On: Hardware fix for Dell “AC power adapter could not ...

[steerablesafe]

Maybe it's just me, but I find the serviceability of Thinkpads subpar. This one is from the T420's maintenance manual:

    1170 Fan assembly
    For access, remove these FRUs in order:
    * “1010 Battery pack” on page 67
    * “1020 ExpressCard blank bezel” on page 68
    * “1050 DIMM slot cover” on page 73
    * “1070 PCI Express Mini Card for wireless WAN” on page 75
    * “1080 Keyboard” on page 77
    * “1110 PCI Express Mini Card for wireless LAN” on page 85
    * “1120 Keyboard bezel assembly, FPC cable, and Bluethooth daughter card” on page 87
    * “1150 Speaker assembly” on page 95
    * “1160 LCD unit” on page 97

https://thinkpads.com/support/hmm/hmm_pdf/t420_t420i_hmm.pdf

[dfox → steerablesafe]

I have the feeling that the "legendary thinkpad serviceability" means two things: the document that you cite is publicly available and that customer disassembling the whole thing and replacing one subassembly is supported way of solving warranty claims.

And by the way, the "good thinkpad" series (ie. letter + two numbers) were both made and designed by Acer/Wistron and significantly mechanically simpler than the previous IBM designed thinkpads (eg. if you disassemble "low-cost" 600E, you end up with ~10 random-ish machined aluminium brackets and how to disassemble the thing is highly non-obvious).

[steerablesafe → dfox]

For most business line notebooks the maintenance guide is publicly available and you don't have to remove the speakers and lcd screen to access the fan assembly (serious, wtf?). Thinkpad serviceability is overrated, it's certainly not "legendary", even if you can consider it decent.