T430, backlit keyboard

[nuclearblast]

Hello all, wanted to know if anyone has ever successfully installed a backlit keyboard into a Thinkpad T430 without the backlit. The T430 I got last week does not have a backlit keyboard and Id like to have that option. The backlit keyboards cost more so I was hoping to get some confirmation that it will work before I purchase one.

 

[chubbyfatazn]

Yeah, you can. The connectors are the same.

Just pick up a backlit keyboard off ebay or something and pop it in.

 

[nuclearblast]

Hey sounds good. So everything will work, the backlight, and all the functions?

 

[chubbyfatazn]

Yeah. Not sure what you mean by "functions," but there's nothing fundamentally different between the boards except for the backlight.

 

[nuclearblast]

Hey just wanted to say you were right! Im typing on my new backlit keyboard right now, and everything works just fine and the backlight works just as it should. Im glad it works just as you said it would. In the past I tried replacing the keyboard in my dell e4300 with a backlit keyboard and it wouldnt work, I had glitches all over the place and for whatever reason it just was not compatible. I had hoped that on this T430 I wouldnt run into that problem and it would work just fine, turns out it does! Thanks for your responses. I now have a nice new backlit keyboard. Thanks

 

[chubbyfatazn]

Hey just wanted to say you were right! Im typing on my new backlit keyboard right now, and everything works just fine and the backlight works just as it should. Im glad it works just as you said it would. In the past I tried replacing the keyboard in my dell e4300 with a backlit keyboard and it wouldnt work, I had glitches all over the place and for whatever reason it just was not compatible. I had hoped that on this T430 I wouldnt run into that problem and it would work just fine, turns out it does! Thanks for your responses. I now have a nice new backlit keyboard. Thanks

Good stuff :thumbsup:

Thinkpads are pretty high up there in terms of serviceability, part of the reason why I've had around 20 of them so far. Google "T430 HMM" and download a copy, that's the maintenance manual and should give you the part number of... pretty much everything inside your laptop. If you ever need to replace something in the future, just refer to it.

 

[nuclearblast]

Wow...cool. Yeah I looked at the Hardware Maintenance Manual and the list of Service Parts and Im definitely saving that information. That'll come in handy for sure. Thanks for info!