M.2 NGFF 256 Gb SSD to IDE Converter internal enclosure problems

[GColgrove]

I have a Thinkpad T41 (old machine) that I would like to swap out the old HDD for a M.2 NGFF 256 Gb to IDE converter internal enclosure. This is the unit I bought.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B095HS3H5B

The assembled enclosure when connected via a USB adapter works perfectly with a MacBook Pro 2012. I can partition and format the drive and use it. The same is true with my Thinkpad, but only when using the same external USB adapter and am running in a non-Windows DOS environment (DOS partition software - boot from DC). But when I put the IDE assembly in the laptop where the HDD was, the laptop doesn't "see" it. When it is attached by USB, Windows XP, Vista and 10 begins to install the Mass Storage Device driver but it fails.

Any ideas on how to get this to work? I do have a 128 Gb M.2 NGFF SSD on the way - since it appears the limit for IDE is 128 Gb. I tested the 256 Gb SSD by partitioning the drive into one 128 Gb portion at the start of the drive and left the rest blank.

[GColgrove]

Over the last few days in a dialog with the supplier of the M.2 to IDE/PATA converter, we came to the conclusion that the Thinkpad T4*/P are not compatible with the M.2 specs. Their investigation confirmed the contents in the threads from this site/platform that says mSATA to IDE/PATA does work with this age of Thinkpads.

I will abandon the M.2 to IDE effort (loss of $14) and move over to the mSATA route. I will post my results. Good thing these things are cheap now-a-days.

To the keepers of that excellent aggregate post regarding SSD's in this series of Thinkpads made years ago, please add that M.2 does not work with this class of Thinkpads.

[GColgrove]

Looking at the post regarding the misalignment of the JMicron JM20330 Serial ATA Bridge Chip Interface plastic enclosure.

I originally read this and discounted since I’m putting in a 9mm enclosure in a 9 mm drive bay. But the misalignment issue still persists. I had to remove the caddy and while inserting the drive enclosure I had to make sure I had the drive rotated up towards the palm rest. The drive had to snap in.

The drive showed in the BIOS. ThIs was true for both the M.2 and mSATA drives.

[axur-delmeria]

Sounds like poor quality control.

[GColgrove]

You’d think they would size the enclosure to be the exact dimensions of a typical hard drive. The enclosure is about a mm or so wider than a HDD.

Since the caddy didn’t fit well, it bowed a little which pushed the drive away from the palm rest.

As far as disk size, 128Gb allowed the pre-install partition to be made automatically with the restore software properly placed. The restore from CD’s went smoothly. When I tried a 256Gb the partition could not be made nor would windows install through the restore CD’s.

[WEissbr0t]

I used the DeLock one: https://a.co/d/ca5G1ZP

I works without Problems with my T41 paired with a small cheap 64Gig DocFish ... SSD