i have an l540 that i picked up for 70 dollars and i hate the stock trackpad so much and i wanted to see if i can swap out the old one and this video helps, so im adding this to the mod list i have planned. THANK YOU
I have the T540P. Was thinking of swapping the motherboard for the W541 because the current motherboard is a little faulty. Unfortunately, the W541 heatsink cost the same as the motherboard.
@@LaptopRetrospective I found a part number which states it's compatible with the Foxconn part FRU: 04W3800, 00JT521 and it looks to be the same with an antenna which sticks under the palmrest, most likley on the right hand side.
If anyone is having issues with getting the whole Trackpad to work, one way that I know of that worked for me was to reinstall Windows 11 entirely (I used a USB with the ISO modified to work on old machines) after that Windows 11 updated the drivers and then I installed the drivers that were recommended in the description to get the 3 buttons working and now everything is running fine
Do you know if this mod would require the extra rubber stoppers to prevent the trackpad from damaging the screen like the T440p? Wouldn't think so because of the W541?
I swapped out the track pad and it indeed feels better than the original one BUT I can't get gesture controls to work! There are no options available anywhere... Even tried to change the registry setting and it still doesn't work. I'm stumped!
@@LaptopRetrospective yup. W540. I love that the newer one isn't clunky like original, but I'm stuck. I even tried a driver that would force the synaptics menu to show up, and the gesture controls don't exist. I guess this replacement is defective?
@@LaptopRetrospective I used the top result off of US amazon (nbparts) with the same n10gx25w drivers after uninstalling the old ones. After that I tried fiddling with how the trackpad's ribbon cables were connected and that didn't seem to fix anything either, so I reinstalled the drivers again. After that I tried putting in the old one with current drivers and that now doesn't work either...
@@piloht4923 Hmmm, something doesn't sound right especially if you revert and it doesn't work. I can only guess the drivers weren't completely uninstalled.
The only other thing I can think to do is look up the FRU of the part you have, check it to see what machine it was designed for and trying a driver package for it. Far from ideal but troubleshooting an issue I didn't have is a bit tricky. 😁
I'm getting a w540 tomorrow and will most likely do this. I found that the download link is dead. Could you provide the file? Edit: The link works, it was windows defender being windows defender...
@@LaptopRetrospective Hey, do you know how much disassembly i need to do to upgrade the cpu on this thing? I found a i7-4800MQ for 35 euros and will most likely buy it. (my machine currently has a 4600M and i want those 4 cores and 8 threads).
modern thinkpads still have 3 trackpad buttons (left, middle, right) and you don't really even need to 'click' the trackpad if you decide to use that to select - just lightly tap touchpad tech has come a long way on thinkpads. I'd never use an older thinkpad trackpad if I had a choice
Great vid and nice little mod! I try to avoid any form of trackpad myself, much prefer a mouse. I'm still rocking my T-430 though, managed to source an i7 3632QM for it today, off the 'bay. Should have it next week. :)
@@LaptopRetrospective I did it, I replaced the clunky touchpad on my L540. The result is quite nice, but replacing it was really difficult. There are more than 20 screws to lose before removing the cover with the touchpad, two of them are on the backside and two are under the frame of the CD drive, which also needs to be removed. Then there is not just one ribbon cable but three, additionaly two antenna cables that go from the wifi or bt module at the bottom through a hole to the upper side, then through the keyboard frame on a long winding path again to the mainboard And there is another PCB plug, which I nearly ripped of because I didn't see it. The new touchpad came without the ribbon cable and the old one is just slightly too short, so it's a little under tension now. But everything works fine now and it was worth the hussle.
Hi, maybe a stupid question. On a w540 the keyboard stop working. I remove the keyboard, clean with some contact spray, and worked for 5 minutes, did the test on the lenovo tool, and it worked. Only the weird thing was that ESC key FN lock unlock didn't work. Other than that, everything worked. For 5 minutes. Then I clicked the mouse and suddenly the keyboard stopped working but esc fn lock and unlock started to work again. Also the keyboard is not working in bios. Top row, function keys are working now and the alt key is working. I will try to disconnect the mouse entirely and reconnect the keyboard again to see if it's working again. Did any one of you encounter this issue? I will recommend the change of mouse with the one with 3 buttons t450 type and I hope it will fix the issue (it's a family friend that owns the laptop). Thank you
Keyboard failure or cable that isn't seated quite right sounds like the issue. Keyboard cables that look like they are seated but aren't cause all sorts of weird glitches.
@@LaptopRetrospective I'm a little puzzled that it worked after I rearrange the cables for 5 minutes. It even pass the lenovo keyboard test. When I purchased the laptop 2 years ago, the seller told me that he changed the keyboard, but I'm not sure that he checked the mouse. I will try to disconnect the mouse and get back with updates tomorrow. Thank you for the tip.
@@LaptopRetrospective OK, so I did the following tests: - unplugged the central joystick from the keyboard, worked for a few minutes, failed again. (I can't remember the name, that big red button from the middle of the keyboard) - unplugged trackpad, again worked for a few minutes, failed again - ordered a new keyboard, most probably it's not an original one, but it looks good quality. It was around $40 so not that expensive. If it will last again 2 years, a loss of $20/year is not that much. I will update you with the status after changing the keyboard. Thank you
I've always liked your videos, but can I share some feedback that you can take or leave as you like you say "go ahead and" a lot and it becomes distracting that's it - great work in all ways otherwise thanks
Yep, fair criticism. This gets really noticable when I'm doing a video with a lot of edits, cuts or takes. That's usually of a direct result of doing something for the very first time and thinking out loud. There are probably a few other phrases that fall into the same boat. My apologies for it being a distraction.
No driver 10gx25w found. Gave up on Lenovo, just got a Dell Precision with a proper trackpad and Win 11 ready. W540 last Lenovo. No support, great hardware poor execution.
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
I have a W541 (the one with the classic trackpad) and man, I can't imagine something other than the 3 physical button layout
Yeah, that was the main difference between the W540 and W541 for most users.
i have an l540 that i picked up for 70 dollars and i hate the stock trackpad so much and i wanted to see if i can swap out the old one and this video helps, so im adding this to the mod list i have planned. THANK YOU
Glad to be of service.
Fantastic improvement to that machine. My L440 has a clunkpad too.
Yeah, I think it will help it's next owner.
What is clunkpad?
"Clunkpad" is the unofficial name given to the trackpad without buttons used in the x40 era machines.
Watching this at the moment on a T440 with a "ClunkPad". I must say that it took a little getting used to but I have gained quite a mastery of it😊😊
Great to hear you've mastered it!
I have the T540P. Was thinking of swapping the motherboard for the W541 because the current motherboard is a little faulty. Unfortunately, the W541 heatsink cost the same as the motherboard.
Wow, very interesting! I wonder if the heatsink has different FRUs and if there is an affordable option?
@@LaptopRetrospective The cost of upgrading both W541 motherboard and heatsink on the T540P is around $150 with parts from AliExpress.
Did they ever release the clickpad with the nfc option? I cannot find any information on it.
Not that I'm aware of.
@@LaptopRetrospective I found a part number which states it's compatible with the Foxconn part FRU: 04W3800, 00JT521 and it looks to be the same with an antenna which sticks under the palmrest, most likley on the right hand side.
If anyone is having issues with getting the whole Trackpad to work, one way that I know of that worked for me was to reinstall Windows 11 entirely (I used a USB with the ISO modified to work on old machines) after that Windows 11 updated the drivers and then I installed the drivers that were recommended in the description to get the 3 buttons working and now everything is running fine
Thanks for posting this!
Thanks for watching. Hope it helps.
Do you know if this mod would require the extra rubber stoppers to prevent the trackpad from damaging the screen like the T440p? Wouldn't think so because of the W541?
I think you're safe. I'll let you know if that ever changes but as you correctly point out, the chassis between the 540 and 541 is the same.
Does it work with the T440s as well?
The swap I believe can be done on that machine, but the parts and procedure are different.
Sad to see that this chanel is underrated
Cheers, perhaps one day but in the meantime it's still lots of fun for me and hopefully helpful for those who watch.
Is the drivers also work for other thinkpad series 40? Like T440 or T440p
Can't confirm but I suspect it probably will work as the driver theoretically is tied more to the hardware you're installing and not the system.
good looking machine!
Indeed. Thanks to a certain someone for providing them. 😉
540 Quad Core upgrade video next!
It has a pretty solid CPU now, but more on that when the main video comes out.
I swapped out the track pad and it indeed feels better than the original one BUT I can't get gesture controls to work! There are no options available anywhere... Even tried to change the registry setting and it still doesn't work. I'm stumped!
Hmmm. Strange. Same machine?
@@LaptopRetrospective yup. W540. I love that the newer one isn't clunky like original, but I'm stuck. I even tried a driver that would force the synaptics menu to show up, and the gesture controls don't exist. I guess this replacement is defective?
Hmmm, possibly? Or the one you have is somehow made different and doesn't support it? I'm assuming you're using the drivers I linked?
@@LaptopRetrospective yessir :( just tried again. Deleted and uninstalled device, deleted driver, installed driver. No gesture options nor synaptics tab menu.
I can only assume it has to do with who manufacturers these and a compatibility issue between certain providers then?
I must've gotten a phony trackpad or messed something up, I followed everything exactly and the trackpad and pointer on the keyboard no longer work :(
Exact model and exact drivers and the TrackPoint doesn't work?
@@LaptopRetrospective I used the top result off of US amazon (nbparts) with the same n10gx25w drivers after uninstalling the old ones. After that I tried fiddling with how the trackpad's ribbon cables were connected and that didn't seem to fix anything either, so I reinstalled the drivers again. After that I tried putting in the old one with current drivers and that now doesn't work either...
@@piloht4923 Hmmm, something doesn't sound right especially if you revert and it doesn't work. I can only guess the drivers weren't completely uninstalled.
yep, just as I had thought, it's a fake Synaptics (wrong sticker and no numbers at the bottom of the back)...
The only other thing I can think to do is look up the FRU of the part you have, check it to see what machine it was designed for and trying a driver package for it. Far from ideal but troubleshooting an issue I didn't have is a bit tricky. 😁
I'm getting a w540 tomorrow and will most likely do this. I found that the download link is dead. Could you provide the file?
Edit: The link works, it was windows defender being windows defender...
Glad you got it. Hope the process goes well. There can be complications if the part isn't genuine.
@@LaptopRetrospective Hey, do you know how much disassembly i need to do to upgrade the cpu on this thing? I found a i7-4800MQ for 35 euros and will most likely buy it. (my machine currently has a 4600M and i want those 4 cores and 8 threads).
The hardware maintenance manual which should be in the description details the process.
Double check the hardware maintenance manual to make sure you got them all and be on the lookout for a plastic clip or two.
One of many reasons why I am sticking to older laptops that don't have click pads preferably those with five or six button track pads in mind.
I know a few modern ones that I think would still be good options. One coming to a video near you.
modern thinkpads still have 3 trackpad buttons (left, middle, right) and you don't really even need to 'click' the trackpad if you decide to use that to select - just lightly tap
touchpad tech has come a long way on thinkpads. I'd never use an older thinkpad trackpad if I had a choice
@@iamdmc I honestly prefer older style track pads regardless.
Great vid and nice little mod! I try to avoid any form of trackpad myself, much prefer a mouse. I'm still rocking my T-430 though, managed to source an i7 3632QM for it today, off the 'bay. Should have it next week. :)
Fantastic find, hope it arrives safely.
I've got the L540, which has this "ClunkPad", too. I was just thinking if nobody knows of nice replacement for this abomination, and there you are :-)
I've heard of replacing it on the W, T and X series. I suspect it may be possible on the L series as well. If you do it, let us know how it goes.
@@LaptopRetrospective
I did it, I replaced the clunky touchpad on my L540. The result is quite nice, but replacing it was really difficult. There are more than 20 screws to lose before removing the cover with the touchpad, two of them are on the backside and two are under the frame of the CD drive, which also needs to be removed. Then there is not just one ribbon cable but three, additionaly two antenna cables that go from the wifi or bt module at the bottom through a hole to the upper side, then through the keyboard frame on a long winding path again to the mainboard And there is another PCB plug, which I nearly ripped of because I didn't see it. The new touchpad came without the ribbon cable and the old one is just slightly too short, so it's a little under tension now. But everything works fine now and it was worth the hussle.
Glad you were victorious!
Hi, maybe a stupid question. On a w540 the keyboard stop working. I remove the keyboard, clean with some contact spray, and worked for 5 minutes, did the test on the lenovo tool, and it worked. Only the weird thing was that ESC key FN lock unlock didn't work. Other than that, everything worked. For 5 minutes. Then I clicked the mouse and suddenly the keyboard stopped working but esc fn lock and unlock started to work again. Also the keyboard is not working in bios. Top row, function keys are working now and the alt key is working. I will try to disconnect the mouse entirely and reconnect the keyboard again to see if it's working again.
Did any one of you encounter this issue? I will recommend the change of mouse with the one with 3 buttons t450 type and I hope it will fix the issue (it's a family friend that owns the laptop). Thank you
Keyboard failure or cable that isn't seated quite right sounds like the issue. Keyboard cables that look like they are seated but aren't cause all sorts of weird glitches.
@@LaptopRetrospective I'm a little puzzled that it worked after I rearrange the cables for 5 minutes. It even pass the lenovo keyboard test. When I purchased the laptop 2 years ago, the seller told me that he changed the keyboard, but I'm not sure that he checked the mouse. I will try to disconnect the mouse and get back with updates tomorrow. Thank you for the tip.
Best of luck. Let us know how it goes.
@@LaptopRetrospective OK, so I did the following tests:
- unplugged the central joystick from the keyboard, worked for a few minutes, failed again. (I can't remember the name, that big red button from the middle of the keyboard)
- unplugged trackpad, again worked for a few minutes, failed again
- ordered a new keyboard, most probably it's not an original one, but it looks good quality.
It was around $40 so not that expensive. If it will last again 2 years, a loss of $20/year is not that much.
I will update you with the status after changing the keyboard.
Thank you
Hopefully it is the keyboard. Fingers crossed.
Cheers.
I've always liked your videos, but can I share some feedback that you can take or leave as you like
you say "go ahead and" a lot and it becomes distracting
that's it - great work in all ways otherwise
thanks
Yep, fair criticism. This gets really noticable when I'm doing a video with a lot of edits, cuts or takes. That's usually of a direct result of doing something for the very first time and thinking out loud. There are probably a few other phrases that fall into the same boat. My apologies for it being a distraction.
No driver 10gx25w found. Gave up on Lenovo, just got a Dell Precision with a proper trackpad and Win 11 ready. W540 last Lenovo. No support, great hardware poor execution.