New CPU Cooling Fan for IBM Lenovo T61 42W2823 42W2461 42W2460 42W2462 MCF-215PAM05

I had to order a new fan because my computer refused to start, sighting a "fan error". The computer is something like four years old, so I was not particularly inclined to pay a fortunate to fix it. I had some confusion regarding whether or not this was the correct replacement, but so far no mishaps, so I'm guess I chose correctly. I have the 15 inch T61. Installation shouldn't have been a problem. I found the guide on Lenovo's support website that shows how to get to the fan. While I'm pretty good at following instructions, I'm apparently not a great technician. I made a few attempts before getting it right. I definitely removed more screws that I put back in — who knows where the others went. Anyway, the first time I put it in the computer, it wouldn't spin at all. My guess is that I just overtightened some screws, so there may have been something putting too much pressure on it for it to spin. I tore the whole thing down, and then put it all back together and after that it started up no problem. It's hard for me to say that the part actually fit where it was supposed to. I mean, obviously it fit well enough, but it wasn't exactly like helping Cinderella into her slippers or anything. It took some pushing and rocking to get it in there. After about a month's use, I have to say it's working quite well. Maybe I've just become accustom to hearing a disconcerting buzzing noise, but I have to be listening for it to hear it.

Does not fit properly. Is not compatible with the T61. In the photo you can see the difference. The original fan is on the right.

I replaced the fan in my Lenovo ThinkPad T61 7658CTO with this item. It works, but it took some time to figure out how to modify placement in the heat sink. Because the grooves on the bottom of the fan are different than the OEM fan, if you just install it and crimp down the tabs, the fan will bind up. I finally bent the tabs over and mounted the fan on top of them so it was sitting in the heat sink at a slight angle. Then I taped it thoroughly with foil tape to make sure it stayed in place. If I had this to do over, I would just buy the entire heat sink assembly with the fan in it. Costs a bit more, but it would have been a much easier and cleaner install.

Unlike other here mine installed without a hitch. It matched the other fan I had in the computer and took maybe 15 min to get everything back together. Worked perfect. Not the most silent fan ever but it works and gave back life to my old laptop.

The price is amazingly low. I replaced a bad fan on my Lenovo T61 laptop. The fan was slightly different than the old one, which prevented it from spinning when I first installed it. I made some extra space between the fan and the existing metal casing from that laptop, and that fixed the problem. After putting conductor paste on the heatsinks, installing the fan and screwing it back into place, you should power on the laptop before assembling the plastic laptop cover and keyboard to make sure your fan spins. It was a big pain to open everything up and put it back together, but I'm glad it worked well. I bought mine from AMZeTek, and it came with the conductor paste. What a great deal!

I don't like writing bad reviews, but I am not-at-all happy with this. On my T-61, this is NOT a drop-in-replacement. I ended up having to bend the tabs at the edges of the fan with a vice so that it provided more clearance to the fan once installed. Otherwise, the fan is physically obstructed from running (compressed at one corner) which results in a "Fan Error" and the machine will immediately shut down. The installation took FAR longer than it should have with all of the trial-and-error that it took to get it right. MY advice is to buy an OEM replacement.

I eventually got this fan working in my T61, but I had to spend a fair amount of time bending the tabs to make it fit properly. Also, I don't think it moves quite as much air as the stock fan did.

Perfect -