Thinkpads Forum

I bought an "Advanced Mini Dock" (2504) used recently that was missing the keys. This has never been an issue before, so I didn't expect this time to be any different, but apparently, you can't underestimate people's capacity to make questionable choices. In this case, whoever had this dock last (before losing the keys) left it in the "locked" position. I didn't find this out until after managing to dock a laptop on it.

Thankfully, the strategy set forth in a YouTube video safely liberated the computer from the locked station. From here, the seller offered the choice of a full refund or a partial refund (if I chose to keep the station). My question to the community is if there is any way to remove the locking mechanism from this docking station. I've heard of people mutilating the lock and using a screwdriver, but that seems kind of risky. Is there any other (less forceful) method of removing the lock altogether?

Not sure how possible it is to remove just the lock assembly as I've never bothered to take one apart. If the label with the correlation number is still on the dock, you can order a set of keys (2) for about $20 from here:

https://shop.itxchange.com/OA_HTML/KeyFinder.jsp

It's probably more than what you paid for the dock but it's a solution. If you ever decide to sell the dock, having keys for it makes it more desirable.

Sheesh, just get a full refund and get another dock. They are more common than Starbucks coffee shops.

Take all the screws out that you can see on the bottom.
They are all the same, except the small one under the key-lock.
There should be a small white sticker near that screw with the key-number on it (looks like A1234 above a bar code).
On the top, remove the 4 square screw covers and screws around the docking slot.
Use a guitar plectrum or similar to gently push between the 4 small 'extensions' between the top-cover and the rear panel of the dock.
They are located above the USB-ports 'divider', the LAN-port, the DVI-port and where it bends towards the Serial port.
Next push the plectrum between the strip/slot between Serial/Parallel ports and "air ducts".
The dock upper-cover should now be loose along and above the rear ports.
Gently spread upper-cover and rest, you will be 'hindered' by the SPDIF port and the key cylinder.
Gently bend the cover to slide over the SPDIF port (put a small screwdriver between cover and metal if you like).
Do the same for the key-lock.
You will now see a plug with 7 grey/white wires inside, above the key-lock.
Unplug that towards you.
You can now lift the whole top-cover further up, and it will come separated from the bottom.
Move the above wires aside behind the key-lock, you will now see a Phillips screw, that holds some mechanical parts in place.
Remove that screw and those mechanical parts.
With a Metric 22 spanner you can now remove the nut that holds the key-lock, after which you can remove key-lock.
Carefully reassemble the top-cover back on, paying attention to the spring from underneath the push-button next to the key-lock/hole.
It goes over the black pointy post that stands up next to where the lock was.
Put the screws and covers back, that's it.
Takes less than the 10 minutes it took me to describe this.

Warning: I have never removed that lock, because I think the mechanism for holding the laptop will no longer work without that key-lock (or cylinder, to use the correct word).
You just asked for instructions...

But for all the hassle, dr_st is right.

Thanks for the tips. I think I'll just return it and find another one, even if it is a couple dollars more.

You can probably take the lock cyl to any locksmith and have a key made for it, or if you have another spare key for another dock, had the tumblers replaces or reordered to match the key you have. You might even be able to do this yourself. If you take the cyl to the locksmith shop it should only cost a few dollars to change the tumblers, or maybe 10-12 dollars to make a key to match, compared to $2 for copying a key.

TuuS wrote:You can probably take the lock cyl to any locksmith and have a key made for it, or if you have another spare key for another dock, had the tumblers replaces or reordered to match the key you have. You might even be able to do this yourself. If you take the cyl to the locksmith shop it should only cost a few dollars to change the tumblers, or maybe 10-12 dollars to make a key to match, compared to $2 for copying a key.

Good call on the locksmith. They were able to simply pick the lock fairly affordably.

Thanks a lot for your precise and valuable description, @RealBlackStuff! It helped me a lot, though I hadn't actually lost the key. I needed to open the dock for failing of the mechanism.
Until
"Remove that screw and those mechanical parts"
everything was correct and straightforward. Except, the 'mechanical parts' didn't come lose. Whatever I did. There are actually two screws, one lateral and one from top. No chance. So instead of 10 minutes it took me rather an hour to remove the lock. Which I only did to simplify the reassembly. And the yellow power connector came lose, too. What a mess! The power connector has no latch, no screw. It is simply held in place by the pressure of those 'mechanical parts' against its side. And then the spring had to be put in place, like what you wrote. Plus the white cable opposite, the four latches, and - probably the original fault in my case - the metallic lever coming from the top to activate the horizontal plastic actuator continuously simply falling off that plastic actuator; actually not freeing the laptop. Quite a mess, at least here, until everything was back at the correct position at the same time!

Whatever, once everything was in place, I can confirm that the laptop is still held in place, irrespective of the absence or presence of that cylinder.

Thanks again for your advice. I know, these docks cost a single digit these days. But why not trying to repair instead of throwing away?