This series has got to be one of the biggest minefields when it comes to model-naming and slight variations in build and specification making it quite difficult to nagivate through a repair or refurb. Maybe this could become a sticky 760 repair thread?
A list of the first things I'm aware of:
- Whilst the 765 is considered part of the 760 family and whilst shares a similar design, it's chassis is completely different to the 760-series and therefore the screen and internal layout is bigger and not interchangable.
- The complete memory configuration changed many times:
- 760C, 760CD, 760L, 760LD = 88pin EDO - hard to find.
- 760E, 760ED, 760EL, 760ELD, 760XD, 760XL = 144pin EDO - common.
- If you put the memory daughterboard from a 144pin machine in a 88pin machine you just get a white screen when powering up.
- "all L models did not have Mwave audio, using ESS 1688 Audiodrive instead"
- Hot take - L models were 'consumer' end models of this business-end laptop.
- CD models have nothing to do with having a CD-ROM drive, altbough D mostly means the case is built to accomodate one (apart from the EL, ELD and XL which also have the case to accomodate a CD-ROM drive!)
- All models have a timebomb hibernation battery built into the palmrest
- If you attempt to remove the hibernation battery, the PCB it's connected to contains 4 connectors - 2 to stereo speakers, 1 for CMOS and 1 for hibernation. These connectors are exremely brittle and I've found it very risky to do anything other than snip off the hibernation battery wires because trying to move the board often creates more problems.
- Many keyboard have a '08611' trackpoint error, which I have not found a fix for, despite not using the 'timebomb' pencil-erasor style trackpoint nub
- There was no CDV model
- 760C and L have a smaller case, much more similar to the 755.
- All keyboards are interchangable (with exception of 765 which has a wider palmrest)
- DSTN screens were available but rare - be careful if buying an EL model as these had the DSTN option.
- There were at least 3 types of TFT in 10.4", 12.1" and 13.3" variations, with later 12.1" and 13.3" displays offering XGA. 13.3" screen will only fit inside the larger 765 chassis, so all 760 model machines have a maximum size of 12.1"
- Floppy drives are very similar to 355/360/370/755 floppy drives but have a weird plastic slider down the right side - seems like a 'spacer'.
- Hard drives *I think* are interchangable with 355/360/370/755 with the 'regular' 760 models but not the slimmer 760C variants - because they're too fat.
- Simlar to the 770, I've found the TFT screens can succum to a degradation around the edges - a flourescent cloud that shows up on black screens.
- On the back-left-side of the m-wave equipped models Mwave equipped model (760CD, 760ED, 760XD, there is an empty slot which can hold an expansion connector/port for the MWave-based audio and modem card - The external DAA Telephony Kit connector. DAA = Data Access Arrangement. This was an option sold in a country for which the standard internal telephone jack connector was not approved, hence it was supplied with a blanking plate rather than modem socket. The DAA box arrangement sidestepped some country certification problems that would not /could not approve the internal phone jack arrangement more commonly seen. If you look on the label on the bottom of an Mwave-equipped 760, it should show a number of telephony certifications along with all the other FCC, CE, etc. regulatory certifications.
One aspect that can catch you out when restoring a bunch of these and shifting interchangable parts from good to bad machines is that there are two types of 12.1" TFT lids which support the two very similar but different SVGA and XGA LCDs:
1) SVGA Lid/LCD:
It's thicker but will fit all 760 models.
SVGA LCD has a different mainboard connector to XGA
Has a longer LED panel which slots into the back of the keyboard
2) XGA Lid/LCD:
Thinner than the SVGA lid but will fit all 760 models
XGA LCD has a different mainboard connector to SVGA
Has a shorter LED panel which slots into the back of the keyboard
Connectors are keyed differentl and will not fit to the opposing connector:
The lids I disassembled have two types of hinge, using a slightly different but very similar design. They're bolted down slightly differently and not interchangable:
Finally, whilst all the screw standoffs are in the same place, meaning you can physically swap different TFTs between different lids and bezels, the standoffs are different depths, and the LCD bezel itself is different (one has to be shallower). So basically don't bother trying to swap SVGA and XGA panels between lids.
I also discovered 3 different lid design for the 2 types of TFT panel - one has 6 screws at the base underneath two strips of black plastic stuck down over the top.