you can try.
Disconnect the video cable from the motherboard and try starting the laptop with an external monitor connected to the VGA port. Will it start this way?
I have same proble, has someone resolve this problem?
March 9th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Hi Can anyone help me with this? Replaced a T60 LCD and when I powered on the laptop, all I could see was a VERY faint image on the screen. Any suggestions for what I can check here? Not sure what went wrong, I have experience in electronic repair, but not laptops. Any help would be great!
March 16th, 2010 at 10:03 am
Hi,
thank you for the How-To. I am interessted in disassembling the whole lid because I plan to varnish the lid outside. Its acutal completly scratched.
Do you have a close-up of this walkthrough in further disassembling the whole lid?
Thank you!
April 6th, 2010 at 10:10 am
VERY BAD description…..
It was way more difficult to exchange the screen
trust me……..
April 6th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
FoersterX,
You are welcome to create and publish a better disassembly guide.
April 12th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Thanks for the help! The images were a bit different for my X60, the video connector was high up on the back of the screen and I had to be very careful not to rip it. I couldn’t get the screen out without also removing the lower two screws at the side. But you got me most of the way and all was well.
This also helped me repair an older X31 screen.
Thanks
April 16th, 2010 at 4:20 am
Laptop Tech, Thanks for the quick guide…
For those of you seeing that the cable connection is not low but higher than the pictures, the x60 comes with different LCD’s. The higher cable connection is usually the “Ultralight” lcd. These are very hard to find with a low price and require a special cable. So, if your planning on changing your LCD check out your damaged LCD back so that you can get the Lenovo FRU (field replacement unit) & serial numbers. Then you can easily search for a replacement.
Should you have the “Ultralight” LCD, like I said, these types are difficult to purchase for less than $300.00 and are typically more money. Also, if you cannot find your LCD remember that you may have to purchase a different LCD cable since depending upon the FRU number, your connection location can change. It is best to stay with the right part providing you find it as the inverter can sometimes give you heartburn as well.
Another way you can rework a broken x60 LCD is replace the entire LCD assembly. Of course you would have to be lucky enough to find this used part. I have done this and was lucky to find and X60 that was water damaged and the LCD was fine. I had to wait for this to show up on *Bay. Good luck…
Hmeister
FYI – Taking off the bezel is very difficult and sometimes it seems to not want to release from the LCD frame. Start from the bottom and work up both sides and one you have the bottom and both sides released you can lift up the bezel to release it from the top of the LCD frame.
April 29th, 2010 at 9:17 am
Can I swap a T40 LCD into my T60 or are they different? My T60 got broken on a flight but I have an old T40 that is fine.
April 29th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
Falcon,
If both screens have the same size and resolution, it might work but I’m not sure 100%.
June 11th, 2010 at 9:41 am
Used instructions for my T40, additional screws had to be taken out, but otherwise worked great, thanks for posting!
July 6th, 2010 at 4:56 am
I have just replaced the screen on my X31 and for the most part this was very usefull.
You will need no.0 and no.1 precision screwdrivers and an awl is usefull for removal of the screw covers.
The only additions I would suggest for the X31 are:
1. ALL screws on the sides need to be removed.
2. The video cable is plugged into a socket in the middle top – be very carefull when pulling the screen away from the lid.
3. If you have wifi you will need to detach the brackets, which the aerial wires attach to, from the sides of your broken screen and attach them to the new one – the two top screws should be clear to be seen.
4. The inverter board is flat against the screen rather than perpendicular to the screen. I believe the inverter board on an X30 is also in a different position and the socket on the inverter board is upside down in comparison to the X31 (still flat against the screen).
5. There is a light on the X31 to illuminate the keyboard and it is easier to get at everything if you remove this by sliding it out from the plastic brackt in the lid.
That’s all folks!
Enjoy and good luck.
July 24th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
Hi thanx for the guide,
I just replaced my X60s screen(It cracked wen i dropped the laptop) with another x60 screen(This is my second laptop with just a simple battery problem) . Everything was well apart from the back-light screen on the x60s.The X60s is not powering up the back-light of its screen…Could this be a motherboard problem.Do you have an idea about what the problem could be?
I tried every part on the x60 including cables, screen inverter, screen….and they were all working fine.
I even tried to switch the x60 screen inverter with the x60s inverter plus all the cables and i got the same result i.e a very dim display.
In conclusion all these parts(Including the X60s parts) work fine the x60 perfectly but wen switched to the x60s i get the same dim display.
Also to be precise…by….parts i mean cable, screen inverter and both screens(the cracked and fine screen).
Thanx.
September 15th, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Hey, I just wanted to say that this was a really helpful document. I am glad you posted it.
October 19th, 2010 at 11:08 am
do you know where to get cheap screens?
October 20th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
frederik,
Cheap screens? Try eBay.
November 9th, 2010 at 11:40 am
Can a different LCD from another laptop like Samsung or Macbook Pro be installed on to a lenovo thinkpad? It might be a crazy question, but it might be worth considering.
Thanks
December 15th, 2010 at 9:56 am
does the LCD selling from ebay requires any modification on the connector, cause it seems like they are for more than one brand and model of the laptop or it is a standard connector on the LCD?
thanks
December 15th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Sai,
If you buy the right screen, there shouldn’t be any modifications needed.
The best way to search for a replacement screen is using IMB/Lenovo FRU part number.
The FRU number printed on the back of the screen. Find it and search on eBay. This way you’ll make sure to buy the exact replacement screen.
January 17th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
Was this very difficult to do? I’m not a computer whiz, but I’m not an idiot either. Should I attempt to do this myself? I have an X61s and the screen is a bit cracked internally at the top left.
Thanks!
January 19th, 2011 at 11:58 pm
Greetings,
I just wanted to know that where can I purchase the LCD and how much does it cost?
October 30th, 2011 at 3:56 am
Most helpful. I am trying to get up the nerve to try it. My laptop is only a month old, it fell and the screen is no good. Way too expensive to send for repair. Do you know of a guide for lenovo ideapad Z560?
October 30th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
@ Michele,
Is it cracked, physically damaged screen? If not, probably you still can get it covered under warranty.
Check out this hardware maintenance guide for Lenovo Ideapad Z560 laptop. It has disassembly instructions.
April 16th, 2012 at 9:17 pm
Hi, Does the screen replacement affect the webcam in any way?
April 16th, 2012 at 9:43 pm
@ Nadeem Omar,
No, it doesn’t. The webcam is a separate module.