I think I did a stupid (re: new hard drive for T43)

[Dark Helmet]

ok, so my T43 (1875-DMU) HD died, or so tech support tells me.

so I take my old HD to best buy (kill me now) and they sell me a 160GB WD IDE drive...

when I try to install windows, it can't find a drive to install it on... inmy searching it appears that I may have bought the wrong freakin' drive... that I need an PATA...


please tell me I'm stupid and need to buy a different drive... and that my mother board isn't fried....

thanks guys


-drinkin' in Lincoln...

[RealBlackStuff]

Probably need to take the HD out and turn it over (upside down) then re-insert.
Did you use the HD-tray (or caddy)?

T43 need IDE/ATA/PATA drives, anything but SATA!

[Dark Helmet]

pretty sure I got the caddie thing on right, and it won't install the other way, I don't think... IIRC it is set up for "sticker down" operation... I'll try turning it over again, but.... eh dunno.

if I have an IDE drive, will it recognize that automatically or not? my original says IDE/ATA...

I sooooo hope its not the board. on some desktops there is a need to tell the machine to look for an IDE drive or somesuch... got any clue on that?

[richk]

If you bought an IDE drive, it is the right drive. The sticker goes down. The easiest way to get the pins all in right is to open the lid 90 degrees, and place the machine palmrest-down on a table with the open lid hanging down. slide the drive in.

[Dark Helmet]

so, I have the right drive, it is installed correctly, and I still get an error.

joy.

just, joy.




unless someone else has a better idea, I'll start shopping for a new computer now...

[Dark Helmet]

and it installed pretty easy, actually, no need to flip it or anything.

[qviri]

.

[Dark Helmet]

no, not found in BIOS...

interestingly, the screw that retains the drive fell out months ago... any chance THAT is screwing things up?

i had never removed the original drive until this saga began... so I don't see the seating of the drive being an issue...


please tell me I'm wrong and show me the light on this... I REALLY don't want to buy another laptop...

[ZaZ]

Perhaps the drive is defective. It's happened once or twice before. Exchange it for another.

[Dark Helmet]

will be testing the drive today...

and thanks for all the help guys... I do appreciate the input...

this place is a God-send....

[RealBlackStuff]

You have a 15" laptop, which means the HD goes in about 1" deeper than in a standard 14".
The correct HD cover looks like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/LOT-OF-2-IBM-THINKP ... 0445213808
Maybe you use a 14" HD cover which is shorter?

[Dark Helmet]

I used the original cover and swapped it onto the new drive.