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Dated 11 December 2017: IBM Thinkpad T42p now on its seventh life

Thinkpad 25
In unrelated news, I also bought one of these.

This actually happened in late 2015, but I never got around to updating this list until now. The CCFL died again, but at least replacing it was much easier this time around than the last time(s). This time I was able to acquire a replacement with new wires already soldered onto the bulb instead of having to get it just right (read: just a little off from just right) myself, so it was a much simpler swap. Plus, I've already torn apart and reassembled the screen so many times it's just easier to do now. So, if I've kept track correctly, this Thinkpad has gone through the following repairs:

  1. Fan died in 2006, but was replaced under warranty.
  2. CCFL broke in 2008 and I replaced it myself.
  3. New fan burned out too in 2009, and I replaced it myself.
  4. Screen went out again in 2009 because I did a lousy job replacing the CCFL in 2008.
  5. Hard drive failed in 2010, and I replaced it myself.
  6. CCFL failed again in 2015, and I replaced it myself.

So, this laptop has died six times and is now on its seventh life. That's probably going to be the last time (not counting inevitable battery failures), since I never use the computer for anything anymore. I guess there are still a few old video games I never finished, and I could theoretically fire it back up for old time's sake, but we'll see.

Dated 18 November 2013: I'm starting to think the Sony Vaio Z line is kinda delicate

The best part about having a $2400 laptop suffer a hardware failure while you're away from home is relying on dubious bittorrent clients on your phone to stay up to date with currently airing anime. Turns out Golden Time was worth it this week, though.

Dated 14 June 2010: Well, the T42p died again

Re-installing Ubuntu 10.04 on the T42p
IBM Thinkpad T42p now on its sixth life.

This time the hard drive died. Well, I was running out of space anyway, and this gives me an excuse to upgrade to something larger, although buying a PATA hard drive seems kinda silly nowadays. At least everything was backed up on the server anyway. I think.

Dated 20 November 2009: This was way easier than fixing the T42p

Logitech MX1000 mouse
Thank you, Yotsuba, Bum Cheek City, and eBay.

Three years ago I tried to replace a faulty Logitech MX1000 base station under warranty. I never got my replacement, but I did get a "How Was Our Service?" questionnaire this year, heh. So, for kicks, I dug the mouse out of my bin of computer crap I keep meaning to throw away, but the battery was long dead and wouldn't take a charge anymore. [Edit: I was able to confirm the charger was not at fault thanks to my multimeter. Frickin' love that thing.] Thankfully, swapping in a replacement battery is dead simple.

So the mouse works again. The base station is still fucked up by the same bug that made me want to exchange it in the first place three years ago, though. Why did I bother fixing a mouse I don't use? I guess I just like soldering.

Dated 25 October 2009: IBM Thinkpad T42p now on its fifth life

The screen went out again, this time thanks to my shoddy workmanship earlier. Disassembly was easier than before, but re-soldering the CCFL and properly insulating the ends was a bit more difficult as was re-assembly. My eyes are definitely not as sharp—nor my hands as steady—as they once were.

Dated 19 October 2009: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood ED3 returns Winry to former glory

Winry
Winry at work.

There are a few common complaints about Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Among them include changed voices and a less buxom Winry. Now, the matter about the voices is not going to go away, but, as Epi pointed out earlier, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood now sports a new ED. This second third ED powers up Winry to her previous dimensions. This is unlikely to affect Winry's in-show character design, but it seems likely the changes for the ED are intended to quiet some of the grumbling while hearkening back to the "Motherland" ED from the first anime season—the one about Winry killing time at home.

Winry
Winry playing make-believe.

Another common Fullmetal Alchemist complaint is that Winry does not really serve much of a purpose in the show. She has been called mere eye candy and a Mary Sue, for example. Both allegations have some merit, but I don't think these characteristics necessarily diminish Winry's importance in the show. Do not underestimate the Girl Next Door. She reminds Al and Ed of home.

Winry
I think we all know what this phone call is about.

Moreover, I submit that it is necessary to include aspects in a show not necessarily dedicated to advancing the primary plot. I am not advocating filler for filler's sake, but I don't think many will disagree if I claim the semi-parody Mustang-centric episode of the first Fullmetal Alchemist anime contributed in meaningful ways to the overall success of the series by expanding the role of costars in ways we might not otherwise have seen. Likewise, the old "Winry killing time at home" and now the new "Winry at work" EDs flesh out some additional details about the character—in this case, nothing we didn't already know or couldn't have assumed, but it's still nice to have it there.

Dated 9 August 2009: IBM Thinkpad T42p now on its fourth life

IBM Thinkpad T42p fan
IBM Thinkpad T42p fan.

So, to recap, my IBM Thinkpad T42p with the sweet ass (and extinct) UXGA monitor died once in 2006 when the fan stopped working. That one was covered by the warranty and IBM fixed it right away even though I was out of the country at the time. Then the CCFL stopped working (again while traveling) in 2008, but that was my fault for trusting it to checked baggage, I'm pretty sure. Well, the fan burned out again a few weeks ago. (Note to self: Do not run Chinese-built Thinkpad 24-hours per day, seven days per week.)

IBM Thinkpad T42p fan
IBM Thinkpad T42p fan.

Well, thanks to the magic of eBay, I was able to find a replacement fan easily enough. Swapping them out was a lot easier than replacing the CCFL, let me tell you. Typing on a different keyboard in the interim? A nightmare.

Dated 28 December 2008: Great success

Working CCFL
Testing the new CCFL.

It's a miracle. I managed to swap out the CCFL on my IBM Thinkpad T42p notebook computer. I am finally back to full UXGA glory. It was actually relatively easy to install the replacement CCFL. The only scary part was snipping off part of the leads before soldering; I was afraid I had cut them too short. (I don't think you're supposed to trim the leads before installation, but mine were definitely too long.) Taking out the old CCFL was a different matter. Because of the way the original was secured with tape, I completely destroyed the old light while removing it from the screen in November. I fell into despair after that, to tell you the truth. As you can see, it took me weeks to muster enough nerve to install the new one.

My R50 next to my reborn T42p
My R50 next to my reborn T42p

If your laptop screen dies, I recommend just buying a whole replacement from eBay for $60 if you're not reasonably comfortable with soldering and handling extremely fragile objects. I also definitely introduced some dust particles between the sandwich of layers comprising the LCD monitor while replacing the bulb. I presume I was not diligent enough in ensuring clean conditions. Alas.


28:13:15< Evirus> The art in Marvel Mangaverse isn't that great until the 2006 series.
28:13:16< Divine> I couldn't read something called "Marvel Mangaverse" on principle
28:13:17< Tir_McDohl> Marvel Moeverse