If your Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 1 has a broken screen, will not charge, runs hot or will not start, we can diagnose and repair it at our Bermondsey workshop. The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 1 is a 2018 mobile workstation with a 15.6-inch screen, identified by machine types 20MD, 20ME. Both the drive and, on most configurations, the memory can be upgraded, which makes it a good candidate for a refresh.
- Machine types
- 20MD, 20ME
- Released
- 2018
- Type
- Mobile workstation
- Screen
- 15.6-inch
- Storage
- M.2 SSD, two slots on most configurations
- Memory
- SODIMM slots
Repairs we carry out on the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 1
Screen replacement
Cracked, flickering or lined 15.6-inch screens are replaced with a matching panel. Where the picture comes and goes as the lid moves, we check the display cable and hinges first.
Price confirmed before work starts
Battery replacement
A new internal battery is fitted and tested through a full charge and discharge. On a 2018 machine a worn battery is the likely cause of short runtime, and we measure its capacity before recommending anything else.
Price confirmed before work starts
Keyboard and trackpad repair
The keyboard is a separate part on most ThinkPads and is replaced without disturbing the rest of the machine. Trackpad and TrackPoint buttons are replaced the same way.
Charging port and power repair
Charging is over USB-C. A loose or dead port is replaced where it is a separate part, or repaired on the motherboard where it is soldered.
Overheating and fan repair
We strip the cooling system, clean the fans and heatsink fins and renew the thermal compound and pads. We check temperatures under load afterwards.
SSD and storage upgrade
Most configurations of the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 1 have two M.2 slots, so a second SSD can be added, or the existing one cloned to a larger drive.
Price confirmed before work starts
Memory upgrade
Most configurations of the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 1 have SODIMM memory slots, so memory can be increased. We check what is fitted and the maximum the board supports.
Graphics repair
The graphics chip is soldered to the board. Artefacts, crashes under load and a black screen with the fans running are diagnosed to the chip, its memory or its power stage, and repaired at board level where it is economical.
Windows repair and reinstall
The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 1 meets Microsoft’s Windows 11 requirements in most configurations. We upgrade from Windows 10, which reached end of support in October 2025, or reinstall Windows 11 cleanly with your files kept.
We also carry out motherboard repair, liquid damage repair, hinge and casing repair, virus removal on the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 1, along with USB, HDMI and audio port repair, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth card replacement, webcam and speaker faults, BIOS password removal with proof of ownership and data transfer to a new machine.
What we see on the bench
- P-series workstations have multiple memory slots and drive bays on the larger models; the thin P1 and P14s are more restricted.
- They run hot under sustained load, and a thermal service often cures throttling.
Data recovery from the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 1
The SSD in the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 1 can be removed and imaged on our own equipment, so files can usually be recovered even when the machine will not start.
Estimate the cost with our data recovery calculator, or read about recovering files after a ransomware attack.
Where the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 1 sits in the range
Its nearest relatives in the Lenovo ThinkPad P Series range are the older Lenovo ThinkPad P51 (2017) and the newer Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 2 (2019).
Questions
Can the SSD or memory in the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 1 be upgraded?
The SSD can be replaced, and most configurations have a second M.2 slot. Memory is in slots on most configurations and can be increased.
My Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 1 will not turn on. Is my data lost?
Usually not. The drive is separate from the fault in most cases, and we can remove it and copy your files even if the machine itself is not worth repairing.
How do I get my Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 1 to you?
Bring it to our workshop at Unit 1 The Willows, 80 Willow Walk, London SE1 5SY, or call 020 7237 6805 to ask about courier collection. We confirm the price before any work starts.
Why does my Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 1 overheat or slow down in games?
Usually dust in the heatsinks and thermal compound that has dried out. A thermal service fixes it in most cases. If temperatures are normal and it still slows down, we test the graphics chip and power delivery.