APS - Active Protection System

[dsgtdk]

Dear ThinkPadders!


I've recently purchased a second hand T40, in mint condition (I've never seen such a perfect second-hand computer) for a ridiculosly low price.

In addition to the T40, I own an X61 from work, which I enjoy using very much.
Prior to the X61, I've had a T42p (another amazing machine), which was my first laptop, that had the APS (Active Protection System), for protecting the hard disk drive.
I've found it to be extremely handy, since many times my computer was used whilst travelling to work and I've never lost any information nor encountered a faulty disk.

Now on to my dilemma: According to ThinkWiki, the APS is an addition that was introduced in 2003. My T40 is also from mid-2003. I've also read elsewhere that the system requires certain hard disk drive types in order to actually make it work.
My question is - can I somehow activate and install APS on the T40? Maybe by changing HDD's and/or BIOS updating?


Thanks in advance

[Johan]

Welcome to the forum!

... and congratulations with your new T40... from another happy T4x-user!

According to the site that you may perhaps already have seen: Active Protection System - it there says:

With the new series of ThinkPads IBM introduced the Active Protection System (APS) in 2003. The APS is a protection system for the ThinkPad's internal harddrive. A sensor inside the ThinkPad recognizes when the notebook is accelerated. A software applet then is triggered to park the harddisk. This way the risk of data loss in case of when the notebook is dropped is significantly reduced since the read/write head of the harddrive is parked and hence can't crash onto the platter when the notebook drops onto the floor.

... and at the bottom of the same page:

Models featuring this Technology

* ThinkPad R50, R50p, R51, R52, R60, R61, R61i
* ThinkPad T41, T41p, T42, T42p, T43, T43p, T60, T60p, T61, T61p
* ThinkPad X40, X41, X41 Tablet, X60, X60s, X60 Tablet, X61, X61s, X61 Tablet
* ThinkPad Z60m, Z60t, Z61m, Z61t, Z61e

- so according to this, the T40's are not included.

If you check the tawbook (with the official title: "Personal Systems Reference, IBM ThinkPad Notebooks A, T, X, and G Series, 2000 to 2005 - withdrawn [May 2005 - Version 291]); which includes data on redrawn ThinkPad's up to T41, but no T41p's, no T42/p's and no T43/p's you will note that T40's are said to come with something labeled "IBM Integrated HDD Shock Absorber" - whatever that is?

Further down in the tawbook, under the first few T41's listed there, you will see (for the first time?) that it says: "IBM Hard Disk Drive Shock Absorber / IBM Active Protection System (shock protection)" - which points in the diection that APS was introduced with the T41's. This is also confirmed at the ThinkPad: A brand that made history saying:

The ThinkPad T41 is the first notebook equipped with its own parachute: The IBM Active Protection System...

Later T4x/p ThinkPad's (e.g. all T42's) also had APS - check e.g. the ltwbook (with the official title: "Personal Systems Reference, Lenovo ThinkPad Notebooks - 2005 to present - withdrawn [July 2008 - Version 342]" includes more T4x's; both T41/p's, T42/p's, and T43/p's.

I am not sure if this reply to your very first post on this forum is bad news... if so, I very much regret! But in such case the good news is.. that you could upgrade your T40 motherboard to a T41 or T42 motherboard for a modest cost, especially if you sell your current T40 mobo at a very expensive price!

Anyway, bottom line, enjoy your "new" T40, APS or not. Hey, if it doesn't have APS, you'll just have to treat it as careful as a baby, won't you?!

Johan

[underclocker]

Welcome to the forum.

T40 motherboards did not have the physical sensor (perhaps an accelerometer) that the newer models have, beginning with the T41. So, even though your machine was made during 2003, the T40 motherboard design never included that sensor. I am sorry to report that you can not add the APS feature without the sensor.

A newer motherboard is the only way to add that feature, and unless you're having trouble with your T40, that is a bit drastic!

Enjoy your new machine and the forum.

[dsgtdk]

Thank you both for your prompt and helpful response and thank you for having me on the forums.

I guess I'll use the T40 as a stationary workhorse, that can come with me whenever I go abroad (once every year, sometimes twice)

The X61 will keep on trucking as my mobile workhorse.