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Using this guide you’ll be able to replace or upgrade memory modules (aka RAM) in IBM ThinkPad T40, T40p, T41, T41p, T42, T42p series laptops. In my case I’ll be working with a ThinkPad T41.
This laptop came with 512MB RAM installed. There are two 256MB memory modules installed. One of them can be easily accessed from the bottom of the laptop. The second module is hidden under the keyboard.
Before you start, turn off the laptop, unplug the adapter and remove the battery.
Removing RAM module located on the bottom.
First of all, remove the memory cover.
Spread latches located on both sides of the memory module until the module pops up at a 30 degree angle, as it shown on the picture below.
Grab the memory module by the edges and pull it from the slot.
Removing RAM module located on under the keyboard.
The second memory slot is located under the keyboard, so we’ll have to remove the keyboard first.
Remove four screws securing the keyboard.
Insert a small flathead screwdriver between the keyboard and palm rest and carefully lift up the keyboard.
Place the keyboard on the palm rest so you can access the cable.
Disconnect the keyboard cable from the motherboard. Now you can access the second memory module.
Remove the internal memory module the same way you removed the first one.
On the picture below you can see the original module.
According to the official hardware maintenance manual for ThinkPad T40/T40p, T41/T41p, T42/T42p, these laptops can take up to 2GB memory total. You can install up to 1GB memory module into each slot.
You should use PC2700 (DDR-333) 200-Pin SODIMM RAM.
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October 23rd, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Brandon,
I’m not sure if you finished reading the post before posting your question. It says:
According to the official hardware maintenance manual for ThinkPad T40/T40p, T41/T41p, T42/T42p, these laptops can take up to 2GB memory total. You can install up to 1GB memory module into each slot.
You should use PC2700 (DDR-333) 200-Pin SODIMM RAM.
It depends. If you have only 512MB installed, upgrading it to 2GB will definitely make your laptop faster.
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:25 pm
I have a T42 Series laptop that I got a number of years ago and I use it for business travel. I love this computer and recently had it set up with all of the newest operating systems as well as Picasa picture viewer and several adobe applications for my work. In doing all of this I had the gentleman who set the computer up take all of the big RAM using graphics out that were slowing down my run time but the computer is still slow. I would love to know how much RAM I can put into this computer and if it will make it faster because now it is a 2 cup of coffee computer just to watch it start up.
Thanks
September 19th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Ntsamba Knight,
There is no simple answer to your question. First of all, I would suspect the laptop memory.
If you have two memory modules installed, try removing them one at a time. Test the laptop with only one memory module in place. This way you can find the faulty memory module.
If you have only one memory module installed, try replacing it with a known good module.
September 18th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Funny –
My T42 does the same – Pulled both 512 modules. Tried booting with (2) 1GB PC2700 333 modules, no go. Each 1Gb Module works in each slot. Each 1GB module works along with one of the old 512’s (for a total of 1.5GB)…. but can’t get the (2) 1Gb to work together!! UGGGHH
(Laptop turns on, fan spins, battery light eventually turns amber, no video)
Possibly a BIOS update would help some of us out??
September 18th, 2009 at 7:14 am
Dear Sir,
I have an IBM Thinkpad Laptop T 41….. i bought the laptop this year 2009 July.
the problem is that when i switch it on the laptop freezes, i cant use it in anyway
when it freezes. I tried restalling XP on the Laptop but even during the installation process it would freez. Please help me what could cause such a problem.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Some of these machines take DDR2 instead of DDR memory. I just worked on a T43 (type 1875) which takes DDR2. (Other than that, the instructions above are correct for this machine.) The http://www.crucial.com site says you can install a maximum of 1GB per memory slot in this machine, but actually it will accept a 2GB DDR2 stick and work fine.
However, there’s a BIOS bug which prevents most OSs (including XP) from seeing more than 2GB of memory, so if you install a 2GB stick of DDR2 RAM in an XP computer you might as well leave the other memory slot empty. (I’ve read online that Windows 7 can find and use 3GB if you put 2GB in one slot and 2GB in the other, but I’ve not verified that myself.)
This machine does have a slightly backlevel BIOS (v1.24, vs. the final v1.29), but I doubt that a BIOS flash will fix it.
Dave
(Geeks Alive! Computer Rescue)
August 27th, 2009 at 9:10 am
Abitya,
Any brand should works just fine.
August 27th, 2009 at 6:51 am
Dear Sir,
Have a ibm thinkpad t40 laptop, with 2 * 256 mb ram
Want to upgrade it to atleast 1 gb
Found the following ram available on some site. Can i use this ram
Also can i use any other similiar compatable ram, incase orignal ibm ram is not available
PC2700 (DDR-333) 200-Pin SODIMM RAM
Please do let me know
August 15th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
I have a T41 laptop. It had 2X512 MB memory cards when I got it. I just bought a 1 GB memory card and tried to replace the 512 MB card in the slot on the bottom and the computer wouldn’t boot. I then put the 512 MB card back in the bottom slot and put the 1 GB card in the slot under the keyboard and it worked fine and recognized all 1.5 GB.
August 7th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Just installed a second Crucial 1GB card. she screams baby!! thanks for the quick instructions
July 28th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Thank you for an informative site!
July 25th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
hi, thanks for your answer,
if some day you get a t40 serias that the video seems to loose and the system halted
is the video card soldering, so you need to reflow the soldering
so common on t40’s
you can find the procedure on youtube, as markes as t40’s reflow
grettings
!
July 19th, 2009 at 12:47 am
ibizurf,
I’ve never done it myself.
July 15th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Thanks sooo much. Great tutorial
July 13th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Hi there, thanks in advance for all your tutotial you rock
My ask is if you have al really dealed with t40´s series reflow video card
with a heat gun you can get the laptop back to life
I have done this procedure at least 10 times in some t40s Some of hem worked aswell but some did not function anymore
when I plug the jack it flashes de battery led once, and if I push the power button it flashes again but no power comes
In the Mainboard busses a little sound which it makes me thin some micro was overheated
Can you give some advice for this problem?
I have 3 or 4 T40s Mobo whit this problem
once again thank you in advance
Grettings from México
July 8th, 2009 at 4:52 am
Hi,
I’ve an IBM Thinkpad T42 (type 2373) with an original 512Mb RAM in the slot under the keyboard. Last month, I’ve bought a 1Gb memory module PC2700. I’ve installed it on the 2nd slot (the one with easy access). It was working properly until yesterday, when a blue screen says out of memory. Now, when I took the 2nd memory out (1Gb), It works fine. When I put the module in the notebook, It do not start. Do you know what could be wrong? Thanks in advance.
July 1st, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Ruth,
Your laptop detects new hardware after upgrading the memory module? That’s strange. I’m sure it’s not related to the memory you just installed.
July 1st, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Hi,
I just installed in my T41 IBM Thinkpad 1GB memory DDR PC2700 333 MHz. Now my laptop is asking me to install new hardware. I am not sure what to do now. I am not sure this hardware is on the list the computer has for me to select. Any suggestions.
June 22nd, 2009 at 8:09 am
Thank you so much a 2 minute job and works a treat.
June 10th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Thank you for the really great advice. I never thought I would remove my entire keyboard and be able to put it back and the laptop still works!!!
June 8th, 2009 at 1:35 am
Wow!
This is so helpful!!! Thanks for your time. Really appreciated.
May 31st, 2009 at 7:50 am
Thanks so much for this tutorial! I installed a pair of 1GB Avant AVK6428U52C5333K6 so-dimms, chips by South Korean Hynix Semiconductor (bought dirt cheap!). Put both so-dimms into a T42. On first boot-up, went to into BIOS, saw the 2048MB, hit F10 to save and exit. The T42 booted beautifully into XP Pro. Been using the T42 a lot for the past couple of days, with no lockups or blue-screening.
Thanks again, I would have been fighting with the keyboard removal, without your step by step!
May 20th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
This is a very good tutorial. Great job!
I have a problem with a T42. It works but locks up and gets a blue screen with the following error:
*** Hardware Malfunction
Call your hardware vendor for support
NMI: Channel Check / IOCHK
*** The system has halted ***
I suspect it is a memory OR motherboard problem. The laptop works no problem if placed on a flat non-moving surface using the touchpad but it will lock up if the trackpoint mouse is used. I removed the extra memory module, etc, but still not improvement.
any suggestions?
May 12th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Brilliant! I had a couple of 512MB modules lying around and installed them in my T41 in 5 minutes. Thanks heaps.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:47 am
This works perfectly. No other comment to make. Thanks
April 28th, 2009 at 8:50 am
hi, i just purchased a 1gb card for my t40, was reading through everyone elses replies and i think i have come upon the same problems.
the 1gb card wont work in either slot and i have moved the original 512mb card to the bottom memory slot and it runs fine in that. trying the 1gb card on its own brings all the beeping up and then with the 2 cards together it brings up the blue screen, i have checked on the BIOS screen and it says that the memory is 1532mb or something like that, so it shows that it is workin but then the blue screen comes up.
i have very limited knowledge of computers and so i am totally stuck here?? the 2 cards are different brands so i dont know if that is a contributing factor?
i am completely stumped. any help is much much appreciated
thanks
April 27th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Laptop Tech,
I have an IBM Thinkpad T43 (product/model 1871W8B) born with 2 x 256mb RAM. I don’t have the users guide available; I would like to upgrade to maximum RAM. Does your above reply (#31) regarding T41 applies to T43 as well?
Kind regards
April 22nd, 2009 at 2:03 pm
joe shmo,
First of all. Does your laptop support 2GB RAM? Maybe 1GB is maximum you can install? Check the user’s guide.
If your laptop suppose to support 2GB, try the following. Test the laptop with each RAM module installed into each slot.
If the laptop works with one module installed into both slots but no with the other module, most likely the second module is bad.
If the laptop works with both modules installed into the first slot, but doesn’t work with both modules installed into the second slot, there must be a problem with the memory slot on the motherboard.
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:48 pm
i installed (2) 1gb cards and my computer wouldnt start, then i took one out and it runs fine. any idea why my computer will not run with (2) seperate 1GB card?
April 19th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Lister,
You cannot use PC2-6400 DDR2 memory modules in an IBM ThinkPad T41 laptop which require DDR PC2700 memory modules.
DDR2 memory is not backward compatible with DDR memory.
If you would like to upgrade to 2B, you’ll have to buy two 1GB PC2700 modules.