ThinkPad Dock II - compatibility questions

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Alejandro Audisio · #1 Post by **Alejandro Audisio** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 3:57 pm

I currently have a T30 with a Dock II... and Im considering buying a refurbished T42p or similar model that has a larger screen. Will my Dock II still work...? Im concerned because my current T30 has a 14.1" screen and my replacement candidates have 15" screens.

Thanks for any advice you guys can provide.

Cheers,
Alex

#2 Post by **Harryc** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 4:00 pm

Supported ThinkPads

* A20m, A20p, A21m, A21p, A22m, A22p
* A30, A30p, A31, A31p
* R50, R50p, R51, R52
* T20, T21, T22, T23
* T30
* T40, T40p, T41, T41p, T42, T42p, T43, T43p
* X20, X21, X22, X23, X24
* X30, X31, X32

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkPad_Dock_II

sarbin · #3 Post by **sarbin** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 4:02 pm

welcome to the forum.

what is the part number on the back or bottom of the dock? it should be 7 characters.

Alejandro Audisio · #4 Post by **Alejandro Audisio** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 6:12 am

Thank you HarryC and Sarbin. Ive been signed up here for about 1 year, but these are my first posts... appreciate the prompt responses.

My to be retired soon T30 is a model 2366-97U, which has served me in the best possible manner... its been around the globe a ton of times and has never let me down.... alas, my hard drive is now almost full and Im looking for a slight upgrade.

I have a couple of other questions related to the T40 series... will post them in separate threads.

Thanks very much.

Cheers from Buenos Aires,
Alejandro

Alejandro Audisio · #5 Post by **Alejandro Audisio** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 3:39 pm

Follow up question.... does it make a difference if you use the T43 with a 9 cell batt and its one of those that stick out.... I mean for usage with the Dock II...?

Thanks.

sarbin · #6 Post by **sarbin** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 3:55 pm

should work fine with the extended battery.
have a look here: ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/op ... ock2ug.pdf for details on dock ii.

hth.

#7 Post by **RonS** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:00 pm

The 9-cell batteries stick out the back. The 6-cell batteries are flush the the back of the Thinkpad. Either battery is compatible with the Dock II.

#8 Post by **schen** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 12:46 pm

Without even looking it up, if you come across a dock or port replicator that has a hinged flap shaped like the part that sticks out of the 9 cell battery, you're in good shape. The later ones that work with the T/R6x series have kind of a corner on the left that allow it to key correctly.

Alejandro Audisio · #9 Post by **Alejandro Audisio** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:10 pm

Thanks for the detailed info. guys..... I have a Dock II that I purchased over 4 years ago... Ive seen these are now quite cheap to buy, maybe I will buy one to have as backup, as my current dock had a case or two of not wanting to hook up properly with my Thinkpad...

Cheers,
Alex

#10 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:24 pm

It would be a lot cheaper (but not half as much fun) to buy a larger hard disk. 120-250GB should do you!

Alejandro Audisio · #11 Post by **Alejandro Audisio** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 1:14 pm

RealBlackStuff wrote:It would be a lot cheaper (but not half as much fun) to buy a larger hard disk. 120-250GB should do you!

Hello RBS-- not sure what you mean by this....??

Alejandro Audisio · #12 Post by **Alejandro Audisio** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 1:15 pm

Speaking of Hard Drives...... if I wanted to have a second HDD for my system, is it feasible to use the Dock II to install a second HDD that I would use when my ThinkPad is docked...? Do I need to install a Hard Disc controller card in the Dock or would the controller on the computer do this... (or to laptop HDDs have the controller card embedded?)...?

Thanks.

sarbin · #13 Post by **sarbin** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 1:26 pm

the dock ii has an ultrabay 2000 slot. get yourself an ultrabay 2000 2nd hard drive adapter and the pata drive of your choice and plug it in. all the needed electronics are on the drive. it's straight plug-n-play.

#14 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 1:58 pm

Alejandro Audisio wrote:
RealBlackStuff wrote:It would be a lot cheaper (but not half as much fun) to buy a larger hard disk. 120-250GB should do you!
Hello RBS-- not sure what you mean by this....??

You say you plan on buying another TP because your HD is nearly full...

Alejandro Audisio · #15 Post by **Alejandro Audisio** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:20 pm

RealBlackStuff wrote:
Alejandro Audisio wrote: Hello RBS-- not sure what you mean by this....??
You say you plan on buying another TP because your HD is nearly full...

Ah yes..... well, thats my excuse for wanting to get a loaded T43p...

Alejandro Audisio · #16 Post by **Alejandro Audisio** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:22 pm

sarbin wrote:the dock ii has an ultrabay 2000 slot. get yourself an ultrabay 2000 2nd hard drive adapter and the pata drive of your choice and plug it in. all the needed electronics are on the drive. it's straight plug-n-play.

OK... so I need two things then.... a) pata drive of my choice and b) ultrabay 2000 hard drive adapter... ok, thanks!!

sarbin · #17 Post by **sarbin** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:26 pm

^^^
here's the part: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/UltraBay_2000_HDD_Adapter
i use one in my a31p, housing a hitachi 160gb/5400rpm hdd. there are good reports here on the western digital 250gb/5400rpm hdd, if you're looking for the largest pata/ide drive that'll go into the ultrabay adapter. it'll take either 9.5mm or 12.7mm drive heights.

NorrisCell · #18 Post by **NorrisCell** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 1:53 am

If an extra HD is the route you choose to take, I just posted one for sale in the Marketplace.

Thread is here

I ran dual hard drives in my T30 for quite some time and it was very convenient. You can also choose to install a second OS if you want to get fancy.

ThinkPad Dock II - compatibility questions

ThinkPad Dock II - compatibility questions

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