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Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

X20/X21, X30/X31, X40/X41 Series
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janko_wodnik
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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#691 Post by janko_wodnik » Sun Apr 26, 2009 3:31 am

First of all, X41T does not support dual slot adaptor, so there will be only one disk drive on primary IDE.

I think that for X41/X41T (Intel 915 with SATA->PATA bridge) 1,8" SSD with write cache would be best (drawback is error 2010 after connecting non-IBM HDDs).

In my opinion, CardBus (PCMCIA) is not good thing for CF cards, it cuts transfers and consume more power. PCMCIA runs at 1,5MB/s, while CardBus CF readers can match ~30MB/s on models with UDMA support (if I remember, only Delkin CardBus CF reader could operate at UDMA speeds). A SDHC card (in internal SDIO) would be better choice, it is cheaper than CF and smaller, easy to switch. X40/X41/X41T SDIO cuts transfer to 6MB/s, but it is still better than pure PCMCIA (1,5MB/s).

But if you have X40, you sholuld consider more options. X40 (Intel 855) support dual slot adapters (you may buy original Addonics dual slot 1,8" or spend some time and "so do it yourself" with no-name 1,8" dual slot adapter, witch is badly designed).

Even if you buy cheap MLC UDMA CompactFlash you may set it to work fluently with Windows XP. Software called "FlashPoint SSD accelerator" is a driver which add 32MB write buffer to first phisical drive (entire drive with XP, any partition on phisical drive). But this software is not supportet on Vista and Windows 7.

Perhaps the simplest way to convert X40 into netbook is to install 8GB CF MLC UDMA as primary drive and SDHC 8GB as secondary drive, Windows XP + FlashPoint, or well tuned Linux distribution. Quite cheap solution, but works fine.

You may also set cluster aligned file system on CF MLC card (on SSD MLC as well), but it is still lack of knowledge in this matter (there are good solutions for FAT/FAT32, but NTFS is still quite mysterious).

JW

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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#692 Post by janko_wodnik » Sun Apr 26, 2009 2:15 pm

And something else about "Error 0200".

I spend some time trying to find easier solution than reinstall of XP, and - I think - found something interesting.

My system CF is Verbatim Pro Series 300x 8GB (master) (SLC, UDMA, fixed, "normal" IORDY).

I try other CFs in "slave" slot. The results are quite interesting.

* Transcend 133x 16GB (MLC, UDMA, fixed, "normal" IORDY) -> Work fine

* Kingston Elite Pro 1GB "CF/1024-S" (SLC, PIO-4, removable, "strange" IORDY) -> Work without E. 0200, but with PIO fallback on "master" (this is easy to solve by uninstalling "Primary IDE Channel"). General slownes despite UDMA on Verbatim (UDMA transfer rates was verified with CrystalDiskMark).

* Transcend 133x 8GB (MLC, UDMA, fixed, "normal" IORDY) -> Work with E. 0200 (!), but with no PIO fallback. And this is realy strange.

* Transcend 120x 4GB (SLC, mw-DMA, fixed, "normal" IORDY) -> Work fine

* Silicon Power 200x 8GB (MLC, UDMA, fixed, "normal" IORDY) -> Work fine

And I found something else. After formating Transcend 133x 8GB as super-floppy drive (with no partition table in MBR) "Error 0200" perished! But after adding partition table to MBR "Error 0200" return...

So it is not file system problem but MBR partition table related problem.

I have no idea how to form strict rule when "Error 0200" will occur. It is to hard for me.

I also found, that ThinkPad X40 BIOS behave strange when seeking for IDE drives. It easily detects any drives (when connected properly), but after going to boot it gets blind and cannot see "slave" drive (please note, that "boot order" has option "HD1" - whatever it means).
After loading OS "slave" drive is present and fully operational.

I also found how "numbers" of drive in "Error 0200" evaluate.

* "Failure Fixed Disk 0" -> Primary IDE "master" malfunction (faulty connection or faulty drive hardware or adaptor). If someone put single CF adaptor upside down (no-name dual CF adaptor with no modification will act the same)

* "Failure Fixed Disk n" -> other drive than "master" on Primary IDE is wrong
To ensure, that it is Primary IDE "slave" problem, please disconnet ANY other hardware drives including optical drives (CD, DVD readers/writers), USB thumb drives or expansion unit (Dock).

* "Failure Fixed Disk 1" with only two CFs and without ANY other hardware drive connected to system -> Primary IDE "slave" problem (problem with second CompactFlash card). In fact, that problem is related to first CF rather than to second CF (Windows XP reinstall on first CF may solve it). It also may be malfuncted second CF or adaptor error.

Quite long, but one thing is worth testing: formating second CF with no MBR. It is easy (it can be done with setting cluster alignment in easy way), but you have to secure any valuable data first.

JW
Last edited by janko_wodnik on Tue May 05, 2009 10:09 am, edited 1 time in total.

Investinwaffles
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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#693 Post by Investinwaffles » Sun Apr 26, 2009 9:33 pm

janko_wodnik wrote:First of all, X41T does not support dual slot adaptor, so there will be only one disk drive on primary IDE.

I think that for X41/X41T (Intel 915 with SATA->PATA bridge) 1,8" SSD with write cache would be best (drawback is error 2010 after connecting non-IBM HDDs).

In my opinion, CardBus (PCMCIA) is not good thing for CF cards, it cuts transfers and consume more power. PCMCIA runs at 1,5MB/s, while CardBus CF readers can match ~30MB/s on models with UDMA support (if I remember, only Delkin CardBus CF reader could operate at UDMA speeds). A SDHC card (in internal SDIO) would be better choice, it is cheaper than CF and smaller, easy to switch. X40/X41/X41T SDIO cuts transfer to 6MB/s, but it is still better than pure PCMCIA (1,5MB/s).

But if you have X40, you sholuld consider more options. X40 (Intel 855) support dual slot adapters (you may buy original Addonics dual slot 1,8" or spend some time and "so do it yourself" with no-name 1,8" dual slot adapter, witch is badly designed).

Even if you buy cheap MLC UDMA CompactFlash you may set it to work fluently with Windows XP. Software called "FlashPoint SSD accelerator" is a driver which add 32MB write buffer to first phisical drive (entire drive with XP, any partition on phisical drive). But this software is not supportet on Vista and Windows 7.

Perhaps the simplest way to convert X40 into netbook is to install 8GB CF MLC UDMA as primary drive and SDHC 8GB as secondary drive, Windows XP + FlashPoint, or well tuned Linux distribution. Quite cheap solution, but works fine.

You may also set cluster aligned file system on CF MLC card (on SSD MLC as well), but it is still lack of knowledge in this matter (there are good solutions for FAT/FAT32, but NTFS is still quite mysterious).

JW
Im not going for the cheapest option, and im not trying to get the fastest raw speed. Do you think buying a kingspec SSD would be a bad idea?

8GB is way too small for me, and even 16gb is a little small for my tastes. 32gb will be plenty for my primary drive (i like to keep stuff on there so I have it whenever). Will an SD card be able to play DVD quality video through the internal reader without stumbling? I dont have one to test it out (My nikon d70 uses CF).

And lastly, has anyone found a solution to stopping the loud beep after POST? Until i figured out how to stop it from beeping when entering/resuming standby people would jump when i turned my computer back on :lol:
X301 - C2D SU9400 (1.4ghz), 4GB DDR3, Intel X18-M G2 , W7 64bit
X41 Tablet - PM 758 (1.5ghz), 1.5gb DDR2, 60gb 4200rpm, XP Pro

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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#694 Post by Fox5 » Sun Apr 26, 2009 10:27 pm

The loud beep doesn't occur if the system is muted. If your system isn't muted, just mash the mute button on the keyboard as it's booting.

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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#695 Post by janko_wodnik » Mon Apr 27, 2009 3:07 am

According to Mainframer post (link)

And KingSpec's SSD performance:

Code: Select all

Replacement KingSpec PA18.1-032M SSD
Seq Read 64.66
Seq Write 45.04
512K Read 58.09
512k Write 23.55
4K Read 13.52
4K Write 1.718
From this CDM benchlog (and name of the drive :) ) it is clearly, that KingSpec's SSD has 32MB write buffer to allow fluent work under any OS.

This will be good, simply choice: "buy, plug, and install OS".

And about stumbling films played from SDHC card in X40's SDIO. If sum of video and audio bitrates is lower than 4,5MB/s (36Mb/s), should be no problem. You have to check bitrates of your films befor playing.

JW

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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#696 Post by loyukfai » Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:48 pm

Sorry, how can you clearly tell the Kingspec drive has 32MB write buffer from the information you mentioned? What's the logic behind?

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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#697 Post by janko_wodnik » Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:32 am

Here is the logic:

Code: Select all

4K Write 1.718 MB/s
KingSpec's SSD is MLC flash with hardware write buffer. Without write buffer there sould be about 0,060-0,030MB/s on 4kB random wirte measured with CrystalDiskMark.

To get ~2MB/s on 4kB random write on MLC flash 32MB (maybe 16MB) buffer is a must.

I have very similar 4kB random write speed on MLC CF with 32MB software write buffer (FlashPoint), so it is my logic.

Well, benchmark results in CDM may vary depending on test pattern length. My test pattern length was 100MB (3x). When test pattern is 50MB random writes goes higher, but if pattern is 500MB or 1000MB, random writes are lower. Benchmark results also depends on file system (NTFS is slower).

Two things are sure: it is MLC flash, and it has hardware write buffer.
But it is realy 32MB HWB or 16MB HWB - it is mystery to me.

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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#698 Post by loyukfai » Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:28 pm

I also think that there is write buffer in these Kingspec drives, since otherwise there should be stuttering issues (as I understand), which seem to be non-existent so far.

It's the size that I was, and still, not so sure.

Anyway, thanks for your information.

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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#699 Post by visionviper » Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:58 pm

One reason I prefer the MTRON SSDs to the KingSpec SSDs is that MTRON SSDs are set up to allow firmware upgrades - which MTRON does provide.
Last edited by visionviper on Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#700 Post by ricerocket » Wed Apr 29, 2009 1:11 pm

Who needs updates when it works well right out of the box?

I just got my 64GB Kingspec yesterday, and cloned my internal HDD with Vista Ultimate SP1. Read performance is higher than advertised.

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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#701 Post by visionviper » Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:59 pm

ricerocket wrote:Who needs updates when it works well right out of the box?
People who look forward to having added functionality without having to buy a new drive. :D
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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#702 Post by ricerocket » Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:04 pm

Functionality? What are you looking for? SSDs that jump through hoops of fire?

Most major updates require new hardware anyways. The Kingspec already does wear leveling that can take 80 years of 10 GB writes per day.
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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#703 Post by visionviper » Thu Apr 30, 2009 1:48 pm

ricerocket wrote:Functionality? What are you looking for? SSDs that jump through hoops of fire?
No, and I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that software updates can have a big effect on functionality and performance.

Take, for example, TRIM. Several manufacturers have already stated that they could (and will) make this available to their current drives via a firmware update.

Assuming MTRON decides to make that addition to their next firmware release I could buy an MTRON SSD now and have that support down the road. If I buy an KingSpec drive now the drive will never support TRIM.

Many good things, and yes sometimes bad (as seen by the botched Seagate update), can come from firmware updates.
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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#704 Post by junglefruits » Mon May 04, 2009 10:05 pm

Hi,

Can someone please tell me where I am going wrong with my compact flash to boot winxp pro.

using 8gb sandisk extreme III compact flash with a dual cf to ide adapter off of ebay

1. created a bootable jumpdrive with atcfwchg and bootprep.
2. formatted my compact flash to FAT32 with card reader adapter on another computer
3. plugged compact flash into my Thinkpad x40. i only used one compact flash. the bios recognize the compact flash
4. booted the jumpdrive and ran atcfwchg, then ran bootprep
5. proceed to install winxp pro by a USB dvd-rom

after it copies the file into the compact flash, it would restart and say "ntldr is missing"

if i try to install the above steps through a compact flash in a card reader, i would get 0x0000007b
error

another thing that i notice is the thinkpad would take a long time to boot into the jumpdrive or the USB dvd-rom when the compact flash is inserted into the hard drive, but when i remove the compact flash, boot time would be back to normal...any ideas on this too??


thanks in advance

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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#705 Post by sjthinkpader » Tue May 05, 2009 12:08 am

CF can be set as removable or fixed in the CIS (card information structure). Removable will not boot. So you either have to flip this CIS bit or format the card as NTFS. In a X41, there is further complication related to SATA bridge. You have to place the CF card/adapter in the HDD slot during OS install or cloning to make it work.
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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#706 Post by janko_wodnik » Tue May 05, 2009 9:55 am

The problem (instaling XP on pre-formated media and "NTLDR missing" on boot) is related to FAT32 and Windows XP bootloader. It is bug in drive geometry adressing (old CHS mapping) on FAT32 when connected to IDE with different drive geometry (CHS). For example, standard CF reader CHS mapping (under Win XP) is C/255/63 (C depends on drive size in LBA), while ThinkPad X40 BIOS CHS mapping is C/240/63. It is enough to disrupt bootloader.

And it is possible to boot XP from removable devices such as CF on IDE, but also from USB thumb drives, card readers and others.

To solve problem, you have to install other bootloader. I advise to use "GRUB4DOS". It is quite easy to set bootsector on your CF in card reader, copy "grldr" into main directory and to properly set up "menu.lst" file.

I can post more detailed instructions for this operation - if you want.
JW

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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#707 Post by junglefruits » Tue May 05, 2009 8:30 pm

janko_wodnik,

Can you please post more detail instructions on how to boot from removable drives. I dont know much computer programming language, so it might take a while for me to understand the commands.

thanks for helping

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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#708 Post by admlam » Tue May 05, 2009 8:50 pm

admlam wrote:Went ahead and tried the 32GB 133x Kingston Elite Pro with an eBay ID-CF adapter on my X41T.

CrystalDiskMark reported:
100MB Read | Write [MB/s]
Seq: 45.24 | 18.11
512k 46.01 | 3.192
4k 10.42 | 0.032
Tried the FlashPoint. New CrystalDiskMark results below. Looks great, thanks.

100MB Read| Write [MB/s]
Seq 43.080 | 30.904
512K 42.771 | 4.332
4K 10.822 | 1.439

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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#709 Post by janko_wodnik » Wed May 06, 2009 3:00 am

admlam,

You may try configure FP beta4p2 for your own.
First of all, run "cfg-default.reg" to add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\diskfp\Parameters" key into registry.

Second step is to change "BlockSize" value, and some tweaks with "NumOfLogBlk".
For cheap MLC CF, "BlockSize" should be more than 1, in my case 4 was best.

After finding top performance with "BlockSize", try to set optimal "NumOfLogBlk". And again, for cheap MLC CF "NumOfLogBlk" should be lower than 9 (default). In my case it was 2.

Some of the results:
Cluster-aligned NTFS (16kB) on CF Trasncend 133x 8GB (without FP):

Code: Select all

   Sequential Read :   45.068 MB/s
  Sequential Write :   22.296 MB/s
 Random Read 512KB :   47.401 MB/s
Random Write 512KB :    1.964 MB/s
   Random Read 4KB :   17.398 MB/s
  Random Write 4KB :    0.017 MB/s
Cluster-aligned NTFS (16kB) on CF Trasncend 133x 8GB with default FP beta 4p2:

Code: Select all

   Sequential Read :   44.595 MB/s
  Sequential Write :   27.843 MB/s
 Random Read 512KB :   45.145 MB/s
Random Write 512KB :    4.877 MB/s
   Random Read 4KB :   16.790 MB/s
  Random Write 4KB :    1.684 MB/s
Cluster-aligned NTFS (16kB) on CF Trasncend 133x 8GB with tweaked FP beta 4p2
BlockSize -> 4 (0x04)
NumOfLogBlk -> 2 (0x02)

Code: Select all

   Sequential Read :   44.926 MB/s
  Sequential Write :   28.165 MB/s
 Random Read 512KB :   46.020 MB/s
Random Write 512KB :    8.293 MB/s
   Random Read 4KB :   17.295 MB/s
  Random Write 4KB :    3.915 MB/s
But be careful. Registry corruption bug may appear.
JW

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GRUB4DOS bootloader to solve "NTLDR is missing" error

#710 Post by janko_wodnik » Thu May 07, 2009 9:34 am

junglefruits

The overview of installation process for Windows XP on removable CF is quite simple:
1. Partitioning and setting file system on CF card.
2. Installing OS on CF card connected to IDE via IDE->CF adapter.
3. Solving "NTLDR is missing" error if encountered.

If you are using SanDisk Ex series CF card, run "atcfwchg" first to set your card to "fixed" mode.
This operation allow to see CF by Win XP installer as standard fixed drive, allowing partitioning and formating by Win XP installer.


For 1. you may use various software to do this. What is more – you may use software lunched from USB (form optical drive or from USB thumb drive) on CF connected on IDE. And yes, you may use card reader on other computer to format CF, but if you want to partition CF in card reader under Windows, you are limited only to one accessible partition (some software are able to create more partitions than one partition, but only first is visible, you have to some “tweaks” with drivers to make more partitions visible).

On this stage you may decide to create cluster-aligned file system.

Cluster alignment allow to get better write performance on MLC flash, and it is really simply for partition-less file system embedding (floppy/CD/DVD-like partitioning style). If you want to set cluster alignment on multi-partition drive, it is more complex for FAT32, and really hard for NTFS.

For 2. everything is clear on this stage.

For 3. one of the way is to set GRUB4DOS bootloader.


How to set up GRUB4DOS bootloader on Win XP system drive?

What is GRUB4DOS? More info :arrow: http://grub4dos.sourceforge.net/wiki/in ... /Main_Page

First of all, please download following files:
MBR installer: grubinst_1.0.1_bin_win.zip
GRUB4DOS files: grub4dos-0.4.4.zip

This instruction shows one of the way to set up GRUB4DOS. There are other ways, but they are recommended for more advanced users.

Step 1 (on another computer with properly installed Windows).
Download and unpack “grubinst_1.0.1_bin_win.zip” into “grubinst” folder, and “grub4dos-0.4.4.zip” into “grub4dos” folder.

Step 2
Connect system drive (in this case CF card from X40) with installed Windows XP (you may use USB card reader for CF) to computer described in Step 1.

Step 3
Find connected disk number in “Disk Management” (you may start this tool typing “diskmgmt.msc” in “Run” command from “Menu Start”). Identify CF disk number (it will by different from 0!).

Step 4
Run “grubinst_gui.exe” form “grubinst”, in the program window select “Disk” in “Device Name” tab and open list with options (hd0), (hd1), ... and select option with number from Step 3 (if CF in card reader was “Disk2” then select “(hd2)”). Click “Install” button. Command box will appear with the following content:

Code: Select all

The MBR has been successfully installed
Press any key to continue ...
Read it content, and hit space to close it. Now click “Quit” button to close “Grub Installer” window.

Important note:
If you select other drive number than related to CF card, you may found troubles booting your current Windows installations, so be carefully.


Step 5
Copy “grldr” file from “grub4dos” folder (file is with no extension, it is about 200kB) into main directory of CF card.

Step 6
Copy “menu.lst” (.lst like “LIST”, not “FIRST”) file form “grub4dos” folder into main directory of CF card.
Open copied “menu.lst” with notepad, delete all content, and paste following content:

Code: Select all

chainloader /ntldr
Save changes to “menu.lst” and exit notepad.

Now your CF card with Windows XP will boot in any drive geometry (X40 IDE, card reader) without “NTLDR is missing” error.

If you encounter any BSOD (blue screen of death) on the later phase of loading Windows XP, it is not related to GRUB4DOS (or other bootloader), but to other incompatibilities of current Windows installation.

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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#711 Post by loyukfai » Thu May 07, 2009 8:28 pm


junglefruits
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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#712 Post by junglefruits » Sat May 09, 2009 4:27 am

janko_wodnik,

do i need to make two partition onto the compact flash? one partition where i copy over the GRUB4DOS bootloader and the second partition is where i install windows? and is the partition a FAT32 or NTFS?

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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#713 Post by janko_wodnik » Sat May 09, 2009 5:24 am

Install GRUB4DOS into main directory on partition with Windows XP installation. It is meaningless how many partitions are on phisical drive, but XP partition have to be active.

GRUB4DOS works with FAT32 and NTFS (partition and file system have to be error-free).

If you have currently installed Win XP on CF with "NTLDR is missing" error, just:
- Install MBR on this CF (Step 4)
- Copy "grldr" into directory with "ntldr" (Step 5)
- Copy and modify "menu.lst" file into directory with "ntldr" (Step 6)

There is no need to reinstall.

JW

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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#714 Post by junglefruits » Wed May 13, 2009 11:12 am

janko_wodnik,

this is the method i did, is it correct?
1. formatted (no partition) CF card to FAT32 in windows thru a CF card reader
2. made the card bootable to DOS and load atcfwchg onto it
3. booted Thinkpad X40 into DOS and ran atcfwchg and received pass notice
4. took CF card out of Thinkpad and reconnected to winxp computer to load your Grub4dos files per your instructions
5. connected the CF card back to Thinkpad and booted it with USB-ROM loaded with winxp pro cd
6. during installation process, I installed winxp leaving the file instruction intact
7. winxp installs first part and when it goes to reboot, it just hangs

thanks

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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#715 Post by janko_wodnik » Thu May 14, 2009 1:18 am

Hi junglefruits,
junglefruits wrote:7. winxp installs first part and when it goes to reboot, it just hangs
What kind of hang do you mean? Black screen (with or without blinking "_"), bluescreen or freez on Windows load screen (black screen with XP name and XP logo)?

Well, your step 4 should be done after step 7, and after getting "NTLDR is missing". In this case there is no point to set GRUB4DOS before Win XP installation.

And about atcfwchg. If it is really sets your SanDisk CF to fixed mode, Windows XP Installer should be able to partition it (SanDisk CF card) and install Win XP in the same way as on regular HDD, without any special tweaks. It is much easier and safe (in terms of getting working XP) to use partitioner from Windows XP Installer, it should be able to made fixed card bootable, to partition it and to format partitions.

JW

junglefruits
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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#716 Post by junglefruits » Fri May 15, 2009 9:19 pm

janko_wodnik

the hang i received upon rebooting after the 1st part of winxp installation is a black screen with a blinking cursor. so, i left it on the whole nite and nothing happens.

thanks

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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#717 Post by janko_wodnik » Sat May 16, 2009 9:34 am

junglefruits

Blinking "_" on black screen is related to error in bootloader (it is similar error to "NTLDR is missing").

Please set GRUB4DOS one more time.
JW

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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#718 Post by sjthinkpader » Sat May 16, 2009 9:37 pm

The system is a X41 with a 8GB CF card in an adapter. It was left on Standbby for a day or two. When the battery ran down and the system started to beep, I ran to plug it into AC.

But it was too late. The battery died as the computer tried to shutdown. The CF card suffered a file error and refused to boot.

So it is very important to set a hibernation timer of about 30 minute or an hour in the Power Manager.
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junglefruits
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Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#719 Post by junglefruits » Sun May 17, 2009 6:17 pm

janko_wodnik,


I finally was able to load winxp onto the sandisk 8gb extreme III only using the a Syba cf to ide adapter for the desktop. But I use this link to help me:

http://www.sentire.co.uk/software/softw ... b-pen.html

The cf boots perfectly fine on the desktop, but when I connecting to the thinkpad x40, thru a ebay bought dual cf to ide adapter, the system would just hang. The bios recognizes the cf card but just refuse to boot… over time I get a “disk error” message. But when I plug it back to the desktop thru the syba adapter, it boots fine.

Someone over at another forum was suggesting that the ebay bought adapter may not be properly DMA enabled, thereby stalling the booting process on my thinkpad x40. I don’t understand this DMA, I would have to do research. If it is true than maybe my adapter is just crap.

Thanks for helping me

janko_wodnik
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Joined: Fri Apr 17, 2009 1:14 pm
Location: Kurów, Poland

Re: Has anyone tried an SSD in the X41? *PICS*

#720 Post by janko_wodnik » Mon May 18, 2009 1:33 am

You may use Live CD or USB Linux distribution (Slax, Knoppix) and following command to clearly determinate is your CF adapter is UDMA capable:

Code: Select all

hdparm -i /dev/hda
And this should give report about first IDE device (CF card in X40):

Code: Select all

root@slax:~# hdparm -i /dev/hda

/dev/hda:

 Model=ATP COMPACT FLASH, FwRev=20071207, SerialNo=AF CF 26822063
 Config={ HardSect NotMFM Fixed DTR>10Mbs }
 RawCHS=15798/16/63, TrkSize=0, SectSize=576, ECCbytes=4
 BuffType=DualPort, BuffSize=1kB, MaxMultSect=1, MultSect=off
 CurCHS=15798/16/63, CurSects=15924384, LBA=yes, LBAsects=15924384
 IORDY=no, tPIO={min:120,w/IORDY:120}, tDMA={min:120,rec:120}
 PIO modes:  pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4
 DMA modes:  mdma0 mdma1 mdma2
 UDMA modes: udma0 udma1 udma2 udma3 *udma4
 AdvancedPM=yes: disabled (255)
 Drive conforms to: Unspecified:  ATA/ATAPI-4

 * signifies the current active mode
If “*” is befor “UDMA2” (in SanDisk Ex III it is maximum of UDMA), your CF adapter is UDMA capable.

Please post here results of “hdparm -i /dev/hda” command lunched from Live CD/USB Linux operating on your X40 with properly connected CF card. This will give you clear answer about your adapter is UDMA capable or is not.

JW

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