T420/Bought new palmrest without touchpad.

[KenKaniffer]

Hello fellow ThinkPad users, I have an old T420 That I use as a daily driver. The problem with it is that I bought a new palm rest but without noticing it, bought one without the electronics (mousepad, buttons...) Is there a way to remove the mousepad from my old palmrest and attach it to the new one or am I stuck with a part that I have no use for ? Thanks for any replies

[theterminator93]

I don't recall the T420 having a removable touchpad like the X220s do. If you're referring to the textured part of the touchpad, it's just a sticker. It will work just fine without the sticker.

[KenKaniffer]

No, I dont mean the sticker, I mean the whole botton of the touchpad part has electronics and the new palm rest has only plastic hollow part where the touchpad is supposed to be.

[mikemex]

Never done it on a T420 but I don't see why you can't re use the stuff in your previous palmrest to make the new one complete.Just the usual recommendation to do it carefully to avoid damaging the parts. And to spend some time studying the process before doing anything. Thinking ahead saves you headaches.

[seagiant]

Hi,
I'm fixing to do the same thing, that is replace the mouse pad, but...

You need to buy the palm rest with the pad installed with the ribbon.

The pad is glued to the palm rest from what I understand.

I'm now trying to buy a "parts only" T420 to get what I need because everything else I see is from CHINA and shipping is screwy now with the COVID Scam!