Thinkpads Forum

My A21p thinkpad is malfunctioning. What more recent thinkpads (newer than the A21p) use the same hard drive so that I could swap out my current hard drive in A21p to newer thinkpad --- at least til I am able to ghost my current A21p hard drive? What problems am I likely to run into?

Other solution would be to buy a used A21p for the temp fix, but that seems to be an expensive proposition for a temporary fix.

What operating system are you running on this drive?

Windows 2000 and XP usually don't work when a HDD is moved to a different laptop. Yours will most likely work if you put it into another A21p, might work in an A22p, but would probably not work in anything else.

Windows 98 is more flexible though.

Thanks. Running XP. Your reply is what i suspected. Expensive fix for a temporary solution. Malfunction occurred just as I was planning a thinkpad upgrade--- BUT need HD data more recent than my last ghost of the A21p hard drive.

Thanks again

The situation is not as bad as you might think. First, the problems you have with your A21p might be fixable. Why not start a thread describing the problems, so that other forum members can try to help you? Second, even if the problems can't be fixed, you can still sell the laptop for parts to offset the cost of the new A21p. If the screen is nice, I think you can easily sell the unit (without HDD, RAM, etc.) for $80. The 15.0" UXGA has a great resolution and many people would want to buy it.

ellipse123 wrote:Thanks. Running XP. Your reply is what i suspected. Expensive fix for a temporary solution. Malfunction occurred just as I was planning a thinkpad upgrade--- BUT need HD data more recent than my last ghost of the A21p hard drive.

You can get the data off the drive using another laptop. There is a variety of devices that make it possible, including Thinkpad Ultrabay HD caddies and USB enclosures that will work with any computer with a USB port.

Thanks for suggestion. Posted on marketplace for a WTB A21p under $150. Do not need HD, RAM, power adapter. If I find one, ghost my HD & upgrade to new thinkpad, I will then have THREE A21p's to sell as system or parts. LOL

Thought of posting problems, but complicated. Started off with bizarre power problems. I have 3 working adapters so I know it's not an adapter problem. Had to wiggle adapter cord & hold steady to keep on AC power. Minute movement would switch it to battery or even reboot system. Got worse very fast. Thought I could still get a ghost, but then I got a fan error message that will only let me go into the bios screen, Even if I fix the fan error problem, I will still have the quixotic power problem, which seems to be internal. Complicated and time-consuming.

Family illness, in between moves, need HD data immediately & a functioning notebook--- thought easiest & quickest solution to get another A21p, swap HDs, upgrade to new thinkpad when I get time & resolve A21p issues later and/or sell the 3 A21p's to somebody in the parts business.

Nothing beats a thinkpad when it works .