The 701C series of IBM ThinkPad laptops stands out for a very special feature: the TrackWrite keyboard, much better known as the Butterfly keyboard. Usually, the keyboard doesn't cause major issues, but with more than a quarter century on their shoulders, the restoration process is extremely complex. Polymatt on YouTube shows it from start to finish, and the result is outstanding.
One of the most delicate aspects when collecting computers, consoles, and other electronic devices is that they were not designed to withstand the passage of time. A defective component can be replaced without much fuss, but there is also the chemical factor, which will destroy everything if not controlled in time.
Anyone who has seen an exploded capacitor or a battery vomiting electrolyte on the PCB knows what I'm talking about. Indeed, the plastic itself starts to lose its original properties after a few decades, and a simple excess of force can lead to a unique piece split in half. The IBM ThinkPad 701C combines all these nightmares in one laptop, but the YouTuber Polymatt is a true specialist in its restoration.
How to Restore a Classic IBM ThinkPad 701C Butterfly
Polymatt doesn't narrate his videos, so you need to enable subtitles to follow the action. The computer turns on but shows some errors, leading to a complete teardown. Polymatt maintains a site, 701c.org, which contains all the information to see the process through, and he also wrote the tutorial available on iFixit.
In addition to wrestling with tiny screws and plastic over 25 years old, Polymatt encountered the dreaded corrosion characteristic of nickel-cadmium batteries. In fact, the buildup was so severe that the battery became stuck to the connector. The next big challenge is the removal of that rubbery paint that turns to goo over the years. Even with chemicals, the cleaning becomes tedious and frustrating, but it's a ritual Polymatt knows well.
The only major repairs on the PCB were replacing its CMOS battery and cleaning the main battery connector. The aesthetics also received a lot of attention, with new rubber feet, icons, and labels. In summary, Polymatt managed to rewind time 28 years for this computer with style, precision, and determination. Difficult, but not impossible.
