Turns out that toggling the NumLock key wasn’t all that consistent a remedy. It remained a hit-or-miss proposition as to whether the laptop would boot or not. Even when it was running, the mouse would occasionally go berserk,. and the stuck keys were a major annoyance.<br>In my internet travels and travails to fix this, I was able to unearth an FTP site where IBM had all of the technical manuals for their PCs. I got to it through an Austrian IBM site. I downloaded everything they had for the 390E. Tried it again a day or two later and was denied access. Not my problem, I got what I needed.<br>Basically I popped the keyboard and pulled the cables/strips connecting the keyboard and trackpoint to the inner boards. Slapped the keyboard back on, connected my Logitech mouse and keyboard to the Y-connector going into the PS2 jack in the back, crossed my fingers and switched it on. This puppy’s purring now. <br>Try this only if you know your warranty’s history anyway.<br>1. Unplug everything<br>2. You’ll need a couple of small flathead screwdrivers, a small Phillips, tweezers, tape (for attaching the tiny screws to the Philips head. I also stood on a rubber mat, and grounded myself.<br>3. Turn the laptop over.<br>4. Pull the battery.<br>5. Pull the hard drive (center plate in back). Turn the screw with a small coin or a flathead; the screw remains attached to the plate.<br>6. After removing plate, carefully pull the drive. It has a handle and slides right out.<br>7. Turn the laptop right-side up.<br>8. Pop the plate just below the LCD where the LED’s and the ‘390E’ is. Underneath you will find the two screws that hold the keyboard in place. Unscrew them.<br>9. You’ll probably have to play with the tab just below the ‘IBM ThinkPad’ logo to lift the keyboard. I did, but it released with some gentle coaxing from the flathead.<br>10. You will find 3 plastic strips in the front of the keyboard. These essentially pull right out. They’re just plastic strips right to the end (no holes or anything for locking devices in these strips).<br>11. Slap the keyboard back on. I just tucked the plastic strips below the keyboard. This step is probably optional, but I did it anyway.<br>12. Reinstall the hard drive.<br>13. Reinstall the battery.<br>14. ‘Bout time for that shot of tequila.<br>15. Switch it on.<br><br>For those who are wondering; yes, I did have a complete backup before I started this crude amputation. It did work though. I’ll probably get the keyboard replaced when I have the extra cash around, but, for now, I’m all set.<br>I’m still less than satisfied with the cavalier way that IBM threw this back at me. By their technical manuals, they use the installed PC Doctor for diagnostics. As of right now, I am coming up completely clean on these diagnostics. The only problems that were surfacing before were the keyboard and trackpoint, and I eliminated that. I am left with the feeling that some tech there at IBM was either lazy or decided to give me the screw and totaled the laptop (they call it ‘Tier Xing’ the laptop). Oh well, they can go to Hell anyway, they’re not going to see this machine in their shop again.<br>
